Forester as a 10% expo vehicle

[dewhorse]

Long time lurker 2nd time poster. I am looking at a forrester as my next vehicle to replace my '03 disco. I hate to get rid of her but at 153000 miles it's just a matter of time before she costs me another $1000. I will be using this as a DD as well as a 1000 road trip every 2 weeks to see my sons.

I work on the road so I need something that I can pack up my life basically and move adn while the forrester is not huge I am think I might be able to get away with a trailer.

I live and drive in the snow (NW PA to NE Ill)belt so the AWD is a huge thing for me and I have had Subarus before. Again the Disco is great but I dread misssing another trip due to issues (twice now).

That was the 90% the 10% would light off roading withy my boys to isolated camping spots aned I am considering doing the Allegheny forest this summer for a week.

I am open to other ideas but rthe Subi seems to fit the bill the best just wish they had a diesel.

On the other hand if I can convince the wife......maybe having both would be better:elkgrin:

Thanks for all the info I ahve really enjoyed the forum for awile now

Does anyone make a good rack for the forrester, beside the usual characters (thule etc)

 

[haven]

"isolated camping spots" means different things to different people.
If you can reach these spots on a dirt/gravel forest road that doesn't
involve climbing rock ledges or wading through deep mud, then the
Forester should work OK. Unfortunately, both conditions are fairly
common in northwest PA.

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

wifey had a 99...great little truck....but the engines are notorious for cracking heads...(in the 99 flavor they are)...

she like it...it was a decent little runner..(after new engine)

 

[dewhorse]

"isolated camping spots" means different things to different people.
If you can reach these spots on a dirt/gravel forest road that doesn't
involve climbing rock ledges or wading through deep mud, then the
Forester should work OK. Unfortunately, both conditions are fairly
common in northwest PA.

This is very true........the more I think about the more I really want to keep the Disco (2.5" lift and GY silent armors)

She just can't keep doing 3000 miles a month

 

[frogstar7055]

My Forester with 2" of lift and AT tires will go just about anywhere camping I'd wanna go.

That's a Valley roof basket from Cabela's.
$149.95 and would buy it again.

 

[Martinjmpr]

An Outback Wagon will give you a little more room as they are somewhat longer. The trade off is they do have longer overhangs which means worse approach/departure angles.

I drove a '99 Outback for 3 years, even took it hunting in '05 and '06 and it did fine. MPG was pretty good and it was very reliable. Deep snow was not its forte, however. One plus for the OBW is that I believe all of them after 2000 came with a rear LSD standard. Foresters only get the LSD if you get a higher trim level or a turbo.

Having said that, I really like the looks of the 03-07 Forester (the ones with the hexagon tailgate.) Just a very good looking vehicle IMO.