Drive in a XT

[silver]

The fellow working on the house next door to me took me for a drive in his XT Forester today. He got it last year and it is the new model base XT.
Although i test drove the new model X when it came out i had a chance to have a good look over this one while he drove and form some new impressions.
Loved the effortless power. No fuss or bother up to 140 when he backed off.
The ride is certainly much smother and it is a lot quieter in the cabin. I was surprised at his economy....his trip meter was reading 8.4l/100k and he said he can't recall it going over 10l/100k even in the city. It is an auto. That's very respectable.
I did not much go on the centre console and still think the seats with the fold down arm rest are the better ones for highway cruising.
The worst thing by far is the quality of the plastics used. Ugly and cheap looking/feel in my opinion. I now realise why all the reviws i have read mention this aspect. Nasty stuff and a major dissappointment.
My mates Hilux has one of the worst plastics i have seen and it very much reminded me of this.
I disliked it so much i doubt if i would buy one until they changed it.
Bloody shame they do stuff like this.
Subaru......you are sentenced to a year working with Audi!!!!!!!!!!!
mmmmmmm.....that turbo was nice though.:lol:

 

[Rally]

Why Subaru went backwards in the area of cabin plastics is a mystery, given their stated aim of going upmarket. They continue to have no real idea of where they are heading or how to get there. Which is a pity because their cars are basically good.

 

[silver]

I agree. How they could build a new model and then do this to the interior is simply stupid. For the life of me, i can't figure out how they thought it looked good.
They didn't even have to do much. Just go and sit in an Audi and take some notes!!
The cost of better materials would have been so small it would not register.
The other thing i was not keen on was the size of the outside mirrors. They are that bloody big they create a small blind spot.
They should have saved a few dollars here and spent it on better cabin plastics.
I think you are right about Subaru.They are not that sure what they want. A mass market, price sensitive Forester but a 'upmarket' Liberty/Outback.
The Forester has now been unchanged for 18 months and they have ignored the complaints about the interior.
Funny stuff.

 

[hoadie]

I think the critisim about the plastic is perceived quality vs actual. I've seen much much worse fit and finish in other Japanese cars and some Euros. Comparing it to an Audi is totally unfair when you look at the price difference.

 

[Barry]

Must say I prefer the plastic in my OBW to the 'woodgrain' in the earlier model.
(Mind you, I was looking for a Gen 3 at the time I found my Gen 4 at the right price!)

 

[silver]

Hoadie,i was not comparing it to an Audi. My point is that Audi are widely regarded as having the best cabins in the business and i was just suggestion that somebody from Subaru could do worse than go and sit in an Audi to see how to do it properly.
The cabin plastics have been commented on by EVERY review that i have read about the new Forester and after seeing it for myself i can understand why.
It could be the best quality plastic or the crap that it looks like, it doesn't matter 'cause it LOOKS cheap and nasty.

 

[simxs]

The new Forester is nice and roomy but yeah the cabin styling with its upright dashboard, hard plastics and chintzy silver splashes might be well-built but it ain't pretty. It's one area where I have to admit that others such as Tiguan and CRV are superior for similar money.

 

[silver]

Yep!!!!! Can't comment on the CRV but i went for a test drive in the Tiguan when it was released when i was in Cairns and i quite liked it. The cabin runs rings around the Forester. I would have to say that VW are making some nice looking cars these days. Wonder if bits are still falling off?:lol: or have they got their act together these days.