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Kyle Busch
Automotive ExaminerKyle is an auto enthusiast and consumer advocate with over 30 years of experience. Author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He welcomes your comments and car questions on his website www.DriveTheBestBook.com . Kyle’s car has over 500,000 miles and he even has the same name as the #18 NASCAR driver.
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Same gas mileage - better Forester
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by Kyle Busch, Automotive Examiner
2008 (old design) Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester
has always been a
practical well-built
no nonsense wagon.
Its pluses included
rugged construction,
a horizontally opposed
boxer engine (rumored
to have been copied
from a Porsche engine
many years ago) with
a low center of gravity,
reliability, and
decent gas mileage.
I personally always liked the vehicle, however, the rear seat room
was limited because of its short wheelbase (the Forester used the
Impreza's platform).
As far back as 15 years ago, during each four-year redesign cycle, I
said: Put the Forester on the Outback platform and let it gain four inches
in wheelbase giving it better rear seat room and improved ride quality!
And I keep asking: Why is Subaru holding off and forgoing the extra sales
that could be gained?
Maybe the manufacturer thought the move would have likely cut into
sales of the Outback! If so, however, it was a poor decision to hold off
what should have been done! The automotive landscape is just too
competitive to wait year after year for a needed improvement.
Source: Edmunds.com
2008 Forester (Old Design) Specifications:
Exterior | |
Length: 176.6 in. | Width: 68.3 in. |
Height: 65 in. | Wheel Base: 99.4 in. |
Ground Clearance: 8.1 in. | Curb Weight: 3140 lbs. |
Interior | |
Front Head Room: 39.8 in. | Front Hip Room: 51.6 in. |
Front Shoulder Room: 53.5 in. | Rear Head Room: 39.8 in. |
Rear Shoulder Room: 53.6 in. | Rear Hip Room: 51.6 in. |
Front Leg Room: 43.6 in. | Rear Leg Room: 33.7 in. |
Luggage Capacity: 30.7 cu. ft. | Maximum Cargo Capacity: 69 cu. ft. |
Maximum Seating: 5 | |
2009 (new design) Subaru Forester
Subaru again
redesigned the
Forester, and
the 2009 model
finally has more
wheelbase and
even an increase
in height, width,
and length! Now
the vehicle has
additional rear
seat room, more
comfort, a practical
ride height, the same 2.5 liter boxer engine, and gas mileage that is
very close to the outgoing vehicle.
Source: Edmunds.com
2009 Forester (New Design) Specifications:
Exterior | |
Length: 179.5 in. | Width: 70.1 in. |
Height: 65.9 in. | Wheel Base: 103 in. |
Ground Clearance: 8.7 in. | Curb Weight: 3300 lbs. |
Interior | |
Front Head Room: 41.6 in. | Front Shoulder Room: 56.1 in. |
Rear Head Room: 40.4 in. | Rear Shoulder Room: 55.6 in. |
Front Leg Room: 43.1 in. | Rear Leg Room: 38 in. |
Luggage Capacity: 33.5 cu. ft. | Maximum Cargo Capacity: 68 cu. ft. |
Maximum Seating: 5 | |
If you need a practical people and cargo hauler in a modern package
that includes a proven engine and decent gas mileage, the Forester
could well be the wagon for you. To top it off, Subaru has held the price
of the base model very close to the last model. Rather than just a
pretender, the Subaru Forester is now a contender!
Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price…” He
welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site:
Topics: gas mileage , gas saving , 2008 , 2009 Subaru Forester , New suvs
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