zab10 Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 hi all , im currently running a ford focus for the wife and a frontera myself and we really need to cut back to one motor . looking at the forester i really like it so does the wife and can see myself getting one in the near future but would like to hear opinions from anyone who owns one ie what mpg are you getting and have you had any problems are there any common faults ? its a 56 plate 2.0l petrol i have been looking at . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 I'm on my second from new. Good cars, great for long runs and moderate offroading. Let down by a poor mpg, never calculated mine but it is something like 26-28 mpg. Very reliable, but on both of mine the rear suspension dropped by an inch, apart from that it was just general wear and tear to the undercarriage, too much bouncing along rough farm tracks at speed in my case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 My mate loves his to bits but recons he only gets about 20 mpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 realistically at that mpg you could have a decent 4x4, certainly my L200 is better. That said they seem reliable a mate ran one for years and its still going. Only issue was rear suspension going which I seem to remember was pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scimitar Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Never owned a forrester but owned other subaru models and found them a very reliable motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 Run a forester Turbo from New over 140k now, Proper cars that can do far more than many think off road yet not handle like a drunk monkey on roller blades on the tarmac. Downsides? eat tyres, drink petrol and the turbos will use a fair amount of oil if you drive them hard. If you get one dont work out the MPG it will depress you but you do get a lot more car for your money due to this and it is relivent to how many miles you do. The repair bills have been lower than any car i have ever run BTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted May 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 some interesting points here (20mpg)is this out the turbo ? its the non turbo version i would get as ive seen how fast the fuel gauge goes down on the impreza . anyone know if the boxer engine is more expensive to service ? what causes the rear suspension to go is it lots of off road use ? thanks ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted May 14, 2012 Report Share Posted May 14, 2012 some interesting points here (20mpg)is this out the turbo ? its the non turbo version i would get as ive seen how fast the fuel gauge goes down on the impreza . anyone know if the boxer engine is more expensive to service ? what causes the rear suspension to go is it lots of off road use ? thanks ian I doubt you will break the engine if you keep its levels topped up so its a non issue. The naturally aspirated has a factory aproved LPG conv available if its of interest BTW. turbo should be run on the highest octane fuel you can get. If you need to queery the fuel usage then its not a good buy for you, mine has done 28 on flat runs of motorway and duel carrige way, on the steep and twisting roads is the place its at its best and i recon it might do half that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biakalblaster Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Had a 2002 non-turbo model from new. done 117k miles replaced discs/pads on front twice clutch replaced under warranty (possible towing a heavy trailer caused this) O2 sensor replaced under warranty replaced back box exhuast after 8 yrs and cat section (£700) after 7 yrs replaced rear shocks last year, and rear springs off a mates forester i dismantled did 2nd cambelt change, plus tensioner, pulleys and waterpump in december and sump got a pin hole through rust, so i replaced that. bodywork hasnt been good on ours compared to most others i see. salty roads in scotland or a bad one? average about 30-32mpg, never less than 28mpg and best got 35mpg in norway in a loaded car on a long days driving at the Norway speed limit of 50mph looking to get a 2.5litre turbo model soon and keep the non-turbo to use more to save miles on my landcruiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted May 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 thanks for the replys , the 30 - 32 mpg is a bit like i was thinking i would get out of a non turbo one and i would be happy with that for use as a everyday car . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzle Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 I had an old one y reg. it was brilliant. I had the turbo with cold weather pack. All electrics worked. The best thing I found was that it was so quiet on tick over, and 4x4, it was great for shooting from. Plus the sunroof was so big you can stand in the rear foot well and be out the roof. Rabbit safari hunt. Great car, reliable and cheap. 28 mpg average Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick miller Posted May 15, 2012 Report Share Posted May 15, 2012 Great motors, all you need to complete the look is a blue rinse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biakalblaster Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Great motors, all you need to complete the look is a blue rinse. you wont be able to see the blue rinse if the drivers in a 2.5Xt ! 0-60 under 6 seconds or under 5secs in the STi version Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 nothing left to rinse on my head mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Great motor , and check out that sunshine roof for lamping , buy one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 Great motors, all you need to complete the look is a blue rinse. and a bull terrier mix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted May 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 cant say ive ever seen someone with a blue rinse and a bull x driving a forester round my way , they tend to be shooting wagons or family cars but i will keep wy eyes open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted May 16, 2012 Report Share Posted May 16, 2012 I know they have a reputation but up this way never seen them as a poachers vehicle. They like the old Daihatsu Fortraks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab10 Posted May 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 reputation as a poachers wagon is news to me , it doesnt seem that way up here . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delbert Posted May 17, 2012 Report Share Posted May 17, 2012 (edited) I've run Outbacks for the last couple of years not the quite ground clearance of the Forester though better than the std Legacy.Insanely capable on farm tracks stubble etc around 30mpg cruises at the legal limit easily If you use the 'power'button goes like a tomcat being chased for a castration, Very cheap to buy (current is an import with 80k mls cost under a grand 3 years ago) Like the Forester make sure the exhaust is in good nick pref stainless steel they are not easy to source and expect £2-300 bill for just the back box Other potential issue is the centre diff binding make sure you test it on tight lock both ways and reverse a small amount of skipping at the front end is normal at the limit, they tend to get neglected and can lock up. (I just checked ebay since the last time I looked there are cheaper back boxes according to model which is nice) Edited May 17, 2012 by Delbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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