Test drove a Forester yesterday..
 

I really quite fancy a 2.0T forester so I thought I'd take one for a spin on Sunday at a local garage... They only had a UK auto, now I do like my autos but I've been spoiled over the years by having many cars quipt with the GM AR35 box, which is one of the smoothest boxes on the market..

Anyway back to the point.. For a tall 4x4 the handling was impeccable, the performance was.. well OK, but the gearbox was awful! There was nothing mechanically wrong with it, it just shifted at completely the wrong time and made me feel a bit sick.. It changed up to early and changed down to early?

Was this just a bad egg or are they all like this??

Also does anyone have the performance figures for UK and JDM models? I assume the JDM has more power, I think I'll find a Manual JDM to have quick drive in, if I don't like that then I think the Forester Idea will go out of the window.

Go and test drive the JDM Forester STI and you might be impressed.

If I get time next weekend I'll see if I can find one locally :)

Litchfield has a couple

I've got a non-Turbo Forester auto and the box is quite lazy, even in "Sport".

Not very local :lol1:

The Sti isn't auto anyway though as far as I know..

I've got a manual 2.5 06 FXT (with a few mods) ;) and am in the Hampshire area if you fancy meeting up and seeing what the manual can do :)

Currently booked in to Powerstation on the 21st for an exhaust/VF39/Intercooler/Fuel Pump/Filter and remap and hoping to get 330/300 or there abouts :D

Thats a great offer!

Where abouts in Hampshire are you?, we're right down at the bottom of berks on the border near Sindlesham.

I'm in Farnborough and work at Heathrow..

Not to far away then.. We'll have to organise something on an evening or weekend if thats ok with you? I really want to try out a decent Forester, I really like the look of them but if they are all a bit floppy like the UK auto I drove I'll probably go for a bugeye impreza :)

Mine won't be too typical in the handling department though as I've got PFF7's on with 225/45/18's, struts and springs from a Forester Sti and a Whiteline 22mm adjustable ARB. :D

Brakes have been upgraded with a Prodrive BBK.

More than welcome though mate if you want to have a look at it and see what can be done with them - eves are best for me.

Cheers
Pete

My Forester STi will be for sale, through Litchfields, from next week.

(I liked it so much I'm getting another one, only in black this time...)

It doesn't have much in common with a UK 2.0 though. If you see Pete's it will give you the general idea of the huge gap between them.

PM me if you want more details.

I'll have to wait and see what They are like, the current decision is between a 2001 Forester Turbo or a 2001 WRX Wagon (bug eye).. Hopefully practical and fun :)