Not so much communists and homosexuals. More like potheads and hippies.

I'm moving to Vermont!

So...Vermont isn't full of communists and homosexuals?

@workingonyourinvoice:
A communist, a homosexual, a pothead and a hippy walk into a bar...

Funny, based on your evaluation of the Forester, it sounds like something I'd be interested in looking at for a vehicle purchase, and yet, I don't fit any of your "Who should buy this car" criteria. Well, I am annoyed at the sight of a Suburban (cause I can't see around it, not because of its fuel consumption), not sickened.

Do you really think a Vermont commie homo pothead hippie is going to pick this over a VW Jetta diesel wagon that's bio-Willie capable?

@DoctorNine:

So that means your in . . . Vermont? I get it. I have been to 49 states guess which one I missed. I tried to get my wife to go out of the way last summer when we were at Niagara Falls, way out of the way :-)

I'm a red-state libertarian with so-called "conservative" (personal) social values. I think it's a great car. But I ignore advertising and brand image a lot.

The only brands I associate with any political views are SAAB (all caps) and Volvo, which have a 75% chance of having either a "blue dot in a red state" sticker or the old standby "John Kerry 04". The rest of the brands run the gamut around here, even the big trucks and SUVs.

I like Vermont.

@ash78: I'm one also!
One family in my neighborhood has 2 Volvos with Confederate flag stickers on the back. It's disorienting, to say the least.

BTW... Did anyone notice the weight of this car compared to the torque. I bet this car really hauls ass when push comes to shove. I wonder what all those pot smoking, hippie communist homosexuals in VT would think with me hooning around in one of these.

Based on the review, I should be looking at this car for the GranMa replacement, but I definitely fit more into the category of those who be a purchaser except for the fact that my first ride was a Subie. And I would have been the poster boy for Subaru abuse had YouTube been around in 1992.

@PhoneticLorin:

I'd like to see a picture of that.

@cgarison:

It's definitely hoonable--not that I'm recommended such behavior. I think it also has a great driver control-to-overall value ratio.

@PhoneticLorin: Swedish EU secessionist movement? :D

@prndl: You and George W. I hear they've got a warrant to arrest him should he ever set foot there.

Definitely go there during the summertime. It's insanely great. And the roads are usually repaved like every two years because of the winters, so lots of great drives are possible.

we need the forester sti.

I absolutely disagree with your who should and shouldn't buy this car.

This thing is a little cargo-hauling torque monster at a great price and great build with possibly the best AWD system in the world...

The only people who SHOULDN'T buy it are complete status snobs who deserve spending 2X as much for the same specs (or less) and whos decision-making skills I wouldn't trust with the most basic of life choices.

@flightofthesuperbees: You could probably make one yourself pretty easily with WRX aftermarket goodies. Probably be a lot cheaper than the "STi premium," too.

Didn't Subie recently sell a version of this with hp in the high 200s? A 0-60 in 5.4s version called the GT?

Why you shouldn't: You would sooner saw your right arm off with a rusty tree saw than vote Republican.

that is seriously ridiculous.

Vermont's also full of car guys, and of course the best Subaru tuners in the world. And VWs break down at the drop of a hat, whereas Subies don't need an oil change until the 250,000 mile mark.

Ever try to start a diesel at 30 below? Yeah...no.

You did nail the demographics pretty well. The vast majority of vehicles I see parked at trailheads are of course Subarus.

Honda CR-V:
Top of the line 4WD EX-L STARTS at $26,700: 166-hp, 2.4-Liter, 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC® 4-Cylinder Engine...
so for 90 less horsepower you get a jellybean with ambiant lighting at the same price.

Toyota Rav4: again, a 166hp 4-cyl engine STARTS at $26,500...
OR you can get this very nice top-end engine: 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve SFI Dual VVT-i V6; 269 hp @ 6200 rpm/246 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm....
which starts at $28,605. and then you add 6-cd changer, heated leather seats, and a moonroof (all on the Forester) and you get $30,750. and it looks like a Toyota.

and the X3 - 3.0L I6 260HP - starts at $38K.

@Unregular: You misquoted.. It was why you should... and here you're "preaching to the choir" so to speak. They said they liked the car. Relax.. it'll be okay.

@ash78:

I've owned both and I throughly enjoyed cruisin' around the universities with right wing bumper stickers and a "Eat More Possum'" front license plate!

@petersterncan:
Same here. I am from Vermont originally. I kind of find some of the posts a bit offensive actually. Can we stick to talking about cars please?

I have a 2001 Forester and I think it is a great car. Good performance. Good space. The thing is awesome on the highway.

@dculberson: please don't tell me to relax. it makes me SO ANGRY!!!

yes, that should have been why you SHOULD buy it. and it's still wrong, in my opinion.

instead of the CRV, Rav4, and X3 - what you need to compare the Forester XT to is all of the OTHER 220hp/220ft.lb., AWD, 8.7" ground clearance, 5 Star front/side crash results, ~60cf cargo volume, moonroof, 6-cd, leather, etc., etc., blah, blah blah, cars out there that go for $26K.

So I'm not buying this. Thanks! Makes my life a whole lot easier.

Thanks, Proscriptus, for inserting a bit of reality to the discussion. Vermont is a rugged place, so most hippies moved to the sunny warm south decades ago.

Everyone i know who drives a Forester does so because it's a highly capable AWD car, a discount version of the A4 Avant. Political and lifestyle have absolutely nothing to do with it.

Why has the internet become a pathetic bog pit of stereotypes, half-truths, and blatant smear campaigns proliferated by ignorant but loud plebians?

@my favorite car is a motorcycle:
[www.penny-arcade.com]

@Unregular: Breathe in slowly... it'll be okay, I swear. Just think of the conversation between Lisa and Marge in The Simpsons Movie and paraphrase it to include Subies:

Lisa: But they won't see my point! I'm so angry!
Marge: You're a Subaru owner. You can keep it inside forever.

@TexansAreHot: phew thanks. i'm not really angry. just trying to keep my resale value up!

@my favorite car is a motorcycle: The hippies didn't move to the sunny warm south. That's crazy talk. They love the rugged. I don't know what part you live in, but where I've lived, the more hardships in your life - whether it be dirt roads becoming impassable in the winter, no tv, 30 year old saab/volvo/subaru, or number of wild animals spotted within 30 ft of living room window - the higher your social status.

I'd have to disagree with the "Tuner Crowd: No" rating.

Lots of Forester XT's getting modded up out there in the world. FXT's with STi 6-speeds, or boosted turbos, etc. are getting pretty common.

The lego-like platform sharing nature of Subarus makes them pretty tuner-friendly, so there are lots of Forester guys fitting Impreza bits, etc.

Having been born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, I'd have to say that these and the Subaru Legacy/Outback wagon are standout favorites, due to their ability to go anywhere their ground clearance will let them, in any weather.

Perhaps a Subaru Forester vs. KILLDOZER shootout is in order...

@farcedude: but farcedude:

"Alaska is often characterized as a Republican-leaning state with strong Libertarian tendencies."

soooo... how can that be?

@Matthew DeBord: Can do. What's the email?

Matt wrote this?
Politics + Cars = Consumer Reports. Aim higher.

Vermont gave us the Great John Buffum
[www.libraracing.com]

I would be all over a Forester STI replica. STI motor, 6 speed manual, and some aftermarket ride height adjustable coilovers, so you can lower it down in the summer when you don't need the clearance under your summer tires, and raise it up in the winter to fit the snow tires. There's nothing wrong with a practical, fast, and good handling car, no matter your political orientation.

omfg guys, it was a joke. Even fat, rich republicans, who can take enough time away from stealing oil money from Iraqis, would like this car if they gave it a chance.

@elwood: I was also thinking that air suspension would be the awesomest $2k-$3k option on this car. Imagine 3" of adjustable ride height, on the go.

Hate to say it but I live in Vermont and even out in the rural areas, liberal politics dominate.

And so do WRX's!

Oh and I forgot, Island Performance made this "STI Forrester" you speak about. I raced him the other day. and lost.

I think Subaru should offer a more "butch" offering, for just the reasons the author of the article makes painfully clear. Even though this car is a great buy, everyone assumes there is a rainbow flag or pink triangle sticker on the back of it. Jack it up, give it bigger meats, a wider stance... call it the Craig edition.. oh wait..

@skaspy:
So why do they have a somewhat conservative Republican Gov.?

Thanks for finally answering my question about the interior, even if it was in a throwaway one-liner. Make mine a Tiguan.

@ash78: Yeah, that would be very convenient. Ride height rocks when you need it, not so much when you don't.

@Matthew DeBord: Sorry, I just had another look at the comments on Part Two and see that you did answer the question in more detail. Going by what you said, I'm not totally put off. I'll check one out when they hit the showrooms.

@PhoneticLorin:

debord@jalopnik.com

We just purchased an '09 in the basic package. We did not opt for the complete upgrades necessary to get the cold weather package but are going to install aftermarket seat warmers (had them on our '99).

Question: Is there an aftermarket cargo bay cover? We liked having a place to put stuff out of sight with our '99 when we were parked. Don't slam me if Subaru dealers sell them. I saw this site before I had a chance to ask them.

Oh, yes. Here in Oregon we had one of the biggest hippie towns (population 7000 in 1984 or 1985, it was actually incorporated)-- The City of Rajneeshpuram. The younger folks will probably have to look that up on Wikipedia. By the way, the Bhagwan was a Rolls Royce man.