Author Topic: 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5X & 2.5XS (Read 8245 times)

canuck_driver · « **on:** March 04, 2006, 01:47:54 pm »

Good day,does anyone have any experience or opinions on the Subaru Forester 2006 model?The 2.5X seems to give some good standard equipment as a base model Forester,but the 2.5XS package offers some real good value for the price.

How's this little SUV anyway for all around purpose driving?Sounds like the perfect Canadian utilitarian type vehicle!The Forester will have snow tires for the winter seasons.I bet it is outstanding in snow driving conditions?

My girlfriend drives on hwy 401 and a secondary country road for work daily so this will be the vehicle for her as the driving conditons can be quite poor.Her lease(2002 Mazda Protege-with Snow Tires) is up in July and maybe we could get a deal then as the 2007s will show up shortly after!?

The Forester if purchased will be mated with a Manual Tranny.I hear Forester's are popular in automatic transmissions.

thanks all,

DD

bmorton · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2006, 04:37:59 pm »

Well, as you know the Forester is based on the Impreza so you already have a pretty good idea what to expect there from your '04. If anything I'd expect the Forester to be a little better in the rough stuff due to the additional ground clearance it has. Our RAV4 beats our Impreza when it comes to deep snow for this reason. With winter tires on a Forester you'd probably be in really good shape.

Saw in the paper today that Subaru has a good lease deal going right now on Foresters - zero down and $348 gets you a 2.5X for 39 months at 0.8%.

inco · « **Reply #2 on:** March 05, 2006, 08:42:21 am »

Can't say too much about the 2006 model but the 99 we had and the 03 we have were/are good. Just avoid the brown interior if you can - it really shows the dirt.

The 99 was fine with only one problem - a wire came loose that caused the tranny to triiger a dash warning. Fixed same day and no problemos. The 03 is still going strong and no problems at all other than the plastic pull handle for the gas door fell off and we have not got around to fixing it. The 99 was an 'S' model and the 03 is the XS with the huge sunroof and mono paint.

Are they any good? Guess so from here and both have been autos. Just make sure you rotate the tires on a regular basis.

random006 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 05, 2006, 10:01:54 am »

Quote from: bmorton on March 04, 2006, 04:37:59 pm

Well, as you know the Forester is based on the Impreza so you already have a pretty good idea what to expect there from your '04.

Saw in the paper today that Subaru has a good lease deal going right now on Foresters - zero down and $348 gets you a 2.5X for 39 months at 0.8%.

I'm confused. How would this person know about the Impreza underpinnings of the Subaru Forester?

Also, he is asking about the 2006 model,not the 2004.

Regardless, the info you provide on the lease sounds like it might suit our canuck_driver, even if it is an unusual length.

AVToller · « **Reply #4 on:** March 05, 2006, 11:12:01 am »

Quote from: random006 on March 05, 2006, 10:01:54 am

Quote from: bmorton on March 04, 2006, 04:37:59 pm
Well, as you know the Forester is based on the Impreza so you already have a pretty good idea what to expect there from your '04.

Saw in the paper today that Subaru has a good lease deal going right now on Foresters - zero down and $348 gets you a 2.5X for 39 months at 0.8%.

I'm confused. How would this person know about the Impreza underpinnings of the Subaru Forester? Also, he is asking about the 2006 model,not the 2004.

Regardless, the info you provide on the lease sounds like it might suit our canuck_driver, even if it is an unusual length.

I'm confused about your confusion!! I thought that everyone who has the slightest interest in Subaru knows that the Forester is just a "tall wagon" version of the Impreza!!

My 2001 Forester was totally trouble free and overall, an excellent car. The new models are a substantial improvement over that so I would highly recommend them.

84im · « **Reply #5 on:** March 05, 2006, 12:26:17 pm »

Interestingly, I went to the Subaru website, and the only lease for 0.8% is for 24 months. The 36 and 39 month lease shows 2.8%.

random006 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 05, 2006, 12:34:41 pm »

Quote from: AVToller on March 05, 2006, 11:12:01 am

I'm confused about your confusion!! I thought that everyone who has the slightest interest in Subaru knows that the Forester is just a "tall wagon" version of the Impreza!!

Why should I - or anyone for that matter - assume he knows this info?

There is an old saying that applies: Never assume: It makes an ASS out of U and ME.

Back to the topic: The Forester, by all accounts, is a good car and if you can get a deal on the financing then it should be at the top of your list. The only negative I've ever noticed was on a single Forester (04 I believe) in which the brake pedal travel seemed overly long. I had to practically slam it into the floor to get any significant brake action.

canuck_driver · « **Reply #7 on:** March 05, 2006, 03:09:57 pm »

.....yah I know the Forester is a great car...just looking for any experiences with the car basically.....thanks for the posts guys much appreciated!

DD

bmorton · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2006, 08:55:00 am »

Quote from: random006 on March 05, 2006, 10:01:54 am

I'm confused. How would this person know about the Impreza underpinnings of the Subaru Forester? Also, he is asking about the 2006 model,not the 2004.

Regardless, the info you provide on the lease sounds like it might suit our canuck_driver, even if it is an unusual length.

Your confusion is understandable, but I already know canuck_driver other than through this forum, so I was referring to his experience with his previous vehicle, an '04 Impreza like mine.

39 months isn't an unusual length for a lease anymore - for some reason this has become a very popular lease term.

chris · « **Reply #9 on:** March 07, 2006, 06:29:46 pm »

My friend has a Forester and he loves it. No issues what so ever and he's always keen to take it down roads that others fear to tread! Also, it's tall enough to provide what feels like massively more interior room than the Impreza but short enough to allow use of a roof rack without climbing all over the vehicle just to get your skis on and off the rack.

Gas milage is not great by car standards but great by SUV standards.

After following an outback down a highway (back-country) covered in 2.5ft of snow, I'm sure the Forester will do anything you need it to short of skidding logs out of your clear-cut

canuck_driver · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2006, 07:44:40 am »

eax · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2006, 09:57:27 am »

Subaru has regional deals, I believe the 0.8% on 36/39 month is only available in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The West/Quebec will have a different deal.

84im · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2006, 08:44:41 pm »

The West gets screwed again.

canuck_driver · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2006, 06:52:17 am »

eax-that is correct yes!

DD

inco · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2006, 08:15:35 am »

Interesting thing this 39 months lease. On the Volvo site they point out while the term is for 39 months, the miles they allow you are for 36 months or 60,000 km. That sucks.

Is Subaru doing the same thing?

bmorton · « **Reply #15 on:** March 09, 2006, 08:47:07 am »

I always assumed that was the "deal" with 39-month leases. You get to spread the same payments out over 39 instead of 36 months, and if you can stay within the km limit for 36 months you probably can stretch that to 39. However, I was also looking on the Volvo site and I noticed that the residual value is higher for a 39-month term, so they're subventing those leases there as well.

canuck_driver · « **Reply #16 on:** March 19, 2006, 10:23:42 pm »

.......test drove a 5 speed Forester 2.5X on Saturday.......we really liked the manual tranny compared to the automatic.....Forester is probably Subaru's best car.....I dig it!

Have a good work week Gentleman,

DD

safristi · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2006, 10:36:25 am »

DEERE JOHN...why can't it skid logs out of a clearcut......Tabernac Timber Jack..........try the Turbo then!!!

NIBS · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2006, 10:27:30 am »

I have had my 06 FXT for three months now. I researched until I was sure it was the vehicle I wanted. There are few vehicles with the capability and overall fit of the Forester. Sportiness, roominess, comfortable seating, responsive handling with AWD is a hard product to find yet Subaru has it.

I agree with Chris that the downside is fuel economy, great for an SUV but so so with the car market. Regardless, this is one great vehicle and there are many reviews that reflect this. I love it and it is a hoot to drive.

Some additions that will improve future models (hopefully).

1. Five speed auto tranny
2. Telescopic steering with audio controls
3. Tinted factory windows
4. Better quality heating system. Can't get that perfect temp. 20c or open the window.

Shnak · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2006, 09:18:35 am »

Forester, roominess?? Its back seats are a joke! A LOT worse than what you have in a Corolla or a Civic. But that's because it's based on the tiny Impreza... but IMO, the Forester should be stretched a few inches to give that extra legroom space it desperately needs for rear passengers. It would then be very close to perfection!! That and telescopic steering wheel...