(I can only speak to the 2008 model) My partner drives it like an SUV with the seat lifted high so he feels like he's on top of the world. It is worth mentioning that the driver's seat can be positioned in many different configurations. I couldn't stretch out my legs in the driver's seat or the passenger's seat. We bought our 2008 Forrester because the 2008 Outback was too uncomfortable for me at 6'2". His knees are still very close to the dash, even with the seat all the way back.but I don't think we could find anything where that wasn't the case, except for a 1998 Buick Century with rear wheel drive! I think he will also feel more comfortable (as a new driver) in a slightly smaller SUV. The Jeep (which was also a 2005) was a bit cheaper but I'm imagining that the gas costs and the reliability will make up for the increased costs. So we went for the Forrester, finding a 2005 with 40,000 miles on it that fit our price range. This car is for my son and we were trying to decide between the Forrester and the Jeep.Īs much as he loved the idea of owning a Jeep, I couldn't justify the low MPG (some folks on the Edmunds boards were saying they were only getting 9 miles per gallon!). We actually have a Subaru Legacy (with 175,000 miles on it and never needs a repair) and an Acura MDX (which we love.but of course this is a whole class above a Forrester).
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We turned the Forrester in and got an Acura MDX, what a difference in the quality of the car, like night and day. POINT - it was my parents old car which they gave me when I turned 17 and got my license. I haven't seen that since my 1976 Chrysler Volare (sp?). My sister has the larger subaru station wagon and everything is broken in the interior and the rear panels near the wheel wells are all rusted through. I want to point out that we keep our cars very well, the car was only really used on the weekends and during the week, just for a 2 mile trip back and forth to the park and ride each day. One time we opened the top hatch of the armrest between the front seats and part of the metal clip that secures it just went "twang" and flew out the window.
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2008 SUBARU FORESTER FORUM WINDOWS
The rubber stripping along 3 of the windows came out at various times. The cargo hooks are only attached to the cardboard wall and when I securred an empty propane tank with cords attached to the hooks, on the first turn half the hooks popped out. The walls over the wheel well got dented when we put a large box in the cargo and slammed down the hatch. The interior walls in the cargo area are CARDBOARD(they really are, no joke)! Compared to Honda which are hard plastic. Parts would come off this car like a leper! While it did drive well, and the engine has a great reputation, the body and interior are VERY POORLY MADE!