2002 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews

Great all-round vehicle

Written by: wx_geek on 12/08/2007

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

2002 Subaru Forester S A/T We purchased our Forester used from the original owners who needed a mini van. It now has 85k miles. We bought it while living in Wisconsin. It is the perfect all-weather vehicle. I have driven it in the worst of snow storms with several un-plowed inches of snow on the road and it has never once gotten stuck. I will caution that the Geolanders it comes with should be replaced if they have more than 40k miles on them as their snow traction is gone, even though they technically have tread left. We replaced ours after they caused us to lose traction during a storm and spun us around. We replaced them with Continental Conti-Extreme Contacts and they are great.

Favorite Features

AWD capability. I do storm chasing in the spring and summer and the back dirt roads I travel on can get very muddy. Even going uphill in the mud it does well. Car-like ride. 24 MPG on hwy. Space in the back. I am amazed at the stuff we get in this vehicle! Sunroof. Heated wipers/ side mirrors

Suggested Improvements

Brake pedal feel could be better. Steering feedback is not good for those who are looking for a "drivers" car. Cupholders in front of vents block view of controls when cups are there. Turn in is not great and I would prefer the option of beefier front stabilizer bars which are probably on the XT.

9 out 9 people found this review helpful

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Best small SUV out there

Written by: Amandrew in MI on 10/01/2007

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Bought new Nov. 2001, 100K miles as of today. Pros: I'm 6'4" and fit fine, but barely; 25-27 mpg in mixed city/hwy; replaced clutch at 90K miles, which is pretty good; AWD is awesome; have driven in my grandma's sandy-soiled Michigan pasture off-road in all 4 seasons without getting stuck! Cons: auto-dimming mirror failed at 20K miles but was not covered under warranty, not worth $250 to replace; check engine light has come on 4 times between 30K and 100K - vacuum hose, emission control module, air/fuel sensor, and a 4th problem to be found at shop this week. None expensive, but none under warranty.

Favorite Features

Going fast around corners on dirt roads with AWD is a blast! Huge moonroof when open feels like a convertible. Zero major reliability issues; car has always been safely drivable. Manual transmission allows peppy acceleration even for a 4-cylinder. World's most underrated small SUV.

Suggested Improvements

Relocate cupholders so they don't block controls. Reduce wind noise and buffeting when windows open in any configuration. Rain/washer fluid flows off windshield and into driver's window if open. Windshield-mounted mirror is too low and can block vision during right-hand turns/curves.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Perfect Car/SUV

Written by: ahc on 04/23/2007

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought my car brand new. It was absolutely the best car. It went through anything, snow, rain, etc. It was 10 out of 10 reliable. Never gave me any trouble. I would recommend this car to anyone. It is reasonably priced, a super, super deal, and I loved it.

Favorite Features

The fact that I could drive anywhere, anytime, up hills in 8 inches of snow.

Suggested Improvements

Could be a little more comfortable for the long haul.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I'm a walking Subaru advertisement

Written by: Single mom on 04/07/2007

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Purchased new 2002. Not a single day's problem. No recalls, reasonable insurance premium, great gas mileage, normal maintenance. Handles like a car. Quick response, great power when needed. Comfortable, roomy, reliable, lots of standard features. I still own it and feel safe with my teenagers driving it, esp. in winter snow and rain. Excellent safety rating. Far exceeded my expectations for a compact SUV. Cargo room with seats down is a blessing! It's going to take a lot to get me away from purchasing a new model. Over 35 years, this has been the BEST car I have ever owned. Cup holder placement has been improved.

Favorite Features

Seat warmers, AWD, stereo, rear cargo space, back seat leg room, handles like a car, sits high (great for a bad back).

Suggested Improvements

Brakes are a bit low, but not really a problem if you know that to begin with.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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100K meltdown

Written by: Paul on 02/27/2007

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester L AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Our Forester was golden for 100,000 miles, but within 1K of passing into 6 digits we started to have problems. Most were annoying little things like the clock stopped working, the compass became wildly inaccurate and the low fuel light failed to go on. There were major problems with the front wheels. The paint job seems to easily scratch.

Favorite Features

The AWD is a super feature and the main reason we bought the car. The car is easy to load and has a surprisingly large interior.

Suggested Improvements

The little lights and gadgets must be more durable as should the paint job. And, of course, the front cup holder needs to be placed more conveniently.

2 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Love this Car!

Written by: avezan on 04/14/2006

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I love this car. I bought it new in 2002. Traded a micro Toyota for it because I was pregnant with my first child. I didn't want a mommy-mobile, but knew I would need more room. This car exceeded my expectations! Super fun to drive. Amazing handling in snow and rain. I live on a mountain and drive up a steep dirt road to get to my house. If it hadn't been for this car, I would not have made it in the winter. I am sadly selling it now to move to an even bigger car. I have 2 toddler car seats in the back, and the kids' feet are right up against the back of the front seats. Also, what seemed like a lot of cargo space before I had kids has been shrinking with each passing year.

Favorite Features

Fun to drive, snow handling, heated seats.

Suggested Improvements

Make a bigger one! Stupid cupholder placement, but I understand that has been corrected.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Bulletproof

Written by: kaye132 on 11/02/2005

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester L AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

My first Subaru, I am pleased with this little used car used mostly for commuting in the city. The quality and reliability on a car with over 100,000 miles is impressive for what I paid. My wife and kids use this car constantly and although we have 5 vehicles, this is the one constantly in use. It feels safe and solid especially in mean city driving.

Favorite Features

Exceptional stereo system, quick responsive power, nimble feel, very utilitarian.

Suggested Improvements

The cupholders placement is bad. A little more room for the driver's left foot would be nice.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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My favorite car.

Written by: hoofer on 09/29/2005

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

By far the best car I've ever owned. I looked at a new Forester and found this S Premium on the used lot. It was a great deal. It was sporty but not a giant SUV. The ride is exceptional and the leather trim is excellent. I can't wait to try it out this winter in the Chicago snow. When my wife first saw it she called it the Pope-Mobile as it sits high. No problems to speak of so far; must have been owned by a family prior. Premium package comes with leather, heated seats and mirrors, front wiper deicers in the windshield and giant sunroof. The gas mileage is excellent on the highway and good in the city. Previous cars were Honda Civics and CRX. A step up in comfort, that's for sure.

Favorite Features

Heated seats, giant sunroof, excellent visibility. Ride is excellent and the fit and finish are without equal. There is not a squeak in the entire car.

Suggested Improvements

One word: cupholders. Insane placement (new models have newly placed holders). The car does surge from time to time but no problems. The radio was supposed to be Premium but wasn't. Otherwise, an excellent buy!

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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In a heartbeat

Written by: Tebester on 03/16/2005

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester L AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This is my first Subaru. From the beginning there have been no significant problems. The check engine light has come on a few times due to the gas cap not being tight. From time to time the gas gauge reading is off, but it pretty quickly resumes a normal reading. It gets 26 mph on the freeway doing 75. There have been no fit and finish problems. I avoid dealers like the plague. Change oil every 3000 miles myself and have replaced the filters when needed. I just love this car and wouldn't hesitate to buy another after the reliability I've seen so far in almost four years.

Favorite Features

Great sound system.

Suggested Improvements

I'm a big guy. I wouldn't mind about two more inches of seat extension on driver's side. Wouldn't want to be the passenger behind me though!

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Best Vehicle I ever had

Written by: Michael on 02/24/2005

Vehicle

2002 Subaru Forester S AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought it from the dealer in 2002, haven’t been back to that dealership for any work. I just put gas in it, change the oil and air filters. Gets awesome gas mileage, awesome performance, great at towing, does just fine at off-road and I feel safe in it when racing along with traffic. I towed 6,500 lbs of trailer from NH to TN (1300 miles) with no problems getting up hills or accelerating down the Interstate. Vehicle has been the best one I've ever had. Previous vehicles were 2000 Toyota Camry, 1998 Kia Sportage, and 1986 Volkswagen Jetta. None were close as good as this vehicle has been to me.

Favorite Features

Heated mirrors, seats, wipers. Great at towing, lower center of gravity takes the worry out of towing big things behind me. Great stereo, lots of power in that little 4 banger engine, awesome gas mileage.

Suggested Improvements

Missile launcher for traffic, helicopter mode would be nice, no sure what else it needs since it does everything I want it to do. Maybe a built in computer stand or something.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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