Junk with a $900.00 REPAIR BILL
Right front wheel bearing went out at 60000 miles.
My A/C compressor, according to a Subaru tech, is going out. It seems to me that if this is not a regular occurrence, then the compressor is defective. The corporate office doesn't respond.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 25th July, 2012
This is a brilliant car
Absolutely nothing, and I live in the outback, a 160km drive down a dirt track to the bitumen!
This car is simply amazing. I live in a remote area in the West Australian outback, and the road to the highway is a rutted, at times muddy, and generally punishing 4wd track. The Subaru has taken it all in its stride, including 2 creek crossings!
My monthly shop for supplies means 320km on this track into and out of town, and the Forester is comfortable, solid and safe for the trip.
I return to Perth three times a year, and the Forester is perfect. 3000km to Perth and 3000km back, it transforms from a rugged little 4wd to a highway cruiser with ABS, cruise, good seats and a willing engine. The handling is superb. The AWD / ABS / handling has saved me once already having to avoid a stray cow when travelling at over 100km/h! Also getting 8.5 L/100km highway usage, which is great!
Not sure if this is true, but the poor reviews by US customers may be due to the car being manufactured in the US, rather than being an import as they are in Oz. It's a pity, because down under Subaru have an awesome reputation for build quality and reliability.
Only downside. Dealer support is very patchy. Subaru Australia need to start taking their customers' concerns seriously to retain goodwill. My previous Subaru had some problems (bought new) and I was fobbed off repeatedly by the dealership.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th March, 2010
A great review, I'm on my second brand new Forester here in the UK. Had the first one for 5 years with no faults at all, and my second one is living up to that as well. Love it, couldn't even consider another make of car. You are right about imports; for me a Japanese car must be made in Japan.
James, Leeds, UK.
The poor man's answer to an Audi Allroad
Just some minor "rattling" if I can even call it that when it is in the upper 80's or warmer. Nothing that I feel is absurd for a sub $30,000 Japanese car.
Subaru dealerships are hard to find, and with that a good dealership seems even harder to find, although a good service shop that is cheaper than the dealer, and will keep your car under warranty, is just a yelp.com search away.
Amazingly well handling car. I have made some minor improvements to the suspension (swift springs and swaybar/endlinks), very well mannered in the city as well as in the mountains.
The car is quick enough for me to remain happy with its performance, and not feel the need to do the whole engine management side of things.
Interior is efficient in its presentation and appearance, visibility is excellent from the cabin of the car.
I have made several long distance trips in this vehicle (Seattle to Montana, and Seattle to its new home in the SF Bay Area, as well as trips to Tahoe and Washington Mountains) and was plenty comfortable for the trip, even with driving 13 hours straight from Seattle to SF.
The seats are different in the Sports model than in the Premium and Standard models, so keep that in mind.
I have had no significant problems with the car to date.
I receive compliments on the car all the time; it is definitely a unique automobile, and people do notice. Just something to note, in the 50,000 miles that I owned my Impreza, I never needed any work done, other than the regularly scheduled stuff.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 9th June, 2009
1st Aug 2012, 13:01
So what exactly makes this car junk? That it needs $900 worth of work at 122,000 miles? That doesn't sound catastrophic to me, considering the costs of repairs these days.
If an A/C compressor and a wheel bearing are the worst of the issues you've had with this car, it sounds like you subscribe to the thinking that all vehicles should come with a lifetime warranty, or you believe that all machines never break.