Subaru Lab videos
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- Martin
Aw Sunny - you're right - those are awesome vids. Thanks very much.
The simply reinforce why I hold Subaru's engineering in such high esteem and why I have two of them parked in my garage. Subarus aren't perfect but then I've never encountered a perfect car - they just don't exist.
I only wish that the local importers of the brand had worked harder in speccing the new Forester XT 2.0 DIT more sensibly to keep it as the best bang-for-buck compact SUV on the market. My present XT is basic spec; no leather, no sunroof, manual, not bluetooth etc. But it has got Xenons, cruise, aux, multifunction-steering, self-leveling rear axle - stuff that really works for both short and long journeys. This was, as I said, the basic spec and there was an executive model that brought leather and moonroof and auto options to the buyer. The new model strangely forgoes Xenons in SA and is only available in one, premium specification. Gains an electronic-lift tailgate, bluetooth, rear-view parking camera, moonroof, leather and so on... This is standard in addition to the now built-in SI-Drive and X-mode features.
So, new Forester is unquestionably more advanced and more capable but it's now much dearer than what I paid for my trusty 2011 model. I wish there was still an entry-level into the people's champ Forester XT - a car of astounding versatility.
I don't know of anyone that uses one vehicle over such a broad range of requirements; from sand and beach driving in Mozambique, to transporting a double-bed headboard, to having the straightline performance of a GTI, the Forester does it all so well.
Much of this is directly attributable to the under-the-skin engineering of Subaru - sure, the interior plastics are rubbish (but far better in this new model) and the sheetmetal is prone to dings but for the rest of it the quality of the product is undeniable. I will miss the option of a manual XT but the Lineartronic version is surely the way to go. Of course, one would loved to have seen a ZF 8 speed auto in there but this just isn't a reality for this brand. The new Forester makes use of well-integrated engine and transmission management systems to the point that it adds up to a very complete and unCVT-like experience. Ride is just brilliant too...
The simply reinforce why I hold Subaru's engineering in such high esteem and why I have two of them parked in my garage. Subarus aren't perfect but then I've never encountered a perfect car - they just don't exist.
I only wish that the local importers of the brand had worked harder in speccing the new Forester XT 2.0 DIT more sensibly to keep it as the best bang-for-buck compact SUV on the market. My present XT is basic spec; no leather, no sunroof, manual, not bluetooth etc. But it has got Xenons, cruise, aux, multifunction-steering, self-leveling rear axle - stuff that really works for both short and long journeys. This was, as I said, the basic spec and there was an executive model that brought leather and moonroof and auto options to the buyer. The new model strangely forgoes Xenons in SA and is only available in one, premium specification. Gains an electronic-lift tailgate, bluetooth, rear-view parking camera, moonroof, leather and so on... This is standard in addition to the now built-in SI-Drive and X-mode features.
So, new Forester is unquestionably more advanced and more capable but it's now much dearer than what I paid for my trusty 2011 model. I wish there was still an entry-level into the people's champ Forester XT - a car of astounding versatility.
I don't know of anyone that uses one vehicle over such a broad range of requirements; from sand and beach driving in Mozambique, to transporting a double-bed headboard, to having the straightline performance of a GTI, the Forester does it all so well.
Much of this is directly attributable to the under-the-skin engineering of Subaru - sure, the interior plastics are rubbish (but far better in this new model) and the sheetmetal is prone to dings but for the rest of it the quality of the product is undeniable. I will miss the option of a manual XT but the Lineartronic version is surely the way to go. Of course, one would loved to have seen a ZF 8 speed auto in there but this just isn't a reality for this brand. The new Forester makes use of well-integrated engine and transmission management systems to the point that it adds up to a very complete and unCVT-like experience. Ride is just brilliant too...
mini_cooper4
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Subarus are really great cars 
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