Subaru Forrester - tow car for Katie L - any opinions

[ProDave]

...... but it's not a "proper" 4x4 in that it doesn't have a set of low ratio gears. It is a superb tow car. I have a big (non-boat) 4 wheel trailer and I've towed 2 tons with no bother at all. However, with a 2 ton trailer, I find first gear a bit too high for hill starts - you end up giving the clutch quite a hard time, so I'm not sure how it would perform on a slipway.

The Forrester DOES have a high / low ratio transfer box AND is permanent 4 wheel drive.

Low ratio makes starting on a steep hill with a heavy load easy on the clutch, and I wouldn't even think about reversing down a slimy slipway with a trailer and boat with a 2WD car.

Low ratio is also a lot kinder on the clutch reversing, you can go quite slow in gear without slipping the clutch.

 

[dylanwinter]

reversing down slips

The Forrester DOES have a high / low ratio transfer box AND is permanent 4 wheel drive.

Low ratio makes starting on a steep hill with a heavy load easy on the clutch, and I wouldn't even think about reversing down a slimy slipway with a trailer and boat with a 2WD car.

Low ratio is also a lot kinder on the clutch reversing, you can go quite slow in gear without slipping the clutch.

I have a handy billy and lots of rope so no need to take the vehicle down the slip

I towed the eboat with a 1600 cc sierra so underpowered tow vehicles/two wheel drive not a terrible disadvantage

jill would never let me buy a van or a big 4wd - she might live with an estate though

 

[Uricanejack]

The Forrester DOES have a high / low ratio transfer box AND is permanent 4 wheel drive.

Low ratio makes starting on a steep hill with a heavy load easy on the clutch, and I wouldn't even think about reversing down a slimy slipway with a trailer and boat with a 2WD car.

Low ratio is also a lot kinder on the clutch reversing, you can go quite slow in gear without slipping the clutch.

I have a 2002 Forester. I'v had it for years. towed boats and utility trailer with lots of weight. I have never found the Low Range if fitted.
addmitidly mine is an automatic but i looked at standard and couldn't find any with a low range ither.
I also have an older impreza standard no low range in it as far as i know.
newer model may have a low range or UK version may have low range mine doesn't
One of the reasons I prefered my jeep was the 4 low. great for towing, snow, mud,

As an all round car I realy like my Subaru. as far as Im concerened its good on fuel. I supose that depends what you compare it to. A 4 Litre Jeep way worse.
A similar sise engine on similar weight 2 whd is little bit better. but not enough to make me change.
A small 1 litre 4 cyl way better on fuel.
Don't think I would tow a boat with a fiat 500. but they are great for milage.

Just my opinion I think for a boat the sise of Katie L you would be better with a bigger engine. Or more low end torque.
Your boat is going to be heavier than my 17ft boat. Which I tow OK with a Forester and launch on a beach.
If you really dont want a van or 4X4. It will do the job. Its not bad on fuel, Really nice to drive,It runs great, very reliable, parts expensive and I'd by an other one.

For towing a boat though my big old 4x4 wins hands down. Except for fuel.

Many years ago my brother and I bought an old 2.5 diesel long wheel base landrover for 700 pound from a farmer. It was grat as long as you were happy going about 45. towed boats realy well. Insurance was really cheep. We had it for several years and sold it for 900 pounds. Never did get rid of the smell of horse manure.

 

[Simonpk]

Just picking up at the end here, haven't read the previous 5 pages, so sorry if this has been mentioned earlier, but:

my other half has a long wheel base Frontera, 2 or 4 wheel drive, hi/lo range & isn't too bad a on fuel. I used it towing rally cars around the country without any problems. Good for chucking loads stuff in the back & to use as a van also. These can be found fairly cheap 2nd hand.

 

[aquaplane]

If the little glow plug light comes on when you are motoring, or the car cuts out and restarts easily. Then you are in it for £1000 and rising, as your friendly fitter tries one fix after the next. I have never been so happy to see the back of a car as I was when the Mondeo 2l diesel went down the auction.

Try a Google on it.

Amen to that.

 

[aquaplane]

I like my £2500 Disco 300TDi.
I get 30mpg out of it normally, about 25mpg towing the trail sailer.
You do need to keep on top of them though. The servicing is dirt cheap but mustn't be neglected.
The repairs are dirt cheap but need doing with monotonous regularity.
Try harder to find a hire tow van, £100 a time is nothing.
The difference between 30 and 40 mpg for 12,000 miles is £600 @ £6.60 a gallon.

 

[Swg]

Dylan I've got a '57 Forester and tow a shrimper on its piggy back plus road trailer. That's about 1.8t. I've done Edin (where I live)to Brightlingsea amongst other journeys. It's thirsty and a bit slow up hills. Beyond that it will go anywhere, pull the boats out of soft sand and never, ever breaks down, slips or skids. It was a joy to tow a fancy BMW jeep thing up a snowy hill!

 

[John the kiwi]

Just caught up with this thread as i have been out sailing.
Lots of replies from people without a Forester or even Forester experience.
I have a 2.5 litre 5 speed with hi/lo ration 2002 Forester.
175,000 miles on the clock.
I dont like driving SUVs as a rule, but the forester drives like a car. My wife and i both like driving it.
Its easy to park.
Absolutely brilliant visibility for reversing a trailer.
Fuel economy is not as bad as people will say. Drive gently and it will respond.
However, i just spent a wad of cash on getting the viscous coupling replaced. This a moderately common enough problem on older subaru s with All Wheel drive.
Note All wheel drive id not same as 4 wheel drive.
I have used mine to tow my 26 ft Trailer Yacht and it was just fine, but mostly i use the company supplied and fuelled 3.6 litre 2 wheel drive sedan.
Good luck.

 

[Seven Spades]

I would get a Volvo V40, they will go on forever are safe and heavy enough to tow in safety. I do not believe the spare parts will cost more then the suburu and I am sure it will be a lower running cost including insurance.

 

[Jim@sea]

When I have sold my present boat (3 tonnes) which I need a large Tow Car for (Nissan Patrol) I am hoping to get a bigger boat which will be in a marina.
So I can then sell the Nissan Patrol at £7500 (Dec 2003) and buy a Cheap Old Discovery, around P reg for between £1000 and £2000. Parts are readily available.
OK Forresters may be great but check out the Insurance Grouping and parts availability.
Having had a garage I am a great believer in familiarity. Put a discovery in for a clutch and a garage mechanic will have done one before. put a Forrester in for a clutch and you wount realise that as the mechanic will have not done one before you will be charged extra while he looks for the bonnet catch, then he will spend 10 minutes looking for the clutch cable, and when he has finished he will have to go for a test drive to see if it goes like a Imprenza. Whereas if he works on a discovery it will go through his workshop like a bad vindaloo.
And if you have to ask if they are thirsty when towing, you cant afford one.

 

[ProDave]

Re parts availability, The Forrester is based on the Imprezza floor pan.

So in most cases Imprezza parts are what you want.

e.g my exhaust cat section rusted and broke in two. I got a new Imprezza one on ebay for £90 and it fitted perfectly, then got £30 back from the scrappie for the old rusted one. Because Imprezzas are much more common, so are the parts.

So far the only one part I have thought was particularly over priced was when one of my self levelling rear struts stopped levelling leaving the car on the piss. It was £300 for the new strut from Subaru, it was the first part I have encountered with no after market alternative.