The second generation Subaru Forester appeared in 2002, receiving the model code S11 (SG5 body). In 2005, the Forester underwent a facelift that resulted in slightly modified headlights, bumpers, interior and engine lineup. In the same year, a sports version of the Lesnik STI (SG9) appeared, designed exclusively for the Japanese market. The release of the model continued until 2008, until the third generation came to replace it. The car turned out to be very successful, confirmation of this by the first places in the reliability ratings and the titles "Car of the Year".
Engines
Engines used in the Subaru Forester, 4-cylinder boxer - aspirated 2.0 L (EJ20, 125, 140 and 158 HP) and 2.5 L (EJ25, 156 and 167 HP; only for US and Canadian markets) supercharged - 2.0 l (EJ20, 220 and 240 hp) and 2.5 l (EJ25, 210, 230 and 265). All engines have a timing belt drive with a replacement interval of 100,000 km. When replacing it, it will not be superfluous to change the pump of the liquid cooling system, which fails at a run of more than 120 - 150 thousand km.
A signature feature of such motors is tapping when the engine is not yet warmed up. Knocking occurs due to wear of the short piston skirt and appears with a run of more than 100 - 150 thousand km. By 200 - 250 thousand km, knocking already accompanies the entire cycle of the engine, in which case the capital cannot be avoided, and the cylinder takes on the shape of an ellipsoid. Increased wear is caused by insufficient lubrication, strong block heating and horizontal pistons. Engine restoration is not cheap - about 80 - 100 thousand rubles.
You need to monitor the oil level in Subaru engines regularly, “oil burner” with a run of more than 100 thousand km is not uncommon, especially on turbocharged versions. Topping up to 2 liters of oil per 10 thousand km is considered the norm.
Long driving at high speed can lead to overheating of the engine, and as a result, to burnout of the cylinder head. The disease occurs with a run of more than 150 - 180 thousand km, more often on turbocharged versions. Replacing the gasket will require about 20 - 30 thousand rubles. Worse, if overheating causes deformation of the head. Overheating can also be caused by a thermostat that sticks over time. With a long load on a turbocharged engine, piston breakage can also occur.
| Subaru Forester (2005-2008) |
If, when the stove is turned on, a burning smell appears in the cabin, then most likely there was an oil leak from under the valve cover.
Due to the design features of the engine, replacing spark plugs turns into a difficult procedure, so it makes sense to use more tenacious iridium spark plugs instead of conventional ones that are efficient for no more than 15-20 thousand km.
In winter, in twenty-degree frosts, there are problems with starting due to the peculiarities of the ECU program.
With a run of more than 100 thousand km, it will not be superfluous to replace the fuel filter in the tank (700 - 3 thousand rubles). A spent filter greatly reduces throughput, causing dips in traction. Radiators with high mileage burst in the upper part of the can, replacement will require about 12 - 20 thousand rubles.
| Subaru Forester (2003-2005) |
Transmission
The engines are paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. "Mechanics" is much more reliable than "machine". The clutch of a manual box on atmospheric Subaru Forester runs about 150 - 180 thousand km, a turbocharged engine significantly reduces its resource to 80 - 120 thousand km. Replacing the clutch will require about 12 - 15 thousand rubles.
"Automatic" confidently takes care of at least 130 - 180 thousand km, then kicks and dullness may appear. The reason for this behavior is the wear of the clutches or the failure of the solenoids. The wear of the clutches is also facilitated by a decrease in the level of liquid in the box due to the old rubber hoses connecting the "machine" to the radiator, which begin to leak over time. Automatic transmissions on cars in 2002 are considered less reliable, later, after refinement, the boxes became more tenacious.
All Subaru Foresters are all-wheel drive. On a Forester with a manual transmission, the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles occurs in a ratio of 50 to 50. Automatic transmissions 2nd: TZ and TV. The first is more reliable and distributes the moment in a ratio from 90 to 10 in the normal state to 60 to 40 when slippage occurs. The TV transmission distributes the torque in a ratio of 45 to 55. The transmission goes into emergency mode often due to the burnout of the lamps in the brake lights.
The rear axle gearbox can buzz with a run of more than 140 - 180 thousand km, a little later the oil seals begin to “snot”. Bulkhead gearbox will cost 20 - 25 thousand rubles.
| Subaru Forester (2005-2008) |
Chassis
The stabilizer bar bushings run about 60 - 80 thousand km, the stabilizer struts - 90-120 thousand km (600 - 1500 rubles). Rear wheel bearings rarely live more than 60 - 80 thousand km.
Rear self-levelling shock absorbers end after 60 - 90 thousand km. Cheaper than an analogue is a replacement for ordinary ones with a reinforced spring. Replacing the springs in this case is mandatory, otherwise the rear of the car will sag, since the self-leveling racks took on some of the weight.
The front pads run about 40 - 60 thousand km, brake discs - about 50 - 80 thousand km. The rear drum-type brakes are unlikely to require replacement before 120 - 150 thousand km. In frosts on a cold car, problems with the brakes may occur due to freezing of the stop (check) valve in the vacuum hose from the intake manifold. Treating the valve with silicone grease (or WD-40) will correct the situation.
In cold weather, the power steering pump often begins to howl, often after changing the fluid, it falls silent.
Other problems and malfunctions
Fog glasses do not like a “cool shower”, after washing they can easily crack.
The paintwork of the body does not cause any complaints from the owners, just like the body iron is not prone to corrosion. Only on the door handles the paint wears off over time.
| Subaru Forester STI (2005-2008) |
On cars from 2002 to 2004, the sunroof fails due to a broken cable or wear of the guides. The cause of the failure may also be the motor of the electric drive. The driver's door window regulator may fail due to gear wear. The windows spontaneously drop a little after closing due to the failure of the electric motor and the corrosion of its elements.
Leaks on the roof lining around the pillars are caused by condensation on the inside of the roof. After gluing the roof with soundproofing materials, there is no problem.
If a whistle is heard from under the hood when you press the gas, then it's time to replace the air conditioner roller. The whistler comes to life with a run of more than 140 - 180 thousand km, about 700 - 800 rubles will have to be paid for the video.
Conclusion
When purchasing a Subaru Forester, be prepared for a rather big gas mileage, in the combined cycle the aspirated will devour about 13 - 15 liters, and the turbocharged - about 16 - 17 liters.
At the beginning of 97, Subaru released its first SUV, the Subaru Forester. The car turned out to be very interesting and attractive for the buyer - a relatively low price, good off-road capabilities (for an SUV), the ability to choose between atmospheric / turbocharged engine options, a strong, reliable and impenetrable suspension. Yes, the car had certain disadvantages, although it would probably be more correct to call them features - difficulty in maintenance and operation (sometimes the Sata "set was not enough to assemble a candle key), not the most reliable turbocharged engines, the maximum mileage of which before overhaul was 120-150 thousand km, a difficult replacement of the timing belt, and as a legacy from the Subaru Impreza got a cramped interior and an almost complete lack of sound insulation... But the car had much more pluses and now it is difficult to find a parking lot where several Foresters SF5 would not stand.
After 5 years, in 2002, a new Forester model in the back of SG5 was released. A lot has changed and improved, it makes no sense to list everything, a separate article will be devoted to this, where it will be described in detail about the Forester SG5, its configuration, pros and cons, as well as a comparison with the updated 2005 model.
And probably one of the most asked questions on the Runet and in the forums has become - which is better, the old SF5 body or the new SG5, what are the differences and advantages, is it worth saving up for a new body. In this article, we will compare 2 generations of Forester and try to answer similar questions. And so, meet, 2 generations of Foresters 1997 (SF5 body) And 2002 (SG5) of the year:
1. The external dimensions of the Foresters have not changed much - but the SG5 looks bigger and more massive from almost all angles.
2. The owner of the SF5 noted that the back door of the new Forester opens more conveniently and does not rattle when driving. Please note that on the back door in the last generation FORESTER is written in large letters, and in the new SUBARU. Marketing?
3. Subaru's strange and incomprehensible decision is to make a car with a ground clearance of 200 mm, a flat belly and a good implementation of all-wheel drive, such long overhangs. More or less serious off-road - and hello to the front bumper. Although the off-road capabilities of the Forester are already a bit exaggerated - the small suspension travels and the lack of hard locks are an example of this. The best rogue from the Forester family is an atmospheric version on the box, which has a full-fledged permanent four-wheel drive and a reduction gear. Such a Forester with bumpers removed and steel protection in front can go off-road on a par with serious jeeps.
4. The overhang of the SG5 is slightly shorter. Although outwardly almost the same.
5. The interior of the new model has been slightly changed - the front panel has become more futuristic and has received a silver color (a similar trend for new Subaru models), the climate control unit has become fundamentally different. The only thing that hasn't changed much is the Momo steering wheel.
The SF5 electronic climate with an LCD display in a new body was changed to nice twists. It’s hard to say whether it’s the right decision - it’s difficult to turn the knobs with gloves on, if it were thicker it would be easier, there are not enough airflow intensity adjustments (this was decided in the SG5 restyling).
6. There were 4 windows on the instrument panel - it became 3, the oil temperature and fuel level moved closer to each other. Has it gotten better? In my opinion, no - the tachometer and speedometer data in the previous body are read faster, the calm blue color does not irritate the eyes, the tachometer is larger than the speedometer. In the instrument panel of the SG5, the speedometer was increased and placed in the center - the decision is incomprehensible to me, the Forester and high speed are poorly compatible, but this is important for a turbo engine.
7. The standard solution for Subaru - leather steering wheel, automatic and handbrake - almost no SUV can boast of this. The automatic transmission handle of the SG5, following the trends of fashion, began to move along a curve.
8. Both Foresters are equally crowded in the back. With the front seat pushed back as far as possible, it is very difficult for an adult to put his feet in the back. But still, the SG5 is a little more spacious.
9. Horror - comfortable and very typical Subaru door handles in the back of the SF5 were changed to chrome-plated a la Toyota. It didn't get any better or more convenient than that.
10. Top acoustics. The SF5 had 4 speakers + 4 tweeters, the SG5 had 4 speakers + 2 tweeters + a subwoofer in the trunk.
11. Structurally, the suspension has not changed much. No gearbox, no drive, no traction sticks out - competently and reliably, traditionally in Subaru style. Only MMC Airtrek can boast of such thoughtfulness among SUVs.
12. The motors of both Subariks, although they are called the same EJ20, are completely different in behavior. The new motor pulls much better at low revs, and at 3000 rpm. rides almost all the money - it makes no sense to turn the engine further. Thanks to AVCS and low pressure turbine. SF5 on the contrary - it seems a little blunt and thoughtful, but all this until the tachometer needle exceeds the same 3000 rpm. - then the car crouches a little, like a cat before a jump, and a sharp acceleration follows. Although at low speeds, the presence of the TD04 impeller under the hood is almost not felt. The first generation Forester seems to be faster - it has 20 hp. more, sharper acceleration, but for the city I would prefer the SG5 - I like the locomotive traction at low speeds and the absence of the need to unscrew the engine "to drive", even in a long hill you can drive 60 km / h at only 2000 rpm.
13. Progress does not stand still - the halogens of the past body have given way to bi-xenon with height adjustment.
14. Strange, but practical roof rails with ears for a rope were replaced with simple skids.
15. Subaru cars change and improve - but one thing remains unchanged, the constellation of the Pleiades on the grille.
We decided to test who will be the fastest of the turboforesters. The old generation has 30 hp. more, the new low-pressure turbine. There was one race in urban conditions. The distance is about 250-300 meters. Start - from idle. Forester SG5 with an earlier turbozone immediately took the lead, and when the SF5 turbine reached its operating speed, its backlog was almost to the body (it remained until the very finish line). It is impossible to say who is faster - it will be at least incorrect, the correct race must be arranged at 402 meters and preferably more than once - but at least we can say that the difference in dynamics is minimal, the Foresters are worth each other.
The consumption of Foresters of both generations is almost the same - about 20 l / 100 km in active urban mode, about 16.5 l / 100 km with quiet movement (up to 3000 rpm).
Conclusion - it is very difficult to say which car is better - the odds are very similar and the differences are actually minimal. The SG5 has a very pleasant yet not boring appearance, more advanced turbo engines - the SF5 seems somehow more homely, it has more Subaru charisma. In any case, the buyer will not lose by choosing the Forester - well, where else can you get the dynamics of a sports car and the ability to calmly move off-road. And in general, they have no analogues - only the MMC RVR X3, which has already gone into the past.
Special thanks to Sergei Semkin for the car provided for the test.
Comfort in every detail: wide doorways, door opening angle ~90, power driver's seat in 8 directions, lumbar support adjustment and settings memory function, large panoramic sunroof, spacious interior.
Spacious trunk with power tailgate (with automatic locking function)
Extended luggage space, an easy-to-use power tailgate with automatic locking function, cargo area lighting are just a few of the things that make the new Forester truly versatile and comfortable. Forester is ready to support even the most active lifestyle of its owner, helping you to do what you like, and filling every journey with new details.
Excellent visibility
Subaru engineers designed the body minimizing blind spots for the driver when looking ahead and to the sides: now obstacles, pedestrians and cars on the road will not be a surprise for you while driving - the interior design and side mirrors transferred to the doors will allow you to fully control the space around you when movement and maneuvering.
Rear view camera and front side view
Comfortable and easy to maneuver with the Forester on narrow city streets. When you shift into reverse gear, the camera displays a color image on the instrument panel display to help you when parking.
Front/side view camera*, make parking even more convenient. It is located in the right side mirror. It captures an image from the front passenger side, which is shown on the Multifunction Color Display.
Multimedia with voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation system and 8” color touch screen*
Use the most popular apps with Apple CarPlay® and Android® Auto*. Voice recognition features allow you to use the speakerphone to provide additional safety without distracting you from the road. The navigation system can be updated free of charge for three years.
*Available in some trim levels.
Premium audio system with 8 Harman/Kardon speakers.*
Multimedia system with 8.0” display Harman Kardon premium audio system with power amplifier, subwoofer and 8 speakers.*
*Depends on configuration.
Keyless Entry and Engine Start System with Start/Stop Button*
When the key fob is nearby, for example in a clothing pocket, the keyless entry system allows you to open the front doors as well as the tailgate by simply grasping the door handle. The engine is started with a button.
*Available in some trim levels.
The second Forester from Subaru was released in 2002, and in 2005 it underwent a restyling (headlights, bumper shapes, interior and engine lineup changed a little). The model was produced until 2008. The car turned out to be quite successful, several times it took first place in reliability in various ratings and received the title "Car of the Year". The body of the second generation Forestar bears the abbreviation SG. The pre-styling body is "SG5", the restyled body is "SG6", and the charged version of STI is "SG9".
The units that were installed on the Forester 2: gasoline 4-cylinder 2.0 and 2.5 (both atmospheric) and turbocharged 2.0 and 2.5 liters. Two-liter Subaru Forester cars were equipped with a series of EJ20 engines, two and a half liters - EJ25.
All motors have a timing belt drive with a replacement schedule of 100,000 km. When replacing the rollers and timing belt, it is advisable to change the pump as well, since its resource is close to the scheduled timing repair.
A design feature of the Forester 2 engines is a slight knock on the cold, which occurs after 100 thousand kilometers. It appears due to a worn piston skirt. After 200 thousand km, knocking will accompany the operation of the engine constantly, which means it's time to "capitalize" the engine. All this occurs due to poor engine lubrication and frequent strong heating of the cylinder block. If you open the engine, you can see that the cylinders have already taken the form of an ellipse, and if not all, then the fourth one for sure. But subject to good engine care - regular maintenance (every 7500-8000 km.) And high-quality oil fill, this problem can be avoided and enjoy the reliability of the car for a long time.
Subaru Forester 2002-2005
You need to check the engine oil level in this car constantly. After 100 thousand run, very often all second Foresters begin to actively consume oil. Most of all, this is done by units equipped with a turbine. If from replacement to replacement you add only a couple of liters of oil to the Forester, then you should not rush to the service station - this is the norm for this car.
A long trip at high speed on a turbocharged Forester can lead to overheating of the engine (as discussed above) and burnout of the cylinder head gasket. Rarely, but still there have been cases of deformation of the cylinder head itself from overheating. This situation may occur after 150 thousand kilometers. Very rarely, this can happen with atmospheric internal combustion engines. The cause of overheating in the Forester can also be a jammed thermostat. With a long load, a turbocharged Forester engine can break the piston. To avoid overheating during operation, it is recommended to flush the cooling radiator annually and, in general, monitor the cooling system - the coolant level and the correct operation of the thermostat.
Salon Subaru Forester 2002-2005
The smell of burning in the Forester's cabin with the heater on indicates that oil is leaking from under the valve cover.
Replacing the spark plugs in the engine of the second Forester, due to its design features, is a very labor-intensive procedure. It is for this reason that we recommend that you use iridium candles, the resource of which is about 100 thousand km, which means that you will have to change them much less often.
At twenty degrees of frost, there were problems when starting the engine, which were caused by the peculiarities of the ECU software. Even in the cold, the power steering pump can howl. But it is worth changing the fluid, and the hum disappears.
If the Forester has traveled more than 100 thousand km, then it makes sense to replace the fuel filter located in the tank. With such a mileage, the old filter becomes very clogged, and passes fuel much worse, which cannot but affect the traction of the car. Even with high mileage, radiator leaks were noted in its upper part.
The second Forester was equipped with a five-speed manual transmission and a four-speed automatic. The manual transmission has proved to be much more reliable than the automatic transmission. Clutch with manual transmission confidently goes 150 thousand km or more, provided that the engine is atmospheric. But the turbine reduces this figure to 90-100 thousand km.
The machine also does not cause problems in the first 150 thousand, and then it usually starts to kick and blunt. Worn clutches or failed solenoids are to blame. Clutches wear out usually from an insufficient amount of automatic transmission fluid, the level of which drops due to old leaking rubber hoses between the box and its radiator. The most unreliable machines are installed on Foresters in 2002, later the manufacturer modified the automatic transmission, which increased its resource.
As you know, all Subaru cars have four-wheel drive. On the Forester with manual transmission, the torque is distributed 50/50 between the axles. Two types of automatic machines were installed on the Forester: TV and TZ. The first box is less reliable, distributes the moment in the ratio 45/55. In the second transmission, the distribution goes from 90/10 in normal driving to 60/40 with slipping wheels. An interesting point - burnt out brake light bulbs can take the automatic transmission into emergency mode.
Subaru Forester 2005-2008
The Subaru Forester rear axle reducer easily leaves 150 thousand or more. Then a hum and leakage of its seals is possible. For a long and trouble-free service, this unit, like the engine, is very fond of systematic oil changes - every 20-30 thousand km.
The stabilizer struts will require the first replacement closer to 100 thousand, the bushings depart almost 80 thousand. Rear hub bearings live an average of 70,000.
Rear shock absorbers with self-leveling function go 80-90 thousand. When replacing them, it would be more expedient to install conventional shock absorbers and change the springs to reinforced ones. Moreover, it is necessary to change the springs during this procedure, in order to avoid a drawdown of the car.
The front brake pads last an average of 50 thousand km, the brake discs - a little more. Rear drum brakes will not bother the owner before 120 thousand kilometers. In cold weather, such a nuisance as freezing of the check valve in the vacuum hose after overnight parking is possible, which will greatly complicate the braking of the car. To prevent this from happening, the valve must be treated with silicone grease or the usual "weed". It is better to do this in advance.
If water gets on the glass of the Forester fog lamps during their operation, cracks are likely to occur due to temperature differences. Many solved this problem by installing collective farm xenon.
The owners, as a rule, have no complaints about the body iron and paintwork of the Forester. The only thing is that the paint on the door handles can rub off over time.
On Foresters produced before 2004, there is a problem with the failure of the hatch, which occurs due to a cable break, or due to worn guides. And the sunroof may stop working due to the failure of the electric motor. Also, do not forget about the care of sealing rubber bands - treat these elements with silicone grease. However, in the same way it is recommended to take care of the other seals - door, tailgate.
The driver's door glass may stop rising due to a worn gear.
The inside of the roof can accumulate condensation, which then shows up on the upholstery flow. To eliminate this, you will have to remove the upholstery, and glue the roof from the inside with insulating material. After that, the problem will disappear.
The whistle from under the hood that appears when you press the gas pedal is treated by replacing the air conditioner roller.
That's basically all that can be said about this wonderful car, buying which is worth remembering about fuel consumption - 13-15 liters for atmospheric and almost 17 liters for a turbocharged engine in a combined cycle.
A selection of video reviews and test drives Subaru Forester 2002-2008:
Crash test Subaru Forester II SG:
