2005 Subaru Forester 2 5 Xt Service Manual
5 out of 5 stars by Caritb from Potomac Falls, VA on February 22, 2011 My daughter totaled our first '05 Forester, which was bought new. She rear-ended a commercial van, but didn't get a scratch herself. In a less well-constructed car, she could have been severely injured. So I bought another '05 Forester. These cars retain their value! I put a few extra bucks into the 'new' one to get one with lower mileage. It drives just like the first one - sure-footed, all-wheel drive handling, plenty of power to get out of a bad situation, but not too much for a young driver to get into one.
Plenty of cargo space. Our first Forester never had a problem, and I don't expect any with this one. It's a great car! 5 out of 5 stars by Tomato1 from Buffalo, NY on August 19, 2006 This was the first vehicle I have puchased new, and the biggest selling point is that even the base model had everything I needed. I live in the North (snow), frequently travel to construction sites (mud), carry a lot of tools and equipment around (station wagon), haul around ladders (truck), make long trips on my service route (econo-box), am starting a family (safety), and wanted something I could work on myself if need be (cheap). After comparing a dozen or so vehicles in its class, and knowing a few fanatical fans of Subarus, I couldn't come up with a reason not to go for it.
The standard features are just what one needs, without too many frills. Everything about the car is comfortable, except I feel that on the highway there is a bit too much road noise.
I'm used to driving bigger, more luxurious vehicles so maybe I'm just picky, but on long trips I have a tendency to arrive just a bit crankier than my spouse would like. However, it could be much worse. The seats are very supportive.
The 4 cylinder engine is enough to make the car peppy when I'm the only thing in it, but load it up with 4 people and some luggage and you definitely notice the engine strain. Turning on the AC likewise really bogs it down. I can't complain too much, though, because the gas mileage is adequate.
A V6 would just make me angry every time I stop at the gas station. Handling is suprisingly good for such a tall vehicle. It corners very nicely, is swift to change lanes, is a dream to parallel park, and stops on a dime. The 2006 models have a package with 4 wheel disc brakes and much larger outside mirrors, which I feel are important safety items that should be standard. I wish I could have held out a year for that.
Subaru could have done worse. Its not exactly eye-catching, but it isn't goofy-looking or available in garish colors like some competitors out there. You can't hide what this car is: a four-wheel drive station wagon for tall people. It looks like the sensible vehicle it is. The interior design is good, though after a year I still have to think about which stalk sticking out from the steering wheel does what. Especially when getting out of one car and into the next. Leg room in the front is outstanding, and so is the cargo volume with the rear seats down.
5 out of 5 stars by Alex from Brooklyn, NY on November 15, 2013 In my lifetime, I've own 5 different cars. This is, by far, my favorite.
We bought our '05 Forester in early 2011 with 76,000 miles and it's been a dream. It's extremely roomy inside and very comfortable. It has tons of cargo space for such a small SUV. It preforms very well, especially with our manual transmission and gets pretty good mileage at around 28mpg on the highway. It's also be extremely reliable with just a few relatively minor wear-and-tear repairs. This is the ultimate multi-use vehicle as it balances just the right size and fuel efficiency with interior space and comfort.
2005 Subaru Forester Xt
I'm actually disappointed the newer model Foresters are bigger. You can't beat this generation of the Forester.
4 out of 5 stars by HereinNJ from Budd Lake, NJ on March 23, 2014 I've only had this car a few weeks, but so far I like it. My only negative is that it's too low, and that's just me. I have been driving either mini vans or larger SUVs for so long, I'm used to riding up higher & having a better view of everything; especially with the high piles of snow we still have here. Going from an 8 cyl.
Ford Explorer (2 of them) to this 4 cyl. Smaller car, I'd say I'm pleasantly surprised at the power, especially for an automatic.
The smaller cars I used to drive were 5 speeds. It has a decent amount of interior storage compartments also.
I did buy a narrow pillow to put between the 2 front seats because I'm used to having a higher console to rest my elbow on, which this doesn't have. 2 out of 5 stars by Dave-in-CT from Middletown, CT on June 11, 2018 A head gasket problem. Motors shouldn't need head gaskets for at least 250,000 miles.
Subaru gave us a new engine design in 1999 and for the next 12 years various models in their line-up had head gasket issues. They never truly accepted the problem as their fault so owners had to foot the $2000+ bill themselves.
Other than this huge issue, the car was always solid and dependable. With good tires, it could go anywhere. But head gaskets at 130,000 miles left a very bad taste in my mouth and I switched to Honda. If you find this car for sale, find out if the head gaskets have been replaced. If so, you've found a great car.
If not, buyer beware!