Any Subaru Forester or Crosstrek owners?

[jpv7]

I had a 2011 Outback with the CVT. I equated the CVT similar to Turbo Lag... you step on the gas and the engine winds up to the optimal RPMs before the transmission decides what ratio to start you in (and then continuously vary the ratio from there... duh). Anyways, I've heard the newer models, when you select 'sport' mode, are much better... but I would try before you buy and really feel for that lag. If you are someone that pulls out into traffic expecting immediate throttle response, you could be in for a rude awakening.

Reliability? Awesome.
Comfort? Awesome.
Dry to Rain to Snow grip? Awesome.
MPG? Awesome.
Slow as balz? Absolutely.

For passing, I just grab a "downshift" with the left paddle (possible in "Auto" mode) and it goes just fine.  Just don't forget to "upshift" afterwards as it doesn't go back to Auto right away.

[Bulldog9]

We Love Subarus

My wife had an 05 Outback 3.0R wagon that we put 150K+ in 10 years with few issues. Biggest was the valve cover gaskets, rear wheel bearings front control arms and 02 Sensors at about 120K miles. Other than that, the car held up amazingly well. Our youngest drives an 08 Outback Sedan. He beats the thing to death, and it just goes and goes.

My mom drives a 2017 Cross Trek and loves it, her husband has a 2014 Forester and had trucks before that. No issues or problems at all for either.

When my wife wanted a new car in 2016, she was used to the power from the 3.0R and though the Crosstrek was the right size, it was way underpowered, and she wanted smaller. The Outback and Forester were too big for her. I TRIED to get her to go for the Turbo Forester, but she fell in love with a Mercedes GLA250 with the AMG package. 65K miles and completely trouble free.

Before I bought my truck, I had a series of Jeeps, 84 Cherokee, 96 Grand Cherokee, and 06 Commander. Put over 150K on each with little drama. I gave the Commander to my Daughter last year, and it is still going strong at 170K miles.

I think your instincts on the Renegade are spot on, that is built on the Fiat Chassis, and may not be the best long term option.  You really cant go wrong with a Subaru. Very solid well built vehicles.

[fotoguzzi]

Is this meant to drive with no belt?  Or for some other reason?

I don't know why Ozarquebus wants to block the beeper. But I worked as a UPS delivery guy in my personal vehicle for one winter called a PVD. getting in and out of the car every block or two I used the false belt to squelch the beeper and not have to use the seat belt. Only on the delivery beat otherwise I always wear the belt.

[spmoto]

Subaru, colloquially known as  the official car of MAINE...rain, sleet, snow and ice, and of course mud!! We've had 3 Foresters and now an Outback. The Outback is by far the most comfortable, much quieter and doesn't give up anything to a Forester.

[dave1068]

We Love Subarus

My wife had an 05 Outback 3.0R wagon that we put 150K+ in 10 years with few issues. Biggest was the valve cover gaskets, rear wheel bearings front control arms and 02 Sensors at about 120K miles. Other than that, the car held up amazingly well. Our youngest drives an 08 Outback Sedan. He beats the thing to death, and it just goes and goes.

My mom drives a 2017 Cross Trek and loves it, her husband has a 2014 Forester and had trucks before that. No issues or problems at all for either.

When my wife wanted a new car in 2016, she was used to the power from the 3.0R and though the Crosstrek was the right size, it was way underpowered, and she wanted smaller. The Outback and Forester were too big for her. I TRIED to get her to go for the Turbo Forester, but she fell in love with a Mercedes GLA250 with the AMG package. 65K miles and completely trouble free.

Before I bought my truck, I had a series of Jeeps, 84 Cherokee, 96 Grand Cherokee, and 06 Commander. Put over 150K on each with little drama. I gave the Commander to my Daughter last year, and it is still going strong at 170K miles.

I think your instincts on the Renegade are spot on, that is built on the Fiat Chassis, and may not be the best long term option.  You really cant go wrong with a Subaru. Very solid well built vehicles.

Funny you mentioned the MB, I actually like the look of it and it was on my list. Not sure how great the view is as the windows all seem to be minimal, good to hear the feedback on Subarus, I did find a 2016 Forester with with 27k miles for about $21k, if i can get 18-19k on trades, its about 3 grand out of pocket

[LowRyter]

I don't know why Ozarquebus wants to block the beeper. But I worked as a UPS delivery guy in my personal vehicle for one winter called a PVD. getting in and out of the car every block or two I used the false belt to squelch the beeper and not have to use the seat belt. Only on the delivery beat otherwise I always wear the belt.

thanks for that   

[Rich A]

I dislike the seat belt dinger and it cannot be defeated by plugging the right male seatbelt into the left female seatbelt socket.

There's a strange work-around for disabling the seat belt dinger, at least for the 2014 Foresters and I think others made around that time. Check the net, but as I recall, you turn on the ignition, but don't start the engine. Click and unclick the driver's seatbelt twenty (yes 20) times in less than a minute. Turn off ignition. You have to do this every time the battery is disconnected.

Rich A

[LowRyter]

There's a strange work-around for disabling the seat belt dinger, at least for the 2014 Foresters and I think others made around that time. Check the net, but as I recall, you turn on the ignition, but don't start the engine. Click and unclick the driver's seatbelt twenty (yes 20) times in less than a minute. Turn off ignition. You have to do this every time the battery is disconnected.

Rich A

So? 

[Rich A]

So?

Uh, that was in response to the post (quoted in my post), "I dislike the seat belt dinger and it cannot be defeated by plugging the right male seatbelt into the left female seatbelt socket."

Rich A

[mondtster]

My family has owned a ton of Subarus over the years and I've worked on even more. In my opinion the older cars were solid, easy to work on, and the AWD system works well for pedestrian activities in all weather. The AWD failed to impress me when driven hard because I found it predictably unpredictable. The newer cars seem to have lost their durability edge. My parents are currently driving a 2017 with 60k miles and it is has had a lot of electrical quirks and a couple of warranty claims.

As much as I like Subarus, I don't like what I feel are overinflated prices in the used market in my locale. I found myself in a bind one winter hen I sold my last personally owned Subaru and ended up buying an Audi to get into something cheap and AWD again. It and the other Audis I've bought since have been some of the best cars I've owned. Although I did briefly consider buying back my old Legacy GT I built I don't think I'll be back in a Subaru real soon. My Audis would have to seriously betray me first.

[LowRyter]

Uh, that was in response to the post (quoted in my post), "I dislike the seat belt dinger and it cannot be defeated by plugging the right male seatbelt into the left female seatbelt socket."

Rich A

I still don't get it.

[Kev m]

The AWD failed to impress me when driven hard because I found it predictably unpredictable.

OK, you're gonna have to explain this one to me.

As a long time fan of AWD and 4wd systems who has owned and driven a ton of them always searching for the perfect one I can't imagine what you mean by this.

Our first gen Forrester/auto was an absolute tank in the snow and blizzards (granted Blizzaks help a lot).

Same with my Baja/stick - it was even better if that's possible. I remember driving for hours home in a blizzard so bad that I was going through over a foot of unplowed snow on the PA turnpike. When I reached backroads I was plowing with the front end. This went on for miles and miles of snow so deep I had trouble determining what was road and what was shoulder, never mind lane.

Damn thing never missed a beat. So sure footed it wasn't funny.

Only better system I had felt at the time was my first gen Quadra-Drive with the three variable locking diffs which could mechanically send all power to one wheel or any combination physically necessitated by wheel spin. Thing was a Billy Goat and could scale shale walls.

So what was so unpredictable about the Subie you drove?!?

[larrys]

I WAS a Subaru guy. '01 Impreza Sport, '02 Outback, '06 Legacy wagon. Went to replace the Sport and drove a new Outback with the CVT. What junk! Bought a '15 Audi Q3 and am very happy with it. YMMV.
Larry

[Levi]

I have an '07 Forester LL Bean edition that I LOVE! Great adventure wagon and daily driver (when the weather keeps me off the bike or I have to haul things). My generation had a head gasket issue that owners need to watch out for/get replaced. My wife was driving mine to work (before I replaced the head gasket) and blew my motor. I like the car so much I had a full rebuild done. I hope it lasts me another 160,000 miles. Other than the head gasket issue, they are awesome cars! Mine is super capable off-road and in deep snow (puts my sister's stock TJ to shame), comfortable for long trips, and has room to fit tons of gear/tools and friends/family/dogs.

I drove a 2020 outback when mine was getting the motor rebuilt and was not a huge fan. Don't get me wrong, it was plush but just didn't feel like a Subaru. It was too techy for me. Now, granted, my other car is a 1969 Ford F100 so maybe I am not meant to be in newer cars. lol.

Reach out with any questions!

[Moparnut72]

After retirement I worked in a NAPA store for a few years. I sold a lot of front axles for Susie's. Hardly any for other brands.  Headlight bulbs were something else. It was a lot, I don't know why repair shops didn't keep them in stock. Head gaskets were a well known issue. Even with some of these issues Subie owners are some of the most loyal out there. My step daughter had a head gasket go out on hers, she still traded it for a new one.
kk

[Rough Edge racing]

https://www.torquenews.com/1084/now-subaru-s-oil-consumption-lawsuit-settled-what-should-you-do

    https://www.licmotorsports.com/blog/the-dreaded-subaru-head-gasket-issue

[fotoguzzi]

After retirement I worked in a NAPA store for a few years. I sold a lot of front axles for Susie's. Hardly any for other brands.  Headlight bulbs were something else. It was a lot, I don't know why repair shops didn't keep them in stock. Head gaskets were a well known issue. Even with some of these issues Subie owners are some of the most loyal out there. My step daughter had a head gasket go out on hers, she still traded it for a new one.
kk

i had that headlight burn out problem on my previous Subi.  I contend that the bulb got hit with a high current when starting the car.. these headlights were always on.. filament got weak over time?  But there was a work around for that, I removed a relay type thing so under the hood then I decided with the switch when to turn on headlights (after starting car)