Ask the Car People.SM


2009 Subaru Forester

3747 messages,  Last post on Oct 15, 2012 at 3:22 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Future Vehicle, Wagon

Messages Page 165 of 376

#1635 of 3747 Questions about 2009 Forester by johnc19

Jun 11, 2008 (6:43 pm)

I am currently the owner of a 2000 Honda Odyssey and am considering down-sizing to something like the Forester or CRV. I've never owned a Subaru but I really like the new Forester after stopping at a dealer and getting the chance to sit inside (but not test drive) one.
 
I noticed that the Forester only has a 4-speed automatic vs. the 5-speed in the CRV (which I haven't test driven either). What I was wondering from someone who has a new Forester is what RPMs it runs at when cruising at 60 MPH. Does anyone know of plans by Subaru to make a 5-speed automatic available in the future?
 
I also noted that there doesn't appear to be a heat gauge like I'm used to seeing on the instrument panel. Is there some other instrument or readout that tells me if the car is overheating, or just an "idiot light" that tells me to check the engine?
 
Any thoughts some of you owners could share would be greatly appreciated.

#1636 of 3747 Re: Questions about 2009 Forester [johnc19] by arnabc

Jun 11, 2008 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: johnc19 (Jun 11, 2008 6:43 pm)
there's a light that alerts you to any engine overheating issues. when you first turn the car on it illuminates in blue, and then turns off once the engine is sufficiently heated. if it overheats the light comes on in red. luckily, i haven't seen this yet.
 
we liked the forester a lot more than the crv

#1637 of 3747 Re: Sportshift [jeffmc] by pgb0517

Jun 11, 2008 (7:15 pm)

Replying to: jeffmc (Jun 11, 2008 1:49 pm)
Thanks to all who responded on the Sportshift. It's been very enlightening. Guess I'll play with it sometime when I'm feeling ... sporty.

#1638 of 3747 Re: Questions about 2009 Forester [johnc19] by phdhusky

Jun 12, 2008 (6:40 am)

Replying to: johnc19 (Jun 11, 2008 6:43 pm)
When going around 65 I think the rpms are ~2500. You don't notice the engine rpms though and it is very comfortable. My gf drives a 2007 Cr-V and I drove that car around for a whole year. I can tell you that the Forester is more fun to drive than the CRV. You get a better 4WD system and no torque steer. The 4 speed vs 5 speed makes little difference in driver feel to me. You will feel like you are sitting higher in the CRV and lower and more carlike in the Forester. There are trade offs with both cars but I have been very satisfied with my Forester and I didn't want to buy the CRV as it is marketed toward mid 30's women with children and I am 21.
 
The best thing is to go look at both cars and see how they feel to you. Send me a msg and I can elaborate on the issue.

#1639 of 3747 Camilla Red 2.5x LLBean-MPG by birdboy

Jun 12, 2008 (6:50 am)

For those still considering the Forester, I have owned one for a month thus far. Except for the cost cutting interior , in my opinion, I am very happy with the drive. Last night on a 3 hour Thruway trip upstate 60-65mph, I averaged between 29-31 mpg . This is the third trip with this milage and it still is brand new.

#1640 of 3747 Re: 2009 Forester [redherring1] by redherring1

Jun 12, 2008 (6:52 am)

Replying to: redherring1 (Jun 11, 2008 11:33 am)
Replying to myself, I experimented last night with whether, by using Sportshift, you can start in 2nd (handy for snow starts). The answer: yes, but there's a trick to it. When in Sportshift the car does automatically downshift to 1st when you stop, but if you then bump the shift forward it will go into 2nd and start from there. Be aware that because of the gear ratio it gets going really slow in 2nd, but on a very slick surface I bet it would be great.

#1641 of 3747 Re: 2009 Forester [redherring1] by bigfrank3

Jun 12, 2008 (8:46 am)

Replying to: redherring1 (Jun 12, 2008 6:52 am)
All my automatic Foresters since 2001 have started in 2nd when that is chosen. I guess that with the new Sportshift there is no "2" to select anymore, true?

#1642 of 3747 Re: 2009 Forester [bigfrank3] by redherring1

Jun 12, 2008 (9:14 am)

Replying to: bigfrank3 (Jun 12, 2008 8:46 am)
Exactly--it's only P, R, N and D is at the bottom now, with the Sportshift slot to the left of that.

#1643 of 3747 Re: 2009 Forester [redherring1] by kurtamaxxxguy

Jun 12, 2008 (9:15 am)

Replying to: redherring1 (Jun 12, 2008 6:52 am)
very useful to know wrt the sportshift, thanks.
 
My CR-V test drive suggested CR-V has somewhat nicer interior, but was not all that responsive despite the 5-speed (one pro review commented its trans doesn't use 4th gear all that much). CR-V ride was also much firmer than Foresters'.
CR-V AWD, from videos I've seen, is weaker coping with hills than the Forester system is.
 
However, CR-V is a tiny bit faster and gets a bit more fuel economy per Motor Trend's recent 2008 comparo.

#1644 of 3747 Re: 2009 Forester [redherring1] by volkov

Jun 12, 2008 (9:58 am)

Replying to: redherring1 (Jun 12, 2008 6:52 am)
Remember kids, the 09's all have TC so I highly doubt you'd need to play with starting in L2 in slippery conditions. We'll have to see how she fares in real world ice or deep snow. Hopefully it's better than the Toyota set-up which favours not moving at all to spinning the wheels. There have been numerous complaints about that.
On my test drive I took the F9 to a moderate uphill on loose gravel road. From a stop I floored it and it just pulled away at an initially moderate rate of acceleration with barely a sound. Beyond the lack of pebbles flying everywhere, I was most impressed by how smooth it was. Prior experience in the Highlander and CR-V and older Jetta gave the sense of the car fighting against you and against itself whilst the warning light and beeper screamed at you. Nothing like that with Forester. To be fair, the CR-V was the last gen. and I didn't take the new one to that spot but I don't think the AWD and TC have changed since 06.

Messages Page 165 of 376

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement