Awesome ! Congrats and thank you for taking up on this challenge ! I really enjoyed your video (well edited) and I can't agree more with what you love about your Foz ! Especialy the last one !, my foz never let me done ! Nice work Donald ! Now, I can't wait to see JonDZ's video !
I live in interior Alaska and have owned Subarus since the 1990s. 10 things I like about my Forester: 1) It starts at -40 degrees (after plugging in for 2 hrs) 2) Great traction in winter...much better than my 4X4 pickup truck. 3) Back seat folds down for hauling bulky items like a dog box 4) Few mechanical problems (1990s blown head gasket was common) 5) Good gas mileage considering the hauling capacity 6) Subaru does not cut corners...they give you a real spare tire 7) Easy to convert to front wheel drive by pulling a fuse if the spare tire size is different 8) Excellent visibility from the driver's perspective...seems like so many SUVs these days have poor rear view visibility. 9) The easiest vehicle I have ever owned in terms of do it yourself oil changes...no need to jack up the vehicle and well designed filter location 10) MIne has heated seats which are nice since we are in winter mode from October to April.
Thank you so much for all this additional information for someone who has never owned a newer vehicle and is debating the Forester this is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!
Thank you for existing. Are Subaru forester has lasted 12 years and has no problems at all. You are an AMAZING Brand and I will never forget how many things you have gotten me and my family through...Once Again....Thank You.
I’ve dreamt of having a Subaru Forester since a teenager. Unfortunately, the 2019 is a bit too large for a single girl. I opted for the 2019 Cross Trek and it’s been a dream. So grateful.
Crosstrek is nice too :) I've got a forester and I love it but crosstrek is a right fit too, dont worry bout it, as long as it's a boobaroo, you goods ;)
I can honestly say before Jan 2016, i would of never seen myself in a Subaru... but a co-worker of mine drove a subi, and he said that's all he's driven... and he loved them. So i started shopping around and finally found a 2007 Forester and took it for a test drive ( right to my bank lol ) and took out some $$$ and bought the vehicle right then and there..... I was amazed at how well they drove, the ride height is almost perfect.. not too high like a truck, and not too low like some car's are... and i don't have a single blind spot in my Subi.. Do i wish some things where better? sure... but it's really just nit picking...
@@DLYskes1976 holy crap, John Wicks gotta subie lol, kidding. Honestly I cant get enough of subie sometimes when I see an old subie I just wanna get it especially if its an old forester. I think these cars are built for people whol love adventure. Good for you though man, hopefully you are happy with your vehicle. XD
Megan Bournes hi friends. I am considering a Subaru. I am a bird photographer and find myself trying to get up mountains and over rough terrain in search of birds. Would you all recommend one Subaru over another? Is the cross trek good enough to cross over the logs and rocks like he did in the video or am I better off with a forester
As a former Jeep owner who's owned two Jeeps (lifted and I belonged to an off-road club), they're great for off-road BUT as a middle-aged adult with kids and not much spending money even IF I could afford a new Jeep, I couldn't afford to fix it if I had any major issues or damage. The Forester is much better suited to adult life with the occasional venture into the outdoors!
For sure. I'd love to have the capabilities of a Jeep offroad, but just doesn't make sense the rest of the time, and owning a daily plus a trail rig is not an option for me. Plus, just being able to poke around on trails all day long and only consume half a tank of gas really keeps it affordable too. Thanks for watching!
2019 Forester owner - 4 mi at the dealership - 3 weeks later 3400mi - 3rd Subie - in Love all over again - working on an overland build. Thank you for the content!
I can say that Forester is a very compact car for me... It's good in all environment, the power, the safety... I still want to use it in the off road conditions, must be fantastic!!!
All good points, though I disagree with one thing. My 2011 Forester is not quiet. I have to turn my music quite loud to hear it while rolling down the highway. Save for that, though, everything you said is true. I most appreciate that I’ve had the car for close to ten years and it has not once broken down. Every car I’ve owned , before this, has broken down more than once. Loved your vid!
I think I want a Subaru Forester now. What sold me....good on gas, awd for snow storms and I liked that you can sleep inside comfortably with a little modifications to make it a camper inside. I would want a manual trans though. I hear the CVT transmissions are unreliable as they get older.
I don't have experience with the CVT (my Forester has the older 4EAT automatic which is a pretty nice system) but from what I've seen, I would tend to agree with you there...I certainly won't be buying a CVT-equipped Subaru. Thanks for watching!
If you don’t want a Subaru CVT, you could look at the Honda Passport or Toyota 4Runner. 🤔 i know that the CRV and RAV4 generally don’t stack up too well compared to the Forester
@@SilverScarletSpider @mixflip The new Passport is *quite* impressive. If you haven't already, check out JonDZAdventuring to see it getting put to the test, usually alongside Foresters and other Subarus. th-cam.com/channels/p4229KnkoC3zrrLBL362BA.html The 4Runner is obviously a well-proven platform that is even more capable and reliable, but it is a 4x4 truck and may not quite meet the "good on gas" criteria. In any case Dreamy makes an excellent point...it's worth checking out a number of options to find the right fit.
I was worried about CVT too... After some time and about 35 000 km in it I wouldn't buy anything else... And I bought car with failed CVT and first thing what i need to do was fixing it... Now i thing its simple and no so expensive...
We've had this subaru for 11 years and in less than a month it will be 12 and it has brought us through many places and gets us to where we are going easily. Apparently even my sister was sleeping once and my parents wrapped her in the blanket, put her i the car and drove to the hospital and i was born. It holds all our memories and if we ever get a new car, we will never forget how special this one is. I love this subaru alot and it feels weird seeing complaints about it when most of them arent true because we have one. It was there for ten years in our old house and one year in our new one. It carried out luggage and almost everything while my mums car barely could even take a quarter of it. I have also always loved cars and my favourite has always been subarus. when i was about 2 years old i used to draw car logos and mostly drew subaru logos. I even had a birthday cake of that logo. Subarus are very reliable vehicles and for me it basically has lasted forever!
Owned Jeep Liberty 2005 and fun to drive and with age, a lot of issues here and there, engine break down, fixing.. decided to buy Forester. Been really nice and excited for the fun i will have with Forester
Interesting! Every week at least one person comments on one of my videos that I should be driving a Jeep instead of a Subaru. 8^D Congrats on the Forester, have fun out there!
Thanks, great vid. Just bought a second hand 2010 Forester, roads around my new house are not great in the summer let alone the winter. Also comforting to hear that it has never let you down, as all that seems to be talked about is faults and not reliability. Learn that old is ok with my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, that thing ran great until it didn't, was hard to let it go!
Cool. Love my Forester and it’s 14 years old. Best vehicle I ever owned. Keep thinking I will get a new vehicle when this one’s had it, but hasn’t happened yet, it just goes and goes and goes. Still tight as a drum.
Got a forester sport for weekly ski trips and I can’t wait to use it this winter! We will be getting a crosstrek next year as well. Love Subaru’s more and more
Wow dude! I loved this little side project from the norm. I’ve always liked the older gen foresters and wanted to have one, but after watching your video I REALLLLY want one. The crv will never be able to keep up with your rig off-road ! 🙌🏼
Hrmm, I dunno...so far your CRV has pretty much tackled everything my Forester has...I feel like you could say pretty much all the same things about your V... 8^)
A well mannered approach and most enjoyable review, thank you. I've got an itch to buy a Forester...and also to pay a visit stateside to rent a SF and hit some trails. Best wishes from Blighty.
Great video. My first, and only Subaru (to this date), was a 05 Legacy. Still am Impressed with it, and my wife Also. We have driven ‘18 Toyota camry, ‘17 prius, ‘16 Bmw X3, anda few more, and none Of those cars drives as good as the legacy i used to have. I find it very sad that where i live we do not have Subaru’s dealers... they are very far and that is what detrives me from getting another one. Hope one day we can!
Love the video! On your #3 point: the SH fozzies have an insane turning radius of 17.1’, better than any other gen of forester. Beats out a lot of smaller cars too!
I didn't know that spec but it doesn't surprise me in the least. I love how easily I can turn around...it's a good thing because I have to do it frequently. 8^)
A respectful and well mannered review...thank you. I'm itching to come to the USA again and rent a Suburu and do some trails. Best wishes from Blighty.
Now own a Forester, an 18 model after firstly a Vitara then an Audi. Much,much better than the Audi which was not as reliable as I had hoped. Not had the opportunity to try it out in snowy or off road but after seeing this, feel confident and hopefully, it will be more reliable than the Audi!
I'm definitely going to get a Forester for my first car. I live in Norway and need a good AWD system. The head gasket problems isn't an issue for me, since I'm a mechanic and have a workshop.
yeh, subaru know how to make the cabin space seem way bigger than what you expect from the outside aha. i got a bugeye wrx wagon and love being able to fold those seats down. fit all the scuba gear during summer and the snowboarding gear during winter
Man, the footage of those Crosstreks with lift kits, Method wheels and all terrain tyres gets me going. The Forester is larger and perhaps more practical, but the Crosstrek is hot. (I own a stock Crosstrek, haha)
Oh I agree with you completely! I think those built Crosstreks are MUCH more eye-catching than my Forester. I probably would have considered buying a Crosstrek actually, only they were still too new for my budget at the time. Thanks for watching!
Subscribed! I stumbled across your channel from John DZ Adventuring. I have the same SH Foz and can't wait to watch more of your videos and learn about your mods. Keep up the great work brother!
Thank you sir, much appreciated! I tend to mostly do excursion videos but I do get a lot of questions about the "build" (if you can call it that) so I'm thinking about covering mods a little more comprehensively when I can. Thanks for watching (and subscribing)!
Donald, Challenge accepted!!! I didn't know this was an actual challenge, I'm subscribed to ALSM, Mitre A, Bruceyyyy, and of course, yourself. I guess I must have missed the challenge part. By the way, great video! I agree with all your reasons. I totally relate to your 1st and 2nd reasons (1.)it's a Subaru and 2.) it's not a Jeep)) I was driving on the freeway for a little bit and I was thinking of other vehicles I could possible replace the 2015 Forester XT with. I thought of the Lexus GX470, Land Rover Discovery, 4 runner, JL Jeep (in many configs), The new Bronco, ..... I was just entertaining the thought. I really couldn't make a case against the Forester XT. It's exceptional on the roads and highways (where we spend most of our time), good fuel economy (as opposed to 15 MPG highway or worse). Driving an FJ cruiser for 5 years, I really don't want to go back to that floaty highway feel and 15 MPG.
I am not really crazy about jeeps, but I love the older land cruisers they are crazy reliable and capable. but retail for quite a bit. I have been thinking about getting my first overlanding ish car and have really been considering a Subaru forester. I have heard nothing but good things and they are very cheap where I live and they don't look like an eyesore. Thanks for the great video and information
I do love my Forester. For the sake of completeness and not overselling the Forester, you might want to watch my recent follow up: "5 Things I Hate" video...8^) th-cam.com/video/hMxxjie4t7w/w-d-xo.html Good luck with the car shopping and thanks for watching!
Sounds like you actually maintain your Subarus. My first offroadish vehicle was an '81 AMC Eagle, second was an '85 GL wagon, then a 4Runner. Now, 2 Jeeps, 2 Troopers, and a Dodge Raider, later...im looking at Subies again. My children grew up on the Colorado trails, and both sons 1st 4Runner owners. I find (i believe w no evidence) that a host of Subaru drivers, drive, tear up, neglect, and then try to offload falling apart Foresters and outbacks on craigslist...while true lovers of these cars do the maintenance, replace broken parts, the head gasket, timing belts, for as long as they own them, and get rid of them for a newer Subaru. Its frustrating, but the search continues.
Nice to see someone like his Subaru Forester, like I do mine. XT 2007 and XT2010. Only I realized is - not so good resale value what in return giving to everyone chance to enjoy this amazing cars
Nice! I’m pretty new to Forester’s, I bought a beat up ‘99 to wheel, but I totally hear you on the community and such, I’ve found it’s just as you say. Thanks for all the great links, I of course sub’ed and will check out those other channels as well.
Love the Forester had a 2010 and recently just got a 2019 Forester. Theres been this debate btw a lot of subaru owners about transmission fluid changes. Do you change them every 24k or not? Reason i ask is because some subaru dealerships wont change them because its supposed to be lifetime fluid and it could void the warranty. But if you dont change them you can get transmission problems ltr on lol so its a catch 22.
This was a relaxing and interesting video with of different scenes and visuals! I test drove the Forester and I love that it drives like a car and I can’t wait to get mine. Stupid chip shortage is taking forever😝 Great content!
Thank you! BTW I got a set of those deflators on a keyring I first saw on your channel and I absolutely LOVE them. This weekend's excursion involved lots of sand so I aired down more than I ever had before, SO fast and easy!
Subaru hopefully my next car. Ive had the usual suspects, Audi, VW, Ford etc but they were all rubbish apart from a Focus and a Fiesta many years ago. Subaru built to last, and although not very cheap in the UK, they are worth it.
Just found your channel and wow! So cool man keep it up! My one request is that you PLEASE do a video explaining your sleeping setup and how you made it!!! (5:48) Cheers
Hi Josh, thank you for the kind words! Yes, a complete walkthrough video including a detailed look at my camping setup is at the top of my list...I'll be pulling that together just as soon as I can (realistically, some weeks away yet). Thanks for watching!
I'm a photographer in Montana and looking to replace my F-150 with a Forester. I drive thousands of miles on the highway, but every once in a while, I have to go out to some ranch or location down a dirt road.
In case you did not know I drive a Jeep too..... Yes it gets terrible gas mileage, but I don't have a car payment or new car insurance to pay for, so I suppose it makes up for it.... and then some. Good video and good points on why to own a Subaru Forester. I had a DL wagon years ago. It was a fun car. Would consider one again for the wife, but she likes her 2014 Cherokee too much right now. Just curious, does any of the modern Subaru's have a two speed transfer case anymore?
Oh I know your Jeep, believe me. I've loved those Wagoneers since I was a kid! FWIW, no car payment or full coverage insurance here either, I've only ever owned used cars I paid cash for. The Forester is my one and only vehicle and has proven to be a fair compromise between adventuremobile and around-town kid-hauling grocery-getter. And, nope, no low-range available in Subarus for many many years now. That's probably the one thing that would eventually cause me to step away from Subaru and get a real 4x4. The traction control system has been pretty good for getting me up terrain that would be better served with low-range gearing, but there are definitely scenarios where I can sure feel how much better it would be to just have it crawling up (or down) in first low. Seems like there's always trade-offs whatever vehicle you choose. Anyway, thanks for watching and commenting George, much appreciated!
@@softroadingthewest well the 2019 Forester can now simulate low gears with its CVT. In fact, It is the most offroad oriented Forester that you can get straight from the factory.
Thanks mate (if I may use that term) 8^) That's some amazing country you have down there. Really hope to get there one day and experience it for myself. Thanks for watching!
I brought a 2018 jeep had it for 4 months and it was completely rusted without even going offroad. Traded it in for a new forster and I wish I had of gotten the forster in the first place
@@witchingmushroom1761 oh and jeeps are perfect, c'mon bro. Jeeps went to crap after the cj7, but then I am an owner of what has always been better than jeeps, which is the Toyota tacoma, :). Why so much hate for what should be fun comments. Subarus have always been reliable, did a Subaru touch you in a improper place?
@@witchingmushroom1761 me working for Mitsubishi Dealership having 4 Subies in my family, from 71,000km up to 355,000 km non of them leaking oil or having major trouble, compared to those used shitty Jeeps who come in for service they are way better.
I could list dozens more reasons I love mine, but picking 5, I think you did well. But here's one thing I hate: I got the 2011 model with the FB25 engine and it stinks. It consumes approximately 1 litre of oil for every 1000kms I drive (that's 2 pints per 600 miles). If I don't watch the oil level like a hawk I risk blowing my engine, and it's costing me stupid $$. Only fix is to replace the small block and that may not even fix it, just a chance. Cheaper to buy ridiculous amounts of oil for the life of the car. It's really taken a shine off the love.
Oh wow, that's pretty significant. I too have the FB25 but I only see disproportionate oil consumption during prolonged high speed driving in hot summer months, e.g. road trips from Oregon to California. Both times I've done this trip, the engine burned about 1 quart per 1,000 miles (~1 litre in 1600 kilometers). The rest of the time under normal driving including around town, rural highway trips, and hours on forest roads, I probably only have to add a quart/litre every 3,000-4,000 miles (4800k-6400k). Your consumption level sounds truly problemetic. I don't know if it's the case elsewhere in the world, but here in the States, Subaru extended the warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for the oil consumption issue. You have to get a controlled oil consumption test performed but if it shows a certain level (don't remember exactly but you're definitely beyond the threshold) they will replace the short block. I haven't pursued that because the consumption hasn't really been an issue for me. If I was burning through it like you are though, I would definitely be looking into it. Good luck!
You folks make me really want to buy a Subaru Outback. And my only need is to be able to go on to horse farm properties and deal with snowy and rainy weather in the mid-Atlantic.
Loved the video and the forester looks amazing. This and the roof rack video got me thinking, would you be interested in doing a modification video of your subie.
Hi There ! Ed Here, From São Paulo, SP, 🇧🇷 ! ! ! AWESOME VIDEO ! ! ! ! ! ! PURE RELAXATION ! ! ! I''m About To Buy My Very First (Used) Subaru ! It Is a Forester XT 2.5, 2011/2012, 59.664 Miles, Single Owned, For About US$ 12.000,00. I'll Try To Bargain a Beat Though ... No Doubt Technology Made All Subaru Models More Energy Efficient and Powerfull "BUT" (Threre Is Always a "BUT" ...), The Exchange of Automatic Gearbox With Torque Converter by the CVT Was (And I Think, It Is) The Subject of Much Controversy. That Exchange Took Place From 2013 (Inclusive) On, In The Forester Models Here In Brazil, What I Think The Same Have Happened All Over. Despite of That, I Have To Agree With The "FIRST THING" : " IT IS A SUBARU " Good To Know You Guys ! Best Regards ! Ed
The 2012 forester has hollow doors and seems too heavy / bad in snow even after I did the wheel alignment. Some say it is the tires but that is Subaru’s fault if other crossovers don’t slip in snow ice when AWD is where it is for them. The boxer engine is prone to oil leaks. My is in the initial process which would require a new gasket etc after 100k miles.
Mike H Are there cars that don’t have hollow doors? Couldn’t roll the window down if they were solid. And in the snow all three of my Subarus have been champs. Older Subaru engines certainly are prone to oil leaking and/or head gasket issues...my other Subarus suffered this affliction, however the 2012/FB25 engine is equipped with superior MLS gaskets, so far haven’t seen the slightest hint of oozing. You may enjoy my more recent video “5 Things I Hate About My Subaru Forester.” I do talk about the head gaskets and other oil issues in that one. Thanks for watching!
Thanks! And...wait...you have a Forester AND a Jeep?? That seems to be a - vs - video just waiting to be made... 8^) ...what makes you decide to drive one instead of the other on a given excursion? Or does that XT not see dirt?
@@vmoregon Ha! No way! I've always loved those old Cherokees...many (many) years ago in my youth I came close to buying one but ended up with something more "sensible." Took me a couple of decades to eventually end up in some kind of backcountry-exploring rig as I was pining for all those years ago. 8^)
I like your external mods like the lift, tires, and rims. Racks do provide room for various attachments. I'm a bit perplexed to your internal setup, as you seem to approach this as a hobby, not #Vanlife. So, Why not a hammock, or tent? I often tie one end of the hammock to the rack. I do pretty good with stock height on most national forest roads that I have attempted in the PNW.
Oh no, not vanlife for sure. I'd go nuts trying to live inside this small car, heh. It's definitely hobby level. I guess you could say my hobby is sleeping in my car? 8^D I'm done with ground tents...it's one of the things I disliked most about camping. And while I can nap briefly in a hammock, I could never make it through the night in one - I really prefer a firm, perfectly flat surface. That's what led to making my little platform. Ultimately it's not particularly complicated and seems pretty hobby-level to me...I put it together in a couple of hours, it goes in and comes out in a minute or two, and my total cost was less than a decent tent or hammock. I'm protected from weather (and bear and cougar), I can see what's sniffling around camp in the middle of the night without making any noise unzipping a window, and if needed I can roll into a campsite and crawl directly from the drivers seat to bed without setting foot outdoors. I'd also have been hard pressed to use a hammock on my last trip, camping in the eastern Oregon desert where there were zero trees to tie the other end onto. 8^) I drove the Forester for a year down all kinds of national forest roads at stock height, and for the most part it got me through, though I pretty commonly scraped bottom or ran into approach/departure angle issues. The 1" lift has made a noticeable difference though I do still encounter plenty of scenarios where I wish I had 2" instead. Thanks for watching and let me know if I can clarify further! 8^)
I have heard that its a noisy ridevon the highway in terms of videos while driving or regular conversations. You say its quiet. Hmm, how would you describe the quietness whilw driving? When compared to the Outback, I've heard its VERY noisy window wise. Ive also heard its slow to pick up speed if you want to pass on the highway. Is that true for you? Another reason the Outback is preferred. I personally am more drawn to the Forester bc of the amazing panoramic sunroof, greater head space, and shorter lengty for city parking, where I live. Have you ever debated between the Outback and Forester? If so, what turned you toward the Forester? If not, what drew you toward the Forester to begin with given ALL the SUV options? Thanks!
I got a Subaru Forester (vs other SUV) because I had previously owned two other Subarus spanning more than 15 years and they had been the most reliable cars I had ever owned. I also wanted something reasonably fuel efficient that was able to explore dirt roads, vs 4x4 SUVs that consume more gas. I had an Outback previously, but preferred the taller interior space, upright seating position and shorter wheelbase of the Forester. When I say "quiet" I think I was probably mentally comparing to something like a Jeep. There are quieter passenger cars than Subarus for sure. I never felt my Forester was any noisier than my Outback. You can hear the road noise, sure, but not enough to negatively impact the driving experience (for me anyway) and I was so happy with other aspects of my Subarus that slight tradeoffs were worth it to me.
I just got a Subaru Forester and I absolutely love it. My question is this. You guys that do the offroading. Are you doing this on stock suspension or does this require upgrades. I don't off road per say but I live in the boonies on a rough at times dirt road. Will my stock suspension hold up to this.what do you recommend if not. For just a little above normal wear and tear?
I've been hitting trails - including some pretty rough terrain - regularly for about two years now, on stock suspension. I've yet to break anything. My biggest gripe is how much the rear end sags, so I'll certainly upgrade the rear springs at some point. I could also envision eventually moving to heavier duty endlinks because to my entirely non-expert eye, those just look like the puny weak link in the suspension. Though again, mine have held up to quite a bit of abuse so far. Thanks for watching and congrats on the Forester...enjoy!
@@softroadingthewest Oooooor, you can have EU shocks with "selfnivelation" function which will hold sag on standard height no matter how much weight do you carry with. Their code are: 20365SC010
Well, I wish half of it was true. But here in Europe, foresters are expensive (a 10 years old model like yours is hard to get under 9-10K) unless it's a diesel (don't let me get started on the crapness of these), it's a gas guzzler, and not very reliable. Also, the parts are crazy expensive here in Europe. I've had mine (SF) leave me stranded several times. I still drive it for lack of other options, but each salary, a part of it needs to go towards servicing it. I've owned crap cars (a Jeep XJ Cherokee diesel for example) in my life, but this one, this is something else. This january alone I had to change the complete rear driveshaft (front u-joint failed), a starter motor, all rubber front stabilizer bushings and one balljoint. Another three need to get changed also, but I'm out of money for a while. Plus, I was left stranded because of the failure of a u-joint, worth 15 USD max, but subaru will not sell it separately, because they can rip you off for the whole shaft ...
Hi You've said that you've had Subaru's for 19 yrs and that they've never let you down so in that time would you say the outback would be a better choice for more comfort than the forester or isn't there much in it (reason being it's more sleeping room inside). My dilemma is that I don't know which one to go for. In your opinion does the 2.5 litre engine suffer badly with head gaskets. ? In uk we have 2.0 litre diesel versions with either manual transmission or cvt ( now subaru only produces gasoline variants) which are great on fuel. In uk I can buy a 2012 3rd gen like yours for £4000 which is manual diesel engine and they normally have approx 110k mile plus on mileometer. How does that compare to USA ??? Love the videos keep them coming.
It depends which 2.5L engine. The older EJ25 is more prone to head gasket failure than the newer FB25 which incorporates superior multi-layer steel head gaskets. In the US the Forester got the FB25 starting in 2011. We don't have the 2.0 diesel at all here so I can't speak to the resale prices (which also vary widely here depending on what part of the country you're in...Subarus command high prices in some areas, lower prices in other areas). As to Forester vs Outback, well, I would just go sit in them both, sit in the back, drive them each around. The Forester is a smaller car, so if interior room is a priority you may be happier in the Outback. Good luck!
Ok.... Here I am again... :D I discovered your channel recently so I have to few things to catch up... These thing you like about your Forester is pretty accurate. But main thing I want to thank you is another chanels to explore so I start digging. By now your channel is still the best for me. Bruceyyyy has an Outback, thats his advantage, but editing is little outdated and no compare to your work.... JonDZ has pretty editing but he has no longer Subaru so thats little disapointing to me and his videos is litle longer than I like. I would like to find some Outbacks channel which is so well edited as your videos are... I didnt find anything yet. So again... Thank you for your content...
I love both bruceyyyyy and JonDZ, excellent channels with useful, intelligent content, and each with their own style to be sure. JonDZ was one of my inspirations to start making my own videos. Other than bruceyyyyy, the only Outback channel I can think of is Donovan Thurman. He is here in Oregon as well and drives an older Outback. He doesn't post as regularly, and it's not strictly a car channel - he covers general camping stuff too - but he has an Outback! :-)
This was a really great video! All points were spot on. Gave me even more respect for my 16 Forester. Truly amazing. I love this challenge you guys are doing Didn’t Jon trade in his Forester for a Honda pilot?
Honda Passport, but yeah, he got rid of his Foz very shortly after doing his 5 things video. That was largely due to ongoing struggles with the CVT, but now that he's had the Passport out offroad a number of times, I think his conclusion is that the Passport (with lift and upsized AT tires) actually handles difficult terrain better than his Forester did. He did a pretty in-depth video recently about the Subaru CVT as well a number of episodes putting the Passport to the test (quite impressive). Thanks for watching!
Dig the video, have one question. I’m looking at this generation forester for roughly the same reasons as you. I live in the Bay Area so I want something that can tackle rough roads, light off-road, and trips to Tahoe and the like, while still being very streetable and safe. Actually planning on building mine up very similar to yours. What’s your wheel / tire / suspension setup? Your tires are the exact beefiness I’m looking for, and if I can fit em without a lift I’m sold on these things. I know you said you don’t like the sag when yours is fully loaded so ima look into stiffening up the rear end as well. Thanks for the info, dig the videos. Maybe I’ll end up around your area once I get one of my own
FAQ video :-) th-cam.com/video/fN1YyljARgY/w-d-xo.html (I have since added King springs to the rear for the sag) The tire size I'm running should fit without a lift...I had roughly the same size tire on there before the lift.
Great fun/owner video! thx for that! If you can what kind of mpg/milage you are getting from your XT? It's 2.5 or 2.5 turbo? From what I heard they great on hard road conditions like snow etc..but milage is v.bad around 22 mpg UK/14-15/100km..
Mine is not an XT, I have no turbo, just an NA 2.5. I haven't tracked MPG closely but I would say it probably averages around 22, yes. That's actually reasonably good for a vehicle that's equipped for offroad and camping. You won't get anywhere near that with a Jeep or a 4Runner. On flat rural highways at 60mph it probably gets closer to 26-27 mpg. Around town or crawling around the woods, the mileage is lower of course. 22 sounds about right on average.
Very nice video 😀👍. Your Forester is really cool. How much is a set of tires like yours? Those rims are cool too. How much for a set? Happy exploring!!! All the best!!!
Had an 2014xv, loved it for the same reasons. Let me ask, have you lifted your sub and modified the transmission in any way (suspension arm looks enforced, as if not stock) ?
No, no and no. :-) It was only a 1" lift and worked fine without touching the subframe. All the suspension components were stock at the time of this (old old) video. I did eventually replace the rear springs with King standard height springs (one of my favorite mods ever on this car and should have done that from the very beginning). I had plans to swap in beefier aftermarket lower control arms as mine were pretty battered and twisted and a perfect alignment was impossible, but the car was totaled before I got to that.
I wonder of it is auto. or stick gear and how the wheel size affects the speedometer (or if you could adjust it). Also what kind of suspension it has now. I have a 2012 Forester and I love it...
My Forester has the 4EAT auto. Works great. Any impact on the speedometer is negligible...when I pass by those radar stations displaying your speed, it always corresponds to what my speedometer says. My suspension is stock aside from a small strut-top spacer lift. I have a full rundown of the car and its mods here: th-cam.com/video/jHM54xIxdkw/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest like your Subie and its mods. I knew I have a capable vehicle but seeing your videos just confirm that. Where I live is mostly flat with no off road trails but we get sleet and snow and is crazy to see all kinds of cars spinning out of the road or stuck in ice but mine moving like nothing is happening outside...
I had a 2008 Outback Limited (sold 2017 at 90,000 miles) that had failed head gaskets, front axle seals and catalytic converters all before 70,000 miles but OUT of warranty (except the cat)... that completely soured my taste for Subaru's, especially how Subaru customer service just blew me off about the head gaskets (well-known COMMON failure). That crap cost me $2500 and the car was babied. I now drive an 8 year-old AWD Hyundai Santa Fe that has had ZERO issues. I had owned (company cars) 2 Foresters and the first one ate brakes every 25,000 miles. I would, however, consider a new Forester. Now my 4x4 is a 2018 RAM Rebel to tow my 30' trailer. Gas pig and POOR turning radius, but nearly 11" of ground clearance. Have fun!
Have a 2016 Forester and need reliable tires for those dirt roads with sharp rocks that keep giving me flat tires. The Geolanders that came with the car performed better than one would have expected for off road. Made the mistake of replacing them with inexpensive tires from Walmart and now am ready to bite the bullet and buy something that I can feel a little more confident with. What do you recommend for a off road tire on a Forester?
I'm very very happy with the BF Goodrich KO2s. They are extraordinary off road and reputed to be very tough. All those plies come at a price though, both monetary and weight...they're heavy enough to have rendered my Forester a little more sluggish and a little less fuel-efficient. I don't have personal experience with other all-terrain tires, but I've heard many consistently good things about the Cooper Discoverer AT3. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W also appears to be a solid choice, though when I looked into them their smallest size was 235/75/15 which I couldn't squeeze on; the guys running 2" lifts and low offset wheels are usually able to run that size though. Good luck!
Hi just started following you. I have a 2015 Forester Premium. I have Michelin Defenders for tires. I have done some road trips last one in September and October 6 states, 5 weeks. 3 and Half by myself. What I want to know(finally)is what tires are you using? I LOVE my Subaru all for the same reasons you do. I would like to go off road too. Thank you. Its going to be fun watching your videos.
I'm running BFGoodrich T/A KO2, which is an all-terrain tire. They are really fantastic on the trail. For the first year I had my Forester, I did quite a few offroad excursions just running good all-season tires, and I got around just fine, though they weren't as grippy as the all-terrains and I was always nervous about damaging a tire. The KO2 is terrific, but there are other good all-terrain choices available. I've seen many positive reviews of the General Grabber and the Cooper Discoverer. Good luck, and have fun out there!
Awesome video as always man!!!! Which version do you have exactly? Turbocharged? Manual or automatic? Does it have low range gearbox? If not, do you miss it? Thanks in advance
My Forester is the very bottom-rung 2.5x, no sunroof, no heated seats, no turbo. It's an automatic, but predates the CVT so I am equipped with Subaru's 4EAT transmission which has been performing quite well. No low range, and yes, there are moments when it would be really helpful to have, but the combination of the gear-selectable auto (I can put it in 1st and it'll stay in 1st) plus the traction control system has proven to be nicely effective when dealing with tricky obstacles. Thanks for watching (and for the kind words!)
@@softroadingthewest Awesome!!! I'm about to move to Europe and I'm considering a Forester, therefore I'm trying to get any useful information available, preferably from actual users. Your traction control is a standard system or is it the famous X Mode? What about the diffs? Self locking? Viscous? Thanks a lot and best wishes!!
@@alexsemine1 Hi there. I think (i'm sure can say) that this forester doesnt have X Mode yet. So there is standard VDC only. So diffs are open and if there is no grip so then are brakes applied to increase torque on wheel which has grip.
I love my dad's ‘07 Forester, but it started leaking transmission fluid yesterday and it’s coming to an end 😭😭 Edit: it has 160K miles. Does that mean anything for this model specifically?
I'm really unskilled with troubleshooting and mechanics in general. I don't know if a leaking transmission is fatal or not. I would imagine it's not that difficult to find a used transmission to swap in. If you haven't already been there, I'd highly recommend subaruforester.org to research the issue. You might find the answer, and if not, you can start a thread to discuss it with members who are far more mechanically knowledgeable than me. Good luck!
Hola soy de chile... muy buenos vídeos aunque no entiendo el idioma jaja pero son buenas las aventuras que haces y sobre todo en un subaru forester yo también tengo un forester 2010 y aperra con todo tipo de terreno. Saludos 👍
What year model are you driving, and what are the wheels? I am looking into a used Forester, one with only 20k miles (2018) and another with 90k miles (2014). I am looking to take the car into similar environments.
Awesome ! Congrats and thank you for taking up on this challenge !
I really enjoyed your video (well edited) and I can't agree more with what you love about your Foz ! Especialy the last one !, my foz never let me done !
Nice work Donald ! Now, I can't wait to see JonDZ's video !
Thank YOU for including me, really had fun making this! Okay...bring it on, Jon!
What rims are they? What size also..
I live in interior Alaska and have owned Subarus since the 1990s.
10 things I like about my Forester:
1) It starts at -40 degrees (after plugging in for 2 hrs)
2) Great traction in winter...much better than my 4X4 pickup truck.
3) Back seat folds down for hauling bulky items like a dog box
4) Few mechanical problems (1990s blown head gasket was common)
5) Good gas mileage considering the hauling capacity
6) Subaru does not cut corners...they give you a real spare tire
7) Easy to convert to front wheel drive by pulling a fuse if the spare tire size is different
8) Excellent visibility from the driver's perspective...seems like so many SUVs these days have poor rear view visibility.
9) The easiest vehicle I have ever owned in terms of do it yourself oil changes...no need to jack up the vehicle and well designed filter location
10) MIne has heated seats which are nice since we are in winter mode from October to April.
Thank you so much for all this additional information for someone who has never owned a newer vehicle and is debating the Forester this is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!
Thank you for existing. Are Subaru forester has lasted 12 years and has no problems at all. You are an AMAZING Brand and I will never forget how many things you have gotten me and my family through...Once Again....Thank You.
I love my 2009 subaru forester. I've always wanted one and I've been a proud owner for 1 year and a half. Best choice for me and my kids.
I’ve dreamt of having a Subaru Forester since a teenager. Unfortunately, the 2019 is a bit too large for a single girl. I opted for the 2019 Cross Trek and it’s been a dream. So grateful.
The Crosstrek is awesome! Congrats!
Crosstrek is nice too :) I've got a forester and I love it but crosstrek is a right fit too, dont worry bout it, as long as it's a boobaroo, you goods ;)
I can honestly say before Jan 2016, i would of never seen myself in a Subaru... but a co-worker of mine drove a subi, and he said that's all he's driven... and he loved them. So i started shopping around and finally found a 2007 Forester and took it for a test drive ( right to my bank lol ) and took out some $$$ and bought the vehicle right then and there..... I was amazed at how well they drove, the ride height is almost perfect.. not too high like a truck, and not too low like some car's are... and i don't have a single blind spot in my Subi.. Do i wish some things where better? sure... but it's really just nit picking...
@@DLYskes1976 holy crap, John Wicks gotta subie lol, kidding. Honestly I cant get enough of subie sometimes when I see an old subie I just wanna get it especially if its an old forester. I think these cars are built for people whol love adventure. Good for you though man, hopefully you are happy with your vehicle. XD
Megan Bournes hi friends. I am considering a Subaru. I am a bird photographer and find myself trying to get up mountains and over rough terrain in search of birds. Would you all recommend one Subaru over another? Is the cross trek good enough to cross over the logs and rocks like he did in the video or am I better off with a forester
As a former Jeep owner who's owned two Jeeps (lifted and I belonged to an off-road club), they're great for off-road BUT as a middle-aged adult with kids and not much spending money even IF I could afford a new Jeep, I couldn't afford to fix it if I had any major issues or damage. The Forester is much better suited to adult life with the occasional venture into the outdoors!
For sure. I'd love to have the capabilities of a Jeep offroad, but just doesn't make sense the rest of the time, and owning a daily plus a trail rig is not an option for me. Plus, just being able to poke around on trails all day long and only consume half a tank of gas really keeps it affordable too. Thanks for watching!
2019 Forester owner - 4 mi at the dealership - 3 weeks later 3400mi - 3rd Subie - in Love all over again - working on an overland build. Thank you for the content!
Awesome, congrats, the new Forester is really nice. Good luck with the build, hopefully we'll get to see it here or on IG at some point!
WOW, in 3-weeks you put 3400 miles on it...... That's so much Driving dude.......
I can say that Forester is a very compact car for me... It's good in all environment, the power, the safety... I still want to use it in the off road conditions, must be fantastic!!!
All good points, though I disagree with one thing. My 2011 Forester is not quiet. I have to turn my music quite loud to hear it while rolling down the highway. Save for that, though, everything you said is true. I most appreciate that I’ve had the car for close to ten years and it has not once broken down. Every car I’ve owned , before this, has broken down more than once. Loved your vid!
I think I want a Subaru Forester now. What sold me....good on gas, awd for snow storms and I liked that you can sleep inside comfortably with a little modifications to make it a camper inside. I would want a manual trans though. I hear the CVT transmissions are unreliable as they get older.
I don't have experience with the CVT (my Forester has the older 4EAT automatic which is a pretty nice system) but from what I've seen, I would tend to agree with you there...I certainly won't be buying a CVT-equipped Subaru. Thanks for watching!
If you don’t want a Subaru CVT, you could look at the Honda Passport or Toyota 4Runner. 🤔
i know that the CRV and RAV4 generally don’t stack up too well compared to the Forester
@@SilverScarletSpider @mixflip The new Passport is *quite* impressive. If you haven't already, check out JonDZAdventuring to see it getting put to the test, usually alongside Foresters and other Subarus.
th-cam.com/channels/p4229KnkoC3zrrLBL362BA.html
The 4Runner is obviously a well-proven platform that is even more capable and reliable, but it is a 4x4 truck and may not quite meet the "good on gas" criteria. In any case Dreamy makes an excellent point...it's worth checking out a number of options to find the right fit.
@@SilverScarletSpider I like the forester better than those options. Well...a 4runner is good but expensive and not so good on gas.
I was worried about CVT too... After some time and about 35 000 km in it I wouldn't buy anything else... And I bought car with failed CVT and first thing what i need to do was fixing it... Now i thing its simple and no so expensive...
We've had this subaru for 11 years and in less than a month it will be 12 and it has brought us through many places and gets us to where we are going easily. Apparently even my sister was sleeping once and my parents wrapped her in the blanket, put her i the car and drove to the hospital and i was born. It holds all our memories and if we ever get a new car, we will never forget how special this one is. I love this subaru alot and it feels weird seeing complaints about it when most of them arent true because we have one. It was there for ten years in our old house and one year in our new one. It carried out luggage and almost everything while my mums car barely could even take a quarter of it. I have also always loved cars and my favourite has always been subarus. when i was about 2 years old i used to draw car logos and mostly drew subaru logos. I even had a birthday cake of that logo. Subarus are very reliable vehicles and for me it basically has lasted forever!
Owned Jeep Liberty 2005 and fun to drive and with age, a lot of issues here and there, engine break down, fixing.. decided to buy Forester. Been really nice and excited for the fun i will have with Forester
Interesting! Every week at least one person comments on one of my videos that I should be driving a Jeep instead of a Subaru. 8^D Congrats on the Forester, have fun out there!
Your logic of owning a subaru is 100% .
Thanks, great vid. Just bought a second hand 2010 Forester, roads around my new house are not great in the summer let alone the winter. Also comforting to hear that it has never let you down, as all that seems to be talked about is faults and not reliability. Learn that old is ok with my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, that thing ran great until it didn't, was hard to let it go!
My first subaru was a 2002 forester xt. It was fast, comfortable and stable at high speeds. Definatley getting this one this year
Cool. Love my Forester and it’s 14 years old. Best vehicle I ever owned. Keep thinking I will get a new vehicle when this one’s had it, but hasn’t happened yet, it just goes and goes and goes. Still tight as a drum.
Got a forester sport for weekly ski trips and I can’t wait to use it this winter! We will be getting a crosstrek next year as well. Love Subaru’s more and more
Wow dude! I loved this little side project from the norm. I’ve always liked the older gen foresters and wanted to have one, but after watching your video I REALLLLY want one. The crv will never be able to keep up with your rig off-road ! 🙌🏼
Hrmm, I dunno...so far your CRV has pretty much tackled everything my Forester has...I feel like you could say pretty much all the same things about your V... 8^)
All the reasons why I love my 2002 and 2012 forester
A well mannered approach and most enjoyable review, thank you. I've got an itch to buy a Forester...and also to pay a visit stateside to rent a SF and hit some trails. Best wishes from Blighty.
Great video. My first, and only Subaru (to this date), was a 05 Legacy. Still am Impressed with it, and my wife Also.
We have driven ‘18 Toyota camry, ‘17 prius, ‘16 Bmw X3, anda few more, and none Of those cars drives as good as the legacy i used to have. I find it very sad that where i live we do not have Subaru’s dealers... they are very far and that is what detrives me from getting another one. Hope one day we can!
Arhhhh so not right, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF you Really want it, it just like any other Relationship.
Love the video! On your #3 point: the SH fozzies have an insane turning radius of 17.1’, better than any other gen of forester. Beats out a lot of smaller cars too!
I didn't know that spec but it doesn't surprise me in the least. I love how easily I can turn around...it's a good thing because I have to do it frequently. 8^)
A respectful and well mannered review...thank you. I'm itching to come to the USA again and rent a Suburu and do some trails. Best wishes from Blighty.
I drive a 2014 cross trek, but I really dig the foresters! Love the wheels you have!
Now own a Forester, an 18 model after firstly a Vitara then an Audi. Much,much better than the Audi which was not as reliable as I had hoped. Not had the opportunity to try it out in snowy or off road but after seeing this, feel confident and hopefully, it will be more reliable than the Audi!
I really like the way you guys accept the challenge, its very instructive, its a very good idea. Donald, hands up for your review of the SH.
Thank you Vincent, this was a fun project and I'm glad Jordan tagged me!
I'm definitely going to get a Forester for my first car. I live in Norway and need a good AWD system. The head gasket problems isn't an issue for me, since I'm a mechanic and have a workshop.
I love it! One Subaru owner to another, I can't wait to see more of your adventures.
Great vid. I’ve had my forester (my 1st subaru) for 2 years now, and I love it.
yeh, subaru know how to make the cabin space seem way bigger than what you expect from the outside aha. i got a bugeye wrx wagon and love being able to fold those seats down. fit all the scuba gear during summer and the snowboarding gear during winter
Pretty versatile vehicles for sure! Thanks for watching!
Man, the footage of those Crosstreks with lift kits, Method wheels and all terrain tyres gets me going. The Forester is larger and perhaps more practical, but the Crosstrek is hot. (I own a stock Crosstrek, haha)
Oh I agree with you completely! I think those built Crosstreks are MUCH more eye-catching than my Forester. I probably would have considered buying a Crosstrek actually, only they were still too new for my budget at the time. Thanks for watching!
Subscribed! I stumbled across your channel from John DZ Adventuring. I have the same SH Foz and can't wait to watch more of your videos and learn about your mods. Keep up the great work brother!
Thank you sir, much appreciated! I tend to mostly do excursion videos but I do get a lot of questions about the "build" (if you can call it that) so I'm thinking about covering mods a little more comprehensively when I can. Thanks for watching (and subscribing)!
Donald, Challenge accepted!!! I didn't know this was an actual challenge, I'm subscribed to ALSM, Mitre A, Bruceyyyy, and of course, yourself. I guess I must have missed the challenge part.
By the way, great video! I agree with all your reasons. I totally relate to your 1st and 2nd reasons (1.)it's a Subaru and 2.) it's not a Jeep)) I was driving on the freeway for a little bit and I was thinking of other vehicles I could possible replace the 2015 Forester XT with. I thought of the Lexus GX470, Land Rover Discovery, 4 runner, JL Jeep (in many configs), The new Bronco, ..... I was just entertaining the thought. I really couldn't make a case against the Forester XT. It's exceptional on the roads and highways (where we spend most of our time), good fuel economy (as opposed to 15 MPG highway or worse). Driving an FJ cruiser for 5 years, I really don't want to go back to that floaty highway feel and 15 MPG.
Woohoo! Can't wait to see your take on it!
I had a 2007 Forester & I loved it. It would always ask for seconds.
I am not really crazy about jeeps, but I love the older land cruisers they are crazy reliable and capable. but retail for quite a bit. I have been thinking about getting my first overlanding ish car and have really been considering a Subaru forester. I have heard nothing but good things and they are very cheap where I live and they don't look like an eyesore. Thanks for the great video and information
I do love my Forester. For the sake of completeness and not overselling the Forester, you might want to watch my recent follow up: "5 Things I Hate" video...8^)
th-cam.com/video/hMxxjie4t7w/w-d-xo.html
Good luck with the car shopping and thanks for watching!
Awsome work! Really enjoyed your video!
Thanks! It was a fun change of pace for sure!
#1 is the same exact thought when I first drove mine. I point, it goes
I just got an 2013 forester after driving my 2003 tacoma. I always wanted a subaru. Great video
Sounds like you actually maintain your Subarus. My first offroadish vehicle was an '81 AMC Eagle, second was an '85 GL wagon, then a 4Runner. Now, 2 Jeeps, 2 Troopers, and a Dodge Raider, later...im looking at Subies again. My children grew up on the Colorado trails, and both sons 1st 4Runner owners. I find (i believe w no evidence) that a host of Subaru drivers, drive, tear up, neglect, and then try to offload falling apart Foresters and outbacks on craigslist...while true lovers of these cars do the maintenance, replace broken parts, the head gasket, timing belts, for as long as they own them, and get rid of them for a newer Subaru. Its frustrating, but the search continues.
Nice to see someone like his Subaru Forester, like I do mine. XT 2007 and XT2010. Only I realized is - not so good resale value what in return giving to everyone chance to enjoy this amazing cars
I don't know why I love my "Forester" . Just LOVE 💖🚘💖👌👍💪
It's what makes a Subaru... a Subaru.
New to this channel but I'm in love with what you have done with your subie, much respect and support 👍
It was a very unexpectedly nice few minutes watching this. Thanks mate
Just found your channel, absolutely love the content. So friggin rad love the Forester.
Love it too, the Forester has proven to be a great platform for my needs! Thanks for watching, and for the kind words!!
@@softroadingthewest anytime! We'll be watching, go check out my build if you get a chance. I'll be wheeling with some local Subaru folk soon!
Nice! I’m pretty new to Forester’s, I bought a beat up ‘99 to wheel, but I totally hear you on the community and such, I’ve found it’s just as you say. Thanks for all the great links, I of course sub’ed and will check out those other channels as well.
Congrats, the first gen Forester is my other favorite and I fell in love with it the moment Subaru rolled it out. Thanks for watching and subbing!
Thinking about getting one. The payment on my Tacoma is a little much and I have always loved this model Forester.
Love the Forester had a 2010 and recently just got a 2019 Forester. Theres been this debate btw a lot of subaru owners about transmission fluid changes. Do you change them every 24k or not? Reason i ask is because some subaru dealerships wont change them because its supposed to be lifetime fluid and it could void the warranty. But if you dont change them you can get transmission problems ltr on lol so its a catch 22.
This was a relaxing and interesting video with of different scenes and visuals! I test drove the Forester and I love that it drives like a car and I can’t wait to get mine. Stupid chip shortage is taking forever😝 Great content!
The Early Days of the Forester... ❤️
Awesome video! So many things to love about a Subaru thanks for mentioning us.
Thank you! BTW I got a set of those deflators on a keyring I first saw on your channel and I absolutely LOVE them. This weekend's excursion involved lots of sand so I aired down more than I ever had before, SO fast and easy!
I'm getting a Forester and starting into soft overlanding, just because of you! I hope you are happy with my bankruptcy!
Haha, yep, you will now ALWAYS have something to spend money on! :-) Good luck and have fun!
Subaru hopefully my next car. Ive had the usual suspects, Audi, VW, Ford etc but they were all rubbish apart from a Focus and a Fiesta many years ago. Subaru built to last, and although not very cheap in the UK, they are worth it.
Good luck with the search!
Do it!
Forester owner here after all the usual suspects.
They are comfortable capable and easy to work on when you need to.
Bloody UK!!!! You can have every special (even JDM) editions of Subarus and prices are pretty low... And why?!? RHD!!!!
Fantastic video Donald! I might need to start looking to replace my Tahoe! Thank you for putting this together!
Definitely been a great little trail rig! Thanks for watching!
Just found your channel and wow! So cool man keep it up! My one request is that you PLEASE do a video explaining your sleeping setup and how you made it!!! (5:48) Cheers
Hi Josh, thank you for the kind words! Yes, a complete walkthrough video including a detailed look at my camping setup is at the top of my list...I'll be pulling that together just as soon as I can (realistically, some weeks away yet). Thanks for watching!
I'm a photographer in Montana and looking to replace my F-150 with a Forester. I drive thousands of miles on the highway, but every once in a while, I have to go out to some ranch or location down a dirt road.
In case you did not know I drive a Jeep too..... Yes it gets terrible gas mileage, but I don't have a car payment or new car insurance to pay for, so I suppose it makes up for it.... and then some.
Good video and good points on why to own a Subaru Forester. I had a DL wagon years ago. It was a fun car. Would consider one again for the wife, but she likes her 2014 Cherokee too much right now.
Just curious, does any of the modern Subaru's have a two speed transfer case anymore?
Oh I know your Jeep, believe me. I've loved those Wagoneers since I was a kid! FWIW, no car payment or full coverage insurance here either, I've only ever owned used cars I paid cash for. The Forester is my one and only vehicle and has proven to be a fair compromise between adventuremobile and around-town kid-hauling grocery-getter. And, nope, no low-range available in Subarus for many many years now. That's probably the one thing that would eventually cause me to step away from Subaru and get a real 4x4. The traction control system has been pretty good for getting me up terrain that would be better served with low-range gearing, but there are definitely scenarios where I can sure feel how much better it would be to just have it crawling up (or down) in first low. Seems like there's always trade-offs whatever vehicle you choose. Anyway, thanks for watching and commenting George, much appreciated!
@@softroadingthewest well the 2019 Forester can now simulate low gears with its CVT. In fact, It is the most offroad oriented Forester that you can get straight from the factory.
@@moonsapling Interesting! I'm looking forward to seeing how this system compares on the trail!
Awesome video mate, from a forester owner in oz!
Thanks mate (if I may use that term) 8^) That's some amazing country you have down there. Really hope to get there one day and experience it for myself. Thanks for watching!
I brought a 2018 jeep had it for 4 months and it was completely rusted without even going offroad. Traded it in for a new forster and I wish I had of gotten the forster in the first place
the 10 People that disliked this video drive Jeeps XD
those people just knows better then you, subaru - is a piece of marketing shit. 4th cilinder and 4ever leaking oil
@@witchingmushroom1761 oh and jeeps are perfect, c'mon bro. Jeeps went to crap after the cj7, but then I am an owner of what has always been better than jeeps, which is the Toyota tacoma, :). Why so much hate for what should be fun comments. Subarus have always been reliable, did a Subaru touch you in a improper place?
@@witchingmushroom1761 me working for Mitsubishi Dealership having 4 Subies in my family, from 71,000km up to 355,000 km non of them leaking oil or having major trouble, compared to those used shitty Jeeps who come in for service they are way better.
@@silinusvers ahaha))) my improper place? yeah)) my wallet)))
@@dingpongchi632 is this legal?) even manuas says that the oil runs out and that's fine. is that normal? This is not a BMW or smth)
Entertaining and with some great shots!
Thanks!
I could list dozens more reasons I love mine, but picking 5, I think you did well. But here's one thing I hate: I got the 2011 model with the FB25 engine and it stinks. It consumes approximately 1 litre of oil for every 1000kms I drive (that's 2 pints per 600 miles). If I don't watch the oil level like a hawk I risk blowing my engine, and it's costing me stupid $$. Only fix is to replace the small block and that may not even fix it, just a chance. Cheaper to buy ridiculous amounts of oil for the life of the car. It's really taken a shine off the love.
Oh wow, that's pretty significant. I too have the FB25 but I only see disproportionate oil consumption during prolonged high speed driving in hot summer months, e.g. road trips from Oregon to California. Both times I've done this trip, the engine burned about 1 quart per 1,000 miles (~1 litre in 1600 kilometers). The rest of the time under normal driving including around town, rural highway trips, and hours on forest roads, I probably only have to add a quart/litre every 3,000-4,000 miles (4800k-6400k). Your consumption level sounds truly problemetic. I don't know if it's the case elsewhere in the world, but here in the States, Subaru extended the warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for the oil consumption issue. You have to get a controlled oil consumption test performed but if it shows a certain level (don't remember exactly but you're definitely beyond the threshold) they will replace the short block. I haven't pursued that because the consumption hasn't really been an issue for me. If I was burning through it like you are though, I would definitely be looking into it. Good luck!
You folks make me really want to buy a Subaru Outback. And my only need is to be able to go on to horse farm properties and deal with snowy and rainy weather in the mid-Atlantic.
Seems like a solid choice! Thanks for watching!
Loved the video and the forester looks amazing. This and the roof rack video got me thinking, would you be interested in doing a modification video of your subie.
Thank you! Yes, been getting lots of requests for this, I expect to be putting something like that together very soon. Thanks for watching!
Hi There !
Ed Here, From São Paulo, SP, 🇧🇷
! ! ! AWESOME VIDEO ! ! !
! ! ! PURE RELAXATION ! ! !
I''m About To Buy My Very First (Used) Subaru !
It Is a Forester XT 2.5, 2011/2012, 59.664 Miles, Single Owned, For About US$ 12.000,00. I'll Try To Bargain a Beat Though ...
No Doubt Technology Made All Subaru Models More Energy Efficient and Powerfull "BUT" (Threre Is Always a "BUT" ...),
The Exchange of Automatic Gearbox With Torque Converter by the CVT Was (And I Think, It Is) The Subject of Much Controversy.
That Exchange Took Place From 2013 (Inclusive) On, In The Forester Models Here In Brazil, What I Think The Same Have Happened All Over.
Despite of That, I Have To Agree With The "FIRST THING" :
" IT IS A SUBARU "
Good To Know You Guys !
Best Regards !
Ed
The 2012 forester has hollow doors and seems too heavy / bad in snow even after I did the wheel alignment. Some say it is the tires but that is Subaru’s fault if other crossovers don’t slip in snow ice when AWD is where it is for them. The boxer engine is prone to oil leaks. My is in the initial process which would require a new gasket etc after 100k miles.
Mike H Are there cars that don’t have hollow doors? Couldn’t roll the window down if they were solid. And in the snow all three of my Subarus have been champs. Older Subaru engines certainly are prone to oil leaking and/or head gasket issues...my other Subarus suffered this affliction, however the 2012/FB25 engine is equipped with superior MLS gaskets, so far haven’t seen the slightest hint of oozing. You may enjoy my more recent video “5 Things I Hate About My Subaru Forester.” I do talk about the head gaskets and other oil issues in that one. Thanks for watching!
Good stuff. I have the 2015 xt version and i love it.
Thanks! And...wait...you have a Forester AND a Jeep?? That seems to be a - vs - video just waiting to be made... 8^) ...what makes you decide to drive one instead of the other on a given excursion? Or does that XT not see dirt?
@@softroadingthewest The forester is more of the family car. Mostly wife drives it. The jeep is the one we beat up on the trails for now.
@@softroadingthewest the funny part is the forester is about 180 inches long and the cherokee is 167 😂.
@@vmoregon Ha! No way! I've always loved those old Cherokees...many (many) years ago in my youth I came close to buying one but ended up with something more "sensible." Took me a couple of decades to eventually end up in some kind of backcountry-exploring rig as I was pining for all those years ago. 8^)
Take extra good care of your oil and quality of gas with those turbo versions. They aren't the kind of engines you can neglect!
I like your external mods like the lift, tires, and rims. Racks do provide room for various attachments. I'm a bit perplexed to your internal setup, as you seem to approach this as a hobby, not #Vanlife. So, Why not a hammock, or tent? I often tie one end of the hammock to the rack. I do pretty good with stock height on most national forest roads that I have attempted in the PNW.
Oh no, not vanlife for sure. I'd go nuts trying to live inside this small car, heh. It's definitely hobby level. I guess you could say my hobby is sleeping in my car? 8^D I'm done with ground tents...it's one of the things I disliked most about camping. And while I can nap briefly in a hammock, I could never make it through the night in one - I really prefer a firm, perfectly flat surface. That's what led to making my little platform. Ultimately it's not particularly complicated and seems pretty hobby-level to me...I put it together in a couple of hours, it goes in and comes out in a minute or two, and my total cost was less than a decent tent or hammock. I'm protected from weather (and bear and cougar), I can see what's sniffling around camp in the middle of the night without making any noise unzipping a window, and if needed I can roll into a campsite and crawl directly from the drivers seat to bed without setting foot outdoors. I'd also have been hard pressed to use a hammock on my last trip, camping in the eastern Oregon desert where there were zero trees to tie the other end onto. 8^) I drove the Forester for a year down all kinds of national forest roads at stock height, and for the most part it got me through, though I pretty commonly scraped bottom or ran into approach/departure angle issues. The 1" lift has made a noticeable difference though I do still encounter plenty of scenarios where I wish I had 2" instead. Thanks for watching and let me know if I can clarify further! 8^)
Great video! I believe! A Forester owner.
Nice piece
I have heard that its a noisy ridevon the highway in terms of videos while driving or regular conversations. You say its quiet. Hmm, how would you describe the quietness whilw driving? When compared to the Outback, I've heard its VERY noisy window wise. Ive also heard its slow to pick up speed if you want to pass on the highway. Is that true for you? Another reason the Outback is preferred. I personally am more drawn to the Forester bc of the amazing panoramic sunroof, greater head space, and shorter lengty for city parking, where I live. Have you ever debated between the Outback and Forester? If so, what turned you toward the Forester? If not, what drew you toward the Forester to begin with given ALL the SUV options? Thanks!
I got a Subaru Forester (vs other SUV) because I had previously owned two other Subarus spanning more than 15 years and they had been the most reliable cars I had ever owned. I also wanted something reasonably fuel efficient that was able to explore dirt roads, vs 4x4 SUVs that consume more gas.
I had an Outback previously, but preferred the taller interior space, upright seating position and shorter wheelbase of the Forester.
When I say "quiet" I think I was probably mentally comparing to something like a Jeep. There are quieter passenger cars than Subarus for sure. I never felt my Forester was any noisier than my Outback. You can hear the road noise, sure, but not enough to negatively impact the driving experience (for me anyway) and I was so happy with other aspects of my Subarus that slight tradeoffs were worth it to me.
I just got a Subaru Forester and I absolutely love it. My question is this. You guys that do the offroading. Are you doing this on stock suspension or does this require upgrades. I don't off road per say but I live in the boonies on a rough at times dirt road. Will my stock suspension hold up to this.what do you recommend if not. For just a little above normal wear and tear?
I've been hitting trails - including some pretty rough terrain - regularly for about two years now, on stock suspension. I've yet to break anything. My biggest gripe is how much the rear end sags, so I'll certainly upgrade the rear springs at some point. I could also envision eventually moving to heavier duty endlinks because to my entirely non-expert eye, those just look like the puny weak link in the suspension. Though again, mine have held up to quite a bit of abuse so far. Thanks for watching and congrats on the Forester...enjoy!
@@softroadingthewest Oooooor, you can have EU shocks with "selfnivelation" function which will hold sag on standard height no matter how much weight do you carry with. Their code are: 20365SC010
@@MrRichieCZ Oooh that's interesting, I've never heard of those before - thank you!
Well, I wish half of it was true. But here in Europe, foresters are expensive (a 10 years old model like yours is hard to get under 9-10K) unless it's a diesel (don't let me get started on the crapness of these), it's a gas guzzler, and not very reliable. Also, the parts are crazy expensive here in Europe. I've had mine (SF) leave me stranded several times. I still drive it for lack of other options, but each salary, a part of it needs to go towards servicing it. I've owned crap cars (a Jeep XJ Cherokee diesel for example) in my life, but this one, this is something else. This january alone I had to change the complete rear driveshaft (front u-joint failed), a starter motor, all rubber front stabilizer bushings and one balljoint. Another three need to get changed also, but I'm out of money for a while.
Plus, I was left stranded because of the failure of a u-joint, worth 15 USD max, but subaru will not sell it separately, because they can rip you off for the whole shaft ...
Love your videos and don’t understand why some people slam their Forester which won’t allow the car to do what it was design for.
I love your videos and I am hanging the Jeep Liberty, for Subaru Forester 2010😉
This is a great vehicle! I have to agree
Hi
You've said that you've had Subaru's for 19 yrs and that they've never let you down so in that time would you say the outback would be a better choice for more comfort than the forester or isn't there much in it (reason being it's more sleeping room inside). My dilemma is that I don't know which one to go for. In your opinion does the 2.5 litre engine suffer badly with head gaskets. ? In uk we have 2.0 litre diesel versions with either manual transmission or cvt ( now subaru only produces gasoline variants) which are great on fuel. In uk I can buy a 2012 3rd gen like yours for £4000 which is manual diesel engine and they normally have approx 110k mile plus on mileometer. How does that compare to USA ??? Love the videos keep them coming.
It depends which 2.5L engine. The older EJ25 is more prone to head gasket failure than the newer FB25 which incorporates superior multi-layer steel head gaskets. In the US the Forester got the FB25 starting in 2011. We don't have the 2.0 diesel at all here so I can't speak to the resale prices (which also vary widely here depending on what part of the country you're in...Subarus command high prices in some areas, lower prices in other areas). As to Forester vs Outback, well, I would just go sit in them both, sit in the back, drive them each around. The Forester is a smaller car, so if interior room is a priority you may be happier in the Outback. Good luck!
Ok.... Here I am again... :D I discovered your channel recently so I have to few things to catch up...
These thing you like about your Forester is pretty accurate. But main thing I want to thank you is another chanels to explore so I start digging. By now your channel is still the best for me. Bruceyyyy has an Outback, thats his advantage, but editing is little outdated and no compare to your work.... JonDZ has pretty editing but he has no longer Subaru so thats little disapointing to me and his videos is litle longer than I like.
I would like to find some Outbacks channel which is so well edited as your videos are... I didnt find anything yet.
So again... Thank you for your content...
I love both bruceyyyyy and JonDZ, excellent channels with useful, intelligent content, and each with their own style to be sure. JonDZ was one of my inspirations to start making my own videos. Other than bruceyyyyy, the only Outback channel I can think of is Donovan Thurman. He is here in Oregon as well and drives an older Outback. He doesn't post as regularly, and it's not strictly a car channel - he covers general camping stuff too - but he has an Outback! :-)
Good stuff, im torn right now between outback and forester.
Both great cars. I would drive several of each to get a feel for what seems right for you. Thanks for watching!
Great well done video! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks for watching!
This was a really great video! All points were spot on. Gave me even more respect for my 16 Forester. Truly amazing. I love this challenge you guys are doing Didn’t Jon trade in his Forester for a Honda pilot?
Honda Passport, but yeah, he got rid of his Foz very shortly after doing his 5 things video. That was largely due to ongoing struggles with the CVT, but now that he's had the Passport out offroad a number of times, I think his conclusion is that the Passport (with lift and upsized AT tires) actually handles difficult terrain better than his Forester did. He did a pretty in-depth video recently about the Subaru CVT as well a number of episodes putting the Passport to the test (quite impressive). Thanks for watching!
Good video. Love it
Nicely done!
I didn't know Louis C.K. drove a Subaru, very cool
Dig the video, have one question.
I’m looking at this generation forester for roughly the same reasons as you. I live in the Bay Area so I want something that can tackle rough roads, light off-road, and trips to Tahoe and the like, while still being very streetable and safe. Actually planning on building mine up very similar to yours.
What’s your wheel / tire / suspension setup? Your tires are the exact beefiness I’m looking for, and if I can fit em without a lift I’m sold on these things. I know you said you don’t like the sag when yours is fully loaded so ima look into stiffening up the rear end as well.
Thanks for the info, dig the videos. Maybe I’ll end up around your area once I get one of my own
FAQ video :-)
th-cam.com/video/fN1YyljARgY/w-d-xo.html
(I have since added King springs to the rear for the sag)
The tire size I'm running should fit without a lift...I had roughly the same size tire on there before the lift.
Great fun/owner video! thx for that! If you can what kind of mpg/milage you are getting from your XT? It's 2.5 or 2.5 turbo? From what I heard they great on hard road conditions like snow etc..but milage is v.bad around 22 mpg UK/14-15/100km..
Mine is not an XT, I have no turbo, just an NA 2.5. I haven't tracked MPG closely but I would say it probably averages around 22, yes. That's actually reasonably good for a vehicle that's equipped for offroad and camping. You won't get anywhere near that with a Jeep or a 4Runner. On flat rural highways at 60mph it probably gets closer to 26-27 mpg. Around town or crawling around the woods, the mileage is lower of course. 22 sounds about right on average.
softroadingthewest thx for mpg confirmation and great videos!
Very nice video 😀👍. Your Forester is really cool. How much is a set of tires like yours? Those rims are cool too. How much for a set?
Happy exploring!!! All the best!!!
Had an 2014xv, loved it for the same reasons. Let me ask, have you lifted your sub and modified the transmission in any way (suspension arm looks enforced, as if not stock) ?
No, no and no. :-) It was only a 1" lift and worked fine without touching the subframe. All the suspension components were stock at the time of this (old old) video. I did eventually replace the rear springs with King standard height springs (one of my favorite mods ever on this car and should have done that from the very beginning). I had plans to swap in beefier aftermarket lower control arms as mine were pretty battered and twisted and a perfect alignment was impossible, but the car was totaled before I got to that.
I wonder of it is auto. or stick gear and how the wheel size affects the speedometer (or if you could adjust it). Also what kind of suspension it has now. I have a 2012 Forester and I love it...
My Forester has the 4EAT auto. Works great. Any impact on the speedometer is negligible...when I pass by those radar stations displaying your speed, it always corresponds to what my speedometer says. My suspension is stock aside from a small strut-top spacer lift. I have a full rundown of the car and its mods here: th-cam.com/video/jHM54xIxdkw/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching!
@@softroadingthewest like your Subie and its mods. I knew I have a capable vehicle but seeing your videos just confirm that. Where I live is mostly flat with no off road trails but we get sleet and snow and is crazy to see all kinds of cars spinning out of the road or stuck in ice but mine moving like nothing is happening outside...
Just bought my 08 Forester yesterday
I had a 2008 Outback Limited (sold 2017 at 90,000 miles) that had failed head gaskets, front axle seals and catalytic converters all before 70,000 miles but OUT of warranty (except the cat)... that completely soured my taste for Subaru's, especially how Subaru customer service just blew me off about the head gaskets (well-known COMMON failure). That crap cost me $2500 and the car was babied. I now drive an 8 year-old AWD Hyundai Santa Fe that has had ZERO issues. I had owned (company cars) 2 Foresters and the first one ate brakes every 25,000 miles. I would, however, consider a new Forester. Now my 4x4 is a 2018 RAM Rebel to tow my 30' trailer. Gas pig and POOR turning radius, but nearly 11" of ground clearance. Have fun!
Oh man, that would sour me as well! Thanks for watching!
Eu tenho um Subaru Forester também! Subaru, melhor carro do mundo!!!!
Is your Subaru CVT transmission? If yes how often you change the fluid? How you maintain the CVT for long lasting?
I don't have the CVT. Subaru didn't put the CVT in the Forester until 2014. My 2012 Forester is equipped with the 4EAT which has been working great.
Have a 2016 Forester and need reliable tires for those dirt roads with sharp rocks that keep giving me flat tires. The Geolanders that came with the car performed better than one would have expected for off road. Made the mistake of replacing them with inexpensive tires from Walmart and now am ready to bite the bullet and buy something that I can feel a little more confident with. What do you recommend for a off road tire on a Forester?
I'm very very happy with the BF Goodrich KO2s. They are extraordinary off road and reputed to be very tough. All those plies come at a price though, both monetary and weight...they're heavy enough to have rendered my Forester a little more sluggish and a little less fuel-efficient. I don't have personal experience with other all-terrain tires, but I've heard many consistently good things about the Cooper Discoverer AT3. The Falken Wildpeak AT3W also appears to be a solid choice, though when I looked into them their smallest size was 235/75/15 which I couldn't squeeze on; the guys running 2" lifts and low offset wheels are usually able to run that size though. Good luck!
Hi just started following you. I have a 2015 Forester Premium. I have Michelin Defenders for tires. I have done some road trips last one in September and October 6 states, 5 weeks. 3 and Half by myself. What I want to know(finally)is what tires are you using? I LOVE my Subaru all for the same reasons you do. I would like to go off road too. Thank you. Its going to be fun watching your videos.
I'm running BFGoodrich T/A KO2, which is an all-terrain tire. They are really fantastic on the trail. For the first year I had my Forester, I did quite a few offroad excursions just running good all-season tires, and I got around just fine, though they weren't as grippy as the all-terrains and I was always nervous about damaging a tire. The KO2 is terrific, but there are other good all-terrain choices available. I've seen many positive reviews of the General Grabber and the Cooper Discoverer. Good luck, and have fun out there!
Awesome video as always man!!!! Which version do you have exactly? Turbocharged? Manual or automatic? Does it have low range gearbox? If not, do you miss it? Thanks in advance
My Forester is the very bottom-rung 2.5x, no sunroof, no heated seats, no turbo. It's an automatic, but predates the CVT so I am equipped with Subaru's 4EAT transmission which has been performing quite well. No low range, and yes, there are moments when it would be really helpful to have, but the combination of the gear-selectable auto (I can put it in 1st and it'll stay in 1st) plus the traction control system has proven to be nicely effective when dealing with tricky obstacles. Thanks for watching (and for the kind words!)
@@softroadingthewest Awesome!!! I'm about to move to Europe and I'm considering a Forester, therefore I'm trying to get any useful information available, preferably from actual users. Your traction control is a standard system or is it the famous X Mode? What about the diffs? Self locking? Viscous? Thanks a lot and best wishes!!
@@alexsemine1 Hi there. I think (i'm sure can say) that this forester doesnt have X Mode yet. So there is standard VDC only. So diffs are open and if there is no grip so then are brakes applied to increase torque on wheel which has grip.
Hey Don, thanks for all you do. I love the content man. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to the 08 outback?
It now belongs solely to my ex-wife. :-)
I love my dad's ‘07 Forester, but it started leaking transmission fluid yesterday and it’s coming to an end 😭😭
Edit: it has 160K miles. Does that mean anything for this model specifically?
I'm really unskilled with troubleshooting and mechanics in general. I don't know if a leaking transmission is fatal or not. I would imagine it's not that difficult to find a used transmission to swap in. If you haven't already been there, I'd highly recommend subaruforester.org to research the issue. You might find the answer, and if not, you can start a thread to discuss it with members who are far more mechanically knowledgeable than me. Good luck!
Thanks!
Awesome - I get what you mean about the community...but I guess that occurs with other unique brands too.
I'm sure you're right! Thanks for watching!
Hola soy de chile... muy buenos vídeos aunque no entiendo el idioma jaja pero son buenas las aventuras que haces y sobre todo en un subaru forester yo también tengo un forester 2010 y aperra con todo tipo de terreno. Saludos 👍
What year model are you driving, and what are the wheels? I am looking into a used Forester, one with only 20k miles (2018) and another with 90k miles (2014). I am looking to take the car into similar environments.
2012. Wheels are Black Rhino Boxer 15x7 +15