ok so...
my RS had to have some workie done on him...

and i know the guys at the dealership pretty well.. so... i got my choice of the loaner car for the day...

hmmmmmmmmm......
i say... "what u got in a 5 speed?"
they say... "well.. we got this Forester here..."
i say... "hehehee ok... gimme the keys...."

damn! what a fun car! i mean really!
i had a blast... truckin around.. in basically a bigger, taller.. um... RS... http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

I am just really impressed w/the car you all have here... although it was up a bit highter, the chassis seemed well balanced and suspension was up to the task... of dealing with... ME! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif Plus I could fit all my rally tires in it... hmmm.. do i need a 2nd car???

i would really, really like to have a run in one of those at a Rallycross one day... now that would be fun!! We had a guy come out... a first timer, ran his Forester in the last event we had and he trophied! Now I know why!!!

anyway... just blabbing - felt like sharing *sniff* - that was the first time i'd driven a Forester... hehehe
and i just felt like lettin u guys know that i LIKE YA CAR!! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

cya!
j. www.subiegal.com (http://www.subiegal.com)

I thought the same things Jamie. When my wife was in the market for a new car when our SVX died we were thinking OBS, or WRX wagon. We test drove a Forester S 5spd and were doing the paperwork later that evening. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

It is like a taller RS. I really like driving it as it feels VERy similar to my RS, well much slower http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/tongue.gif

Aaron
http://www.azscooby.com

With the 2.5 a few common engine mods and a few suspension things it is definately a great machine.
It's especially good to have a forum in adddition to reading about everyone else's
mod's .

Don't know about autocross but my Forester surprises more than a few people in day to day diving. Moreover it has been a steady, reliable performer in some daily winter diving. I live in the snow belt and get to exercise the AWD thing more than you can imagine.

This almost mirrors my experience - I dropped my '00 RS off the other day to have the O2 sensor replaced and a few other quirks checked out. The dealership gave me a '01 Forester automatic with the 2.5 motor. Is it just me, or does this sound more like an in-line 4 when coupled to an auto tranny and wound up to redline?? I wonder if the Forester just has more sound dampening or soemthing, but the engine just did not sound as "mechanicall" as my 2.5.
Another thing, I was able to get noticable inner front wheel spin when pushing this grocery haul hard on some twisties. Is this a product of the electronically split 90/10 torque transfer?
Great handling and comfortable car though - and the seats feel firmer then those in my RS.

Jamie: kewl! That's what I've been telling anyone who will listen - the Forester is basically a 2.5 RS in a taller, boxier package! I like to call it "the Impreza's square brother."


aowRS: Mine is an AT (let's not get into yet another AT v. MT argument, it fits my daily driving needs better) and from my experience, though it may not sound the same as an MT model, it certainly does not (imagine all caps here) sound like any inline-4 powered car I've ever owned or driven. I agree that the seats and seating position are better for me than the 2.5RS.


Seriously, when I went Soob shopping I narrowed it down to Forester S and Legacy GT wagon. Forester has noticeably more useful cargo room than Impreza L or OBS and better power/weight ratio than Legacy GT. I liked the handling better, too, even though GT closer to the ground.


I joined i-club to learn about all the Impreza mods and find out which could be applied to the Forester. lakepop has shared his Brospeed info with us, and juice (who's out here a lot) and Imprezer have made a lot of mods to theirs as well. Mine is limited to an 18mm SPT rear sway bar so far, but I hope to make exhaust and (maybe) wheel mods as I get nearer to warranty expiration and finances permit.


As for auto-x, rally-x, etc. I'd love to do it someday; what i'd really like to do is enroll in some driving school that'd let me learn to take my Forester closer to its limits. Wish I could take it to the Subaru/Panoz school - I used to go to Road Atlanta when I was in college and I always wanted to drive there.


Enough rambling. Glad y'all like your boxy brethren and welcomed us into the fold with our own forum. Maybe we can run recce for you someday!

Ed

(edit for spelling and grammar)


[This message has been edited by lark6 (edited March 07, 2001).]

Hey, thanks for the positive comments, Subie Gal. Did you drive a Forester L or S?

Yep, the Forester is a deceptively nimble vehicle. It takes a bit getting used to the body lean on corners, but it holds up quite well on the twisties.

The cool thing is that most of the mods for the Impreza also work on our 'sters.

Ken

Now you know why Forester owners are always smiling! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

Think of it as an RS with an extra passenger (or 200 lbs ballast). OK, raised a little too, but that allows me to drive it on the beach. And it may actually be better suited to certain terrain.

It is quieter, too. BugBomb (2000 RS sedan) and I swapped rides to play a little cat-and-mouse, and he thought it felt like a limo (of course he has a cat-back and all...)

The icing on the cake is if you can get in the SUV class, it's like an unfair advantage. No wonder your friend trophied.

-juice

[This message has been edited by juice (edited March 08, 2001).]