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Holy piss! Chevrolet Forester?!?

13K views 31 replies 17 participants last post by  superu 
#1 ·
I just saw this over at NASIOC and just had to post it in here:

The Chevrolet Forester
H. Kishie Singh

THE auto aficionado in India has his cup overflowing. At last count, there were 44 cars available in the country. If we take all the variants into consideration, we have a choice of over 160 options.

At Rs 15.59 lakh, Chevrolet Forester is a great buy

The latest offering is a delightful cocktail from General Motors India (GMI). It’s Chevrolet Forester. Actually it’s a Subaru. General Motors, the world’s largest auto manufacturer and the world’s largest corporation, has its fingers in many pies. It is an alliance partner with Subaru, Suzuki and Isuzu, all specialists in four wheel drive. GM’s umbrella is massive. So it can resort to ‘badging’. Which simply means that though the car is made in Japan by Subaru, it will sell in India as Chevrolet. The badges have been changed. Instead of reading Subaru, it will read Chevrolet. Which is why Forester has to say "I am Chevrolet!".

The vehicle is not really a sedan because it’s a four wheel drive SUV, and it’s not really a four wheel drive SUV because it’s a sedan! Beautiful! It combines the best of both!

The all-wheel drive, AWD as it is called, is a unique feature. It makes the four wheel drive vehicle obsolete, says the manufacturer. "The Foresters unique symmetrical all-wheel drive goes far beyond (the four wheel drive). It not only directs power to all four wheels at all times but also automatically matches the torque to the grip of every individual wheel, maintaining an amazing traction and road grip. This results in outstanding balance. This gives you perfect vehicle control under any driving condition".

For me, the greatest advantage was getting in and out of the car. It’s a SUV-sedan as far as height is concerned, with 190 mm ground clearance. Once inside, it’s a sedan with a high stance. This gives you good visibility and instils a sense of confidence in the driver. However, the high stance in no way affects the road grip and cornering, which is cat-like. This is due to the AWD and the engine.

The engine? It’s nothing like an engine in any other car. Most engines, if not all, stand upright. Some are inclined, but basically upright. The Subaru engine is flat, horizontal. The cylinders, instead of being placed in a vertical direction, are horizontally positioned and are, consequently, flat. Thus the heaviest single component of the vehicle is placed lower than in other cars. The first effect it has is that it lowers the centre of gravity of the Forester. This makes for better road holding.

With the cylinders opposed to each other the crankshaft is in the centre. The pistons move horizontally like the punch of a boxer. It is for this reason that the horizontally opposed engine is referred to as a "boxer engine". This was originally a German invention, but Subaru has perfected it. The BMW motorcycle and the Porche sports cars use this engine layout.

The 2-litre engine puts out 120 h.p. at 5,600 r.p.m. Even though it’s a 16-valve engine, it employs only a single cam. Of course, it is an MPFI engine. This helps the 1,375-kg car zoom from 0 to 100 km/ph in 10 seconds. On a twisting single lane country road, the Forester shows remarkable adhesion to the road, like a sedan. To engage a "low" gear, all you have to do is press the clutch and pull up the little lever on the centre console below the hand brake. It’s an off-roader. In addition to the AWD and hi-low gear ratio, the Forester has a viscous type limited slip rear wheel differential. This all helps in the overall road-holding performance. It is also equipped with a ‘hill holder’ function. This means that the vehicle won’t roll back when you are crawling uphill. The power assisted rack and pinion makes for precise handling and sure-footedness.

The car has ABS brakes, air bags for the driver and co-driver, who also have arm rests. The other facilities include side impact protection, three-point ELR seat belts, power windows, central locking, keyless entry, 6-CD changer in dash and auto-off headlights.

There are any number of convenient cubbyholes in the centre console, in the roof, above the rear view mirror. These come in handy for spectacles and other tid-bits. The sun visor has vanity mirrors for both the driver and the co-drivers. The driver also has a built-in pocket in the visor for holding pens, pencils, visiting cards and receipts. It helps you get organised and stay organised! There are pockets in the doors. A/C, heater, rear window de-mister are all standard.

Another factor heavily in favour of the Forester is the fact that it is built on the platform of the Subaru Impreza. The Impreza has numerous victories to its credit in the Asia Pacific Rally Championships.

It’s really a very unique machine. The Forester carries a special introductory price of Rs 15.59 lakh.

Happy motoring!

Technical specifications

Engine: Horizontally opposed 4 cylinder, 4 stroke, petrol

Displacement: 1.994 c.c.

Max. output: 120 p.s. at 5,600 p.m

Max. torque: 178Nm at 3600 r.p.m.

Fuel system: multi point fuel injection (M.P.F.I.)

Fuel tank capacity: 60 litre

Steering: Power assisted rack and pinion

Suspension-front: MacPherson Strut type, independent, coil spring with stabiliser bar.

Rear: Dual link type, independent coil spring with stabiliser bar.

Brakes Front: 15" ventilated discs

Rear: Drums

Wheel size: 15x6J

Dimensions

L x W x H: 4,450 x 1,735 x 1,590 (mm)

Wheel base: 2,525 mm

Ground clearance: 190 mm

Curb weight: 1.375 kg


GM must be getting really desperate seeing as how they are having to borrow Subaru designs. Too bad they can't make anything good on their own and have to steal someone elses designs. Although I can see how this makes sense, Subaru is actually one of the most poplular cars in the Middle East and Central Asia so GM knows they can steal this design and actually make some in house sales off of it rather than letting Subaru themselves take all the glory. Poor GM, I guess if you can't do things the right way you might as well do whatever someone else is doing correctly :rolleyes:
 
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#6 ·
Heres hoping that we don't soon see rebadged Chevys as Subs.
I don't imagine thats how this partnership works. I highly doubt Subaru would taint their reputation by doing something like that, besides, Chevy doesn't make any true-AWD vehicles, why would Subaru even consider putting their logo on something that wasn't awd?

Also, Chevy has more to gain from slapping their name/logo on Subaru vehicles than the other way around.
 
#7 ·
FMGreen said:


I don't imagine thats how this partnership works. I highly doubt Subaru would taint their reputation by doing something like that, besides, Chevy doesn't make any true-AWD vehicles, why would Subaru even consider putting their logo on something that wasn't awd?

Also, Chevy has more to gain from slapping their name/logo on Subaru vehicles than the other way around.
I agree with all of your points. Still, GM does own 20% of FHI stock. I believe they are the largest share holder. That alone scares me.
 
#8 ·
bheinz57 said:
That badge looks terrible on the front of a Subaru. Brian
FMGreen said:
That badge looks terrible on the front of everything.
AMEN TO BOTH!!!

injektilo said:
The GM and Subaru "partnership" scares me more everyday.:( Heres hoping that we don't soon see rebadged Chevys as Subs. That would certainly make me very :banghead:
The day that Subaru starts selling rebagded Chevys is the day I'll drop Subaru and leave this site. I may just close down the site alltogether.

FMGreen said:
I don't imagine thats how this partnership works. I highly doubt Subaru would taint their reputation by doing something like that, besides, Chevy doesn't make any true-AWD vehicles, why would Subaru even consider putting their logo on something that wasn't awd?

Also, Chevy has more to gain from slapping their name/logo on Subaru vehicles than the other way around.
But Greeny is right, I hardly doubt that Subaru would ever disgrace themselves like that. Still I would only hope that Subaru doesn't fall under the GM corporate line and just start rebadging half their line into GM brands like GM has done will all their brands.

injektilo said:
I agree with all of your points. Still, GM does own 20% of FHI stock. I believe they are the largest share holder. That alone scares me.
It scares me as well, the day that Subaru folds to GM's wishes... well you know :(
 
#9 ·
Here's what I used to do with winter boots: if I found a pair I liked and that fit (not easy for a guy with 9.5 EEEE), I'd buy two extra pair and put them on the shelf for future use. Maybe it's time to buy three or four Subies and put a couple away to use in ten or fifteen years.
 
#10 ·
mudge said:
Here's what I used to do with winter boots: if I found a pair I liked and that fit (not easy for a guy with 9.5 EEEE), I'd buy two extra pair and put them on the shelf for future use. Maybe it's time to buy three or four Subies and put a couple away to use in ten or fifteen years.
That may work with boots and many other things but not with cars, I don't know any rich person who would buy multiple Subaru models just to save them for worser times. We shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves with GM's evil imperial intentions ;)
 
#11 ·
To use a favourite Aussie slang saying: "Someone should blow them up!" Will we eventually only see 3 car companies owning all the other makers? Like I've said before, Ford almost ruined Mazda when they bought a major share in them and tried to tell them how to make cars, lets hope GM doesn't end up doing that to Subaru.,.. :cursin:
 
#12 ·
Borrowed from another thread, posted by Jondalar
To use a favourite Aussie slang saying: "Someone should blow them up!"
See Brian I knew it! When Karl said this I could see right through its meaning! Ha! You Australians may think you can fool the average fat, stupid, Chevy driving American with a mullet but your trickery will be thwarted by the likes of The Hero. Try as you may but as long as I live I will never allow the Australians to conquer the U.S.!!! :D
 
#13 ·
Hero Boots said:


See Brian I knew it! Karl said this in anothe thread but I could see right through why he said this! Ha! You Australians may think you can fool the average fat, stupid, Chevy driving American with a mullet but your trickery will be thwarted by the likes of The Hero. Try as you may but as long as I live I will never allow the Australians to conquer the U.S.!!! :D
Dammit you worked me out, first we blow up GM then with "the worlds greatest car maker" out of action chaos will descend into every facet of American life and we will be able to conquer you with our 2 Frigates and 10 F18's along with 500 or so soldiers, provided they don't have a hangover at the time...
 
#16 ·
Geez, guys, I don't know. Maybe we'd all be better off, no? After all, those mates from down under really know how to throw a backyard barby. Anyway, I like "Waltzing Mathilda," which sounds really good on my harmonica. By the way, who was Mathilda?:p
 
#17 ·
Jondalar said:


Dammit you worked me out, first we blow up GM then with "the worlds greatest car maker" out of action chaos will descend into every facet of American life and we will be able to conquer you with our 2 Frigates and 10 F18's along with 500 or so soldiers, provided they don't have a hangover at the time...
Conquer the US ? No thanks, we have standards (and taste !)
No chance of that happening anyway. You guys can not even beat the Poms at rugby!
 
#18 ·
Hei ya'll! I don't know what all the fuss is about, my two favorite makes are Chevrolet and Subaru. My dad worked for a Chevrolet dealer in Sacramento then after he was stabbed in the parts dept. by some wacked guy, his boss offered him a promotion to be parts manager of Subaru of Northern California in 1970. I love Subarus as much as anybody, can't even begin to calculate the miles my adolescent butt has in the back of BRATs with and without camper shells in all four seasons.

As an optimist, the worst thing from rebadging Foresters is FHI has to kick out more cars. Of course, I don't want something that looks like a Saturn/Trailblazer/SSR or whatever to has the beloved Pleiades on the grill. But, I would be all for GM borrowing things to use on their products, more money to play with for Subaru!

Anyway, I will always buy Subarus and Chevies(until Subaru builds a mid/full size truck).

One more thing, CAN'T WE ALL PLAY TOGETHER NICELY ... and kick terrorists butts as a team?
 
#20 ·
mudge said:
Geez, guys, I don't know. Maybe we'd all be better off, no? After all, those mates from down under really know how to throw a backyard barby. Anyway, I like "Waltzing Mathilda," which sounds really good on my harmonica. By the way, who was Mathilda?:p
Geez mate, get it right, it's "Matilda"! She was some spunky sheila who knew the dog who sat on the tucker box I believe...
 
#21 ·
Mericet said:
You guys can not even beat the Poms at rugby!

Bah, who cares about Drugby, it's just a bum sniffing game played up North. ;) At the moment, the Rugby League players seem to be unable to keep their thing in their pants anyway :rolleyes: Real football is AFL, which the Americans call Aussie Rules. If we mention football codes, we can also poke fun at "grid iron" as well.....tell those whimps to take off their helmets and shoulder pads and play some real football ! :p :D

As far as the poms go, ask them how many times they've beaten us at cricket lately. :p

Oh, and on topic, it's just typical of GM to copy other models, they do it all over the world. ;)
 
#22 ·
Losiho said:



Bah, who cares about Drugby, it's just a bum sniffing game played up North. ;) At the moment, the Rugby League players seem to be unable to keep their thing in their pants anyway :rolleyes: Real football is AFL, which the Americans call Aussie Rules. If we mention football codes, we can also poke fun at "grid iron" as well.....tell those whimps to take off their helmets and shoulder pads and play some real football ! :p :D

As far as the poms go, ask them how many times they've beaten us at cricket lately. :p

Oh, and on topic, it's just typical of GM to copy other models, they do it all over the world. ;)
Well, I guess AFL is rougher than rugby. Have not seen any of that in a long time! And you guys are beating just about everyone at cricket at the moment.
 
#26 ·
"To engage a "low" gear, all you have to do is press the clutch and pull up the little lever on the centre console below the hand brake. It’s an off-roader. In addition to the AWD and hi-low gear ratio, the Forester has a viscous type limited slip rear wheel differential. "

is this true of all foresters? or just the chevrolester? ive never heard this, not that im a forester guy
 
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