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2003-2008 Subaru Forester Pre-Owned

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Justin Pritchard
Forester a very sure bet in an adventuresome used car
More often than not, a Subaru owner asked about his or her vehicle will gush about how much they love it until you're left to break the conversation off. It's some combination of reasonable fuel mileage, all wheel drive, sporty handling and safety that makes them a popular choice- especially for those after year-round confidence behind the wheel.

2007 Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is a crossover SUV / wagon type machine that's ideal for smaller families or acive couples of any age. Think along the lines of a cut-price Volvo Cross Country- a jacked up, armored and toughened looking family wagon that can tackle more challenging conditions than the average slippery sideroad or snowy parking lot.

The redesigned 2009 Foresters are now on sale, aided by a popular sumo-centric marketing campaign. As owners trade up to the new Forester, you'll likely find plenty of used selection from the 2003 to 2008 generation.

Subaru changes things very little- if at all- mechanically from year to year. They've got a nice engine, transmission and all wheel drive system that works- so they tend to leave 'well-enough' alone.

You'll find the same drivetrain setup in the outgoing Forester that new-car shoppers will find in the 2009. It consists of a 2.5 liter boxer four cylinder engine with around 170 horsepower, 166 lb.-ft of torque and a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission.

Optionally available was the Forester 2.5XT, which fit a de-tuned version of the Impreza STI's turbo engine under the hood. The XT model appealed more greatly to performance buffs and those after 6-cylinder power figures. Output was rated between 210 and 235 ponies- depending on the year in question. If you need the extra jam, buy after 2006.

Either engine powers all four wheels through Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive (AWD) system, which provides automatic, decision free maximization of traction on any surface sent its way.

2007 Subaru Forester
Justin Pritchard
Justin Pritchard
Automotive expert
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