IN MALAYSIA, The resale value (used) are as follows:
2000: RM78,000
2001: RM85,000
2002: RM95,000
2003: RM106,000 (Pre-facelift – Early 2003 onwards new Generation launched => RM135,000 for an unregistered car).
Prices sourced from 1) Motortrader (Every issue form Issue 384 to 392), 2) The Star Metro Classifieds.
As usual, all is not lost. I dished out a “14 PAGE” review from John Mellor’s Go Auto Australia. It’s what they called “SUPER TEST”. Originally written by Justin Lacey on 03/05/2001. ENJOY:
"SUPER TEST: Subaru Forester GT (St/b outside Australia & NZ)
Model release dates: 2000 - July 2002
OVERVIEW:
THE Forester GT is the flagship of Subaru's three-model Forester range, offering the performance of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and luxury options like heated seats and suede trim, on top of a full gamut of standard equipment. When it was first released three years ago, the GT introduced a whole new level of performance to the light-duty four-wheel drive segment and it was really the only option for those wanting something more than the standard fare available. Rivals such as Mazda and Hyundai are only just starting to catch up now with the V6-powered Tribute and Santa Fe, although both are more suitably categorised as medium-size offerings.THE CAR:
THE Forester's boxy styling pitches it at the traditional four-wheel drive buyer, as it reflects the utilitarian image of vehicles like the Nissan Patrol and the Toyota LandCruiser. However, the overall design has been taken out of proportion in the search for traditional off-road looks. The roofline has been raised too high for the bonnet and waistline, creating an impression of top-heaviness that doesn't exude the strength and muscular looks often sought by vehicles in the light-duty 4WD segment. The pronounced flaring of the front and rear guards helps to reduce the slab sided nature of the basic design, assisted by the side cladding - although only when it is painted in the contrasting Warm Grey Opal colour. The Forester GT is available in both single (monotone) and two-tone colour combinations, whereas previously the entire colour range comprised only two-tone offerings. The full colour models look quite different to the two-tone jobs, creating perceived styling differences, particularly when viewing the rear profile directly from behind. They also stamp the GT as a road car, whereas the duo-tone finish is more commonly associated with off-roaders.
Did you know?
The Subaru Forester has won 15 major motoring awards in Australia since its debut in 1997
The Car - Seat Plan
THE Forester GT offers the same five-seat accommodation as the rest of the Forester range - bucket front seats and a three-person bench in the rear. However, dual front airbags and seat-mounted side airbags are fitted as standard on the GT model. All four outside seating positions have height adjustable seatbelts, while the centre rear seat position has a lap/sash belt that retracts into the roof over the luggage compartment when not in use. There are four cupholders: one in the dash, one in the centre console storage bin - accessed through a sliding section in the bin lid, with a folding arm to hold the drink - and two in the rear of the centre console. The glovebox and above dash storage bin are both flock lined. Front and rear door armrests contain "secret" storage compartments.
Did you know?
Subaru says the Forester was designed to combine the strong points of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car
THE CAR - SEATS
THE Forester GT, as with all Forester models, has Captain's Chair-style front seats - each with a folding armrest adjacent to the centre console. The driver's seat features manual four-way tilt adjustment for the seat base, but lacks any lumbar adjustment. All seating positions are fitted with height adjustable head restraints. Hip point height at the front seat of 595mm, combined with the high roofline, allows easy entry and egress of the cabin. The Forester GT tested came with the optional Escaine (suede) upholstery on the seats and door trims.THE CAR - DASH
THE Forester shares its dashboard, instrument panel and centre console with the previous generation Impreza. The instrument panel in the Forester GT is clear and easy to read with two large dials - speedometer and tachometer - featuring white-on-black markings and orange indicator needles. Two smaller gauges for fuel and engine temperature are located either side of the main dials. All dials and gauges have metal-finish surrounds. An external temperature indicator is set within the instrument display.THE CAR - CONTROLS:
THE steering wheel adjusts for height (rake) but not reach, although it is still relatively easy for to find a comfortable driving position. Electric window controls are located on the forward section of the door armrest - which is angled towards the driver - just below the electric mirror switches. There is a separate switch to activate the heating function for the mirrors, which also heats the base of the windscreen where the wiper blades rest. A roof console houses map lights, a clock, sunglass holder and the sunroof controls (when fitted). The driver's sunvisor has two cardholders and a pen holder. The internal fuel release is cable operated, but there is no separate release for the rear door as it operates on the central locking.
Did you know?
That Subaru's Impreza WRX, Liberty and Forester models rank fourth, fifth and 10th respectively in a list of Australia's top ten cars according to resale value - as of June 2001
THE CAR - WHEELS AND TYRES
THE Forester GT is fitted with 16-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, mounted on semi off-road Yokohama Geolandar tyres. There is easy access to the plastic valve caps as they protrude well clear of the rim. A full size spare wheel is located under the floor in the luggage compartment. A hook is attached to the cargo floor to enable it to be held up when removing the spare wheel. As is the norm with Subaru's, the spare wheel is steel rather than a fifth alloy rim.
Did you know?
The Forester GT is sold as the S-turbo in Japan and the UK
THE CAR - LUGGAGE
LUGGAGE capacity in the Forester GT, as with all Forester models, is 406 litres with the rear seat up, increasing to 1525 litres with the seat folded down. The rear seat split folds in a 60/40 ratio to give added flexibility to the load space. Three storage compartments are located under lift up panels in the floor of the cargo area, although one houses the toolkit and jack implements. Tie down hooks are provided for securing loose luggage, while additional storage bins can be found on either side of the compartment. There is also a 12-volt outlet to provide power to camping appliances or an air compressor. The cargo area is fitted with a rolling security blind, which can also be removed when carrying large objects. Did you know?
Subaru uses the abbreviation AWD to distinguish its unique driveline from conventional off-road (4WD) systems
THE CAR - WHAT'S CHANGED:
WITH the upgrade to 2001 model year (MY01) specification, the Forester GT picked up standard cruise control and a revised stereo system (now 2 DIN) with a six-disc in-dash CD player - as per the MY01 Impreza WRX. The dash surround for the stereo and HVAC controls is now finished in fake carbon fibre. Engine power has increased by 5kW to 130kW at 5600rpm, while peak torque is up by five Newton-metres to 245Nm at 4400rpm. Did you know?
Subaru's Forester GT is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the car used to set the record for the fastest time driving from the northern most tip of North America to the southern most point of South America. Nearly 24,000kms were covered in 18 days, 1 hour and 11 minutes in May 2001
THE CAR - STANDOUT FEATURES:
THE Forester GT is the only car in its class to be powered by a turbocharged engine -
it uses a detuned version of the 2.0-litre engine from the Impreza WRX. Subaru promoted the GT as the world's first off-road sports car when it was released in 1998 and rightly so, as it produces 20 per cent more power and torque than its nearest four-cylinder competitor - as well as even outdoing some of its larger V6-powered rivals.
Jeff’s observation: Another selling point they forgotten to mention is the Optional EXTRA LARGE Electric Tilt-and-slide MOONROOF.
The Car - Climate control
THE heating and ventilation system is quite basic and, like the audio system, easy to use. Large, rotary dials operate the temperature and direction of air to the outlets, while there are slide controls for the four-speed fan and air recirculation. Air-conditioning is manually operated, as climate control is not available on any of the Forester models. Four dashboard vents direct air onto the face of front seat occupants, while ducts under the front seats direct air to the rear seat passengers. Vents for demisting the front door windows are located on either side of the dashboard.The Car - Sound system
THE six-speaker sound system in the Forester GT comprises an AM/FM radio, auto reverse cassette player and six-disc in-dash CD player. There is a speaker mounted in each door as part of the door pocket trim, while tweeter speakers are located forward of the door handles in both front doors. The large buttons are clearly marked and arranged in a logical manner, making the system one of the easiest to use of any currently on the market.
The Car - Security
THE buttons for the remote central locking facility are now integrated into the key head, after having been updated from the separate fob and key combination used on the previous model. An immobiliser is fitted as standard. A single dome light provides illumination for the main cabin area, along with map lights for the driver and front passenger in the roof console. But there are neither courtesy lights in the doors nor any safety reflectors.+VE: Performance, standard equipment levels, seating position, all-round vision
-VE: Relatively expensive, over-assisted steering, hard interior plastics
Our Opinion
By JUSTIN LACY 03/05/01
EVEN though the Forester GT has been around for a few years now, it remains somewhat elusive when you try to pin a label on it.
Some say it's a true four-wheel drive, others a crossover vehicle, while a few even consider it a sports car, albeit with four doors and a large luggage compartment.
In reality it is a combination of all these, which probably explains why it sells so well in spite of its boxy, uninspired styling. It simply offers a wider range of buyers the package and lifestyle accompaniment they are looking for.
The Forester GT has certainly got some street-cred these days, more than the standard model anyway, with its WRX-style bonnet scoop and broad spoke 16-inch alloy wheels announcing to the world that it is not just another off-roader. And with a detuned WRX engine hiding beneath that scoop, it has the performance to back up the sports car attitude.
It sets the performance benchmark for the light-duty four-wheel drive class, despite lacking the low down torque of a naturally aspirated engine. Once the turbo lag is dispatched it will happily pull all the way to redline, accompanied by the requisite whistle from the turbo.
The GT is one of those cars where an automatic transmission is the preferred choice, like with the Porsche 928 if you can stretch the association that far. Driven back-to-back with a manual version, the automatic GT impressed as a better match to the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
There is nothing particularly wrong with the manual mind you, it's just that the auto does a better job of keeping the turbo on song and overall it comes across as the more complete package.
The auto is not perfect though, as gear changes are quite harsh until everything gets up to operating temperature and it is none to keen to kick down to first gear out of slow speed corners - when you are otherwise left in second, waiting for the turbo to spool up. When full throttle prompts it to drop down, the change is slammed home in a mechanically unsympathetic way.
The steering is another area of contrasts, as it is undoubtedly over-assisted and it takes quite a while before its lightness begins to feel natural. But it doesn't cause any problems with accuracy and placing the car where you want from one corner to the next is simple.
In the car park though, it is all too easy to bang it against its stops and overload the power steering pump, as full lock is wound on with surprising ease. The GT's road holding and handling is certainly as good as you'll find amongst any of its competitors. Bodyroll is pronounced, betraying its off-road focus, but it can still be hustled through corners at a remarkable pace.
The semi off-road Yokohama Geolandar tyres prove to be the limiting factor though, as tyre squeal sets in relatively early and it takes familiarity to push beyond the warning signs and utilise the grip of the four-wheel drive system.
On dirt and gravel roads the GT's tyres and raised suspension endow it with a comfortable ride and help to isolate the body from much of what is going on underneath.
On really loose surfaces, especially road verges and in corners, it doesn't feel totally stable though. The car feels light and disconnected from the road with the tyres moving over the surface rather than cutting through it - a sensation heightened by the overly light steering.The brakes are adequate for everyday use but they do lack initial bite and faded noticeably after repeated use on a winding, downhill run - a result of the extra weight in the car over the Impreza models.
Given the Forester's strong links with the previous generation Impreza, it is interesting to note the better build quality and finish of the interior. The glovebox and centre-dash storage compartment are both flock lined in the Forester, which stops any loose items from moving around, rattling and scratching.
The door trims are also a slightly different design, made up of three or four separate parts rather than the single skin design of the Impreza. While more components, especially when made of hard plastics, usually means more places where flexing and frequency vibrations can occur, the Forester is distinctly more solid and quieter than its stablemate.
The storage compartments within the door armrests are a good idea but are not particularly well executed. The latches are quite flimsy and can cause the entire mechanism to rattle, especially when being used for their intended purpose ... as an armrest.
One of the few ergonomic mistakes in the Forester's interior was the choice of locating the outside temperature indicator in the dash while placing the digital clock in the roof console - as one would imagine needing to check the time more often that the outside temperature. Liberty's and Impreza's both have their clocks in the dash, so it would seem a strange choice to change the situation just for the Forester.Front passenger accommodation is good, with ample headroom and comfortable Captain's-style seats with folding armrests. The only quibble was the seat base lacked support on long stints behind the wheel, which is a common problem in other Subaru models as well.
Rear seat accommodation is adequate but can border on restrictive, especially if there is a tall driver using most of the front seat travel. The rear seat base is also mounted higher than the front seats, which, combined with a vertical backrest, means headroom borders on marginal.Parents with young children will find rear space limited for baby seats, which can easily - and illegally - end up making contact with the front seats.
Head restraints for all seating positions are a good safety feature, but the large centre position item intruded on rear vision. A smaller, adjustable item would help solve the problem.
The option pack available on the Forester GT brings with it one of the biggest sunroofs you're ever likely to see - as it creates a hole nearly half the size of the roof, from the front passengers right back over the rear seat occupants.
Given its size there is naturally no tilt function, but the wind-in-the-hair feeling it provides certainly adds to the Forester's lifestyle appeal.
When compared to the host of models entering the booming "soft-roader" class at present, the Forester is certainly starting to look old fashioned and in need of some major changes to freshen its face.
But having said that, it still offers an excellent combination of packaging, performance and equipment the others are yet to match. As a result it remains one of the top sellers in its class and is not quite ready to be pensioned off just yet.
Mechanical - Plan views
THE Forester's drivetrain, as with all Subarus, is mounted longitudinally - meaning the engine, transmission, propeller shaft and rear differential are all arranged in a straight line. The GT's front-mounted 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine drives all wheels.Mechanical - Engine
THE Impreza WRX's 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve turbocharged engine finds another home under the bonnet of the Forester GT, albeit in a detuned form. It produces 130kW of power at 5600rpm and 245Nm of torque at 3200rpm, down from the Rex's outputs of 160kW and 292Nm. The all-alloy unit naturally conforms to Subaru's familiar horizontally opposed format. Ninety-five RON premium unleaded petrol is recommended, indicating the engine's performance origins. Subaru claims the GT accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds.Mechanical - Suspension
THE Forester GT has independent suspension all around. The front end employs a MacPherson strut system with lower L-arms, coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The rear uses a trailing arm set up with lower transverse links, coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The rear suspension on the GT is also self-levelling, which means it will maintain a constant ride height when loaded to the maximum capacity or when towing. The Forester's 200mm ground clearance means the body sits reasonably high on its suspension, with plenty of space between the top of the wheel arch and the actual wheel. While the clearance is still not high enough for serious off-road adventures, it is high enough to push the car's handling away from being completely car-like on the road.Did you know?
The use of four-wheel drive systems was limited to off-road vehicles until Subaru released the Leone 4WD Station Wagon in 1972 - the first mass-produced 4WD variation in any ordinary passenger vehicle series
Mechanical - Electronic system
IN automatic transmission Subarus - the Forester GT tested was an automatic - the all-wheel drive is a computer-controlled electronic system that regulates drive to all four wheels through a multi-plate transfer clutch. The active torque-split system works in conjunction with the automatic transmission to monitor speed, gear selection, throttle position and wheel rotation information and vary drive to the front and rear wheels accordingly. The manual GT uses a different system with a viscous limited-slip centre differential. In normal conditions this system operates with a 50/50 torque split between the front and rear axles, but the viscous LSD automatically adjusts the torque distribution under unstable driving conditions such as on slippery surfaces or during hard acceleration. The Forester GT also uses a limited slip differential (LSD) on the rear axle to enable the transfer of power between the rear wheels depending on available traction.
Did you know?
All Subaru's have an auto off feature for the headlights to prevent the inconvenience of a flat battery
Mechanical - Transmission
THE Forester GT is available with a choice of transmissions, either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic with three modes - normal, power and winter/hold - and a lock up torque converter. When matched to the auto, the GT's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine pulls 2200rpm at a constant speed of 100km/h. The final drive ratio in the auto is 4.444:1. The manual transmission has the additional feature of Subaru's innovative hill-holder, which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when stopped on an incline, provided the clutch remains fully depressed. The dual range transmission that is available on other manual Forester models is not offered on the GT. Did you know?
Subaru is named for a star cluster in the Taurus constellation, in which six of its stars are visible to the naked eye - hence the six stars in the Subaru corporate logo
Mechanical - Brakes
THE Forester GT has ventilated discs - 277mm in diameter - on the front and solid discs - 266mm - on the rear, as well as an anti-lock braking system (ABS) fitted as standard. The ABS used in the Forester GT, as with all Subaru all-wheel drive ABS systems, is a four-channel, four-sensor, three-phase system. Each wheel has a speed sensor that transmits information to a computer, which then operates the activation of the three-phase cycle used to control braking force.
Mechanical - Steering
ENGINE speed sensitive, power assisted rack and pinion steering is standard on all Forester models. The steering wheel in the GT is a leather-wrapped four-spoke item containing a full-size airbag. The Forester's minimum turning circle - measured at the wheel - is 10.8 metres for all models in the range. The steering wheel in the GT goes from lock to lock in a reasonable 3.0 turns.
Did you know?
Subaru's first all-wheel drive (AWD) car, the Leone 4WD Station Wagon, was at one stage the world's top selling 4WD passenger car
SAFETY:
THE Forester achieved a four-star result (out of a maximum five stars) when it was last crash tested by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) in April 1999. It reported the Forester's passenger compartment held its shape reasonably well in both the full frontal and offset frontal crash tests, offering good protection from serious injury for the driver and front passenger. However, protection from serious lower leg injury was poor for the driver in the offset test. The upper seatbelt anchorages are height adjustable, while the front seatbelt buckles are mounted on the seat, which means they move with the fore/aft travel of the seat. These features are said to improve the fit of the seatbelt. Dual front airbags and front side airbags (seat-mounted) are fitted as standard on the GT."
END OF JOHN MELLOR'S GOAUTO'S REVIEW.
SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE:
Note: The following are NON-JDM Specs (outside Japan). JDM Specs are in bracket.
* Engine code: EJ20
* 1.994-litres front-mounted transverse DOHC 16-valve turbocharged horizontally opposed (BOXER) four-cylinder
* Max Power: 130kW (177hp) at 5600rpm (Max.power: 240 ps (176.52 kw) / 6000 rpm)
* Max Torque: 245Nm at 3200rpm (308.91 Nm at 4000 rpm)
* Compression ratio: 8.5:1 (9:1)
* Bore/stroke: 92.0mm x 75.0mm (same)
*Power to weight: 89kw/tonne
TRANSMISSION:
* Five-speed manual/four-speed automatic
SUSPENSION:
* Front: Independent MacPherson strut system with lower L-arms, coil springs and anti-roll bar
* Rear: Independent trailing arm system with lower transverse links, coil springs and anti-roll bar, plus self-levelling.
BRAKES:
*Ventilated discs - 277mm in diameter - on the front
*Solid discs - 266mm - on the rear
* Anti-lock braking system (ABS).
- The ABS used in the Forester GT, as with all Subaru all-wheel drive ABS systems, is a four-channel, four-sensor, three-phase system. Each wheel has a speed sensor that transmits information to a computer, which then operates the activation of the three-phase cycle used to control braking force.
STEERING:
* Power assisted rack and pinion
* Turning circle: 10.8 metres
* Turns lock to lock: 3.0
DIMENSIONS:
* Length: 4460mm
* Width: 1735mm
* Height: 1580mm
* Wheelbase: 2525mm
* Track front: 1475mm
* Track rear: 1465mm
* Weight: 1457kg
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Fuel tank capacity: 60L
9.2L/100km
22-28mpg
STANDARD EQUIPMENT:
* Dual front airbags
* Front seat-mounted side airbags
* Anti-lock brakes (ABS)
* Air conditioning
* Remote central locking
* Electric windows
* Electric mirrors
* Cruise control
* Six speaker sound system with in-dash six-disc CD player
* Alloy wheels
* Variable intermittent wipers
* Fog lights
* Leather steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake
OPTIONAL:
*Oversized Electric Moonroof
*Leather seats
END OF A L-O-N-G Review. Thanks for reading this.
References:
1) http://www.goauto.com.au – Main Article sourced.
2) http://www.subaru-forester.info/specs/2000.5/ - for some pictures
3) http://specs.amayama.com/specs-subaru-forester-2000-december/28119/
- for some specifications
4) http://www.used-subaru-cars-for-sale.co.uk/index.asp?PageNo=4&makeofcar=Subaru
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