By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
cusafr
Bob
Bob
If they made it run on regular, that would be a feat. I doubt it. Not a big deal on a ~$25K vehicle in my opinion.
I also doubt that it has any structural changes to the body. Perhaps a slightly differently tuned suspension, but nothing that would increase its towing capacity significantly (more limited by weight and weight distribution).
I also don't like the black interior, but if you get the manual, just get after-market leather. That adds relatively little to the cost compared to other vehicles in this segment (well, are there any competitors left?).
- D
A few comments/questions:
• I'm really happy to see the 5-speed manual being offered. It had been rumored that only a automatic would show up. Having said that, my guess, considering how's it's tuned, the automatic may just be the hot ticket...
• 210 HP is good. I figured between 215–220. One so-called SOA insider stated 225. I'll take the 210, and be happy with it. It's also a good distance from the WRX's 227 HP, which is good from a marketing standpoint. The 235 torque is right on the money, as per the SOA insider.
• So... there will be an XT Premium. Will there still be an XS Premium?
• Bummed about only being able to get the moonroof with the premium package, which is auto only.
• 165 HP remains for the regular 2.5, as per the SOA PDF.
• Since there is no mention of increased towing, I can only assume it remains as is. Also a bummer...
• It was rumored this car would also get the 5EAT, w/sport-shift. Didn't happen; but I assume the new automatic will be a good unit, as it's beefed up. No mention of sport-shift, so I don't expect it. I doubt the "Direct Control" is a sport-shift feature.
• Real happy to see blackwall tires!
• I bet the Legacy turbo will get the 5EAT and ~ 250 HP.
Bob
Camera 1 and 2 have the Subaru area in view, but I haven't been able to get a view of any vehicles in that area. If I find 'em (or someone else does), let us know!
-Brian
In that second link you posted, I noticed (in the photo gallery):
- The Automatic looked like the standard gated shift pattern in the Legacy. No +/- tiptronic-like feature.
- The photo shows the moonroof but with the manual tranny!
Ken
The 2004 Forester 2.5 XT is available with a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an optional new 4-speed Direct Controlled Electronic Automatic Transmission. *This advanced transmission electronically enhances shift operations for quicker, smoother shifts and better performance.*
From the sound of it, I'm not sure "Direct Control" is the most accurate name for this new trans. It sounds like the shifting enhancement is done electronically and not via any driver input. Though I'm sure it's an emprovement none the less.
-tom
And the non-leather picture shows a reddish tone, not black.
Looks like they decided at the last minute to limit choices, to save money at production.
Nice pictures. Subaru's media site still has no images up. Strange. Perhaps they realized the details are not consistent with the US specs.
- D
Would you really feel comfy with a big 5000lb camper behind the Forester? I know I wouldn't. And this is coming from the biggest towing nut (besides Bob) around who will tow anything at or near the limits. (I've towed 7800lbs behind my Trooper in a pinch)
-mike
Bob
I really like those new wheels. Someone over at NASIOC thought they were the same wheels found on the Japanese Forester Cross Sport (model equipped w/16" wheels).
Bob
Hey, that mesh over the intercoooler. OEM?
-Dave
I'm guessing they'll at least recommend premium, like the H6. It might not be required. We'll see. Mileage? Wanna do a poll? I say 20/25 for the 5 speed, 19/25 for the automatic.
Ken: I noticed the same two things (non-Shiftronic auto and the moonroof+5 speed). Good eye.
A couple of more details I just noticed: it still has vinyl inserts in the black seats, but they look better in that color. The interior almost looks like leather from that side view.
Also, the red shadow on the "XT" badge is subtle beauty, I love it. The WRX has a similar blue shadow, Bob pointed this out to me a while ago.
Finally, the interior is more two-tone than all black, there is plenty of gray. I like it, it sort of looks more upscale that way.
-juice
I say 5-speed will MSRP ~ $26K.
Bob
Invoice will be about $2500 less, maybe $23k. If so I WANT ONE! :-)
Hope I'm right. Now, an auto/leather/premium would then run about $28k with freight, with an invoice just over $25k.
Not bad, either, I hope I'm right!
-juice
If the 5-speed Forester turbo is within $3K of the 5-speed WRX wagon, which would you chose?
• If rumors are true, neither will come with a moonroof.
• The WRX will still remain the sportier ride, but the Forester offers so much more comfy stuff, and is more practical, especially as a daily driver.
Tough choice...
Bob
Yet another reason - I'll wager the 2.5l engine with the turbo is far easier to drive day-to-day, with less lag and all.
Fewer boy-racers challenging you to drag race. Less attention from the cops.
-juice
-Colin
It was 60 degrees here in Portland yesterday. I actually got to put the top down on the Miata in mid February. Rain by the weekend though
Eric
Thought of something else - Forester can probably tow, I'm not sure if I'd tow at all with a WRX wagon (is it even rated for it?). More payload, too. More roof rack capacity, with cross bars standard.
For me there'd be no question, actually.
-juice
Also, my two concerns with a WRX wagon was less cargo space and attracting boy racers. Once the EVO starts hitting the streets, I'm sure there's going to be quite a bit of idiotic F&F re-enactments.
What I'm eagerly waiting for now is the Legacy turbo. I think it's going to be between these two.
First Loosh in a turbo Forester and now Colin too!!?? Wow, who knew these days would come!
Has anyone gotten a glimpse of the Forester XT tach yet? I'm curious to know what redline is. So far, all the shots I've seen of the dash have the steering wheel blocking the view.
Ken
So Bob, you thinking about getting a turbo for the wife, and maybe giving the Toaster to one of the kids? I doubt any of them would mind.
-juice
Although, I guess I still haven't ruled out an H6 Outback. Apples to Oranges, I know.
-Brian
Len
Not quite but close, of course the turbo in the forester would make it quite a sleeper.
Cheers Pat.
Are these pics of pre-production models that didn't get the gauges, or does this mean the main gauge cluster is different in some way and qualifies as "sport" by Subaru? I think these are just pre-production units.
Another thing, notice the stereo is a new (and cool looking) design and I see no sign of a cassette deck. If it played MP3s, that would make up for it
-tom
No, if we went that route, it would probably replace the Explorer. Still gotta deal with my daughter's car first. I'm at the bottom of the family pecking order.
Bob
If the rest of the market reacts in the same way, the WRX wagon could take a hit as far as sales are concerned. I guess it all depends on how small the pricing gap between those two models ends up being.
Bob
lucien2 "Subaru Crew - Meet The Members II" Feb 12, 2003 12:46pm
Ken
If that's true, I wonder if the '04 Legacy GT will get the turbo? If so, my guess it would be the exact same turbo that the Forester/Baja get. Then—when the all-new '05 model debuts—that model will get ~ 250 HP and the 5EAT?
Bob
1. I wish it had AWP with Heated Seats, the rest of AWP is great.
2. I wish it had NaV system.......
my descent is going to be much farther than you'd imagine. if I ditch the M3, it would be to stop wasting so much money and thus no Forester Turbo, or anything new, for a few years.
so I'd actually be stepping down from an M3 to a Taurus SHO. honestly, I already drive the Taurus 90% of the time anyway but that's definitely been helped by this winter weather. and my drive to work is nothing scenic or fun (Kansas-- big surprise!) so I have no real motivation to drive the M3 instead as basic daily transportation. I'd rather ride, if the weather were nice enough.
-Colin
If not, I hope you're right about the engine landing in a Legacy, maybe the 2.5GT.
Save up some money now, while you have more income than expenses. There will surely be rough times in the future, and you'll be ready for them.
-juice
I'm actually looking at the SUW that will arrive in 2005, probably as a 2006 model!
-juice
http://just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=40245&dm=yes
The grille strongly hints of the new lead designer's Alfa design heritage.
Bob
I see stacked headlights a la Infiniti G35 coupe, plus a grille that looks straight from my favotire Alfa Romeo, the 156. OK, a hint of Mazda, but overall I love it!
Man, what a tease!
-juice
I've never been found of that grill myself. it's better than dodge's but distinctive is different than "good".
-Colin
Ken
Alfa, BMW, and this sketch too, focus on the "dead center" of the front end for the facial/brand ID. Unlike the Alfa, the grille on this sketch does have some unusual bends and creases, which the Alfa doesn't have—and never did have in the past either.
I do like having the Subaru oval logo now being a focal point at the top of the grille surround. I've always felt, from a pure design standpoint, that having the oval logo just stuck in the middle of the grille, to be a very bland design solution, used by many other carmakers. With this new design, the oval logo now becomes an integral part of the front end design, and IMO, a much better design solution.
One more thing: If you look "very carefully" at the new '04 Impreza front end, you will see a hint of this new "curve/crease" at the base of the grille. This is the beginning of a gradual design evolution towards this new Subie "face" that this sketch suggests.
Bob
-mike
Bob
We're already seeing the influence of that Alfa designer that moved over to Subaru.
-juice
The key difference between this new Subie grille, and the Alfa grille, is that the Alfa grille is wider at the top and tapers to a point at the bottom. This new Subie grille is the direct opposite of that: It is wider at the bottom and tapers to a point (where the logo is) at the top.
I think it's an excellent design solution, in that the whole (design) purpose of the grille, is to throw the maximum emphasis towards the Subaru logo, which it does it does in a superb fashion. The whole grille literally points directly to the Subaru logo. The effect is much like that of the star on top of a Christmas tree.
Bob
-mike
Nice to be compared to Alfa and BMW, no?
-juice
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31- - - 5773
Bob