MY10 Forester 1 month on .........

onebob

onebob

Forum Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
257
Location
Gippsland, South Eastern Australia
Car Year
2010
Car Model
Forester
Transmission
auto
I had the new Forrie over a month now and i'd thought give a rundown on how i feel about it ....

the good =
command driving position
better turning circle
better performance
better clearance
better ramp over angle
better approach and departure angle
window frames on doors
better rear passenger legroom
better heater and aircon performance

the not so good =
greater fuel consumption.

A general 'tinny' feel and sound on doors and body panels. Doesn't have the solid feel of the MY07.

With the hood up and looking into engine bay you can see inside of the side fender panels up towards the windscreen, here and elsewhere are lots of gaps and 'sharpish' panel edges everywhere, it looks cheap and unfinished. Lots of mud traps.

Plastic tie down loops on rear cargo floor instead of the old steel ones - i don't trust them with my ratchet strap to hold my everyday work tool box in place let alone fridge and camping gear offroad.

No side pockets in cargo area now only alcoves - my first aid kit and power inverter slide about now - i never find them where i stowed them.

A general 'light duty' feel about the interior trim and fabrics and the car body - it's obviously made to meet a price point - quite disappointing really.

Subaru have produced a real 'soft roader' in the MY10 model.

I'd take the MY07 back tomorrow.

onebob
 
onebob said:
I had the new Forrie over a month now and i'd thought give a rundown on how i feel about it ....

the good =
command driving position
better turning circle
better performance
better clearance
better ramp over angle
better approach and departure angle
window frames on doors
better rear passenger legroom
better heater and aircon performance

the not so good =
greater fuel consumption.

A general 'tinny' feel and sound on doors and body panels. Doesn't have the solid feel of the MY07.

With the hood up and looking into engine bay you can see inside of the side fender panels up towards the windscreen, here and elsewhere are lots of gaps and 'sharpish' panel edges everywhere, it looks cheap and unfinished. Lots of mud traps.

Plastic tie down loops on rear cargo floor instead of the old steel ones - i don't trust them with my ratchet strap to hold my everyday work tool box in place let alone fridge and camping gear offroad.

No side pockets in cargo area now only alcoves - my first aid kit and power inverter slide about now - i never find them where i stowed them.

A general 'light duty' feel about the interior trim and fabrics and the car body - it's obviously made to meet a price point - quite disappointing really.

Subaru have produced a real 'soft roader' in the MY10 model.

I'd take the MY07 back tomorrow.

onebob
Click to expand...

Bugger!, we (wife & I) were considering updating the 03 XS but on that note and the one from my mate with an 08 who wished he had his 04 back we might be going back into a Liberty or maybe even an Outback.
My wife doesn't like the Forester because of the seats and the rear leg room and now that we have a Grandson we need the room for a baby car seat/capsule on the back seat.
 
The MY10 is a much superior "road car" to the MY07, notice my list of good points but i think my bias is clear....

I now find myself looking lovingly at Land Cruisers and Defenders and etc .... shame really because Subaru aka Fuji HEAVY Industries (the emphasis is deliberate) could make a killer medium 4X4. My uneducated observation is that they've always had a rallying focus (ie light, quick, and manoeuvrable (spelling?), break it and you've got a team of mechanics to work through the night to rebuild it. Doesn't have to last more than 18 months eh! and we're seeing that technology filtering down and manifesting itself in the latest Forrie. It's a bloody good car - just moving away from what i want in a cross over vehicle.

onebob
 
Though having only test driven and not owned an SH, I would have to agree with your good and bad points lists. I'm surprised about the higher fuel consumption though - maybe it will improve as the engine runs in.

The interior certainly doesn't have the plush feel you would expect and in some ways is a retrograde step compared to the SG.

On the doors, some sound deadening material (the foil and bitumen sheets) applied on the inside might help reduce the tinny sound. This usually improves the sound from your door speakers as well and is worthwhile for this improvement alone.

I haven't had a good look at the tie downs - is there any possibility to replace them with sturdier hooks?

Have you found any solution for the side pockets? Any of the cargo net accessories from Subaru helpful or will you need a DIY solution?

Hope you can overcome these problems and get some more enjoyment from your new wheels.
 
I hear you!

I've driven the new foz 2.5 litre turbo - it goes well on the road but I really thing its become too big physically. Personally I love the frameless doors, so the framed windows are a downer for me.

I've also driven the new outback H6 with bascially the same feedback. I don't like the drive by wire either.

Also the engine bay: I've noticed on the outback that the mud guards are now plastic - no sheet metal between the engine bay and the wheel well! Couldn't believe it when I saw it. I can push my finger and change the shape of the plastic mud guard with little effort. Its not right in my book.

I'd like to see subaru return to its roots as a small to medium awd practical vehicle manufacturer, I think they've gone a too big now with the latest body designs. I'd also like to see a retro version of the brumby hit the paddocks, offroad areas and country (city too!) streets...

I'll keep dreaming, and hang onto my older, older subi ;)

Cheers

Bennie
 
Cluster Fock said:
As opposed to what?
Click to expand...

onebob said:
...

Subaru have produced a real 'soft roader' in the MY10 model.

I'd take the MY07 back tomorrow.

onebob
Click to expand...


I think onebob answered the question in the
line after the one you quoted.

I guess all Subis are 'softroaders' compared to the big trucks, but clearly onebob is saying that this is more so with the MY10 than it was with the MY07.

For what it is worth, my observation is that this seems to have been the direction with both Outback and Forester models since the late 1990s. Generally larger, more electronics ( eg. inc. throttle) less easy to lift. None of which makwes them increased fun to 'off road'.
 
disappointed...

Wow, my account still works here...

Disappointing to hear this about the MY10 as my wife is pushing me hard to upgrade my MY04 XT.
 
What is soft about it ??? i have a my10 and a my 00 there are both pretty equal offroad, I took the new one to my fav spots and tried it out when I got it, if anything its a bit better

jim
 
I've got to reflect much of what onebob is saying about the '10 Forester, it is a very 'different' car.

Over all though, for our situation, it's my wife's car and for our family in many ways it's better. The increased rear seat room is great for our kids who are now much bigger than when we got the '03. I really like the traction control and increased safety features. I miss the better handling and stiffer ride but it sure is more comfortable especially on longer trips. Offroad we'll probably never find out beyond the occasional gravel road.

We do really like the car, but don't quite share the 'love' with it like we did with our Blubaru.
 
Hi all

I'm new to the site and I would just like to say what a great forum.

Anyway I have had 3 subies now: -
- 99 liberty great road car but the wife never really liked it.

- 00 Forester great all rounder of a car and a car with so much character you just can't help but love them.

- Finally 07 outback H6 what a car and what an engine I love it and the wife loves it. So much so we argue about who's driving it. She wants me to take up drinking so she can drive the car everywhere.

Basically IMO Subaru have gone from strength to strength competing with any premium car mark. I love em and it now seems everyone else loves em. Even my brother wants one now and he was a BMW driver through and through.

However I do have a Landcruiser Troop Carrier for all my off road and camping fun.
 
G'day dmf-explorer & :welcome: to ORS.

When you get a chance, we'd love to hear about some of the adventures you've had with the Troopy :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Welcome. Sounds like you have 3 good cars there. With the latest models, Subaru have hit the cars- especially the Liberty/Outback, with the fugly stick. Things like foot operated handbrakes, less low range options and soggy handling are not what endeared me to Subaru. But that does not apply to what you have so you can rejoice in what you have.

dmf-explorer said:
Hi all

I'm new to the site and I would just like to say what a great forum.

Anyway I have had 3 subies now: -
- 99 liberty great road car but the wife never really liked it.

- 00 Forester great all rounder of a car and a car with so much character you just can't help but love them.

- Finally 07 outback H6 what a car and what an engine I love it and the wife loves it. So much so we argue about who's driving it. She wants me to take up drinking so she can drive the car everywhere.

Basically IMO Subaru have gone from strength to strength competing with any premium car mark. I love em and it now seems everyone else loves em. Even my brother wants one now and he was a BMW driver through and through.

However I do have a Landcruiser Troop Carrier for all my off road and camping fun.
Click to expand...
 
Hi again and thanks for the warm response!!

I do believe that subarus are great cars however I'm not convinced about the looks of their new outbacks. Hopefully I will like them when I need to upgrade because I can't imagine not having a subaru!!!

As for the Troopy I will post some pics of the things we get up to with that. Another great vehicle ideal for taking the family offroad and camping.

But it's the subaru that really does it for me!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top