December 1998                         

Forester GT - Warner falls in love (almost) and has his photo taken…

For a number of reasons, although it was released in Australia more than a year ago, I had never driven any model of Subaru's Forester.

Which made a roadtest of the more recently added Forester GT all the more interesting, especially when comparing the engines.

All Foresters are powered by the same basic 2.0 litre horizontally opposed `boxer' design, but the GT version sports an intercooled  turbocharger that boosts power output from 90kW to 125, and torque from 184Nm to 240.

A respectable improvement, certainly, but initial thoughts were still running along the lines of `a wagon with GT badges? Be serious, Subaru'.

But Subaru is serious, and the idea does make sense when you think about it.

GT, or Gran Turismo, means touring at speed in a car that handles, with enough room to carry a reasonable amount of luggage. Okay, the luggage part is easy since it's a wagon, and you could even take a couple of extra friends along for the ride with their luggage.

There's a fairly generous cargo space for the suitcases, accessible at bumper level, with a pull-out cargo cover to keep the cases safe from prying eyes. And the rear occupants are comfortably accommodated - though basketball players might not think so.

Slipping behind the wheel, we observe that in keeping with the GT badges, we get a grippable steering wheel wrapped in leather, to match the shift and handbrake levers. No complaints about the control layout, which has everything in easy reach, and the standard power windows have their master controls on the driver's door.

Something that seems more freeway cruiser than GT is the provision of swivelling armrests on each front seat, but at least they offer just two positions - up or down. Although it's comfortable enough, it could still do with more legroom in the front for beanpoles like me, which is the same in any variant of Forester anyway.

The neatly laid-out dashboard is easy on the eyes on longer journeys, and if you get thirsty there are drink-holders that show a bit of novelty; one is cleverly built into the console lid and another swings out in the centre of the dash - placing the drink in front of the airconditioning outlets to keep it cooler.

Subaru seats generally are good, but the seats in Forester GT really impress - firm support without being too hard, with nicely shaped bolsters for lateral support in corners (not that you're ever going to corner quickly, of course). The only failing noted was the lack of under-thigh support, due to my knees being forced up a bit further than normal by the lack of legroom.

Okay, we're comfortable enough and the cases are packed, now what about those other components of a GT - speed and handling?

First thought on that score brings us back to that turbocharged `boxer' hiding beneath the airscoop in the hood. (It's no dummy, it feeds air to the intercooler).

As the only Japanese manufacturer to wholeheartedly adopt the design, Subaru has done to the boxer what other Japanese carmakers have done to every engine they have ever copied - made them smoother, more reliable - you know, all the things that don't really count…

I must admit to a serious weakness for boxers - at times almost incredibly smooth, yet with a distinctive thrumming beat from their exhaust which can be almost intoxicating.

At this point we have to realise one thing - it may be the same 2.0 litre capacity as the boxer used in Subaru's ferocious `rally-replica' Impreza WRX, but with 125kW on hand Forester GT packs nowhere near the 160kW punch of its sibling. Enough to get into trouble, though.

A very short time after first meeting it, I was completely seduced by the GT's willing and compliant nature, readily appreciating just how easily it cruised the highway…

Flash! A roadside candid camera - the State Government thanks you for your contribution to consolidated revenue, and generously insists on giving you these demerit points.

I was much more cautious from that point on, but still able to appreciate the Forester GT for its undoubted ability as a Grand Tourer. Because yes, it fulfills the job description rather well.

Subaru's commitment to All Wheel Drive (4WD by another name) has seen it develop an unrivalled range of cars that all exploit the handling capabilities of AWD to its full advantage.

Driven briskly (which is not to be confused with `fast') along a road that unwinds before it, the Forester GT reveals itself as a car that is to be enjoyed for its tactile relationship with the road.

And that relationship remains just as sweet if the road turns to gravel or dirt, the AWD ensuring that the power is laid down with authority and the GT retains its controllability.

Responding promptly to steering input, turning into tighter bends with a willingness that seems almost at odds with a wagon, and with that ever-present `thrumming' exhaust, it really does make driving a pleasurable exercise.

There was one sour point though, and that was the lack of legroom for taller drivers like myself, as I never really managed to get comfortable.

A pity, as I always feel right at home in the slightly longer Subaru Liberty. But the Liberty does not offer a turbo option, and even with its larger 2.5 litre engine can't quite match the performance of Forester GT. (If I had drilled extra holes in the floor and remounted the seat, I wonder if Subaru would have noticed …)