Subaru Forester Owners Forum - View Single Post

guroove · 05-11-2008, 08:59 AM

1 is good for when you need to be in 1st gear for more torque on steep grades. If you're on especially bumpy terrain where you need to go really slow, 1 is also good for maintaining really low speed crawling. I tend to stick to trails and not try going over rocks or into deep mud so I don't need to utilize the slow crawling gears as much.

I think it really needs to be stressed that the axle design and ground clearance on a stock Forester are really not made for serious off roading. Even on trails, you will likely still encounter a lot of sticks and small rocks that will bump and scrape the bottom of the car. The differentials aren't really great for any conditions where any wheels leave the ground. Where the Forester really shines is on gravel or dirt trails.

05-11-2008, 08:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
guroove Groovologist Contributing Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 1,542 Gallery: 0 iTrader: 7 / 100%	1 is good for when you need to be in 1st gear for more torque on steep grades. If you're on especially bumpy terrain where you need to go really slow, 1 is also good for maintaining really low speed crawling. I tend to stick to trails and not try going over rocks or into deep mud so I don't need to utilize the slow crawling gears as much. I think it really needs to be stressed that the axle design and ground clearance on a stock Forester are really not made for serious off roading. Even on trails, you will likely still encounter a lot of sticks and small rocks that will bump and scrape the bottom of the car. The differentials aren't really great for any conditions where any wheels leave the ground. Where the Forester really shines is on gravel or dirt trails. __________________ 2005 Obsidian Black Pearl XT w/4eat Last edited by guroove : 05-11-2008 at 09:08 AM.