Subaru cars: Forester or Outback

[pat kcotnit]

Thinking about changing my car at the moment. Interested in a used 4-5 year old subaru but don't know which of the 2 above would be the better car. I have never owned or even driven a subaru car (I have driven a pickup but that was thirty years ago). Once I test drive any of the 2 I may not even like them, but at the moment these are my cars of choice.
Forester looks higher driving position and more ground clearance than the Outback (used to a disco at the moment).
I am used to a manual gearbox, don't know if I would like an automatic. More choice of Foresters with manual gearbox, very few (none at the moment within 100 miles) Outback on manual.
Engine wise diesel engine cars is what I am used to but I only do about 6000 miles/annum so petrol wouldn't worry me if the car was at the right price. Which of the two engines is the most reliable?
Looking for some feedback from owners who have preferably had experience of both cars and give their opinion on the two models.
TIA

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

@adzy , question for you

 

[Wellytrack]

Outback is the larger car, was based on the legacy estate. Forester is Impreza based. Both excellent solid cars if now dated technology wise.

 

[Moors Lad]

Am I dreaming or can the heater plugs be difficult to replace if they go on the diesel engine?

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Boss has 1 of the last diesel foresters, nice car to drive

 

[deleted user 837354]

I don't think the automatic gearbox was ever the best, it is one of those funny CVT types from memory.

 

[capfits]

I have one of the last diesel Foresters and possibly one of the lowest mileage ones 3.5 years and 14 000 miles. Covid stopped life in general.
Outback is bigger, but Forester is big enough for a family to be honest. Clearance is the same, exit and entry angles are better on Forester.
Happily sit in it all day and could do 650 miles with a tankful.
Great in snow.
Will not be selling even though I possibly could match what I paid for last year with 4000 miles.
For all the miles you are doing I really would get petrol for less DPF issues

 

[Vizslaman]

Heater plugs can be expensive, it cost me £800 when I had one fail.
Other than that the Forester was a good solid if some what plasticky reliable vehicle, not a great selection when it comes to A/T tyres. I had to settle for Geolanders.

 

[adzy]

Outback manual will be rare as rockinghorse sh!t, although I had one of the original ones. My dad has had 4 foresters in the last 20 years, best car he has ever owned. Ground clearance wise its not a landy, but if you don't take it where it shouldn't go you won't have trouble. The standard yokohama geolandars aren't the greatest tyres, they are prone to puncture. I recommend upgrading to Michelin latitude cross. The petrol engines are very reliable, but don't expect earth shattering performance.

 

[colhonk]

Apparently the Outbacks can drive anywhere and never get stuck, and have very good head lights, and can carry lots of dogs and hares

 

[Jeremy B]

I have a 66 plate Forester manual diesel. Almost 90k miles with no problems. Have done a few 500 mile days in it no problem, averages about 47mpg on mixed driving with a bit of towing.

Gearbox is not brilliant, first and reverse too high, gap from second to third too big, 5th gear serves no purpose at all as it is almost the same as 6th so I routinely miss it out and go 4th to 6th and same coming down.

Original set of Yokahama Geolanders did 76k miles so put same on again.

 

[Roger Perry]

Traded a Forester sport today for same again, 20 months old with 36 k miles, gas engine, diesel not offered in U.S.
Toyota has a 20% stake in Subaru. The outback is made in U.S. the Forester in Japan.
Subaru are sold in huge numbers in America.

 

[Jimfandango]

We have a 54 plate naturally aspirated Forrester. It's a real work horse. We use it for towing. It's a bit gutless which is annoying but the high and low ratio gearbox means it has lasted for ages. Barely had any work done on it. Just waiting for it to fall apart so we can upgrade. We have been and will be waiting quite a long time I think. Like said above its a higher driving position, a bit bouncey and turns like a boat. If driving pleasure is a consideration I would give it a miss. Good solid car though.

 

[Drillman]

Wifey has a diesel forester very good car on road. And sticks to slippery surfaces better than Spider-Man.

reliability wise it just works. Nothing more to say on that subject

performance is its faster than fast enough for normal driving

comfort is not bad at all with the only let down in my eyes been it has the “make work stick” manual gearbox.

only ever got it stuck once when i bellied it in a snowdrift one night. Wifey wasn’t impressed as she had to fetch the Telehandler to dig me out

edit-wifey took some initial persuading to have a forester as she liked the look of the Nissan quasimodo but after test driving both I was instructed to do a deal on the scooby.

 

[linga]

I have just bought an Outback to replace a Legacy.
Its got the CVT box and I was a bit worried about how it would feel but it seems pretty good so far feeling just like any other auto
Dont know what a Forester is like but I am told they are a little more plasticky than the Outback and of course the Outback being longer gives more boot space ( longer anyway)
Its comfy and goes fast enough for me and feels solid.
It gives the impression it will cope with anything in front of it.

 

[pat kcotnit]

Managed to get away yesterday and finally get a look in the flesh at both Outback and Forester.
Sat in the Outback but didn't like the driving position (also auto box which I didn't really want). Dealer had two very similar foresters, one 18 months younger but higher milage (the one I went to see really) but smelt like a dog kennel, and lots of evidence of there residence there. Not worthy of being on a main dealers forecourt. The other slightly older one (5 1/2 year old) with only about 30000 miles on clock and a lot better condition (but not brilliant by any means, stone chips, traces of dog hair) I had a test drive. Liked it but said I would think about it.
Fast forward to today, had a look on subaru website and seen another one, just past 3 years old, diesel, about 28k miles and not too far away. Phoned dealer, actually closed but just come and see it. After about an hours drive, car sitting ready with trade plates. Test drove it, then looked it over carefully. Looked (and smelt) like a new car. Only thing I found fault with was non functioning air con (needing recharge I think, will be fixed). Asked for negotiation on price, no can do but will fit genuine towbar in the price.
So I have bought a FSH 3 year old Forester (with about 23 months warranty left from subaru)!
And only for £400 pound more than a 5 1/2 year old one that I looked at yesterday.

 

[BredRedHfd]

Managed to get away yesterday and finally get a look in the flesh at both Outback and Forester.
Sat in the Outback but didn't like the driving position (also auto box which I didn't really want). Dealer had two very similar foresters, one 18 months younger but higher milage (the one I went to see really) but smelt like a dog kennel, and lots of evidence of there residence there. Not worthy of being on a main dealers forecourt. The other slightly older one (5 1/2 year old) with only about 30000 miles on clock and a lot better condition (but not brilliant by any means, stone chips, traces of dog hair) I had a test drive. Liked it but said I would think about it.
Fast forward to today, had a look on subaru website and seen another one, just past 3 years old, diesel, about 28k miles and not too far away. Phoned dealer, actually closed but just come and see it. After about an hours drive, car sitting ready with trade plates. Test drove it, then looked it over carefully. Looked (and smelt) like a new car. Only thing I found fault with was non functioning air con (needing recharge I think, will be fixed). Asked for negotiation on price, no can do but will fit genuine towbar in the price.
So I have bought a FSH 3 year old Forester (with about 23 months warranty left from subaru)!
And only for £400 pound more than a 5 1/2 year old one that I looked at yesterday.

You'll love it. Great car. Just does the job with zero fuss.
Had ours 5 years, only things done, air con regas, and rear diff temp sensor wire come adrift.

 

[Finn farmer]

Managed to get away yesterday and finally get a look in the flesh at both Outback and Forester.
Sat in the Outback but didn't like the driving position (also auto box which I didn't really want). Dealer had two very similar foresters, one 18 months younger but higher milage (the one I went to see really) but smelt like a dog kennel, and lots of evidence of there residence there. Not worthy of being on a main dealers forecourt. The other slightly older one (5 1/2 year old) with only about 30000 miles on clock and a lot better condition (but not brilliant by any means, stone chips, traces of dog hair) I had a test drive. Liked it but said I would think about it.
Fast forward to today, had a look on subaru website and seen another one, just past 3 years old, diesel, about 28k miles and not too far away. Phoned dealer, actually closed but just come and see it. After about an hours drive, car sitting ready with trade plates. Test drove it, then looked it over carefully. Looked (and smelt) like a new car. Only thing I found fault with was non functioning air con (needing recharge I think, will be fixed). Asked for negotiation on price, no can do but will fit genuine towbar in the price.
So I have bought a FSH 3 year old Forester (with about 23 months warranty left from subaru)!
And only for £400 pound more than a 5 1/2 year old one that I looked at yesterday.

Great looking car, but i'm biased. 2019, 32000 miles. Towing a trailer sauna with barrel bath tub.

 

[colhonk]

Do they still have a flat engine? if so,why is the bonnet so high?

 

[Wellytrack]

Do they still have a flat engine? if so,why is the bonnet so high?

Yes, boxer engine. What makes you think the bonnet looks high? They have a flat floor pan, nothing hangs lower than what you can observe from the side to get ripped off.