lastaero

Recently, my dearly beloved had gotten really weary of her 5 spd Accord, since the route she has been driving for some time involves pretty heavy traffic. The Accord has done a little over 100K, so it has given us some use.
Clearly, the time had come for a new machine, with only two pedals.
Now, the Accord and the Forester are more comparable than you might think.
Both share roughly the same displacement, make about the same power, and have about the same interior voulme. I should add that we have nearly a miilion miles in six Hondas, so it was a big thing for us to look at anything else.
The Subbie is tall and much shorter than the Accord, and a few hundred pounds heavier. The Subbie is a north-south opposed four, while the Accord is a transverse inline four. Honda gves the Accord a five speed auto, while the Forester makes do with a four speed autobox. However, I have heard nothing bad about Subbie automatics, while Honda automatics have had some problems. The Subbie also has quite a bit more luggage space than any Accord.
Finally, with similar equipment, a Forester costs about the same as an Accord.
The Accord has better quality interior materials, but the Subbie has a sophisticated AWD system, unlike any Honda.
So, when the time came to write the check, we decided to give Subaru a try. I have no doubt that the Forester will be a reliable and useful machine. I'll know for sure after 100K or so.
The Subbie has a decent ride, and has more torque than a four cylinder Honda. The Forester has very good outward visibility, and is very intuitive to weave through traffic. It is fairly quiet, and will probaly be fine on trips. I have always kind of wanted a Subaru, so now we will give one a try.

lilFORESTer

Apples or Oranges?

lilFORESTer

Unless of course you are talking about an Accord Wagon... they you could compair that to the legacy wagon.

adc

Yea..really. Comparing the Subie to a CRV would be better . Accord obviously a better road car for summertime. In Ohio the Subie will be in its element in fugly weather. The 4 speed auto is more than adequate for the higher torque 2.5.

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lastaero

The last US market Accord wagon was sold more than ten years ago. Then there was the first gen Ody (we had one), which was really a tall Accord wagon, and was offered through the '98 model year.
Interestingly, there was a JDM AWD Accord wagon. There is someone in FL importing them to the US right now. Somehow, though, a RHD car doesn't seem really sensible in LHD America.
WRT apples and oranges, both the Accord and the Forester are means of comfortably transporting up to four adults and their luggage ( Don't bother counting seat belts, five are not comfortable in either car). They are different means to the same end.
My point was that anyone looking at an Accord should consider a Forester. For about the same money, the Forester is a quite different answer to the same question.
If you need a daily driver to carry up to four and their stuff, either car is a valid choice.
Maybe I should post this on DriveAccord (and get flamed to a cinder), since I am trying to encourage a little out of the box thinking, while everyone here already thinks that a Subbie is the obvious choice.
I am but a newcomer to the fold. '
I do look forward to our first foot deep snowfall. It will be fun to try out the Subbie in conditions where its AWD is really working.

Preludegod

as you can tell from the screen name ive been a honda drive all my life too unit about 2 weeks ago when i ordered my 2009 forester. i looked at the accords when i was at the honda dealer looking at cr-v's and ridgelines. a couple reasons why i got the forester first was the safety featuers in the forester. with a new baby on the way that was the most important. included in that was the standard 4wd which the accord does not have. then the sunroof, god that thing is huge! also the gas mileage in a forester is slightly better than the accord. my wife has an 2004 sti and with 80000 miles it has held up perfectly so we are happy with subarus reliability.

lastaero

Another thing is that the Forester is much shorter than either the '99 Accord my wife had been driving, until today, or the old '97 Accord I have been using.
The new Accord is huge, and lacks the outward visibility of the Subbie.
The Forester demonstrates how building up can yield as much useful interior space as building longer. Also, the flat four reminds me of our old Vanagon, although it is a quite different engine. Did you know that a Subbie in a Vanagon is a somewhat common transplant?
Anyway, Anna made her first commute in the Forester today, about 20 miles each way, and she reports that she is quite pleased with our purchase.

lilFORESTer

My ex-girlfriend's Dad pioneered the subie/vanagon swap

Small Car Performance - Vanagon and Subaru upgrades, parts and Service for Subaru, VW, Porsche and Audi

I have driven a wrx vanagon, SVX vanagon and a legacy 2.5... Fun to spank a honda in brick!

lastaero

This is way off topic, but I had to throw it in.
Did you also know that 911SC into the Vanagon has been done?
Porsche themselves did a couple, to use as support vehicles in real-world testing of 911s.
Would be fun to spank a WRX with a Vanagon.

JeffLee

hmm...

if you go to a honda forum, they will say accord...

and if you go to a subaru forum they will say forester.....



I love my forester!

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getsomz28

I have both (03 AV6 for the wife and 05 FXT). They both have their places in our family. Cant go wrong with either. The Honda is hands down the better cross-country travelling vehicle. Though the FXT is way more fun to drive than the Accord!

I was debating the same issue when I was looking at vehicles...Accord V6 coupe 6 spd or the FXT. I know I made the right choice;)

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getsomz28

However, we will replace our Accord with another one (or Acura TL) when the time comes.

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lastaero

Jeff,

You got it.
The Accord is probably the Honda to buy, and the Forester seems to be the mainstream Subaru.
I am looking forward to the ownership experience. We will likely put at least 100K on the Forester, and I am curious to find out how well the car ages.
I am also looking forward to trying out the AWD when it really matters, this winter.
When you can educate the guys selling, and sometimes fixing, Hondas, you know you have had enough of them.
Time for something different, and the Toyotas and the Nissans are simply too generic.
The Subaru is at least pretty unique.

Dan

Here's to the Forester meeting your expectations over the long haul.

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SHIFT_to_Subaru
'04 XT, 5spd

subaru key collector

forester is the way to go, you'll like it better, much better for traffic because it has a higher stance and you won't feel like you are gonna be crushed by the other big cars on the road.

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