1998 Subaru Forester RX Limited review from Australia and New Zealand
"Subaru quality wins again"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Car has been very reliable and dependable.
Electric Aerial died and was replaced by dealer under warranty.
Tyres wear very quickly. Original tyres (Bridgestone Duelers) were very weak and proved useless on the unsealed roads I live on.
Rear plastics in boot rattle terribly.
Rear struts needed replacement. Expensive as are self adjusting and only available as a genuine part.
General comments?
Has been a fantastic car and has never let us down. It is used every day for a 65 km round trip to work and back and has been driven from Hobart, Tasmania all the way to Queensland & back without missing a beat.
Seats are quite comfortable and the middle armrests on the front seats are good on longer journeys.
Cruise control works well.
Steering is excellent, very responsive through corners, and light when parking. Handling is excellent for such a tall car.
Performance is average until you rev it above 3,000 rpm, but this is not good enough for daily driving. I will get the turbocharged version next time.
There is only one dealer in Hobart (Performance Automobiles) and they have been very disappointing. They are overpriced and the service they provide is not up to standard. I now take the car to my local petrol station for servicing and repairs, and it has been fine.
I would recommend the Forester to anyone.
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![]() ![]() | Poor performance, high maintenance |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 0 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 155000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Honda Accord |
| Date of Entry | 11th May, 2003 |





