1998 subaru Forester reviews

Subaru Forester GX Manual 2 Ltr 1998

Yes, I have done gigs with it, and all the stuff fits easily. Yes, I have had it off-road in steep rocky hills with a side-dish of mud. And I bogged it, through not crossing the ruts with enough vim. The family has both camped with it, and been away for a week of non-camping comfort. What don’t I like about it? The radio is some kind of mess. At some point in the last 160,000 miles some previous owner has installed this non-standard not-quite-working radio, about which I have done nothing. There is a vague glunking noise from the front end. especially when pounding over rocks. The old road tests complain about the cheap carpet, and the carpet under the driver’s feet shows signs of wear. And there is mud on the upholstery, for some unknown reason. There could probably be a bit more room in the back and a little more rear seat legroom. The gear shift is a bit loose and rubbery. At 1.447:1, low ratio is more like a sort of mid ratio, but it is useful for slower, less-pounding travel in the rough stuff, and handy in the steep stuff. It is also good for difficult reversing. I haven’t yet had the car on sand. Good points? Everything else. My 160,000 mile 12-year-old near-mint-condition Foz is a delight. Robust, reliable, comfortable, economical, fun, amazingly versatile. I can chuck it about on the road like our little front-wheel-drive. I can whizz about like the high-speed old fart that I am. (I must remember to tie my rusty old winch down to the tie-down points). And off-road, I can crawl or otherwise progress, wheels spinning occasionally in the air. To conclude, it is an excellent car. And car it is, car with off-road capability, not one of those vague and clumsy and unstable off-road things. Buy one and enjoy - but you probably already have one.