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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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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?
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Posted 2/10/08 12:24 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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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!
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| Posted 2/10/08 12:29 PM |
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dandr10199
Grace is growing up too fast!
Member since 10/05 11561 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Subaru Drivers
We have the Forrester and we love it! Ours is a few years old, though.
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| Posted 2/10/08 12:50 PM |
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danielleandscott
My new 71 Super Beetle
Member since 5/05 13476 total posts
Name:
Scott
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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
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| Posted 2/10/08 1:01 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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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?
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| Posted 2/10/08 1:25 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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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.
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| Posted 2/10/08 2:28 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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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.
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| Posted 2/10/08 2:45 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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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.
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| Posted 2/10/08 2:57 PM |
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dandr10199
Grace is growing up too fast!
Member since 10/05 11561 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by ~Colleen~
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?
We bought ours used last summer. DD was out of the infant seat and into the forward facing car seat at the time we purchased it. She has plenty of room (we have the Graco Comfort sport seat) and when we are traveling with others they do too. The back is very roomy.
Also I love the cargo area. It fits everything the PNP, the booster seat, the stroller. We had a four door car before the Subaru Forrester and for me, I loved the extra space. I mean if you have a suburban and you are getting the Forrester, it will seem like there is not enough space, KWIM? The all wheel drive and gas millage is AMAZING. Plus, it has very high safety ratings. I love it. HTH
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| Posted 2/10/08 3:16 PM |
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sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
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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.
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| Posted 2/10/08 3:59 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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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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| Posted 2/10/08 8:12 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by ~Colleen~
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).
Just a bit more info - it does have latch on both side seats in the back. I didn't put the seat in the middle because the 2 latch hooks that border the middle seat were further apart than recommended by the manufacturer of the car seat.
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| Posted 2/10/08 8:23 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by dpli
Posted by ~Colleen~
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).
Just a bit more info - it does have latch on both side seats in the back. I didn't put the seat in the middle because the 2 latch hooks that border the middle seat were further apart than recommended by the manufacturer of the car seat.
I am 99% sure if you look at the Subaru manual, it specifically says that you can't put a seat in the middle. Something about the latch was not intended for the middle, and part of the middle regular seat belt actually comes down from the roof, which is not safe.
If you bring your car seat to get inspected, the inspection place made me bring the manual, so they could double-check. In our Forrester, the traditional seat belt method was actually much better than the LATCH system, so the inspector moved the seat and fixed it.
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| Posted 2/10/08 9:21 PM |
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LiPo
:(
Member since 9/06 1864 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Subaru Drivers
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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| Posted 2/11/08 6:19 AM |
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by dandr10199
We have the Forrester and we love it! Ours is a few years old, though.
Same here. It has all the storage of an SUV, but it feels like you're driving a car. The only thing is the back seat is not very roomy if you have kids.
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| Posted 2/11/08 7:01 AM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by glinda-goodwitch
The only thing is the back seat is not very roomy if you have kids.
I take it b/c of the car seats - like the PP mentioned. I sat back there with the passenger seat fully back & reclined, and still had about an inch of knee room (I have long legs). My kid can deal 
I suppose I could put the seat behind my seat - since I (despite my long legs) am more comfortable closer to the wheel...therefore giving more backseat room.
Though I'm not sure of the disadvantages to that (not yet being a first time mother)...
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| Posted 2/11/08 10:06 AM |
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bomb-blast
bye bye
Member since 11/06 1327 total posts
Name:
Leo
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
my DH has a Subaru WRX and absolutely loves it!
The WRX is the shiznit!
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| Posted 2/11/08 10:10 AM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Subaru Drivers
We have the outback.
I LOVE the car. No drawbacks really.
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| Posted 2/11/08 10:10 AM |
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Bxgell2
Perfection
Member since 5/05 16438 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by ~Colleen~
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?
Ok, wait, I take it back.
The back, with a carseat, is a little squished, but my only comparison is with our other car, the Toyota Seqoia, so my perspective may be a little off. Otherwise, there's SO much space in trunk area for everything you need for baby.
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| Posted 2/11/08 10:12 AM |
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Elbee
Zanzibar
Member since 5/05 10767 total posts
Name:
Me
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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.
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| Posted 2/11/08 11:53 AM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Subaru Drivers
Posted by Elbee
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.
How is it taking the carseat out - aside from the seats? Do you feel you're bending a lot?
I like the wide opening of the Forester and it feels a bit higher than the Outback...but I really liked the features of the Outback. Gah!
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| Posted 2/11/08 2:58 PM |
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Elbee
Zanzibar
Member since 5/05 10767 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Subaru Drivers
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).
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| Posted 2/11/08 5:39 PM |
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Chica
Cuteness!
Member since 10/06 3013 total posts
Name:
Erica
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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).
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| Posted 2/11/08 6:02 PM |
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