new Foresters... getting a little fat around the middle?

[ElZorro]

So, info is leaking about changes to the Forester... including making it longer (in body and wheelbase) and wider... I dunno what I think of that. One thought, its a great 'small SUV' already. Another, they have the Tribeca, why does the Forester need to get bigger?

http://news.windingroad.com/body-styles ... -forester/

Brenda Priddy’s spy shooters admit they caught some Subaru test mules a while back, but failed to realize the significance of what they were, having trained their eyes on some WRX mules instead.

However, after putting two-and-two together, they now believe that what they spotted wasn’t a Legacy or Outback mule, but in fact a disguised 2009 Subaru Forester.

If that is indeed the case, Subaru’s boxy softroader is set to get a massively larger, with a wheelbase that puts it within a mere half-inch or so of the Tribeca! Priddy’s spies were able to measure the prototype from wheel-to-wheel at 108.5 inches, meaning that it’s a full three inches longer than the current Outback. The vehicle likewise looks set to adopt a track that’s wider than the Outback, as well.

The question is… if the Forester is set to grow so greatly in size, will there be room for the struggling Tribeca in Subie showrooms over the long haul? How will the upsizing be reflected in the CUV’s price? Stay tuned…

[WRXWagon2112]

I dunno ... that pic looks an awful lot like a new Outback (Legacy wagon), not a Forester.

--Alan

[Mr Kleen]

Don't let this Outback shell fool you as it first fooled us. The sheetmetal has been chopped, extended, widened and welded! And, best of all, our sources confirmed that underneath is the all-new and larger Forester.

oh Subaru, I barley got to know you...

[sirwilliam]

Yeah, the '08 is the time to get a forester. In '09, SOA has screwed the pooch w/ the new design. They are going to lose a lot of business there. They were thinking of even making it a 7 passenger, too. Uh, hello! We already have a good(if not great) 3.6L Tribeca and a good Outback that sells well. The foresters sell well, too...so why screw that up? It is nearly impossible to find an '08 Forester Sports XT version b/c they sell like Nintendo Wii's.

[HappyIdiot]

It looks nearly identical to an outback.

[Sabre]

Ya, I don't see a forester in the picture at all

[Libra Monkee]

Yar! Does look to be more of a wagon the a truck.

[Phibs]

Yeah not seeing the Forester....

[WRXWagon2112]

Don't let this Outback shell fool you as it first fooled us. The sheetmetal has been chopped, extended, widened and welded! And, best of all, our sources confirmed that underneath is the all-new and larger Forester.

Okay, I get it now. As this quote above seems to imply (thanks to Mr Kleen), the new Forester will not outwardly look like the car pictured. It will, however, have a far longer wheelbase and wider track. This places the new model in a different class of vehicle.

So the question becomes (ignoring the physical appearance of the vehicle in the photos) - is "up-sizing" the Forester a good thing or a bad thing?

I'd say ... it depends. Even though the Forester is considered a "small SUV", I always viewed it as a tall wagon and not really an SUV - and I'll bet many potential buyer felt this way, too. Perhaps this larger size will allow it better compete with the likes of the CR-V's and RAV4's. So that could ultimately be a good thing.

--Alan

[Phibs]

Especially considering those vehicles are coming with lots of horsepower these days with V6 engines. Subaru needs to step up and add some HP to all of their vehicles.

[ElZorro]

Don't let this Outback shell fool you as it first fooled us. The sheetmetal has been chopped, extended, widened and welded! And, best of all, our sources confirmed that underneath is the all-new and larger Forester.

Okay, I get it now. As this quote above seems to imply (thanks to Mr Kleen), the new Forester will not outwardly look like the car pictured. It will, however, have a far longer wheelbase and wider track. This places the new model in a different class of vehicle.

Hey, Alan gets jokes! Yea, thats exactly it, they welded a body on the new platform and took it for a drive.

So the question becomes (ignoring the physical appearance of the vehicle in the photos) - is "up-sizing" the Forester a good thing or a bad thing?

I'd say ... it depends. Even though the Forester is considered a "small SUV", I always viewed it as a tall wagon and not really an SUV - and I'll bet many potential buyer felt this way, too. Perhaps this larger size will allow it better compete with the likes of the CR-V's and RAV4's. So that could ultimately be a good thing.

I agree with you, I think they are trying to make it look more like an SUV. Depending on who you talk to, they call it a wagon or a small SUV, maybe they are trying to eliminate the 'confusion'... problem is, I like the size that it is. I didn't want to buy a Highlander (has anyone really looked at how big that thing is?!), and I didn't want an Escape (which is almost the same size as a Forester, just 18" taller). If they really look at the main demographic that buys the Forester, 30-50's women (the truth sucks, sorry folks) they buy it because it drives like a car and the back is accessible.

What does making it bigger really do for it? Does it broaded the market that may be interested? Maybe. Does it reduce the market that is already interested in it? Maybe.

It won't be any different than changing the front end of the WRX's... the 'old school folks' will hate the change (for awhile, or forever, depends on the person) and the 'new school folks' will love it. (Ask a Mustang guy, they have the same deal going on).

[sirwilliam]

I have some friends that had an invitation to see the new forester and test drive it. They said it looks nothing like the pics above but that it looks nothing like the forester now but in a bad way They said if you want a good forester, get it while you still can. Maybe I will try to find an older '04 to build up again

[Mr Kleen]

so nobody read the linked article OR my post.
next they're going to ruin the Legacy GT. goodbye, Subaru. it's been fun...