Forester vs. Vue vs. ???

[Hags]

Colour is a personal choice as well, I like dark colours on some cars and light colours on some others. Every car has a particular colour which suites better. I thing for Subaru Forester light colours will suite better "my opp.", either white/silver/gray or champagne.
Any of this colour will hide all those BooBoo's except the white might show more dirt than other light colours.

[Hags]

One thing captured my att., so far all tested Subaru Foresters are XT's that I found in all posts. I think you should decide on XT if you are going for a Subaru Forester and should top up the car with all awailable optional accesories as well.
" Not that I would buy a Subaru" But would get the champagne colour if I would!

[awebber]

I keep seeing green Foresters, but that colour's not available on the XT.  Will have to look around more, starting on the lots (X, XS, XT, they all look the same ).  I've got the feeling I'll end up in silver again.   I hadn't considered champagne though, thanks.

It seems the XT is new this year (or last?), I think that's why the articles are all about XT (that and the fact that they write about what's exciting, not necessarily what people will buy).  I've pretty much decided to go for an XT with auto and cloth, not a lot else in terms of options (block heater, armrest extension, winter mats).

=aw

[ovr50]

Aw - very good choice of the XT and I almost went for it myself (but that's a another story). Glad to see you're going auto over stick on it as I believe the turbo works best with the auto tranny in the XT. The manual XTs generate some negative comments on the gearing. The auto is almost as musch fun and avoids the very low first gear and the higher rpms cruise at hiway speeds.  
Color is so personal and silver is probably the easiest to keep clean (ie. reqires less washing). I am partial to the red and the black in the XT but both harder to keep clean than silver. I don't like it in white. Good luck with dealing - you seem to be quite meticulous so I'm sure you're prepared for the "action".

[awebber]

I've also learned (from a salesman, and online) that the AWD works completely differently between auto and stick.  It seems to be much more sophisticated with the auto, adding power to rear wheels during acceleration and to front during deceleration, among other things.

Thanks for the advice, I'll report back when I own something.

=aw

[Hags]

I don't know about auto but that turbo engin deserves a good manual shifting, and don't know the negative comments about it, does auto have a Tiptronic shift at least?  
Silver is nice too, and the best dirt hider.
Go for it and good luck!

[awebber]

No tiptronic, I'd have liked that.

=aw

[corey]

Good choice. I'm sure you will be happy. I wanted black but decided to go silver for obvious reasons. I've since seen a black one around that looked filthy and scratched. What about the dark, metallic grey colour. Isn't it offered for 2005? I think yours will also have a sportier, 3-spoke steering wheel.

I have easily adjusted to the low gearing of the manual (and prefer them anyways) but the auto will be better for the commute. Watch the tickets, it's very easy to speed. One more thing... don't lean on the hood (full-serve gas station attendants tend to do so when cleaning the windshield). It's lightweight aluminum and will dent easily.

[awebber]

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions.  I do believe the steering wheel is both different and smaller.

Colour choices on the XT are Aspen White, Cayenne Red Pearl, Champagne Gold Opal, Crystal Grey Metallic, Obsidian Black Pearl, Platinum Silver Metallic, Regal Blue Pearl.  There's also Woodland Green Pearl on X and XS (but not on XS Premium or XT).  I thought the Grey might be an alternative to silver.  Will have to look.

=andrew

[Mdxtasy]

I have seen a few Forester's running around town and the red and blue really look good.  I'm a fan of black colored cars but that's just me.  

I find silver boring and white turns whatever station wagon you are driving into fridge.  But these colors hide scratches very well...as does the gold.  

You don't get that two tone plastic cladding do you?

[awebber]

I think the XT is solid colour.  I'm partial to the blue but think silver would be more practical, easier to see at night too?  Of course if I wanted practical I wouldn't be thinking of an XT.

=aw

[ovr50]

IMO the red, black or blue.  

No cladding on XT. One color only.

[inco]

Somebody say Red?

[Snowman]

Good choice Aw....enjoy!

[bmorton]

Silver is certainly the most practical colour. I've had a few silver cars and although I'm a little tired of it now, the flip side is how easy it is to look after and the way it really shows off the design of the car. I don't care much for black, but the Forester also looks good in the red. The crystal grey might be a nice alternative to silver. Grey is a new colour for 2005 so you won't be seeing yourself on every corner the way you might with silver.

[Mdxtasy]

Red is nice...with a black interior.  Nice wheels Inco.....is the Magnum going to be red too?

[awebber]

I've heard that red cars get more speeding tickets.  Of course it's probably urban legend, but I can imagine that if nothing else, the red ones would get less sympathy.  OTOH, it does still look like a loaf of bread.

=aw

[Hags]

Red and Yellow, you are right gets more ticket.
Blue, I like it, My X-Trail is blue and it turns the heads on the road. Lexus is Forest Green, it is like very dark green, looks Black under shadow and night,  and it is dark green under the sun or bright light with tan colour leather interior. Ford focus ZX5 is Black and looks very nice with 4 wheel mud guards and chrome tail pipe. I also put chrome tail pipe to X-Trail as well, looks very nice. I think I like dark colours I guess!!

[awebber]

I thought the X-Trail's blue was a nice colour.  And I really liked the green!

A few years ago I had body work including paint done on the Explorer.  We were going to change the colour but were convinced to keep it silver in case of resale.  Next time (if I still have the next vehicle that long) I'll pick a colour I really like, like maybe one of the greens from Land Rover.

=andrew