2003-2008 Subaru Forester - a good choice in a tough economy

November 17, 11:19 AMAutomotive ExaminerKyle Busch

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The Subaru Forester has been redesigned for 2009. It is now a larger
vehicle that has virtually escaped a price increase. If the new Forester
is indeed a better value, why consider the last model? Well, now
that the new model is circulating in the market, the price of the last
model (2003-2008) is coming down!

Make no mistake, if you need a larger vehicle with more back seat
room, the new Forester may well be the SUV for you. However,
if you can live with a bit less rear seat room, the tall wagon (last
Forester) does many things quite well. Think of it as a good all
weather performer that is useful in this tight economy.

The 2003-2008 Forester has the long proven 2.5-liter horizontally
opposed (two pistons on each side moving <-- -->) 4-cylinder boxer
engine making 165 hp. Word has it that Subaru copied the engine’s
design from Porsche. Porsche placed their horizontally opposed
engine at the rear but Subaru has placed theirs at the front. The
Forester’s boxer engine is compact and it has a low center of
gravity. Additionally, the engine has good low end power that
is useful in this an all-wheel drive vehicle.

Subaru is known as one of the best in its execution of the all-wheel
drive system. It is compact system that means it is not excessively
heavy. Thus, the Forester gets a reasonable 28 mpg on the highway.
The bottom line on the Forester’s all-wheel drive system is that it
seamlessly transfers power to the wheels that need traction. So no
matter what the weather or economic conditions, you will have
more control! This is a plus in an economy that seems out of
control.

The outside of 2003-2008 Forester is compact enough to park in
tight spaces, however, with the rear seat folded down, it is a cargo
hauler. This means that transporting college cargo or possibly even
saving on renting a truck or U-Haul is a possibility. Again, is the
idea of saving some money in this economy.

The Forester also has a beefed up suspension and good ground
clearance. Thus, it will stand up to rough roads and even tackle the
off road trail. It has a no nonsense but reasonably comfortable
interior. The seats sit high enough for the driver to have a good
outward view and they are supportive. Additionally, the
instrumentation and switchgear have a logical layout. The
exterior is straightforward without being flashy, but such works
well when most everyone is cutting back and belt tightening.

The vehicle is dependable and Consumer Reports says that it has
a good repair history. So, the used Forester does many things well
and it will do them consistently day in and day out. In other words,
in an increasingly uncertain world, the Forster will add a sense
of certainty.

And what about the all important factor – price! A used 2003
Forester books for about $10,000. This is less than one-half
the price of a new Forester. However, you can make these
tough economic times work for you. If you work at it, this
vehicle could be yours for $8,000-$9,000.

In today’s economic environment, a used 2003-2008 Subaru Forester
is definitely worth a look!

Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.DriveTheBestBook.com