1998 Subaru Forester S review from North America
"A safe, agile, and quick all wheel drive sport utilit vehicle"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
When one tire got sidewall damage it was recommended that we replace all four. The electronic clutch at the wheel with less tread depth than the others may burn out on this automatic all wheel drive system. The clock is failing. The floor mat had to be secured with a zap strap.
General comments?
This is a good handling sport-ute with a fast launch from a stop because of the low first gear. The dual overhead cams sound nice! 60 cubic feet of cargo is good for a vehicle of this size. I use synthetic oil and coolant additives to try and avoid the head gasket failure which occurs in 20% of these foresters.
Recommended reviews
| 1998 - Forester LX 2.5L 4-cylinder Boxer Solid, reliable, functional car with excellent bad-weather traction and all-around handling. |
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| Repairs are a nightmare, but I love the car |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5L boxer four Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 42000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 99000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Suzuki Sidekick |
| Date of Entry | 7th August, 2004 |