Subaru Forester - max cargo capacity & weight limits?

[Huffer]

I've been trawling allover the cars101.com site and I cannot find the max. cargo capacity + interior weight limits for the Subaru Forester.

I'm trying to convince my sales colleagues that we need to eventually replace the Ford Taurus' sedans we have with Foresters, but I need to show the max weight capacity and interior specs.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/forester/ ... r2003.html (http://www.cars101.com/subaru/forester/forester2003.html)

FORESTER CARGO MEASURMENTS
hand measurements by me

A: door opening height from sill to sill 32"
B: cargo length with rear seat up 37"
C: height floor to roof 34" no sunroof
D: floor width, maximum (same as top of wheel well) 53.5"
E: length with rear seat down 62"
F: width mid-gate 46.5"
G: width at narrowest gate 37"
H: width between wheel wells 37.5"

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/01/Forester03cargo2JPG-1.jpg

I don't need the towing capacity, I need the interior weight max limits.

[jg09]

As in GVWR? 1,880 kg for the '03 model. That's around 4100-4200 lbs, I think.

[Huffer]

Ok, so if GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is 1880kg (4,144lbs), then subtract vehicle curb weight,
4,144lbs - 3,135 = 1009lbs for interior payload not including driver.

Sweet. That's the same as an 03 Ford Taurus, and we get the benefits of AWD and a totally flat cargo bed. :D

GVWR explanation from the wikipedia:

A gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e including the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight.

The difference between gross weight and curb weight is the total passenger and cargo weight capacity of the vehicle. For example, a pickup truck with a curb weight of 4500 pounds might have a cargo capacity of 2000 pounds, meaning it can have a gross weight of 6500 pounds when fully loaded.

[jg09]

What will you be hauling in these Foresters for work?

[Huffer]

17lb boxes of catalogs (usually 20-30), a couple of display boards (10lbs total), personal luggage, plus driver & passenger (350lbs combined).

1000lbs - 350lbs (people) - 50lbs (luggage) - 10lbs (displays) = 590lbs

590lbs/17lbs = 34 boxes

34boxes x 8 catalogs per box = 272 catalogs

[Mikey97D]

Huffer - I've had decent results looking up information in msn.com under auto for model year information. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on the cargo area size. I think your best bet may be to go to the dealer with a pad, paper, and tape measure to get the size. For comparison's sake, also look at both vehicles service requirements/intervals. Off the cuff, i would guess the Ford has a better service interval which may or may not matter to your supervisors.
Good Luck! Mike

[Huffer]

Err... thanks Mikey, but if you look at my first post I already have the cargo area for the Forester. Based on that, I already worked out that we can carry more, safer, in the Forester than we can in the Taurus. Plus it's easier to load because of the rear hatch and ride height.
The AWD is a bonus because Jan-Apr is our big sales season and many of our teams are in the northern areas.

[Mikey97D]

awe, read failure. Sorry about that. I guess not getting enough sleep lately is catching up to me.

Glad to read you've got all your duck's in a row. Now the real question, do you get to drive any? :lol:

[Huffer]

I will probably get to drive them all, if I create myself a fleet manager position. It'll also mean I'll be in charge of the maintenance and the beating of staff that turn them in in poor condition. :smt029

[97legacygt]

What about price? Most companies tend to purchase the cheapest vehicles that they possibly can. I really don't know base prices of either the Taurus or Forester, but my guess would be that the Forester would be more expensive.

[Huffer]

What about price? Most companies tend to purchase the cheapest vehicles that they possibly can. I really don't know base prices of either the Taurus or Forester, but my guess would be that the Forester would be more expensive.

It is, but I believe the benefits outweigh the cost - we can trade the Taurus' on the Foresters in a staggered fashion - when the Taurus' begin to blow struts from too much weight being loaded over the rear axle (constant rear strut compression) then I can make my case to get rid of them.

and frankly, our company is all about being a market leader in the youth travel market - especially outdoors. What screams outdoors more than a capable small SUV with AWD?

[Grafton]

where do you work again... need any IT people?

[Huffer]

where do you work again... need any IT people?

Actually we do. I'm trying to get out of the IT section myself, and get into logistics more. I cannot stand administering a network or telecoms for which I am not qualified (nor do I want to be!).

Unfortunately we have a moratorium on hiring more people until this economy stabilizes, but I've been pushing for a replacement person so I can move more into the logistics and finance areas.

[jg09]

Well, if you need someone who's just there to breathe in the company's air and get paid with their money, I'm your man! I'll just need an office with a view and a computer with good gaming specs