Uk sales dipped to under 2,000 units BUT have increased of late to around 3,000 - still this is less than half their peak 10 years ago.

In Suffolk I believe the number of dealers fluctuates from one to two dealers while in Norfolk there is generally just one.

In 2014 UK sales were up by 23%.

Off the back of a more favourable exchange rates the new WRX STI went on sale in the UK with a £4,000 price cut over the previous model. Demand soon outstripped supply with Subaru UK having to import greater quantities than planned towards the end of the year.

The rear-wheel drive BRZ SE sports car also received a £2,500 price reduction, making it far better value than nearest rivals, while the XV compact crossover also benefitted from a £2300 price reduction in 2013, with prices remaining frozen with the arrival of the updated MY2014 model.

Further growth is expected in 2015 with the UK launch of the new models. The Outback will be the first car in Subaru's line-up to be fitted with the brand's unique EyeSight driver assist technology. The Outback will also feature all new exterior and interior designs, with particular emphasis placed on interior quality and the Outback's infotainment systems.

Paul Tunnicliffe, Managing Director, Subaru UK, commented: "These results are encouraging for Subaru UK – it's great to see model launches and recent price cuts helping us back to sustainable growth. The launch of the new Outback this Spring will put us in an even stronger position for solid growth in future, and the ongoing expansion of our UK dealer network will help us achieve this goal."

Edited by Trilogy on 08/07/2015 at 13:37

Trilogy ?? Transmission: 1-speed CVT ??

My indi serviceman says that a part he can source from Ford for a fiver costs thirty from Subaru.

. However, many Subaru owners do not really care too much about parts prices as they are seldom required.Err

Older and faster models require frequent repairs..

see: www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/week-s-60-a-5.../

And early diesel owners WILL disagree.

www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/sweden-subaru.../

Edited by madf on 27/11/2015 at 15:02

Agreed Corax, the H6 Outback is proving equally reliable and well up to its workload.

I'd like a 2.5XT Forester, but that does seem to be the model prone to CHG probs, like you i'm going nowhere near Subaru Diesels, i think they rushed that engine out due to CO2 based VED concerns and shot themselves straight in the foot doing so.

Thanks for that link Trilogy, Fortuna more or less an up to date Surf then by the looks of it.

What is interesting is a new Diesel engine, 4 cyl 2.8 twin cam Diesel, i wonder if this will replace the now ageing 3.0 litre which has been going in modified form since around 93 that i'm aware of and had problems early in its D4D guise due to injector seal leak...not unique in that mind.

A more presentable vehicle (apart from the grill, again) than the current standard Landcruise, not Amazon, the current 3 litre which Toyota went to town on to ruin its appearence, a recent thing for them (and Lexus) of beating their own vehicles with a gnarled ugly stick, why?

Hillman, the problem with the inner drive shaft cv boots is that they are just above the exhausts so get hot and perish before they otherwise would, both were perished when i got mine, luckily they are a pleasure to do because the whole drivershaft is easily removed and fully dismantled (its circlipped), cost me about £15 for two aftermarket boots which are fine nearly 2 years later, and i took the opportunity to repack the driveshafts with fresh grease whilst apart.

I fully expected the pattern boots to have failed by now, when they do i'll get genuines, apparently Subaru changed the material to cope with the heat better.

GB, how do you deal with the smelly exhaust when you work in that area ? You can never completly prevent drips.

Why don't the outer boots perish ? are they kept cool ?

One of mine had split and had dumped a load of grease on the cat that side, i wire brushed it off then gave it a good helping of neat TFR and pressure washed it off, no exhaust smells after a few days.

Yes it must be the lower temps at the outer boots, they flex more obviously due to steering and in almost all cases its the outer ones that split, Subaru is almost the only car i've seen with perfect outers and perished/split inners.

The most common things to be replaced are the suspension links which tend to wear the rubber bushes. My expert says that they are a tad flimsy for that sort of a car, also very highly priced.

Assuming that you're talking about the anti roll bar links I replaced mine with Meyle heavy duty for about £15 each when had an uprated rear anti roll bar fitted. The fronts are the same price.

They were certainly more substantial than the originals, and many Volvo enthusiasts use Meyle to replace their links after reporting that cheaper replacements don't last as long (the S60's and V70's are heavy on their suspension).

Only time will tell.

My first Legacy had a very quiet engine but the next one had lost all the smoothness. I heard at the time that GM had bought a share in Subaru and had improved the breathing of the engine to aid the fuel economy, which wasn't good.

Thanks for all the Subaru information. A c.2005 Berlingo Multispace 1.6 is now a strong contender to be my next purchase.

Steve, thanks for the reply. I am aware a few others here, including Bromptonaut, really rate them. Steve Cropley of Autocar magazine fame was so impressed with his long termer that he bought it for his family as an extra runaround. Ideally I could do with a van but don't want one. The Berligo Multipsace is rather like a modern day Renault 4, which rather appeals to me.

Edited by Trilogy on 01/01/2016 at 17:42

Thanks for all the Subaru information. A c.2005 Berlingo Multispace 1.6 is now a strong contender to be my next purchase.

I'll probably be mocked for saying it - but a truly great car. One of the most practical cars there is, cheap as chips to run, reliable and with suspension tuned towards comfort rather than Nurburgring laptimes - no street cred or fun factor whatsoever - but if you need a roomy practical car it's hard to beat - better still go the the slightly jacked up XTR and put all seaon tyres on it - then it'll be unstoppable in the winter too. It's all the car anyone ever really needs.

There should be no mocking of any vehicle that does exactly what it's meant to do - more people should buy cars that meet their particular "functional specification" rather than the latest fashion or whether neighbours/peers "approve".

GB, apparently most cars are tuned towatds a handling bias. I've read several motoring journalists bemoan this trend. The ride of a Berlingo is another aspect that appeals to me. I test drove a 406 estate a few years ago, the ride sublime while the loadspace while was not as good as the 305 estate I once owned, nor the MK1 Focus estate I presently drive.

Image doesn't bother me. If a car fits my criteria, I'll buy it.

Image doesn't bother me. If a car fits my criteria, I'll buy it.

Don't think image features high on the list of attributes in the backroom, our leader being one the advocates of sensible tyres and suspension.

I liked 406 a lot, dunno what was going on at PSA when 407 and C5 mk 2 estates (more like extended coupes) came out, neither of any use as useful estates when compared to the vehicles they replaced.

Best estates I had were a couple of Peugeot Estates (one was the seven-seat Family version). Built like the Forth (rail) Bridge, the only issue I had was sloppy gearlinkage when plastic bushes wore. (Originally column change but then changed to floor shift with lots of joints!)

Ah! The late and great LJKS. A true expert and a superb writer.

Like Hector I had a Forester XT and reckon it was the best car I have ever driven based upon its intended job and how well it performed it.

Great post HectorG, and music to my ears.

I suppose it depends on the criteria magazines like What Car are judging the cars on. If it's quietness, space, comfort and economy then the Forester doesn't stack up so well against some of it's competitors. There is quite a bit of wind and road noise (the Saab 9-3X project was apparently very refined and quiet because it combined the refined Subaru mechanicals with SAAB levels of soundproofing), the seats I personally don't find comfortable ( I replaced mine with Impreza WRX seats), there's not much space in the back for passengers and the engines are admittedly thirsty.

It depends on your priorities. The reliability, the toughness, the visibility(it is a cinch to reverse), and superb traction coupled with good torque from the engine are highlights for me, and the Americans and Australians seem to agree.

I like the fact that it isn't too plush, because I can chuck anything for my allotment in the back without worrying.

The way it can be hustled rapidly on a bad road surface while remaining composed and surefooted is staggering for a raised 4x4.

There's nothing else quite like it out there, although I'd like suggestions!

My Forester is an older 2005 SG model which should clear up your issues :)

Why are the magazines so dismissive of the CVT auto box ? They generally have nothing good to say about it. In general the articles in the magazines seem to be writen by 'teenage boy racers', 'squishy tyres' indeed !

^wot 'e said, above, in spades^

from an "expert" opinion, i.e 5 years and 90,000 miles of DSG experience, after driving a TC "proper" automatic.

We've had our CVT Avensis since April last year now, and I continue to be impressed. As you say, in normal suburban conditions it makes driving about as smooth as any auto box can.

When you want acceleration, the Toyota CVT is programmed to emulate a normal auto (or you can intervene with the paddles) - meaning the performance (and engine sound) is pretty comparable to a manual or normal TC auto. It's a 1.8 so it'll never set the world on fire but it's not compromised by the transmission.

It's not for everyone, but for the driving that most suburban car owners do most of the time, it's excellent. One excellent side effect I didn't anticipate is that because the box can vary the ratio at any time, "top gear" is actually quite a lot taller than it would be in the manual. So on the motorway I can put it in cruise control at 70, and it'll turn over at just above 2000rpm, only boosting the revs if it needs to maintain speed up an incline. On the flat, it's appreciably improving the economy over a manual due to the lower revs.

AFAIK, Subaru further developed the Toyota CVT to suit their own needs, just as they further developed their original gearboxes from their Jatco origins.

I'm old enough to remember DAF's original launch of their Variomatic and have always admired it's simplicity and theoretical advantages but I also remember huge press adverse comment on all forms of CVT - I test drove one of the Outback diesel CVTs at launch after decades of conventional TC autoboxes and was amazed how imperceptibly the CVT performed - if only they did a H6 diesel!

I had a Corolla (Auris) hire car in Oz a couple of years ago. It was 6 speed manual, with 7 speed CVT. Brilliant transmission set up. I'd have one. Sadly not sold here, just like the Land Cruiser 70, Tarago, Kluger, Fortuner, Hi Ace etc.

On the Jazz CVT (and my wife had one for nearly 6 years) I think the Subaru is a huge step forward by comparison and exhibits virtually none of the 'rubber band effect' associated with CVT's which puts a lot of people off. although I seem to recall that the Forester turbos have an 'upgaded 'box and the extra power makes all the difference. Anyway, highly recommended.

Post 2011 Jazz has a TC connected to the CVT so no rubber band effect,,

I think the Outback has a hill-holder - and I don't recall it having a handbrake lever - the modern electric parking brakes means that you don't need creep anyway.

SWMBO's ageing H6 Outback might look a bit stodgy too but try keeping up with the thing when the road gets slippery and twisty, the same goes for all 4WD Subarus far as i can tell, just point and they do what you ask.

Disappointed that Subaru have seen fit to sling an electric parking brake on at least some of their newer models, thats ruled those out for my future used bargains then.

Interesting discussion about the CVT boxes, hope they prove as bomb proof long term as the standard autos have (and as simple to change and check the oil), the poor long term prospects of the Diesels surprised and saddened me, so i'll be keeping an ear out about CVT's too, and Toyota's version.

Folks, the only reservation I have with the DSG, is its inherent (dry 7 speed 2010 spec) tendency to "drop" out of gear entirely, when attempting to creep on manouver on a slope, a software "glitch" pure and simple.

Otherwise zero complaints in respect of normal driving, at first I noticed a slight hesitation in pulling away at a road end, but my brain reasonably quickly reprogrammed itself to "launch" commensurately sooner, AND once launched KEEP THE THROTTLE depressed, and let the standard fit traction control do its wonderful work.

Hey it works!

I have always attempted to drive smoothly anyway (however fast or slow, I am driving, circumstances permitting), "perhaps" (as in, for sure) this allows the DSG transmission to better predict what is required of it.

Unlike quite a few driving dorks** who constantly switch between the throttle and brake, thereby certainly confusing any artifically intelligent transmission.

As witnessed by constant tell-tale brake light behavouir.

Regards

marcus

simples

really

I had assumed that all Foresters were worthy and reliable but rather stodgy.

The looks give a false impression - they feel a bit floaty driving normally, but put your foot down and it sort of hunkers down and turns into a performance car, it really does have a Jekyll and Hyde character, the turbo at least.

I see many older people driving Impreza WRX's now. I don't know if it's a late mid life crisis or they appreciate the straightforward engineering and performance per pound, but it's nice to see.

I was told that the CVT auto box does not 'creep' like the traditional TC auto box when idling, eg at traffic lights. How does one do hill starts ? I've got visions of holding the handbrake like a manual box.

The Jazz one does creep. Makes parking very simple.. no risk of pressing the accelerator too hard and demolishing the garage (as an uncle did in the 1970s with his V8 Daimler)

Hill starts are like a normal clutch and gearbox...

Edited by madf on 06/01/2016 at 09:52

More publicity for the Grovel. Now set to take part in BTCC in RWD form.

I'd agree with that Hillman.

We have a flat parking area but the exit from our driveway is very steep uphill, the old Merc will not roll back even an inch no matter how long you sit there in D on tickover, but both the Subaru and Landcruiser will roll back very slowly after a few seconds if you sat there expecting the creep to hold them still, in practice just removing your foot from the brake and applying the throttle gently means no roll back at all so no need to involve the parking brake.

Should probably also add that it goes like sh!t off a shovel...

I'm only getting about 27mpg but the engine's still tight, I've been carrying a roofbox and also driving 'enthusiastically' (which is hard to resist in the XT). Other owners suggest 30-35mpg is perfectly possible depending on how careful you want to be.

I've noticed how Subaru owners tend to rave about their cars - as do I - and do think that some of it is a reaction to how poorly Subarus are reviewed in the media - like a bit of an underdog complex. Buying a Forester probably won't change your life, though it might make you feel like part of an exclusive, in the know, club.

The Forester's not perfect and it won't appeal to most people - you don't get a pseudo-luxury interior, 15-speaker stereo or Victoria Beckham-endorsed styling. You don't get the very latest technology, the highest (laboratory claimed) mpg or the lowest CO2. What you do get is a practical motor that will look and drive the same after 10yrs of abuse. If you're the sort of person who values there qualities then it's well worth checking out.