Overview & Reviews

Subaru attacks the mini-SUV market head-on with the Forester, which actually constitutes an SUV body on an Impreza platform with a Legacy engine under the hood. The most carlike of the mini-utes, Forester is also the most powerful. Airbags remain the full power variety, despite new rules allowing lower deployment speeds.

• Handles like a car. Accelerates like a car. Rides like a car.

• Travels off-road like a car.

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 65.00

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  Sub - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By KLA - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Overall I would buy another Forester. Zero problems, sound as the day bought. Only complaint is that speed control was not standard on "L", a good thing to have.

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  What a Joy - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By DoDred - November 26 - 8:53 pm

  We have 170,000+ miles on our Subie and still feel that it is one of the best cars we have ever owned. I have used and probably abused it back and forth across the US and Canada, from California to Prince Edward Island, from Key West to Vancouver, BC. What a joy of a car to own.

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  Liked car - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By kusumanja - November 6 - 2:00 am

  Over all the car was good. We had issues with the wheel bearings making noise. After about 92,000 miles the transmission started shifting funny on occasion. We really liked the AWD very much and the ABS worked well. The clock above the center console and the radio display started to intermittently not work. The cruse control indicator light stopped working. Auburn Subaru sold us this car when it had been wrecked without telling us so it never did drive down the road straight.

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  Love it !! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By CJ&LF - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Test drove several diff. vehicles, settled on Subi. Very glad. Good perf, low repairs, tows well. At 88k been great with reg. maint. Wish we still had the second. (Loss of second Subi was due to a poor repair job, been crying ever since ! Still negotiating for full rep / replace for settlement) Was a 89 with 83K.

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  Fishermans Dream - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By kschumac - August 27 - 2:00 am

  When I first visited our local Subaru dealer, the salesman told me all the right things about reliability, value, driving safety and longevity of the vehicles. I had asked him if they had any used Subarus that I could look at and he told me that once people bought one, they did not get rid of it. Having owned this car for a little over two years now, I understand what he meant. This car is fun to drive. This car gets me into all the places I want to go (fishing). It has lots of storage space in the back. I can very comfortably carry four people.

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  A Disappointment - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By A Disappointment - July 4 - 12:56 pm

  Im a believer of the safety features after hitting a deer with the Forester at 65 mph on the freeway. I also love the way the Forester handles. But there were a few bugs that I wouldnt have expected given that the Legacy chassis had been out a while. First, the wheel bearings went out at 20K on two wheels. Then the oil seals went at 70K and 140K (just like our 95 Legacy). The head gasket went out at 140K When I complained about a manufacturer defect at 70K because of similar problems with our Legacy, Customer Service said it was coincidence and wouldnt negotiate a better rate on repairs, stating the warranty went out at 60K. If you buy a Subie, you better extend the warranty!

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  Subaru - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By duck123 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  A fun car to drive

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  A lemon! - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By LJN - April 5 - 10:56 am

  Bought the vehicle for durability and reliability. Have gone through multiple sets of tires, several sets of wheel bearings, two water pumps, and most recently replaced head gaskets ... all before 45K! Vehicle has known design flaws (head gaskets, for example) that Subaru of America refuses to be accountable for, offering cheap, short-term fixes. Will never buy another Subaru unless/until company stands behind their product!

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  Forester Reigns Supreme - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By Highly recommended - March 21 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the Subaru Forester in August of 1998. I had driven several of the competing models and all it took was 5 minutes behind the wheel to be sold. This little vehicle outperformed anything in its class at that time. It is quick, nimble, and comfortable, as well as provides a smooth ride. Hazardous weather does not slow this little wagon down...Ice, snow, sleet, rain, whatever. I love it, and plan to purchase another! The only thing I do not like is the wagon- like appearance...

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  Disappointing Reliability - 1998 Subaru Forester
  By QuintrKD - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 98 Forester with great enthusiasm. However, I had to replace wheel bearings on two separate occasions by 40,000 miles. I had to replace both oil seals by 75,000 on my Forester (and at the same mileage on my wifes 95 Legacy), which by my research seems to be a common and recurring problem. Finally, Ive been dealing lately with some pulsing and squeaky brakes, and the brake mechanics seem to be at a loss to find the problem. The reliability of my Forester dues not favorably compare to my experience with Toyota trucks, and Ill probably opt for a Toyota or Honda the next time around.