Subaru Forester Owners Forum banner

Decision Making Forester vs Outback

62K views 20 replies 15 participants last post by  soobyDO! 
#1 ·
Love the drive but hate the comparing. Had 2 Foresters (2000-2007)Legacy Wagon (2008-current) Time for a change lease is up and I'm tossing between Forester again or Outback..Dont need the size of Outback but read about smooth drive. Any comments?
 
#2 ·
my wife has a 2010 outback. I have a 2010 FXT. I wouldn't own the outback because I like my car to be performance oriented and I only live 5 miles from work.

If I had a longer commute, had a family to haul, did a lot of trips, etc. I would own the outback instead. We got 32 mpg's once in the outback! The outback is decent fun to drive stock and the CVT tranny is butter smooth. It is also easy to tow a small trailer with the outback. The OB only requires 87 octane.

The FXT is much more fun to drive than the outback. Especially with a very minor STI rear sway bar upgrade. I feel that is the only positive over the outback. The best mileage I've gotten was 25 mpgs, all highway. I regularly get 18 mixed, that is crap compared to what my wife gets doing the same driving.

I would not own a N/A forester over an outback. I can't think of any advantage of the N/A forester over the OB.
 
#3 ·
I also have owned both ..... as I always suggest, it's different for everyone, that's why they both sell well. Drive them, go back a few times and drive them again. Dealers usually will let you do this to help with your decision, also they try to PUSH the vehicles they have to move off their floorplan at the time. So if you like the one they have to move ...... Good Deal ...... if not, get the one you really like or can live with.
 
#4 ·
How about a new Impreza 5-door? Looks to be about the same size as the SF and SG Foresters, so if you want a wagon smaller than the Outback this might be a good choice.
 
#5 ·
When MY04 needs replacing, this would be my current choice ..... don't like the size of the Outback nor how the 2010 Forester I test drove felt ( no bashing here, just personal preference ). So the top of my list would be the new 5 door Impreza.
 
#8 ·
I bought a 2010 Outback last year, but it was totalled in October 2011. It was our first Subaru. We had test drove 20 different vehicles and the Outback was by far the best ride of the bunch. We loved it. We had a 4 cyl. and got terrific gas mileage.

Driving a 30-mile trip on the interstate (Texas flat land) the car showed 40 mpg. For a typical interstate drive (again flat land) we usually were in the mid to high 30's.

Two minor problems with the Outback we had. It was a bit low to the ground for our "old" bodies and the heavy doors would not stay open when we were on our inclined driveway. They "bit" us often.

Other than those two things I would have another Outback in a heartbeat. I cannot speak for the 2011 or 2012 Outbacks but the 2010 was outstanding and sold us on Subaru.
 
#9 ·
I'm in the same boat... Looking at the 2012 Forester and Outback. I'm about 35 miles away from my nearest Subie dealer. A month or so ago I'd gone in to grab brochures and JUST LOOK. Typical dealership BS... Moment I stepped on the lot it was like vultures converging on roadkill! I know they're tyring to make money...but I just HATE that c r a p !
So...I've not done a test drive in either one as of yet.

I hear (or have read) that you're going to feel the road a LOT more in Forester (not necessarily a BAD thing, unless it means you're going feel every little bump & pebble in the road), that cabin noise is going to be more noticeable in the Forester, and that the 4sp transmission kind of "sucks".
Maybe this isn' the case with the new to newest ('12) models?
So, Forester owners...I'd appreciate your input....:Banane35:
 
#10 ·
Just go test drive both, you are asking for something way too subjective.

Outback is a bit longer. It's available with CVT, Forester isn't. Forester has the new design engine for the N/A model, Outback uses the old one. Forester is available with a turbo, Outback isn't. Outback can be had with the 6-cylinder boxer engine and 5-speed auto transmission though. Forester auto is an outdated 4 speed, but works fine. If you want a manual, Outback comes in a 6-speed and Forester has 5.

Way too many variables to compare them side by side, depends on what you are looking for. Outback will be more plush and upscale, simply because that's how Subaru designs these cars.

Stan
 
#11 ·
Two Forester advantages that sold me: Rear seat leg room for Forester is way better, and the cost of equivalent trim levels run about 3 grand cheaper.

Forester is more in line with the SUV feel, and the Outback has a much smoother car-like ride.

My 2 cents...

I got the Forester--love it so far.
 
#17 ·
^ +1. There's more to it..

When I shopped for my Foz back in '10, the new Outback just came out. The CVT on the Outback is smooth but the car just didn't move, unless MPG is your main concern. The Foz is definitely a more engaging car to drive and the Outback will cost more on each trim level comparing to the Foz. So the choice was obvious for me back then..
 
#18 ·
My Fiance is wagon shopping and the outback is on our list. Her maximum budget is 15k so we are looking at the 2005-2009 range, which I think are the best looking body style anyway. I know the newer ones have more options (CVT and 6-speed), but they are too ugly IMO!

One thing I can't learn to accept about the outback is the rear suspension. Its not a macpherson strut setup like the forester, I think its what you would call multi link? Anyway, it does feel smother in a straight line, but sloppy around curves. It feels like there is too much lateral movement through even the slightest turn. Then again, I am using botox bolts on my foz, so it feels like its on rails...and more importantly we are shopping for her not me!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using AutoGuide.Com Free
 
#20 ·
One thing I can't learn to accept about the outback is the rear suspension. Its not a macpherson strut setup like the forester, I think its what you would call multi link? Anyway, it does feel smother in a straight line, but sloppy around curves.
Legacies have had this setup for a long time now, and so do '09+ Foresters (they inherited the Legacy/Outback platform like they always do). It is a much superior setup in ride quality and handling. The funky boatiness people complain about is due to spring rates and damper settings Subaru chose to use, notice that nobody complained about this in the older Outbacks, though the design was the same.

Stan
 
#19 ·
Check into www.subaruoutback.org

Lots of complaints on the rear suspension on the 2005-09 models and what folks have done to get them to be less tail happy.
 
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top