2015 Forester 2.0

[ccc888]

@Bigleap  Vag dsg cui de….me also experienced twice….once bitten not shy lol

Never own a subaru before but Toyota/Nissan/Honda CVT are pretty reliable.

[Stratovarius]

  On 12/25/2023 at 1:04 AM, Bigleap said:

Hello to all Forester owners!

I am looking to purchase a 3 years old used Forester XT with close to 100k mileage. Intended to renew when COE is up. Heard horror stories about cvt transmission nightmare. 
 

Appreciate if there’s advice & tips (any modifications to prolong longevity of the transmission) from fellow owners. Cheers!

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what stories you heard?

think the only mod you can do is the cvt oil cooler. other than that, dont use the paddle shifter too much and carry out maintenance as per schedule.

if want to mod, just make sure you dont exceed 450nm. 

[richard_crl032]

  On 12/25/2023 at 1:04 AM, Bigleap said:

Hello to all Forester owners!

I am looking to purchase a 3 years old used Forester XT with close to 100k mileage. Intended to renew when COE is up. Heard horror stories about cvt transmission nightmare. 
 

Appreciate if there’s advice & tips (any modifications to prolong longevity of the transmission) from fellow owners. Cheers!

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Hi, Only aware those tuned up SJ fxt with cvt issue .. beyond 400bhp.

For normal mortals, just ensure cvt oil change every say 40-50k km vs official 90 to 100k km and you will be gold.

Best wishes with your search and ownership of SJG fxt ! 

[Tohto]

  On 1/1/2024 at 8:57 AM, SiLangKia said:

just buy, confirm love it one, don't think so much

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Mine coming to 8yrs soon. Still enjoy driving it.

If I drive till 10yrs, where to find a $10.5k depreciation per year nowadays  with a 2L turbo with 240hp SUV 

[richard_crl032]

  On 1/2/2024 at 3:37 AM, Stratovarius said:

what stories you heard?

think the only mod you can do is the cvt oil cooler. other than that, dont use the paddle shifter too much and carry out maintenance as per schedule.

if want to mod, just make sure you dont exceed 450nm. 

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Just to add .. facelift sjg xt are with added cvt cooler as are later preface lift ones that I guess Subaru did found needed and probably the source of cvt reliability issue with those without.

Think one with remaining 3 yrs+ one are already with cvt cooler but this can be easily checked by looking for stock ones if already installed or just ensure facelift sjg xt.

Cheers.

[alin555]

Hi all! I’m considering 2018 Forester currently for my next ride. Wanna hear from existing owners what’s the fuel consumption like for XT and non-XT?

My current ride is a 2009 Tiguan with full tank giving me between 400-480km depending on city/highway drive.

[Incom]

  On 1/18/2024 at 12:30 AM, alin555 said:

Hi all! I’m considering 2018 Forester currently for my next ride. Wanna hear from existing owners what’s the fuel consumption like for XT and non-XT?

My current ride is a 2009 Tiguan with full tank giving me between 400-480km depending on city/highway drive.

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Much depending on your driving routes and habits. Some normally around 400+km/tank for FXT.
My current FC for 2016 FXT can hit about ~600km/tank. Normally I will wait until no bar left on the fuel gauge, which I will need to pump about ~55 litres. Full tank is 60 litres.
 

Hope this information helps.

[Ginyu]

  On 1/10/2024 at 8:25 AM, richard_crl032 said:

Just to add .. facelift sjg xt are with added cvt cooler as are later preface lift ones that I guess Subaru did found needed and probably the source of cvt reliability issue with those without.

Think one with remaining 3 yrs+ one are already with cvt cooler but this can be easily checked by looking for stock ones if already installed or just ensure facelift sjg xt.

Cheers.

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Which year are the face-lift? 

[richard_crl032]

  On 1/18/2024 at 4:00 AM, Ginyu said:

Which year are the face-lift? 

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Hey Ginyu .. should be some time in 2015 onwards and my 2017 Oct has it but again, earlier facelift ones also dun have factory fitted cvt cooler but guess Subaru received at least some feedback on gb failure and had to incur this added $ to do so i.e. if dun hv, will be a good idea to retrofit aftermkt or even subaru's in our nice hot little red dot or hv chiong NS hwy often.  Cheers.

 

 

[Ginyu]

  On 1/18/2024 at 4:23 AM, richard_crl032 said:

Hey Ginyu .. should be some time in 2015 onwards and my 2017 Oct has it but again, earlier facelift ones also dun have factory fitted cvt cooler but guess Subaru received at least some feedback on gb failure and had to incur this added $ to do so i.e. if dun hv, will be a good idea to retrofit aftermkt or even subaru's in our nice hot little red dot or hv chiong NS hwy often.  Cheers.

 

 

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Thanks for sharing, if get 2016 registered one, any chance that is factory fitted with cvt cooler? Or must get the 2017 ones. 

[richard_crl032]

  On 1/18/2024 at 5:50 AM, Ginyu said:

Thanks for sharing, if get 2016 registered one, any chance that is factory fitted with cvt cooler? Or must get the 2017 ones. 

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Oops ... dunno ..  just open up engine bay and peep in for obvious cvt cooler/radiator.

Kaisu owners like me removed this factory one and change to aftermkt upsized ones which I do not believe is necessary but those were crazy days.

Cheers.

Edited January 18, 2024 by richard_crl032

[Ghostami]

  On 1/18/2024 at 12:30 AM, alin555 said:

Hi all! I’m considering 2018 Forester currently for my next ride. Wanna hear from existing owners what’s the fuel consumption like for XT and non-XT?

My current ride is a 2009 Tiguan with full tank giving me between 400-480km depending on city/highway drive.

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Mine is a 2016 FXT, having a FC of about 330 - 350km on Ron98, but that is fc till about left 1/4 tank (3bar). So if continue I think will be the same fc of your current ride I suppose, normally pump about 40l like that. hope this helps. If on ron95, it would be worse, I mean the fc, perhaps drop about 10 - 20%.

[Ghostami]

  On 1/18/2024 at 7:45 AM, richard_crl032 said:

Oops ... dunno ..  just open up engine bay and peep in for obvious cvt cooler/radiator.

Kaisu owners like me removed this factory one and change to aftermkt upsized ones which I do not believe is necessary but those were crazy days.

Cheers.

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Yes, same for mine, I also added this. I also have a lufi that can see this. If without this, a normal drive, the temp can go up to 90 or even 100Deg at times, which is quite high for a short drive. However, after adding this, I can drive for an hour the max temperature is only about 80 Deg which the improvement is significant. Like what others say, I suggest to change the CVT oil every 30K km.

[Carnatic]

Like to check with fellow member here on the SJ5 NA suspension.

is there any impact if we convert the rear suspension from the auto leveling one to the XT stock? If there is any impact if we would to do this?

look forward to some good advise.

[alin555]

Want to check, are FNA and FXT owners intending to renew their COE for their ride once expired? My intension is to purchase FNA/FXT and renew the COE for another 10 years to drive 🙂

[Incom]

  On 5/19/2024 at 9:43 AM, alin555 said:

Want to check, are FNA and FXT owners intending to renew their COE for their ride once expired? My intension is to purchase FNA/FXT and renew the COE for another 10 years to drive 🙂

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I have the intention of renewing the COE but have dependency on how high the COE is.
Just be prepared to change out a lot of wear and tear parts.

Get FXT if possible, if you do enjoy sprint driving.

[Incom]

  On 3/1/2024 at 6:16 AM, Carnatic said:

Like to check with fellow member here on the SJ5 NA suspension.

is there any impact if we convert the rear suspension from the auto leveling one to the XT stock? If there is any impact if we would to do this?

look forward to some good advise.

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No impact if the butt is not sensitive. The auto leveling suppose to be more comfortable, but more expensive to replace.

Why not wait for MI sales, their stock stocks replacement package sales is quite reasonable.

[richard_crl032]

  On 5/19/2024 at 9:43 AM, alin555 said:

Want to check, are FNA and FXT owners intending to renew their COE for their ride once expired? My intension is to purchase FNA/FXT and renew the COE for another 10 years to drive 🙂

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I agree with Incom to get fxt if you have such intention .. fna takes off well but runs of steam while fc is not low or even typical if on city driving.

I have spent quite a bit on my fxt and I agree again with Incom that whether to extend really depends 10 yrs COE by then even if scrap value is low at maybe 7k due to lowish 17k for my 2017 fxt. 

Do also consider mileage of your ride for another 7k+ for a new lower block and top overhaul and perhaps another 5k for new aircon compressor, radiator, starter, water pump, alternator and complete set of rubber hoses since any such failures can be castrophic or big turnoff that required towed due to breakdowns. 

And yes, the usual suspension, endlinks, bearings etc. may be another 3k i.e. 7k+7k+5k+3k plus 10 yrs COE with also needed 10% yrly increase of roadtax as well ad perhaps 2-3k for a new paint job to refresh yr forester to 80% new while noting this estimated 25k excluding 10 yrs COE are cash payable unlike loan of new car. 

Then pray expensive cvt transmission, steering column, catalytic converter last hopefully 5 yrs more or another 10k for all new ?

Dunno but brand new cars especially EV going at 5 seconds 0-100kmhr certainly dampen my idea of extending 10 yrs COE not only fxt but even most conti sport cars.

Cheers.

PS: still find shortcoming on ride comfort of forester a big red flag

Edited May 20, 2024 by richard_crl032