2007 Subaru Forester

I have owned several different Subarus, and this 2007 Forester was my favorite so far. I work in the mountains as a ski instructor, and so often need to drive to work in challenging weather conditions. This car handles very well on the snow, due to its lower center of gravity. It is stable and has excellent visibility, better than Subaru sedans and other higher-profile vehicles. My automatic transmission worked great, and I frequently used the lower gears for going downhill. The safety ratings of this car are very good, and also due to its lower center of gravity, it does not roll as often as other SUV’s in accidents. Mechanically, I had no issues with this car, even though I bought it with much higher mileage, as it was a used rental car. Generally speaking, the timing belts in Subarus can be an issue once it gets to 100,000 miles or so. Radiator caps can also give out, but this is fairly easy to fix. The seats fold down and you can sleep in the vehicle, and while the layout is cozy for four or five people, it is comfortable for two or three. The backseat of the car is really made for shorter people, but would be ideal for kids. You can easily put a roof rack on the vehicle, but due to the interior layout, with just one or two people it is just as easy to put skis or other sports equipment (bicycles) inside the vehicle. If you want to drive this car in the city, it is also a smart choice, as the gas mileage is good for an all-wheel-drive vehicle. I averaged close to 30 miles per gallon, which was slightly better than the 2003 Forester I used to own. It is not an ostentatious car, and I felt safe driving it frequently in more dangerous parts of Mexico. It is small enough to fit into compact parking spaces, or to park on city streets without any trouble. Some potential buyers fear that the 4-cylinder engine is not powerful enough, but I have yet to encounter a situation, even in steep terrain, where it didn’t give me enough power. For those who like more vroom for the buck, you can always upgrade to a Turbo model, although it runs only on premium gasoline. The model that I drove was the most basic Forester, but if you want more bells and whistles, there are plenty of upgrades that you can choose from. I think this car though often appeals to people who want a mode of transportation that is reliable in any weather and can accommodate their outdoor lifestyles. Finally, this vehicle has excellent resale value, and in certain communities with snow or mountains, a used Subaru is hard to come by. I ended up driving this Subaru for a year and driving it to Alaska, where it sold immediately. I’m now driving a Legacy, but would buy another Forester if given the chance in a heartbeat.