Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
-juice
I love this car, wife does too but she's scared to drive it until I get the first scratch. Only regret is not looking at leather seats, the tan is pretty light. I normally go for the econ/value model, but I'm enjoying the sunroof and heated seats. Never had so little buyers remorse on any vehicle.
Thanks to this board for help/info on holdbacks, delivery, etc. Had a very nice experience with the internet dealer in Staunton, VA.
Anybody have advice, recs, for various roof carriers to go on the Forester? I'll need a 4 pair ski rack and canoe / kayak racks. Don't think I'll go the 2X4 "custom" route like on my 91 Loyale
-Frank
Uh oh... I see two problems right there. Car buying 101: You should always negotiate and finalize the purchase price of the new vehicle before beginning negotiations on the sale price of any trade-in. Secondly, you should never reveal to the dealer what you want your monthly payment to be. Doing either puts you at a strategic disadvantage in your negotiations with the dealer and doing both certainly compounds the problem
If you’re positive that your Jeep is worth more than the Subaru dealer is offering and you don’t want to sell it yourself take it to someplace like Carmax that specializes in good condition late model vehicles. They may very well make you a better offer. Also, since a Jeep dealer is most familiar with the used Jeep market, you should consider asking their used sales manager what he’d be willing to buy it for.
-Frank
Thanks,
Melinda
-juice
I want a moonroof and heated seats, sure, but $3800? For that much more I want NAV as well.
-juice
I too also started with the X vs. X premium debate like others here, but the difference was knocking on 4k. The option I wanted was the sunroof. So no $4k sunroof for me, no matter how big
23 Civic Type-R / 22 MDX Type-S / 21 Tesla Y LR / 03 Montero Ltd
ateixeira - didn't you or someone quote some numbers for aftermarket sunroof not too long ago?
My wife put a power tilt/slide roof in her Legacy, that was around $900 IIRC.
No regrets. Both are made by ASC. ASC's web site will refer you to local installers if you check.
-juice
-Frank
If only because I really want a car with an iPod/MP3 player jack, and I'm hoping the 07 will have that.
Then again, I've got to imagine the 07 models will be more expensive; the dealers are all probably trying to unload the 06 models. I've got quotes under invoice and without the destination fee.
I'm hoping for VTD and SportShift but I won't hold my breath.
-juice
Unfortunately, the trade in on my 4Runner has dropped 2-3k(depending on who's numbers you believe) since I began my search so, instead of being even or a little ahead on my trade, I'm back in the hole. I refuse to roll negative equity so I'll just keep the 4Runner for now and continue to pay it down. My Subie dreams will have to go on hold for now!
2021 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4xe Granite Crystal over Saddle
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
Jim
BTW, how many miles do you have on your '98 Forester?
Perfectly understand your reluctance but there are plenty of reputable installers who have cut holes in roofs of vehicles far more expensive than the Forester
-Frank
To be honest, it's the other way around, hers has features missing on the OE system.
First off, I can press and release one single button and it opens all the way. Same to close. Same to tilt. Just one press, and you don't have to hold it.
The Subaru one you have to press and hold, and of course it stops, twice I think. So you have to press and hold a button THREE TIMES to get the stinking thing to open or close all the way.
Also, hers is programmable. You remove the key, it closes no matter what position it's in. We can also turn that feature off, if you really do want to leave it open (in a covered garage, maybe).
It would be smaller than the wonderfully huge one in the Forester, though.
-juice
"Actually, the aftermarket sunroof has a few features lacking in the Subaru sunroof" So he's agreeing with you.
I think I have the same model as your wife. The auto close feature is especailly nice. However, I sometimes leave the sunroof tilted open to keep the interior cooler when I have to park in the sun.
-Frank
I stand corrected.
-juice
-juice
-Brian
2006 Subaru Forester 2.5X
automatic
customer tailpipe cover
popular equipment group 5A
popular equiment group 1E
MSRP: $23,936
Our price: $18,800
After taxes (8.25 in California, ouch!) and license fees: $20,811.31
When we got home with the car, the Internet manager at the dealership we bought at had e-mailed back a quote of $19.5! I told him we bought from his dealership for $18.8, and he said that they took a $300 net loss on that car, that it was their advertised "loss leader." I'm not sure if they really lost money, but overall I'm really pleased with the car and the price we paid.
Best of luck to everyone! I think $19.5 is also a pretty good price (before taxes, license fees) for this area--SoCal.
Really annoyed that the stereo doesn't come with an iPod jack, though. And that the '07 models will be out so soon... but I need a car--SOON!
-juice
Cargo nets - go for the side cargo nets, they're easy to reach and can easily hold a well-filled plastic grocery bag of stuff on each side.
Arm rest - I have an '05 XS, and it works great for me. I think '06 front seating area is shaped differently, you'll have to check it out.
Cargo mat (rubber mat that fits in rear cargo area) - absolutely. It has a lip all around to retain dirt/liquid spills, and when you need to fold the back seat down for big cargo, you don't have to worry about that lip, it's plenty flexible to handle anything you lay across it
Rear bumper cover - I thought about this, then decided against it. If I ever get to the point where that bumper starts to show wear 'n tear, I'll go out and buy a cover to hide the damage. Still haven't done that , 19 months and 29k miles later.
Go for a bit o' flash - get the tailpipe cover (optional on '05, dunno about '06 or later). This seems to be a "standard" option, I've seen only one late model Forester so far that didn't have it.
And - if you close the deal - enjoy!
Ditto what Growler said about the mud flaps. Not sure I agree with him about the side cargo nets though. I find that the standard bag hooks work fine to keep grocery bags from sliding around. I do have a rear cargo net that is useful for securing larger items but it gets in the way of loading and unloading.
I have the bumper cover and it has definitely saved the bumper from getting scratched by my Lab retriever jumping in and out.
-Frank
Those all-weather rubber mats aren't very expensive. If you know you're gonna be in a little mud or dirt (or sand at the beach!), just toss those mats in to keep your carpeted mats looking nice. It's a lot easier to shake sand off of the rubber mats than try to vacuum out the carpeted ones.
I'm a new member here at Edmunds. Like driver56, I live in the South West Coast of Canada (I'm in Vancouver, BC). I'm currently considering buying a 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5X (base model) but, in Canada, here are the two main features that are missing in the 2.5X trim compared to the US version of it:
- 4 disc brakes (in Canada: front disc brakes and rear drum brakes).
- Electronic Brake Distribution.
I'm not in a big rush to buy it and, if it's worth waiting for the 2007 model, I prefer doing that. So, I have a few questions:
1. Does anybody know when the 2007 Subaru Forester will come out in Canada ?
2. If you don't know, when will it come out in the US ? That would give me an idea.
3. For the 2007 model, will the 2.5X trim in Canada include:
- 4 disc brakes.
- Electronic Brake Distribution.
- MP3 support for the CD player.
- Line-In connector for the audio system (to connect an MP3 player or similar device).
4. Is the 2007 model gonna be a new design ?
5. If yes, does it mean that it will be harder to get discounts (invoice cost or fleet return price) ?
6. Do you know of any link detailing the upcoming changes for the 2007 model ? I Googled it and all I could find was related to Sirius satellite radio (as an option). I didn't find anything about the 4 features I ask above in question 3.
Thanks in advance.
Chris
For '07, I say yes for the MP3 and line-in questions, not sure about the brakes.
We should hear about the 07 models soon, stick around. Nothing yet, though. It's not a redesign.
-juice
This won't be a new design, but there's rumor of some possible minor visual change.
Word is that '07 Forester and Impreza will have aux input only on the 6-disc CD changer, not on the base stereo. That's an upgrade you should be able to add to an X, so wouldn't need to get a Premium just to get aux input. Legacy, Outback and Tribeca are supposed to get aux input on all models.
Wish I could give you more answers, but I don't have any. I agree that the X really should have the same braking system as the Premium.
1. Settle for the Impreza 2006 (for the all-around model, it is currently my second choice behind Forester) ?
2. Settle for the Forester 2006 without rear disc brakes and without EBD ?
3. Wait for the Forester 2007 and hope that it has 4-disc brakes and EBD standard on the base trim model ?
But...I would not pick an OBS over a Forester for that reason alone. The Forester has a lot more cargo room, and that's more likely to matter (several times) during the course of ownerhip than the rear drum brakes.
I hit the brakes in the wet once, and a Saturn plowed in to the back on my Forester. Stopping power is still quite good, too good in this case.
-juice
Sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you and the Forester are ok :-)
-juice
I'd go with what juice said - wait 'til the '07s have just started to come out, or at least until you find out for sure what the equipment will be on them. Personally, I like Forester better than Outback Sport, even considering the brakes. I think of the Sport as being for folks who don't like Forester's boxy look but still want something smaller than a Legacy or Outback wagon.
-juice
Paid $22.9 with a bunch of extras--auto-dimming mirror with compass, bumper cover, and cargo tray. Figured it was pretty much in line with the other prices listed here. Only wish I didn't have the NY state taxes--8.75% OUCH!
Oh, and it was $1,000 better than what the initial dealer offered me in NYC! Ha!
Congrats to both of us on our first cars, Mike
Bob