Yeah, if it's snow, mud or soft sand they are equals. Once you throw hills, gullies and obstacles into it, the forester has a slight edge.
Another consideration: the outback has more space, which gives you the opportunity to overload it with more crap if you choose to. Once it's weighted down, the outback will seem even worse.
I've had great fun doing exactly as you mention in my OB with no problems. If you go long distances to get to said off roading, then you may want the OB for the additional space to haul stuff, and if you're looking between the newer OB and the older design Forester, well I like the OB looks more, but the new Forester may have the edge in some looks and offroad capability, but I can't advise on those (haven't studied much about the new Forester yet.)
Good luck, you better let us know what you end up with and show some pics of your adventures!
I should also throw in that I'm looking at getting between a 2000-2004 year model... that might change a few things?
I'm still about a month and a half from being able to afford one but once I get whatever I end up with I'll be sure to post some pictures of it and my adventures! I already got a trip planned in late may to go off into the interior of B.C... well as long as I have a car! And also a road trip planned to go down to the Gorge Amphitheater in Washington in late June.
the overhangs of the outback suck. the forester is better. but the forester's interior is **** compared to the outback. outback is roomier, but the 2014 forester will be nice. for what you call light to medium offroading you should be fine with the outback, even an older one with less ground clearance would be fine.
I drove a Forester (2006) for the first time the other day. I actually liked. It's ugly, but it's more nimble than the Outback and, more importantly, the front seat/position is way more comfortable.
Is there an advantage for one versus the other for taller drivers? I haven't been in a Forrester yet, but, my brothers '07 Outback has my knees jammed up at 6'5"
I'm 6' 1", for me, when shopping for my 2017, I found the OB more comfortable than the Forrester. On the Forrester, I felt like the seat "ended" to far up my legs. OTOH, the Forrester, especially without the moon roof, has a good 2, more inches of headroom.
I went for leg comfort and leaned the OB seat back a little bit to get the headroom I wanted.
I was choosing too between fory and ob and chose ob for better comfort , more extras inside , more luxury interior , diff seats more comfy. Well and for older models you wont get VDC on fory like until 2009 or smt. More space in back if you would like to sleep in car. Thats for older ones at least. As for now i would like to try fory as well turbo model mostly . You can make them rly cool looking small offroaders with lift and bigger tires. So depends what year and what you want from it. Older ob is more like car driving more like legacy . And fory its hmm more higher sitting place as SUV kinda.
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