Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008 - (Page 24)

2009 FORESTER The new car is quieter, more comfortable and overall better than the outgoing Forester. The new car is also roomier, thanks to the chassis being a bit taller; it is also slightly wider and with a longer wheelbase. Improvements in suspension packaging have also increased rear cargo room. Visibility is one of the key features of the new car. Class competitors are hampered by thick C-pillars and small and obscured rear-views. To bring the point home, Subaru brought along a CRV and a Rav4 for direct comparison. The view out of the Forester is panoramic, making for easier parking and lane changes and better all-around spatial awareness. But the driving is really what this car is about. Over the rough roads of Catalina, the car felt planted and sure-footed. What’s more, the car never felt jarring, even while being hammered along rough dirt tracks. It was easy and predictable to drive and loved to hang the end out around fast bends as long as you had your foot planted. In the very rough bits, the rear end was almost a little too light and at more than one point over undulating bumps, the rear end left the ground, although a change in dampening would fix this problem. The turbo model has lost none of its scoot. Plant your foot, and it rockets forward. Either through a trick of engine or transmission tuning, power is delayed a bit, even for a turbo car. However, Subaru says that low-down torque and throttle response has been improved; they even had a dyno chart to prove it. However, those itching to take more control of their drive will be relieved to know that there is a sequential “sport shift” on the auto box, which was able to hold revs happily and do as it was told, even during monster power slides. The NA car shares the same 170bhp engine with the 2.5i Impreza. However, this engine feels no faster, perhaps even less so, than the previous less-powerful NA EJ25. Power delivery is nice and linear, and keeping your foot on the loud pedal does get the car moving, but power junkies will want to go for the turbo as the NA feels rather weak, even when coupled with the optional 5-speed. Buying the NA model is the only way you will get to change your own cogs. While there will still be some who will say that the Forester has lost the charm that made it such a cult hit, the reality is that this car is just as good as the older version. It lets you know very simply that you are in a Subaru, and that under the cute-ute skin beats the heart of a rally champion; boxer-growl and all. 24 MAY 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008

Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008 Contents Travis Geny Letters Readers' Rides Subaru News Wicked in White Pink Rules Harman Motive Nouveau Tuning the 2008 STI 2008 Rally Guide Alcan 5000 Rally Alcan Unleashed WRC Rally Monte Carlo WRC Rally Sweden WRC Rally Mexico 100 Acre Wood Kumakubo! D1 Drifting Where to Buy Subiesport 2008 Impreza WRX 2007 Legacy GT 1993 Impreza Wagon Fueled Up Ad Directory Spotted!

Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.