Subaru Drivers

I'm looking at the Forester LL Bean Edition and the Outback 2.5xi Limited. I'm torn They're both great and have everything I want - they're just slightly different and I can't decide definitively on one or the other.

Those who drive Subaru...what model do you drive, what are your pros and what are your cons?

Re: Subaru Drivers

I just googled both cars and I prefer the looks of the Forrester.

my DH has a Subaru WRX and absolutely loves it!

Re: Subaru Drivers

We have the Forrester and we love it! Ours is a few years old, though.

Re: Subaru Drivers

I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5I

Pros - excellent on gas, great driving, comfortable, ALL wheel Drive, good looking car, excellent reliablility

Cons - none

Scott

Re: Subaru Drivers

Thanks everyone!

Dina - do you find it roomy enough with a carseat and other passengers in the 2nd row? How is the cargo space with a stroller and bags, etc?

Re: Subaru Drivers

I have a Forrester - we got it before we had DS. I love the car, but it's not the best with the infant seat (I have a Graco Snugride). I had to move the front passenger seat up and it can't really recline back at all. At the present time, if DH and I both ride in the car, I sit in the back with the baby because the front seat is not that comfortable. I am hoping that when we switch to a convertible seat, it will take up less room. I think part of the issue with the infant seat is that the base had to be balanced at a certain angle, which required us to keep moving the front seat up. (BTW installing the car seat was one of the few tests of marriage we have gone through so far.

The cargo space is pretty good, I have a snap and go stroller and with that in the back, I can still fit a decent amount of bags and stuff. I love the AWD - it definitely makes me feel safer.

Message edited 2/10/2008 2:28:49 PM.

Re: Subaru Drivers

DH has a 2002 WRX and absolutely loves it! its got over 110,000 miles on it already but, knock on wood, is still running great with minimal maintenance. DH is a mechanical engineer, so he knows his stuff with cars and is really picky with stuff... and he says he'll never get anything else but a subaru. he already has his next one picked out- LOL

we don't have kids yet, so i don't know how it would be with a car seat or any of that, but its plenty of room for 5 people, and the trunk is a decent size.

Re: Subaru Drivers

I have the Forrester. I absolutely love it!!

BUT, like someone already said, the infant seat is kinda tough in it. It doesn't fit in the middle correctly, so when we had the seat inspected, the woman moved it to behind the passenger seat. That forces you to move the passenger seat up pretty far - so I fit okay, but hubby can't even attempt it (he's over 6"). We definitely couldn't do 2 infant seats back there, so if you are thinking about having a second child right away, it may not be the best fit for you.

ETA: there is plenty of cargo room. I have never had an issue and I have loads of stuff back there.

Message edited 2/10/2008 2:59:02 PM.

Re: Subaru Drivers

Re: Subaru Drivers

I drive the Forrestor and my mom has an outback. Hers is newere and love the features but just a car I thik the forrestor is a little cooler. I also love my GIGANTIC moon roof. The outback is roomier, it just looks so 'station wagony" to me. But I would drive either one and will probably only drive Subaru's from now on. I heart Subaru's.

Re: Subaru Drivers

Thank you for all the feedback.

I had wanted to take an infant carseat with me to test out the space and maneuverability with getting it in and out of the car I had read that the seat doesn't fit well in the middle but that the car has the LATCH system (?) on both sides. Something to consider (the space for the passenger).

I do agree that the Outback is "just" a station wagon (but I love wagons and this one especially)...and the Forester is just really fun. It was fun to drive. The moonroof (which is also available in the Outback model I'm considering) is incredible. In the Forester - with all the visibility/windows, I felt like I was in a fish tank. I loved it!

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I was going to get a Forester but decided to stick with the Legacy (I had been driving one since HS!) since I got into both and just liked it more.

I have a 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited which I got in November and love it.

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We have the outback.

I LOVE the car. No drawbacks really.

Re: Subaru Drivers

Re: Subaru Drivers

I have an Outback. I got it about 3 months before DS was born. I love driving it, i's pretty sporty and fun. It has nice trunk space (easy to take things in and out) ... but my only con really is the back seat .. the infant carrier with base is big and I find if the seats are all the way back it's hard to get the baby in and out. It's a bit of a PITA. And once the baby is in, if my husband wants to put his seat all the way back and recline a bit it hits the baby seat so he's not all that comfortable in it now that the car seat is in.

Re: Subaru Drivers

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Well I am a whopping 5'0" so there is not much bending LOL, but it is more comfortable to get the seat into my DH's Jeep than into my Outback.
I just make sure the passenger seat is forward a bit when I take DS out alone so I can pop him in and out. I have him in the middle (not the sides).

Re: Subaru Drivers

I have a 2005 Subaru Impreza. Love the 4 wheel drive, the maneuverability and that I can parallel park it easily.

I like the Forester too, but it just wouldn't be practical to find street parking with that car.

As for the car seat issue, I'm going on Monday to have it installed. I'll let you know what they say (i.e. if it can't be in the middle or should be on once side v. the other).