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by brownnnn
Aug 14, 2003 (A Somewhat Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No 
Pros: None
Cons: Defectomobile
The Bottom Line: My father was a service manager at a car dealership for 30 years and I've never seen a car built this poorly. Buy one and suffer.
This vehicle's drivetrain is malfunctioning at less than 18000 miles. My wife is a schoolteacher an ... read more
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by bpante
Oct 20, 2000 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 10 Recommended: No
Pros: Nice looking
Cons: Stalls suddenly/dealer can't fix
When I test drove the car in February the check engine light was on. I liked the car but did not want it because of this. The salesman kept calling and calling. He told me the car had just come in and had not been checked. He promised me it was ... read more
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by lab88
Jan 28, 2005 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 30 Recommended: No
Pros: AWD, cheap if you buy used
Cons: Reliability not that great. Poor resale if you bought new.
The Bottom Line: If you love it, buy it, but prepare to put up with quirks and budget for repairs. I went back to Honda.
Many people love Subaru. My Forester S-Premium was a decent vehicle. It wasn't great. It was just "ok". I was lured in by the safety ratings and glowing reliability reports from Consumer Reports. I finally traded in my Forester after the check ... read more
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by eleven22
Feb 19, 2004 (A Somewhat Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes 
Pros: Speaker system
Winter package
dog barrier
Sun/moon roof
roomy
large windows
great on gas
Cons: Cup holder sucks
The Bottom Line: Great all around car. I would buy again.
About 8 years ago I drove a jeep into the Texas Lakes area in beautiful state of Colorado. My buddies and I drove through river beds, about 2 feet of water, and up a huge rock wall. Finding our perfect camping spot for our annual fly fishing ... read more
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by ross63
Sep 30, 2001 - Updated Jan 20, 2003 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: More options than other small SUVs
Cons: Mileage was disappointing, A/C runoff didn't drain properly
The Bottom Line: If you're not stuck on looks, it's a practical small SUV.
1/2003 update: traded in for a 2003, so far all to the good
After testing out the CRV, RAV4, the Tribute, and the Forester, we liked the Forester's handling and features the best and test drove twice before deciding to buy. I've been very pleased with its roadworthiness, comfort, climate controls, the huge ... read more
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by jetwest76
Aug 19, 2001 - Updated Dec 10, 2001 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Value; features; quality; reliability; AWD; ride; moon roof (Wow!)
Cons: Brakes; seats; gas mileage; stereo acoustics; cup holders
The Bottom Line: In the mini-SUV class, Forester's standard AWD, impressive quality and luxury features cannot be overlooked. Definitely worth a test drive.
Why we bought it: High safety rating; good reliability record; AWD for nasty New England winters; not too big, not too small; preferred Forester's quality and value over the trendier RAV4 and CR-V.
After 6 months and 12,000 miles, here's my ... read more
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by kiwi_bug
Jul 14, 2001 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Good looking, good gas mileage, quiet, roomy
Cons: stereo system
The Bottom Line: All in all, I am very pleased with this car. If you are in the market for a small SUV, you should check out the Forester.
My wife and I recently purchased a Subaru Forester L. Our two other cars both had a stick shift and my wife wanted an automatic and a roomier car. So we started to look at the huge small SUV market. We looked at the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, Toyota ... read more
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by TerranEmpire
Mar 5, 2001 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Very strong for a 4-cylinder, comfortable, AWD, reliability
Cons: SUBARU has a problem with customer service, minor problems
The Bottom Line: I recommend buying this car "brand" new. With the exception of the minor problems, this is a powerful and reliable mini-SUV.
Car: Subaru Forester
Type: Mini-SUV
Engine: 4-cylinder
Transmission: Automatic
Drive: All-Wheel-Drive (AWD)
I recently purchased a slightly used 2001 Subaru Forester at a local dealer (Carr Subaru in Beaverton, Oregon). ... read more
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by aplatt
Feb 1, 2001 - Updated Mar 17, 2001 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Small size and great handling makes for terrific urban SUV
Cons: Not a lot of luxury features
The Bottom Line: Very easy car to own. Provides practical, comfortable, reliable and fun transport for your average urban / suburban dweller who dreams of more country-like settings.
I've owned a 2001 Forester since June of 2000 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This is an eminently practical car that's fun to drive.
Overview and Handling
Having driven BMW's and Land Rovers for most of the ... read more
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by sliznyak2
Nov 29, 2000 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: roomy, great handling
Cons: backseat is not comfy, a little overpriced
It is a little bit of both, a new designed in 1997 Subaru Forester is just what I wanted out of a car. A 2.3 L Forester is a strong running sport utility vehicle. It is tall and roomy and gives plenty of cargo space for anything you want to fit, from ... read more
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by RENconnecticut
Oct 25, 2000 - Updated Nov 16, 2000 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: good all-around vehicle. AWD standard.
Cons: lack of leather, pricey options.
The 2001 Subaru Forester S, Premium Edition, is a winning vehicle. Drawing on useful aspects of SUV’s and tailoring them to a compact car, it provides everything most people need, without the surplus bulk or negative (environmental) connotations. The ... read more
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by Clairysse
Jun 20, 2000 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 40 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Tight turning circle, eco-friendly, fun, safe
Cons: Mediocre A/C, slightly cramped driver's side
When we first went to the Subaru dealership, the intent was to get an Impreza – something zippy, smaller than a Volvo station wagon, and with AWD to keep me safe on Connecticut roads. What we ended up with was entirely different – a Forester L – and I ... read more
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by rednosedog
Dec 23, 2005 - Updated Apr 1, 2006 (A Somewhat Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Design, and driving experience that only get better the deeper you look.
Cons: Disgraceful failure of fundamental components; old school, confrontational service staff of marginal competence.
The Bottom Line: Oh yes. Dealers must try harder but the engineers are great.
I was in the same boat as the majority of the people here who love their car. It gets better gas mileage than a similar CRV or RAV 4, has more advanced drivetrain, a brilliant engine that uses no balance shafts and successfully defied General Motor's ... read more
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by mrhonda
Dec 29, 2004 - Updated Feb 1, 2005 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: SAFE, looks great, big moonroof, tons of options, did I mention it's SAFE?
Cons: Loud security system, cupholder placement, no cruise control indicator light, no locking gas cap
The Bottom Line: From reliability and safety, to comfort and style, to great performance and fun, you can't go wrong with a Forester.
First of all, I am a repeat Forester owner. I'm right now driving a 2001 Red Forester S Model with the Premium Package and automatic transmission. This is my second Forester and I will probably be buying them until they stop making them, they become ... read more
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by jcgrow
Jun 8, 2004 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Beautiful, smooth-running, rugged, practical, safe, family-sized
Cons: A few small quirks by no means outweigh the strengths of this car
The Bottom Line: 2001 Forester is the best used car on the market. The Car Guys love it, a good all-purpose vehicle for young families, with safety, aesthetics, practicality and reliability combined.
I first drove a 2001 Forester a few years back as a rental car. It was in the Rocky Mountains out West, and I marveled at the way that the Forester could pickup going steeply uphill and handle the back roads, with all their ruts and rugged turns. The ... read more
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by rowchick
Jul 11, 2003 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Comfortable ride, spacious cargo area, decent mileage for its category, good visibility all around
Cons: Clock is located in terrible spot, basic stereo quality not so good.
The Bottom Line: Anyone who drives a lot - for work or pleasure will love the safety and comfort, as well as space in this car.
I bought a 2001 Subaru Forester after falling in love with the car when it debuted around 1998. I l ... read more
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by e_l_green
Feb 18, 2003 (A Very Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Power, comfort, luxury, safety for good price
Cons: Flimsy/inadequate cupholders, won't handle more rugged "jeep trails" to get to trailheads
The Bottom Line: Best small SUV of 2001
I've now had my 2001 Forester S+ with automatic transmission for 40,000 miles. The four-wheel anti-lock disk brakes have saved my bacon several times, the 165 horsepower of the 2.5L boxer engine is more than adequate for merging with freeway traffic, and ... read more
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by sheiertchr
Oct 12, 2002 (A Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Extremely comfortable and nimble handling. Perfect for city and highway.
Cons: A bit underpowered for full passenger and cargo loads.
The Bottom Line: If I had only one car it would be the Forester. Since I have four, they are all AWD Subarus.
This is the FOURTH Subaru in the family "fleet". The AWD is a godsend.
Have used the vehicle for both daily commuting in New York City and for road trips from New York to Florida.
Plenty of cargo space and creature comforts. ... read more
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by philm
Apr 27, 2001 (A Somewhat Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Price, all wheel drive
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: a no-brainer
The Subaru Forester is a proven winner. It is clearly one of the best deals in new cars today. Especially if you live in the north east (which I do) and especially if you have kids (which I do). The head room is phenomenal, and the fact that it has all ... read more
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by benandbarb
Apr 24, 2001 (A Somewhat Helpful review)
Author's Product Rating: 50 Recommended: Yes
Pros: Love the AWD. Easy to handle. Smooth ride compared to other SUVs.
Cons: Could use a little more back seat space.
The Bottom Line: I would buy another one...if this one ever wears out.
I test drove several smaller SUVs before buying this one. This was easily the most economical and safe. I am a big believer in Consumer Reports and they loved this one and so did I. I have never owned a vehicle with AWD (All Wheel Drive) but love it. ... read more
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