I can get a great deal on either. I’ve read all the other threads about tri-friendly cars, but was wondering if there are any forester owners who can give me feedback on how many bikes you can fit inside the back with the seats down… and do you have to take the front wheel off. I have test driven and test “fit” the pilot and I can put a bikeshop in the back with the seats down and with the wheels on, but the gas economy isn’t that of the forester and the forester has more options (heated seats, moonroof, turbo, leather). Input? Thanks.
Not the answer you were looking for, but I just bought a FIT last week (cash for clunker). I got a genuine 35 mpg on my first tank of gas … and I fly low! My bike fits in it upright in a little fork mount I rigged up. It drives much larger than it looks from the outside. I was driving a huge Ford F150 4x4 with a bed cover, so I was used to a lot of room. I’m doing just fine in the FIT.
Thanks. I’m trading-in a mini cooper, so I can appreciate the MPG, but the small size takes it toll, at least it did on me. We just moved too, so having the larger vehicle makes it easier to move larger non-tri stuff (yes it does exist) around.
If your concern is bikes, then the Pilot is your answer. If MPG is your call, then the Forester wins by a long shot. You can mount your bikes on the hitch of the Forester and be fine on MPG.
When confronted with these decisions, I got a Ridgeline.
Traitor! As a Mini owner myself, I frown upon this betrayal!
On topic: I believe the Pilot will give you the most space. The new forester is pretty sweet and personally would be my choice. However, that’s based more upon past Subaru experience than anything else. Why not just wait for the new Crossman to arrive and you’d have no problem fitting a bike in a Mini. I’m driving a Clubman and have fitted two bikes with seats folded down with only front wheel taken off. More impressively, I carried a road bike on a roof rack, a mountain bike in the back seats(both wheels off) with luggage for two, a dog in the rear cargo area and a passenger with seats pushed all the way back. Taking off the front wheel isn’t too difficult, not sure why many people make this “feature” out to be a big deal(I’ve had vehicles that allowed this so I’ve experienced both sides)
Oh and I still managed above 40 mpg with the Clubman with the load mentioned above(across 300 miles of freeway)
I was deciding between the Element and the Forrester.
Forrester handles really nicely (AWD). I tried to fit my bike in the back – seats folded down, was able to lay the bike across the trunk/back seats without popping off the front tire.
Ended up going with the Element. Best. Choice. Ever. Bike fits in the back, I can change in the back, even camped out in the back of the Element with my bike in it this past weekend.
I actually own both.
We have a 2009 Pilot that my wife drives. It’s big, and can fit a bike w/out the wheels off. The rear cargo area slopes up towards the front, since the 3rd row seats are (usually) folded down- kinda weird, it may affect a bike fitting in w/ bith wheels on if you ride something tall (mine are 52, so never an issue). With both rear rows down, it’s cavernous. Very smooth highway drive, and can be equipped well- leather, DVD, sunroof, etc.
The Forester is a 2008, so last model year of the “old” body style. The 2009 is a bit bigger inside, but does not handle as nimbly; the rear seats have more room (the 2008 has dinky back seats), but the cargo area is shorter.
A turbo Forester driven hard/aggressively and a Pilot driven conservatively/gently are going to be really close on mileage. I put a roof rack on the Forester and am really happy w/ it. I use it 95% of the time. My wife drives the Pilot- it is the kidmobile and travel sled. If you don’t need the capacity and drive in the city, get the Forester- they’re very nimble (even the 2009, but a 2003-2008 handles better IMO). If you do long highway trips and have a couple of kids, get the Pilot- we travel a good amount and have really enjoyed it so far.
lavender room
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