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Topic: Subaru Forester

David Bavin

via mobile 28/6/2021 at 8:27am
Location: Devon
Outfit: Peugeot Boxer

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Does anybody tow with a Subaru forester petrol? If so, how does it perform.

Rob and Tina

via mobile 28/6/2021 at 9:10am
Location: Royal Forest of Dean
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If you search this forum for "Subaru" using the search button at the top of the page you should find a few older threads that might be of help.

Rob

daveyjp

28/6/2021 at 10:04am
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I had a 2014 2.0 petrol manual for 6 years and it was a brilliant vehicle for me, but the only time I towed was believe it or not to pull a Range Rover off a muddy field. He had barely legal summer tyres and the overcomplicated 4wd system wouldn't let the car move as every wheel was spinning power was cut. I had almost new mud and snow tyres, it did the job with no fuss.

Servicing and repairs aren't cheap, but they are very well built vehicles. Only issue I had was a new wheel bearing which was changed under warranty after 4 years. A new one is expensive as you have to change the whole stub hub. Tyres did 45,000 and I only changed them as the walls were cracking.

Lifetime mpg on mine was low 30s over 50,000 miles, largely urban trips. Mid 40s was possible on longer trips and I did once see almost 50 over a 150 mile trip.

For towing I would go for an auto as low speed torque from the 150bhp manual isn't brilliant. The CVT auto system used by Subaru is one of the best I have driven. Take off is instant and it has stepped changes so can be locked in gear if required. Mpg doesn't suffer.

If fuel cost isn't an issue consider a no longer imported XT. Same engine, but with a turbo producing about 240bhp. A real 'q' car, but 30mpg on a good day without towing! I considered one, but just missed out on an excellent example so dropped the idea.

If Forester doesn't look enough consider the Outback which has a 2.5 engine. Or if you want to go mad our local dealer has a rare Outback R with a 3.6 6 cylinder engine currently on the books. If I had a car collection I'd buy it.

TheHeadGardener

28/6/2021 at 11:13am
Location: Lake District
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Depends which Forester.

I used to tow with the Auto XT model, (that's the super-dooper one which upsets WRX drivers, because it has more 'grunt' and looks normal!)

As a daily drive this is a superb car, feels very safe, handles beautifully and does not attract too much attention. Like daveyjp the general mpg was low 30s.

Yes, it towed OK - the car always remained stable and mpg went down to 20/21mpg. I read once that a 30% drop in usual mpg is "normal". When my heavy-footed partner drove the mpg dropped to 15mpg - I was not impressed

With a kerbweight of 1680kg you are not going to be hauling a big van.

Now off to shove davey out of the way as I'd love that Outback R!

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