- Joined
- Jul 2, 2007
- Messages
- 5,294
Does anyone here have the new redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester?
I think it looks great all around as far as appearance styling. I understand a lot of Subaru die-hard traditionalists took issue with the new body style because Subaru kind of took it mainstream, but I like it. I don't dislike the body style it replaced, I just like the new lines a bit better.
On the the mechanicals. I've read conflicting info regarding the rear differential in the 2009 Forester: On one discussion group (on Edmunds.com) it was said that the 2009 no longer has limited slip on the rear diff, but on subaruforester.org (I think that's the URL) it was stated that the rear diff is viscous (I guess that means LSD...) but the front diff is "open." There seems to be a consensus in the Forester enthusiast circles that the AWD system on the automatic transmission equipped Forester is better for actual off-roading than the system on the manual trans Forester, the main difference being in how the torque split is divvied up front to back, and the manual trans AWD system better for rain and snow on-road conditions. So this is an area of confusion for me.
I've never thought of Soobs as vehicles that you would actually use the AWD for a lot of off-roading, but apparently some people do, and among the model lineup the Forester appears to be the one the enthusiasts off-road with more than the Outback or the Tribeca (I don't care much at all for the Tribeca).
I think it looks great all around as far as appearance styling. I understand a lot of Subaru die-hard traditionalists took issue with the new body style because Subaru kind of took it mainstream, but I like it. I don't dislike the body style it replaced, I just like the new lines a bit better.
On the the mechanicals. I've read conflicting info regarding the rear differential in the 2009 Forester: On one discussion group (on Edmunds.com) it was said that the 2009 no longer has limited slip on the rear diff, but on subaruforester.org (I think that's the URL) it was stated that the rear diff is viscous (I guess that means LSD...) but the front diff is "open." There seems to be a consensus in the Forester enthusiast circles that the AWD system on the automatic transmission equipped Forester is better for actual off-roading than the system on the manual trans Forester, the main difference being in how the torque split is divvied up front to back, and the manual trans AWD system better for rain and snow on-road conditions. So this is an area of confusion for me.
I've never thought of Soobs as vehicles that you would actually use the AWD for a lot of off-roading, but apparently some people do, and among the model lineup the Forester appears to be the one the enthusiasts off-road with more than the Outback or the Tribeca (I don't care much at all for the Tribeca).