Is a 2012 Forester a good vehicle?

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:11 pm

The missus is thinking about getting a new vehicle and is tempted to buy a new Foz.

I think they come only with EJ25's now.
If so, has Subaru fixed the head gasket problem with previous EJ25's?

Are there any lift kits available for newer Foresters?
Or are newer Subaru's more delicate, not worth modifying?

We'd like to use this Forester in the soft sand dunes and sand trails nearby.
Ideal lift? 2" would do, like I have on my L Series.
Longer travel suspension would be appreciated too, if available.

Tell me anything any everything you feel like about newer Foresters.

I think I heard some say the newer ones aren't as good as older ones.

thunder039 · Post by **thunder039** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:50 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:The missus is thinking about getting a new vehicle and is tempted to buy a new Foz.
I think they come only with EJ25's now.
If so, has Subaru fixed the head gasket problem with previous EJ25's?

yes

2nd Hand Yank wrote:Are there any lift kits available for newer Foresters?
Or are newer Subaru's more delicate, not worth modifying?

yes there are spacers, and springs

2nd Hand Yank wrote:We'd like to use this Forester in the soft sand dunes and sand trails nearby.
Ideal lift? 2" would do, like I have on my L Series.
Longer travel suspension would be appreciated too, if available

itll be fine.

go for a test drive they are very nice

Dreama · Post by **Dreama** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:05 pm

Guy st work has one - absolutely loves it

taza · Post by **taza** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:09 pm

Buy one, sell the L-Series. Oh and get the auto as the manual has a crappy low range.
Put 1" lift blocks in with raised springs and stock size all terrain tyres. Done, have it as your offroad/family car.

2nd Hand Yank · Post by **2nd Hand Yank** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 7:09 am

What brand of all-terrain tyres do you recommend for a Foz?

I think they run 215/65R-16 tyres.
Do any all-terrains come in that size or slightly-bigger?

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:45 pm

Has the 2012 foz not crossed over to the FB engine series yet? And it still retains a low range?

I didn't know either of these!

Cheers

Bennie

thunder039 · Post by **thunder039** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 1:09 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:What brand of all-terrain tyres do you recommend for a Foz?

I think they run 215/65R-16 tyres.
Do any all-terrains come in that size or slightly-bigger?

there is a fair few, general grabber, yokohama geolanders, bridgestone just to name a few

pezimm · Post by **pezimm** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:08 pm

El_Freddo wrote:Has the 2012 foz not crossed over to the FB engine series yet? And it still retains a low range?

I didn't know either of these!

Cheers

Bennie

I'm pretty sure it's crossed to the FB engines, so not an EJ25, but an FB25... It get chain driven camshafts, no no timing belt changes!

I'm also pretty sure the head-gasket issues have long been resolved.

The manual transmission still get the low range, but I reckon not for long.

Cheers,
Pedro.

INEEDABEER · Post by **INEEDABEER** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:45 pm

The new model is out in January.
http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2012/me ... aled-33430

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:03 pm

They do have one drawback as I realised today - sitting behind one in my 4WD L sedan they still block the view of the road ahead like any other SUV

Post by **Alex** » Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:04 pm

2nd Hand Yank wrote:What brand of all-terrain tyres do you recommend for a Foz?

I think they run 215/65R-16 tyres.
Do any all-terrains come in that size or slightly-bigger?

Any tyre will come in the size you want. There's a plethora of all-terrains tyres in 16s

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