New Forester Coming Soon!!

Yes I noticed that :ebiggrin:

I'm still wondering if that will be standard :) or will we be stung with an extra fee for it as an extra/accessory :evil:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
they are up on the subie site now.

Interesting looking at the gearing of the manual models, Those concerned about losing the 20% reduction ratio. Because the petrol 6speeds come with quite a low first gear and the 4.444 diff ratio. Looks like it's pretty close. Though you've still lost the bigger donk.

Wow new XT has same torque as diesel, 800rpm higher. Auto only??
 
Last edited:
I can advise that the new Forester comes only with a plastic splash tray as before. The point is that irrespective of what they have done with the gearing, a dual range 6 speed would be better than a single range. The interior is the same as the Impreza, and the auto tailgate is a bit of a wank. The heated seats are a waste, when heated side mirrors would be far more useful. Electric seats do not have memory, which is really stupid. The bonnet is almost a clam shell design, a la Range Rover, but there the similarities end.
 
I've been invited to the official Australian launch of the new Forester. Having already seen the car, I'm in 2 minds as to whether I should go. If I were to go, are there any questions people would like asked?
 
I'd ask them what were they thinking when they designed this model :shake::shrug::confused:

You could then perhaps refer them to this thread so as they could see what real people think of it & what they should have done instead when they designed it :yell:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Car does not look too bad. Next to the Liberty/Outback, it looked quite ok.
 
Gidday Rally

Rally said:
I've been invited to the official Australian launch of the new Forester. Having already seen the car, I'm in 2 minds as to whether I should go. If I were to go, are there any questions people would like asked?
Click to expand...

1) Why no sensible engine/transmission combinations?

2) Why no DR/MT (and - before they ask - having 6 gears that cover the same ratio range is NOT the same as having two different sets of ratios ... ).

3a) Why so huge, with such gutless engines?

3b) Even though the maximum torque might not be all that much different, it's the shape and rev range of the torque curve that's even more important than the maximum torque (e.g. 200 Nm from 1800 to 5600 is far more important than 150 at 1800 reaching a peak of 210 at 4000 then dropping away to 150 again by 5600 ... - and the current 2.5L N/A has over 210 Nm from 1800 to 6000+ ... )?

Better fuel economy could easily have been achieved for both suburban and open road merely by increasing the 3rd ratio slightly and the 4th ratio to around 33.5 kmh/1000 rpm. Also increase 5th/HR from the current 38 kmh/1000 rpm to around 42 kmh/1000 rpm. The current engine is easily torquey enough to handle all that with ease.

And, yeah - What were they thinking of/smoking/snorting when they decided to ruin a flaming good car?
 
Rally said:
I've been invited to the official Australian launch of the new Forester. Having already seen the car, I'm in 2 minds as to whether I should go. If I were to go, are there any questions people would like asked?
Click to expand...

Where is the clutch on the 2.5 model?

From the reviews I've read, it would seem as if it is a better car than the SH, which after nearly 4 years of having one, I still prefer the SG. I'd like to test drive one, but I'm needing ground clearance less and less now, and would be perfectly happy with a normal wagon . Unfortunately, SUVs seem to be the only way unless I choose a Golf (:rotfl:), Hyundai (:rotfl::rotfl:) or a few other brands which I don't mind (and the usual Outback/Liberty models). Having registered with Subaru in regards to the new Forester, I've had absolutely no communication whatsoever from them. Although I've never had any contact with Subaru, unless I've made written complaints (including a dealership in Sydney losing the brand, not just the dealer themselves, a sale of a Liberty GT Wagon). I could go on about Subaru and customer service, but after experience with Honda, Audi and Skoda where the dealer couldn't do enough for us, even as a lease customer, Subaru is left somewhere in the background.
 
Last edited:
Aware, I feel the complete opposite from what you do about Subaru and their customer support.

After going through them and helping my mother buy a XV 5 months ago, Peel Subaru could not of been more helpful, friendly or better in anyway. In signing the papers and waiting 2 months to get her new XV they offered to lend her a brand new 2012 Forester X to drive and take home(600km away) for the few months while she tried to sell her old Holden Astra privately. In the end she traded in the car at the same dealer, they did a great deal for her which made them and us happy.
Since then she has received one phone call asking how the car is, if she is liking it, any problems, etc....
I think their service is excellant, well from this dealer anyway. I could say the same thing about most Holden dealers!
Even the dealers I deal with for parts for my Subaru's go out of their way to assist me, when they really don't have to. (this being a different dealership to PS).

As for the way Subaru is heading, I don't like it. The Forester is just like any other average SUV now unlike the old SF and SG models. I wouldn't even think of buying a new Outback or Liberty, they just do not appeal to me in anyway. While the older ones on the other hand really do.
I will say that the 6 speed CVT is a very nice gearbox for an auto. 100x better than the old 4 speed s**t box that Subaru have had for over 10 years! Their manuals on the other hand are rubbish, the 6 speed ratios are all wrong for the power/power band of the motors and there is no dual range. This was the number one reason why I bought my old Forester! I didn't want a big, fuel guzzling, crappy city car and the Forester is/was by far the best soft roader in it's class. The dual range gearbox is bloody amazing for a softroader! I would love a SG Foz over my SF but at the time an SF was all I could afford for a first car. The 2 biggest things I dislike about it are the gutless 2.0l motor(2nd slowest car I've ever driven) and the interior is pretty average styling wise when comparing to an SG.
 
^ I'll second that about the Subaru dealers I have had dealings with Taza.

Specially Mentone Subaru (franchise) and then Mentone Subaru (Inchcape Ltd owned). Have never been anything but exceptionally helpful in every way, right down to the individual level, even when they had no reason whatsoever to be so - nothing in it for them: EXCEPT their reputation.

It's a funny thing, a reputation. One step wrong, and it's gone like Gunsynd (or Black Caviar, for you younger folks ... ). It takes a lot of effort and goodwill to hang on to a good reputation. It's like trust in all the same ways.

Unlike Brighton Holden who tried to gouge the wrong customer on the wrong day. God only knows how many others they do exactly the same thing to. Their sales people could not have been better; their service people (and their charging for totally unnecessary work ... ) were the complete opposite. The average backyard mechanic has far more ethics than they displayed; and would have charged half the price while ripping me off (or trying to ... :iconwink:).
 
Rally said:
If I were to go, are there any questions people would like asked?
Click to expand...

For mine, the biggest question is why no D/R? & why only a 1.44:1 or even worse 1.19:1 when a Suzuki has 1.8:1 :huh::shrug:

Perhaps the Brumby fans would also want to know why such a hugely successful farm & tradie vehicle was dropped? :shrug:

Lastly, ask them what they've been smoking as I'd love to try some! :rotfl:
 
Nachaluva, a Suzuki is a real 4WD. Subaru's are and always will be softroaders... FACT!
They are good at what they do but there are limits. I reckon they should of kept the dual range though even with the 1.198.1 low range, it worked quite well with the torque behind an EJ25. Where it really wins is for towing purposes and beach work.
 
taza said:
Nachaluva, a Suzuki is a real 4WD. Subaru's are and always will be softroaders... FACT!
Click to expand...

true but unfortunately that the new GV is becoming more soft just like all SUV's, with this model loosing its ladder chassis, and now 4x4 is optional :shake:

the one serious question i have to Subaru, is why the increase in size?

the forester up until the SH have always been small to medium sized and has worked very well in this state, now its on the edge of being large and has the very real possibility of ending up like every other SUV on the market - boring urban wagons
 
Gidday Taza

taza said:
Nachaluva, a Suzuki is a real 4WD. Subaru's are and always will be softroaders... FACT!
Click to expand...

I agree. The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a small truck that's been shrunk to a smaller size. The very high reduction for LR and the transfer case give the game away, as does the ladder chassis of the earlier models. With the 2.7L V6, the later models also have plenty of grunt.

The Forester is a sedan that's grown into a general purpose wagon that is quite capable off-road. Pushing it to the very limits of what it can do will eventually break it, if not immediately.

However, the Suzukis do not handle the way Foresters do. Their respective heritages show in many subtle ways, with advantages/disadvantages on both sides of the equation.

Both are nice vehicles, just different ... :poke:
 
No idea where my post went - edited it and then logged out last night. Now disappeared.

Glad to hear you got good service Taza, my experiences have mainly been with service centres. Whilst not bad, the old 'it does that' does get annoying. Among other service issues.

Back to the new Forester. Had a meeting at Uni this afternoon, and seeing as my summer semester exam is creeping up slowly and I'm getting sick of my desk, I thought I'd leave home a bit earlier and swing by West Ryde. Got there, and there was a mid spec 2.5i (-L I think it is now) and what I believe to be a 2.5i S or 2.0XT Premium (see what happens when the scoop disappears.... didn't look at the boot or pay attention to the front bumper on this one - reversed in against a wall). Climbing into both and it feels huge - and I mean huge. Front of the bonnet seems like it's a mile away. But the interior is airy (and insert other arty keywords for big interior) Almost like sitting in an X5. Seats are pretty good surprisingly, and unlike the SH, the cloth appears to be of a better quality. Seat in my normal position is comfortable. Whilst the SG is comfortable, at 6'2" it can get a little cramped after a while. Interior is a much nicer place to be. Didn't try the backseat as the traffic was heavier than expected and didn't want to be late, (so looked at front seat and cargo space then got back on the road)- all reports suggest it is bigger, so I'll believe what they say.

Exterior, I have to say looks better than in pictures, and compared to the multiple SHs on the lot, looks better.

Cargo space - boot is easy to open, and seems to be easier to close than the SH. The boot floor is raised from the opening (only minimal but annoyin - like other cars I'm assuming that the reason is due to full size spare wheel) Would hold my bike comfortably without removing both wheels which is a plus.

Would I buy one? Short answer - probably. Long answer: I'd like to have one for 24 hours. See if I can live with the CVT, do my daily commute to work and uni, carry the bike etc.

On the whole though, it seems like a step in the right direction if you ask me. If I had kids and needed a car like this, hands down there'd be one in the driveway. At 21, I think I need to have my early mid life crisis before I settle down though....:raspberry:
 
Last edited:
I would have got a GV if their diesel wasn't rubbish.

I find it interesting that the new foz diesl quotes 5.5L/100km vs 6.0/100km of the SH. given the power/ torque specs are the same i guess the motor is the same. have they just tweaked the tune to make the new model better? when this econemy could have been achieved all along.
 
Biesel said:
have they just tweaked the tune to make the new model better? when this econemy could have been achieved all along.
Click to expand...

Probably - it means that they can offer something "new and improved"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top