I was having a chat with a business colleague a month or two back and we were discussing a replacement car for his large estate.
He wanted something with 4x4 to get around his land and we went through all the usual options available on budget money. But his eventual choice surprised me as he rang to say he had found a Subaru Forester on the internet and it was being brought down for him to see before making his decision.
Needless to say, having seen it he parted with his money, despite the fact that the car has a petrol rather than a diesel engine. That has always been the big drawback of these Japanese cars because finding a diesel Subaru has always been impossible. The company just never made diesel cars – until now.
A diesel version of the Legacy large car has just arrived and the new Forester, also turning up about now, will have a diesel motor later this year. All of a sudden, Subarus are going to be in big demand as they are such good cars and will now satisfy all the demands of the 4x4 market.
Pick up any motoring magazine until recently and somewhere in it you would have found a writer raving about the Subaru Impreza. The go-faster versions of this car have really lifted Subaru’s image in the UK.
But if it’s the five door estate Impreza you are after then you might be well advised to look at the Forester, which only comes as a five door estate.
The Forester makes a great small to medium estate car and its main rivals have to be the Land Rover Freelander and similar models, all of which bring diesel options.
Subaru has, until now, stuck with horizontally opposed or boxer petrol engines. In virtually all Subarus these are four cylinder units which have more than enough muscle for the Forester.
Owners who fancy their Forester with a bit of poke can opt for the 176 bhp turbocharged motor or a 2.5 litre with more than 200 bhp while those who just want it for its estate car versatility can go instead for the 124 bhp engine. There have also been some very sporty versions doing the rounds but these are grey imports that can bring problems when you want spares.
Either of the two litre units is a willing worker but obviously the turbo motor adds more than a bit of zest to life. The drawback is that neither is that economical to run, with owners seeing 30 mpg counting themselves lucky.
The Forester comes as standard with four wheel drive - in the non-turbo car with a low range transfer box for really hard work. There’s also a limited slip rear diff.
The current Forester has been around since September 2002 and the model originally arrived here back in September, 1997, just months before the Freelander was released. The latest cars now come with a 12 year body warranty - worth remembering if you are looking for a later plate low miles car.
Subarus have a genuine following among British enthusiasts and there’s never any shortage of takers for their cars, so you may have to fight to get the one you want. Haggling down the price might be a non-starter. But if you buy one you’ll find it extremely rewarding to use.
With 12,000 mile service intervals you will find garage visits very infrequent. These cars are mechanically tough although interior trim can be flimsy on earlier cars before the 2002 model change. Insurance starts at Group 12, rising to 16 for the turbo cars.
Prices are now pretty good. You can get a 99S GLS for around £3,000. Late plate Foresters can save you big money – a 57 plate five door XT with the 2.5 litre engine could be on your drive for £14,275 when the first owner might well have parted with about £22,000. If a 2.0 car appeals more, then £9,000 will get you an 05 plate example.
Maurice Hardy
SENSIBLE SUBARU MAKES GREAT ESTATE
