Drool drool drool. I'm madly in love with the new Subaru Forester XT variant, all 2.5litres, turbo-charged 227bhp of it. After test driving one yesterday, I'm convinced I need to dump my 2 yr old lumbering Renault Megane2, which is fast becoming a blardy common runabout for balding middle-aged semi-geriatrics with Alonso-like aspirations :))
I need a reality check though. Its not going to be cheap and seriously, this vainpot doesn't REALLY have to change cars. Its a WANT, not a NEED!
Pros
1. The Subaru is one heck of a drive. Powerful and feels extremely planted around corners for a sizeable SUV. Will beat the RAV4s, CRVs and X-Trails at the lights anyday! heh heh!
2. With the added boot space, the wifey wants to add two more dogs to the family zoo.
3. We can re-live our off-roading excursions and go back to the days when we had our Pajero (at least I hope so but more on that later)
4. The dealership is throwing in a Thule roof rack upon purchase. Yummy.
5. The Forester is quite chng-able (hokkien-speak for Modify-able). Soon I can give it the 'aggro' treatment with a full frontal Bull-guard, sideskirts and a kick-ass bonnet air-scoop. I wanna unleash the Beng in me!
6. The 2-stage Sun-roof is fabulous and the SUV comes with a MoMo steering wheel, Cruise Control and side-mirror indicator lights as standard.
Cons
1. The petrol bill is going to kill me. Got to constantly feed the 2.5l turbo-charged engine and lug around 1.5tonnes of metal on permanent 4WD.
2. A significant jump in Road Tax
3. The Forester has definite off-roader looks but I suspect on-roader manners. I hope I don't have to be rescued by a Defender whilst in the mud.
4. It comes only with stock 16inch Yokohama All-Terrain Geolander tyres. The dealership will not have it upgraded to 17-inchers, saying it will alter the driving dynamics of the SUV.
5. The interior plastics and materials, although not cheapskate, gives you a typical Japanese tactile experience. And I'm so used to Conti.
Decisions decisions.....sigh :))