Faults:

Driver side power window motor quit 4 months after purchase; replaced under warranty.

Automatic transmission rough downshifting when slowing from 40 mph or faster, starting at around 35K. Dealer service 'made adjustments'; so far so good.

Began to develop engine oil leaks at 67K. 2 to 3 drips every other day, stains on the driveway. Needed a new pan gasket.

Seats starting to show signs of wear at 50K.

Windshield wiper blades freeze up in freezing rain and icy weather, despite defrosters.

General Comments:

Comfortable ride and roomy, but uses a lot of gas with the AWD; even more than my Ford Crown Vic used to use, and that car was twice as big. Don't expect fuel economy from a Subaru.

The expected reliability of this car is well below my expectations for what I paid, and the dealer service was horrible. Subaru Authorized Dealer Factory Service is about the worst I have ever experienced; incompetent and poorly managed. Find yourself a good private mechanic, and stay away from the Subaru dealership for post-warranty service.

Faults:

The hill holder function was over adjusted when I purchased the vehicle. It was corrected a week later.

General Comments:

Great power and a tight chassis make the Forester fun to drive. Since it is based on the Impreza platform, the gearbox is also sport-oriented.

Plenty of cargo room with the seats folded and more space up front than the 2005 Legacy, however, rear seat room is much tighter.

Great gas mileage, 28MPG combined city/highway.

All wheel drive excellent, as in all Subaru's.

The stock all-season Yokohama Geolander tires are great in the snow and dry pavement, but emit too much road noise.

Handles superbly off road and in inclement weather.

Cabin is too noisy at highway speeds.

Factory upgraded stereo/sub-woofer just adequate in my opinion.

Suspension a little too harsh.

Despite the negatives, this vehicle is a joy to drive, and problem free. I have owned many Subarus, and I will gladly put up with a lackluster stereo and wind noise for a reliable, safe, and solid vehicle.

Faults:

Headlight had moisture in it almost from the beginning; dealer replaced and the problem went away. They said it was bad casting of the plastic.

Alignment isn't perfect any more (the steering wheel is a hair to the right when driving straight on the highway).

The transmission does downshift more than I'd like, but probably just because the engine isn't overly powerful.

General Comments:

I'm very tall (6'5") and the headroom in the forester is EXCELLENT. My head brushes the ceiling in many cars, but has inches to spare in the Forester. Legroom is another story, my knees brush against the steering wheel, but not as much as in the Outback.

For being a AWD SUV, the car feels and handles like a car.

Handles really well in the snow, as expected.