Forester

arjab · 15th March 2005, 11:51

India's car buyer's are nitwits...hordes of people are willing to fork out 10-12 lakhs to buy a Toyota Corolla while nobody bothers to even CONSIDER the FORESTER ! OK, the Corolla is a good car...it does everything you want it to do....goes from A to B...day in and day out...without a hitch, looks decent....but does it have character? Its as bland and as effective as a toaster...and that's what it is...an appliance....and it is named after a vegetable...:"ka-re-la" for dinner anyone??

cut back to the forester....that bark from the flat four is enough to raise goose pimples and the way she handles - as all you guys have driven it know - can only come from a rally tuned chassis ! And the brakes....time and again....brake from 130-140 kph...and Subaru (sorry Chevy !! :-) ] pulls up with a force that makes your eyes pop...with not a hint of fade.....

this car is amongst the greatest....the problem is its ahead of its time for our Corolla consuming masses !

GM...buck up do something ...dont let a great car die like this !

normally_crazy · 15th March 2005, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjab

India's car buyer's are nitwits...hordes of people are willing to fork out 10-12 lakhs to buy a Toyota Corolla while nobody bothers to even CONSIDER the FORESTER ! OK, the Corolla is a good car...it does everything you want it to do....goes from A to B...day in and day out...without a hitch, looks decent....

Arjab,

you have listed the very points that make the corrolla the best seller here ! what else do the car buying people here want ? going from A-B without problems day in day out and decent looking - add to that decent FE and good space and to top it off its JAPANESE ! and u know this strange fetish of the indian car buyer who takes to japnese machines like a fish to water

- all for a reason though !

and what u have ?? A BEST SELLER !

who the hell is bothered about handling , the buzz from the engine and no brake fade ??

cheers

Rudra Sen · 15th March 2005, 12:02

FORESTER is more expensive than Corolla and what have you. This is not also a (regular) car according to people by and large.

As you rightly said that this car is amongst the greatest...The problem starts here. The word 'greatest' as you know is very subjective.

GTO · 15th March 2005, 12:24

The only thing good about our Forester is the handling...but what else? Its terribly cramped at the rear, the engine has no bottom end (too many gear shifts) and IMHO it looks pathetic (looks are subjective though but Indians dont take too easily to estate like styles). Its more expensive to buy, is a depreciation disaster and maintenance is high with pricey spare parts. Its not really fuel efficient (the be all for most Indian buyers) and is not that fast either.

Yes, I have driven the Forester over longer distances.

GTO

Shan2nu · 15th March 2005, 12:37

Quote:

the engine has no bottom end (too many gear shifts)

Well, actually, the Forester might get an engine upgrade in the next few months. They're planning to use a 2.5 ltr petrol engine, producing around 150-160 bhp. Direct competition for the 2.4 CR-V.

Dunno about the interiors as i haven't seen it from the inside.

Shan2nu

normally_crazy · 15th March 2005, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Well, actually, the Forester might get an engine upgrade in the next few months. They're planning to use a 2.5 ltr petrol engine, producing around 150-160 bhp. Direct competition for the 2.4 CR-V.

Dunno about the interiors as i haven't seen it from the inside.

Shan2nu

that would be a intersting battle - but still the Forestter has no hope ! it loses out on the space front and above that battling a japanese on indian grounds is suicide !

cheers

GTO · 15th March 2005, 12:49

Quote:

that would be a intersting battle - but still the Forestter has no hope ! it loses out on the space front and above that battling a japanese on indian grounds is suicide !

The Forester is Japanese too. Shame that Chevy badging conceals it to some.

GTO

normally_crazy · 15th March 2005, 12:54

Exactly what i was saying - GTO ! not many will know that the chevy badge hides a jap !

people see what they are shown - not what is actually to be seen !

thats why !

GTO · 15th March 2005, 13:01

Actually works better for GMs better selling product - The Optra. A majority of its buyers arent aware of the korean roots.

Rebadging rocks!

GTO

Rtech · 15th March 2005, 13:05

The CRV is not made by just another Japanese company. Its made by Honda. And we all know the following Honda has in India.

Even if the Forester came branded as a Subaru, it would still not be a success. Not in India. Not with those looks.

normally_crazy · 15th March 2005, 13:16

GTO - agree abt the optra to an extent . IMO quite a few people i have met have surprisingly told me that the optra was a daewoo earlier . i guess this may be due to the auto mags - they have a good penetration in the market now !

puthari · 15th March 2005, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by arjab

OK, the Corolla is a good car...it does everything you want it to do....goes from A to B...day in and day out...without a hitch, looks decent....but does it have character? Its as bland and as effective as a toaster...and that's what it is...an appliance....and it is named after a vegetable...:"ka-re-la" for dinner anyone??

!

I agree - Toyota - . I bet it would have suited my grand father. I will buy , only when Comfort is the only factor for a Car.

johnjacob · 15th March 2005, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Arjab,

you have listed the very points that make the corrolla the best seller here ! what else do the car buying people here want ? going from A-B without problems day in day out and decent looking - add to that decent FE and good space and to top it off its JAPANESE ! and u know this strange fetish of the indian car buyer who takes to japnese machines like a fish to water

- all for a reason though !

and what u have ?? A BEST SELLER !

who the hell is bothered about handling , the buzz from the engine and no brake fade ??

cheers

Hey NC,

The Forester will do all that the Corolla does... and it's Japanese too!

johnjacob · 15th March 2005, 16:14

And what's with everyone dissing the Forester's interiors and looks? I find the Forester one of the best looking cars in the country. And the interiors are great too. (Dunno about the rear seat space, but hey, who would buy a Forester for the rear seat space?

)

If I had the money, I would buy a Forester stat. No questions asked.

merve_extreme · 15th March 2005, 16:44

Forester is a Japanese car.Because Sabaru is a Japanese company.

15th March 2005, 11:51	#1
arjab Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MAA/CCU Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 5,463 Times View My Garage	Forester India's car buyer's are nitwits...hordes of people are willing to fork out 10-12 lakhs to buy a Toyota Corolla while nobody bothers to even CONSIDER the FORESTER ! OK, the Corolla is a good car...it does everything you want it to do....goes from A to B...day in and day out...without a hitch, looks decent....but does it have character? Its as bland and as effective as a toaster...and that's what it is...an appliance....and it is named after a vegetable...:"ka-re-la" for dinner anyone?? cut back to the forester....that bark from the flat four is enough to raise goose pimples and the way she handles - as all you guys have driven it know - can only come from a rally tuned chassis ! And the brakes....time and again....brake from 130-140 kph...and Subaru (sorry Chevy !! :-) ] pulls up with a force that makes your eyes pop...with not a hint of fade..... this car is amongst the greatest....the problem is its ahead of its time for our Corolla consuming masses ! GM...buck up do something ...dont let a great car die like this !
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 12:02	#3
Rudra Sen Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11,590 Thanked: 6,532 Times View My Garage	FORESTER is more expensive than Corolla and what have you. This is not also a (regular) car according to people by and large. As you rightly said that this car is amongst the greatest...The problem starts here. The word 'greatest' as you know is very subjective.
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 12:24	#4
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,697 Times View My Garage	The only thing good about our Forester is the handling...but what else? Its terribly cramped at the rear, the engine has no bottom end (too many gear shifts) and IMHO it looks pathetic (looks are subjective though but Indians dont take too easily to estate like styles). Its more expensive to buy, is a depreciation disaster and maintenance is high with pricey spare parts. Its not really fuel efficient (the be all for most Indian buyers) and is not that fast either. Yes, I have driven the Forester over longer distances. GTO
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 12:54	#8
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	Exactly what i was saying - GTO ! not many will know that the chevy badge hides a jap ! people see what they are shown - not what is actually to be seen ! thats why !
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 13:01	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,697 Times View My Garage	Actually works better for GMs better selling product - The Optra. A majority of its buyers arent aware of the korean roots. Rebadging rocks! GTO
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 13:05	#10
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	The CRV is not made by just another Japanese company. Its made by Honda. And we all know the following Honda has in India. Even if the Forester came branded as a Subaru, it would still not be a success. Not in India. Not with those looks.
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 13:16	#11
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,369 Thanked: 528 Times View My Garage	GTO - agree abt the optra to an extent . IMO quite a few people i have met have surprisingly told me that the optra was a daewoo earlier . i guess this may be due to the auto mags - they have a good penetration in the market now !
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 16:14	#14
johnjacob BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore, INDIA Posts: 344 Thanked: 25 Times	And what's with everyone dissing the Forester's interiors and looks? I find the Forester one of the best looking cars in the country. And the interiors are great too. (Dunno about the rear seat space, but hey, who would buy a Forester for the rear seat space? ) If I had the money, I would buy a Forester stat. No questions asked.
	() Thanks

15th March 2005, 16:44	#15
merve_extreme Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Forester is a Japanese car.Because Sabaru is a Japanese company.
	() Thanks