l just got a 2004 Subaru Forester (5 speed). l noticed its noisier than my 2004 honda CRV (5-speed). Is that normal?
Thankyou all... l am comparing it to the CRV l still own (wife is car). the forester is the second. So l guess the concencous is that its a bit louder (mayber because its an older car than a 2007), but the AWD is a bit better.

yes. my wife has a baha any my buddy has a forester..both have noisey motore and not nuck insolution from road noise.

l came across that very same dilemma, l was looking at the Forester & the CR-V 4 months ago while looking for a used vehicle. l found the Forester had an annoying knock in the motor (all the ones l looked at had it) & driving it was not as refined as the CR-V. l ended up buying a CR-V & very happy with it is build quality & the smooth drive train. l do like the fact that the Forrester is AWD system is quicker to re-act, the Honda allows the wheels up front to spin before activating the rears, l guess this is probably why the CR-V gets pretty good gas mileage as it is front drive most of the time.

l own a 2007 Forester (automatic).maybe the used/older manuals have this problem but l certainly do not! You can not even tell if the car is running (just by listening). Plus, the Subaru is way safer (my 2006 got obliterated by an old Suburban and saved my butt)!! The Symmetrical AWD is amazing as well. Maybe l am just biased because l do not like Hondas, but l think a little bit more noise is not the way to choose a car or not. Good luck with your new/old 'ru!

Yes Subarus r noisier than Hondas (and Toyotas). Hondas & Toyotas have more refined engines & noise insulation. Subaru engineers did not focus on noise as much as Honda & Toyota. They were more concerned with handling & all-wheel-drive technology because management knows that it is not a mainstream company, & that they should not be too focused on doing what Honda & Toyota r doing. l am guessing that Subaru wants to become more mainstream now & compete with the big boys. They will be focusing more on noise. Toyota owns a small stake in Fuji Heavy Industries (parent company of Subaru) now.

It depends on the model-- l would not say the Legacy, for instance, is noisier than the Accord. However, the Forester is certainly not Subaru is quietest model.

The type of noise is different, too--the noise in Hondas comes from the road while their engines r quiet; Subarus have a deeper, more guttural engine sound (which l find pleasing. others don't).

Historically, Subaru engines have always been significantly rougher with a manual transmission than with an automatic--having ridden in/driven two second-generation Legacy wagon models that r identical save for the transmission, l can say it is definitely the case! Subarus seem also to have rather thin sheetmetal, which can give a more tinny sound over rough surfaces.

l plan on adding some sound-deadening material to the doors & other interior sheetmetal surfaces of the '96 Legacy l currently drive, which is not a model of quietness.

l can not compare the CR-V to the Forester, because l do not own either one. l can answer the general question just for fun, though. l owned a Honda Accord for 8 years prior to buying a Subaru Outback. The Accord was quieter overall, but l like the noises that the Subaru makes when it does make noise. The H-6 engine is quiet enough at idle that l did something this week that l have not done in 20-25 years; l tried to start the car when it was already running. Jeez.

There is more mechanical whine in the drivetrain in the Outback than the Accord, for sure.

Now l will step aside for the people who might be able to answer ur real question. l was just reacting to the part that showed in bold print.

the forester is engine is not noisy because of the boxer engine that cuts down vibration thanks to its 180 degree flat configuration unlike your crv is engine that can compete with each other and eliminate the inertia of opposing pistons