2008 Subaru Forester

Rating from convertible lover

(4)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"The 2008 Forester is new to me and replaces a Ford Focus which I loved. I found that at age 80 I was using the hand grip over the door to haul myself out. The taller Forester solved that.I can exit and enter with ease. I was surprised that my 2003 Focus had nice little touches that the 2008 Forester lacks. I think the Forester's instrument lighting is poor. With the too quiet clicking and dim lighting of the turn signals I neither see or hear when they're on. Why aren't the turn signal lights on the dash as bright as the cruise control? Insturment lighting is generally too dim. I have 2 choices: wear sunglasses and say bye bye to instruments or go without sunglasses and say bye bye to instruments as glare shuts down my irises and I squint. Turning on headlights proves iinstrument lights are only good at night. But in all other respects I love the car. With a sunroof and frameless windows I can almost convince myself I'm in a convertible. With the ease of folding the rear seat backs it quickly becomes a little workhorse for carrying weeds to the dump etc. Great cottage car. Roomy, comfortable and peppy. It is pretty much good for anything I might want to do."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from awd enthusiast

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Bought used with 73000miles. Great cargo area for bringing home a Christmas tree or other big stuff. When it snowed, it went great on through. Dashboard stuff is real practical and easy."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Brandon

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"This car does just what we want it to do. It gets reasonable gas millage around town, and handles potholed mountain roads better than many SUVs I've driven. The AWD is great on snow and ice. We've had no problems at all in over 30,000 miles. Probably the only complaint I can think of is an illusive squeak that sometimes comes from the dash when it is cold."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from classiccaccollector

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"excellent bad weather car. A few minor problems, inexpensive to maintain except for yokohama tires,poor tread life."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Transporting family

Rating from Bobsy

(3)
Comfort:		1 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Features:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"This is my second forester. Purchased a 1999 new and loved it. Bought a new 2008 and it handles well and performs well but the interior is uncomfortable. The driver seat is hard and after a 100 miles it hurts my back. The layout for the controls are poor and very small. It requires you to take your eye off the road to adjust the a/c, etc. The Yokohama tires are a joke. Need to be more M & S, not a street tire. Auto tranny shifts well, that surprised me cause I really liked the 5 speed in the 99 model. The a/c does not work up to par in real hot weather, tends to go back and forth in the temperature. Drivetrain is great, looks good but again the interior feels more like the cardboard seats they used in the 70's."

I would recommend this car to a friend: No

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Bill

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Fun to drive excelent short turning radius, good vision all around, reasonable gas millage, adequate power from the four cilinder boxer engine, corners well in mountain driving, carries all my art supplies, easy to load and unload can go nearely anywhere there is a semblance of a road. reliable. One of the few cars built today by any manufacturer that I can drive in comfort due to its leg room and head room I have had only one problem so far and that was an AC leak which the dealer easily fixed the second time around when the dye they used pointed out the leak. Good dealer service."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from vacjan

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"right seat height, reliable, many windows to see all around, ample cargo room, back seat comfort needs to be improved"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from tomato1

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Features:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Subaru took their time, and did most of their homework, in revamping the Forester for the 2009 model year. The Forester has been improved in nearly every aspect, though it retains its identity as a vehicle that is uniquely Subaru. The revamped exterior masks an interior that is bigger, quiter, and more comfortable than the previous model. Somehow mileage ratings have stayed the same and emissions have been lowered. Don't ask why... just enjoy that. Safety features abound and are all standard items. Airbags for everyone! Driving the new Forester exhibits most of the same handling characteristics as the old model, but with its taller stance it seems to be more susceptible to crosswinds on the highway. Couple that with the crummy Yokohama Geolander tires that come with it from the factory and the handling leaves room for improvement, but remember that this is now a full-fledged SUV and not a tall wagon. The interior is very functional, though the design looks like it was put together from a spare parts bin. I counted 6 different materials of varying texture accenting the interior. The instrument panel lighting can only be described as weird. There are 6 different colors of LED's and two different styles of LCD displays. Some jerk reversed the order of the knobs for the climate controls. The seats are much more comfortable with better lumbar and butt support. Thankfully you can now turn on the headlights with the key removed from the ignition, but whoever thought it was a good idea to light up the instrument panel with the daytime running lights is an idiot. Twice in 1000 miles I have caught myself driving without headlights. A classic Subaru-ism. This is still one of the most useful car sizes I have ever encountered. Add in the fact that its really well priced and well equipped, its quirks are easily overlooked and make it the strongest value in its class. Its flaws are mostly quirks that any Subaru owner has grown to enjoy."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from subaru fan

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Handling:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		2 out of 5
Interior Design:		2 out of 5
Features:		2 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"It is a good car but not amazing. First Subaru and like it but don't love it. Kind of loud on the highway and not mayn nice features."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from m

(5)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Handling:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		4 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Features:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"This is a great car for a first car especially if you are in snow alot. Its safe and a good size where it doesnt take too much gas but it sits higher so you feel safer."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around