Used Subaru Forester review: 2008-2009

Brett Radford is looking at a 2008 Subaru Forester sports wagon for his 17-year-old son. The asking price is $11,800, but with no trade he says he could get it for $10,000. It has had a small hit at the rear, but it has been repaired and inspected by the RTA. He wants to know if it is a good buy, and also if it has a cam timing belt that needs replacement.

New

From the moment it was first launched way back in 1997 the Forester has been one of the most popular SUVs on the market and its popularity shows no signs of fading.

Subaru's main problem has been keeping it at the head of the pack in a hotly contested market segment that's been getting hotter by the day.

With competition closing fast Subaru launched a new, much updated model in 2008.

It was longer, wider, taller, and had a longer wheelbase than the previous model and rode 20mm higher.

With all of that it was roomier inside, had more boot space, and was more refined.

Its looks were also changed while smoother lines and a more rounded shape in place of the squarer, boxier lines of the older model.

What wasn't changed in the makeover was the powertrain. It still employs the same boxer motor and full-time all-wheel drive that had been well proven in previous models.

The engine was a 2.5-litre horizontally-opposed four-cylinder unit that produced a little more power and torque than it did in the outgoing model.

There was the choice of a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed auto, the latter featuring sports shifting.

Like all Subarus the final drive was through all four wheels for safety and stability.

The Forester range was made up of three models, starting off with the entry-level X before moving up through the mid-range XS to a XS Luxury.

Even the X was well-equipped with a raft of desirable standard features, including air-conditioning, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, CD sound, and roof racks.

Take the step up to the XS and you could have alloy wheels, a CD stacker, extra speakers, and climate-controlled air-conditioning.

The ultimate Forester, the XS Premium, came with even more, including leather.

Now

Foresters are not only popular with new car buyers, they are also a hot choice for anyone buying a used SUV, like Brett Radford.

The good news for Brett and his son is that the Forester is highly regarded by owners and the trade alike.

Little goes wrong with them, so there's not much to worry about when signing up for one on the used market.

They can use a little oil, sometimes a puff of smoke can be seen coming from the exhaust on start-up, but it's a result of the design of the boxer engine. Oil can settle on the bottom of the cylinders when the engine is at rest, and then burnt when it is started. For that reason it's best to keep an eye on the oil level and keep it topped up.

It's also important to know that the engine has a timing belt that requires changing at regular intervals. Check the service book for the actual change interval on your model and make sure it happens as and when required. Check for a service record, nothing kills a car faster than missed servicing, and the Forester is no different.

Also check the body for bumps and scrapes, and evidence of crash repairs. Brett Radford says the Forester his son is looking at has had a small hit at the rear and has been repaired. Armed with that knowledge it would be wise to thoroughly check the quality of the repairs. If you're not sure what you're looking at have an expert do it.

Professional repairs shouldn't affect the value of the car on the used market to any great extent, but it's important that the repairs be properly done.