2014 Forester redesign (merged thread)

[Wyldcat89]

bought my 2010 brand new and I am torn because I like my Forester but hate the seats. Its the most uncomfortable vehicle I've ever had to drive but it fits the bill for everything I need. At this point I DON'T like the look of the 2014 Forester but will give it a chance if the seats are improved, because the other improvements they made seem to have checked all the boxes I've previously complained about. Only time will tell...

[LOUROK]

Originally Posted by lfdal

Speaking as someone who grew up driving a 3-on-the-tree MT, and 4sp, and 5sp, and ....

I have to admit the XT in Sport Mode with the 4EAT is not that bad. Not at all.

I'll be curious to see how the CVT manages the psuedo-gearing.

Originally Posted by Wyldcat89

bought my 2010 brand new and I am torn because I like my Forester but hate the seats. Its the most uncomfortable vehicle I've ever had to drive but it fits the bill for everything I need. At this point I DON'T like the look of the 2014 Forester but will give it a chance if the seats are improved, because the other improvements they made seem to have checked all the boxes I've previously complained about. Only time will tell...

i agree

[GreyingJay]

Wow, glad to see I'm not the only one with complaints about the seats.

I've heard various explanations, though I couldn't tell you which ones are actually correct or what is causing my particular discomfort:
- the seats are shorter, so less thigh support
- the pedals are too far to the left
- the pressure required to hold down the brake pedal (e.g. stop and go traffic) is just enough to cause calf muscle soreness
- not enough legroom so leg can't stretch out enough

Looking at the pictures of the 2014 rear seats, they sure look short so I'm not sure if that indicates there will be little or no change to the front seats as well. We'll see...

[toysbyus]

I think that you're quite right.....I thought that the SH seat cushions were shorter than my SG buckets......but there's something else going on here..........even with the cushions being shorter, enough legroom would make that issue less critical.

When legroom is short, that automatically causes the leg to have to bend at the knee, which in turn, raises the thigh off of the edge of the seat...and causes me all sorts of pain after an hour or so.

The lumbar support is a whole 'nother issue. The SG seats had really decent lower back support (and I should know, being 6'5" and round-shouldered), while the SH that I tried was very deficient in that area........

So: If the SJ has improved in those areas, it goes on my short list. If it doesn't, then I'm probably not getting a second Subaru..........

Steve

[neoshi]

Originally Posted by cooter1

They do look the part, contemplating ordering them for our new XT arriving Feb next year. Anyone able to shop the gunmetal ones onto a black one? I fear that the design of wheel will make the car look like it needs to be lowered.

Do you mean to tell me that Subaru never meant for all their cars to look like they are on stilts?

[Dennis_Subaru]

Foto’s Subaru Forester 2013 | SUBARU-BLOG

[cooter1]

Originally Posted by neoshi

Do you mean to tell me that Subaru never meant for all their cars to look like they are on stilts?

They do but some wheels designs fill the guards out better than others and my wife doesn't like the black silver combo on the new gen

[twinturbozs]

Originally Posted by Dennis_Subaru

Foto’s Subaru Forester 2013 | SUBARU-BLOG

That thing looks horrible.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by twinturbozs

That thing looks horrible.

I'd wager that most any car (or person, for that matter) looks pretty awful from the up-the-nose angle used in this photo.

Which makes sense, since I doubt design teams are terribly concerned with how they look from an armadillo's perspective.

[SubiRoo]

Originally Posted by Dennis_Subaru

Foto’s Subaru Forester 2013 | SUBARU-BLOG

From that angle it looks like:

[toysbyus]

Ya know, it freaking DOES look like Predator.

Ha ha ha........good observation!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Steve

[Loscaldazar]

Originally Posted by SubiRoo

From that angle it looks like:

I don't get it.

Whats wrong with it looking like that?

[Soukaitsu]

I already liked to looks of the 2014 so maybe that's why I don't see what other people see. All I see in that image is that the approach angle isn't as hindered as most people thought because of the metal shield for the turbo. The SG's had physical parts near each wheel that would decrease ground clearance but I can see the fourth generation don't have that issue.

I'm wondering why the DRL's (illuminated C-shaped lights) aren't on but maybe that's because it's not USDM.

[ssatpathy]

I like it quite a bit ! This thing is growing on me ...

[Woody '04]

Originally Posted by Dennis_Subaru

Foto’s Subaru Forester 2013 | SUBARU-BLOG

sigh... yeah perspective is off but still i was hoping the black plastic in the low center ala mazda was going to go away. that looks like darth vader or something. yuck. and everyone won't want to get black to avoid the contrast. yuck.