1998 Subaru Forester L review from North America
"One lemon in a bushel basket of solid cars"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I have mixed feelings about this car and feel that I must have acquired a "bad one".
I bought it in Feb 2000 and have had;
A) four complete brake jobs
B) to replace both front axles.
There has also been problems with the trim both interior and exterior...
The "shocks" holding up the rear hatch quit.
The interior plastic lining on the inside of the lower hatch door disintegrated.
One of the exterior side trim pieces between the rear door and the rear window (the largest one) flew off on the highway!
General comments?
That said, the car has been very pleasant to drive in snow/mud/rain, both on the highway and off. It handles remarkable well in Colorado snow.
There is a little more engine noise on the highway than I would have expected from a car in its class, granted it isn't a Mercedes and I do also drive a Austin-Healey and that is loud.
Recommended reviews
| 1998 - Forester LX 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer Solid, reliable, functional car with excellent bad-weather traction and all-around handling. |
|
| Repairs are a nightmare, but I love the car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1967 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 19000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 53000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 1st December, 2001 |