Thread: Subaru VX vs Forrester

Just going through some options at the moment. Anyone had real life experience of these 2 wagons. I've only looked at pictures so not sure of the exact specs of the 2, but the Forrester has bigger motor and possibly more room. Fuel appears around 7l/100km for the VX and 8 for the Forrester. I'll take these figures with a grain of salt, but in saying that, my fathers getting down to 6 on a trip and averaging 7.5 with his 2015 2.5 Outback. They quote 7.5 for it.
Looking 2014 onwards

machanic mate was looking at forester until he mentioned towing and was told to stay well clear...... they might have improoved in last few years.

In terms of size, external and internal, VX seems to be a 'outback impreza' while the forester is the inbetween of that and an outback.

if either has the lineartronic cvt gearbox avoid it like the plague. my latest legacy is the end of my subaru ownership for this reason

My wife test drove the VX 10 months ago when she needed a new car. Said the VX handled well but was gutless once it hit a hill. Other people I know have mentioned the performance isn't great.

I haven't seen a VX in the flesh, let alone driven one, and my forester experience is from back around 2000 when they first came out. Just liked the fact that they've got ground clearance, 4wd sort off, comfort??..... @gonetropo what's your experience with the Subaru CVT box. Are you in the game, know someone who is, or been bitten by one.
I know the early variable boxes had issues in all vehicles, but digging deeper found that the owner's had tried to save money and didn't use the correct oil when changing. It stands to reason they're not going to be as strong as a manual for heavy towing, but thought they'd be ok for the occasional light trailer

had a secondhand (30.000k) petrol 2005 Forrester auto for about 4 yrs. went great, like the proverbial cut kitty (non-turbo). fuel ok but can't remember the figures.
eventually traded because I could never get a comfortable position in it; legroom good, stretched out arms, arms good, knees around my ears. always fidgiting around to find a good sit.....
got a 2013 diesel 2L. Heaps of fun and economical 7.2L/100k.
not a slow driver.
secondhand at 53,000k.
out of warranty at 120,000k it shit itself.
subaru didn't want know about it, said I shouldn't have used additives in the fuel...??
anyway after steaming a bit, got another motor and since then fallen in love with it again, subaroos are sure a fun drive.
the diesel is a 6spd manual box but only use 5 or suffer endless DPF filter problems.
always keeping the revs up, 2200+, I still get 7.2L/100k consumption, would of been a drinker with the petrol version.
I tow usual house trailer stuff and near a tonne of sand etc. no worries, dunno about touring the country like that tho.
Like I said, a fun drive but other brands have more features. Thinking of something like a patrol next time, tho it was the smaller size that was the attraction before.
dunno if this helps....
oh, don't offroad it, has road tires anyway but good for getting in and out of the paddock.

Originally Posted by oraki

I haven't seen a VX in the flesh, let alone driven one, and my forester experience is from back around 2000 when they first came out. Just liked the fact that they've got ground clearance, 4wd sort off, comfort??..... @gonetropo what's your experience with the Subaru CVT box. Are you in the game, know someone who is, or been bitten by one.
I know the early variable boxes had issues in all vehicles, but digging deeper found that the owner's had tried to save money and didn't use the correct oil when changing. It stands to reason they're not going to be as strong as a manual for heavy towing, but thought they'd be ok for the occasional light trailer

cvt's are awful devices used by manufacturers because they are cheaper to build than a conventional gearbox. having all the power running through a belt isnt the strongest. add that to over revving issues, lack of engine braking, useless at towing and they are best avoided. shame really as i really have enjoyed all 3 of my subaru's but wont go near their cvt

@Awaian what fuel additives were you using?

I jumped in a VX today, and while comfortable, there's bugger all boot. It's going to have 3 kids and wife on trips, so yeah, nah. Be ideal for ma and pa plus one, but not for a tribe. Forrester or Outback now I thinks.....

Or I could take up hairdressing. Boring but bulletproof Rav....

Originally Posted by oraki

I jumped in a VX today, and while comfortable, there's bugger all boot. It's going to have 3 kids and wife on trips, so yeah, nah. Be ideal for ma and pa plus one, but not for a tribe. Forrester or Outback now I thinks.....

Or I could take up hairdressing. Boring but bulletproof Rav....

ravs are all cvt now except the diesel model

Originally Posted by specweapon

@Awaian what fuel additives were you using?

Hi @specweapon,
I wasn't using any additives which didn't help my opinion of Subaru NZ either....
Apparently it was one of the comments/suggestions from Subaru Japan.
They've stopped importing the diesel forresters etc to NZ now I've heard, not sure if true tho.
Mainly because of the DPF filter issues which derive from not running the engine hard enough (relatively speaking) to regularly burn off the sooty bits. So the filter clogs and lights come on and owner grumps.
The burn cycle, I was told, is something like 4th gear or higher, 1800rpm to 3000rpm for 20 mins.
Around here, I'm halfway to the Waikato to achieve the 20min drive because in between are several intersections, towns etc and resultant gear changes....
Anyway, I find that staying away from 6th gear (2200rpm in 5th is ~105kph) and otherwise keeping revs around 2200rpm; not loafing to save fuel for instance, it has run sweet for some months now.
Have to say tho, that reverse is absurbly high, a bit like 2nd gear. Try doing that while backing your trailer down a tight driveway....

cheers

the AWD system on a Rav4 is shithouse compared to a Subaru

Thanks for pissing on my parade
Pretty much looking for a softroader, the Hilux will do the rough stuff. Probably 80% of the work it'll do is tarseal, but when I want to go across that wet paddock, I don't want to be stopped in the middle of it. Only be towing a small tandem trailer, no more than a ton.
What bloody vehicles aren't CVT.

most diesels are not cvt, too much torque for the rubber band. the subaru 4wd system is the best of the bunch. amazing in snow