SeanC
SeanC New Reader
4/29/22 7:24 a.m.

First some background on where I'm coming from. I had an '05 OBXT 5spd that I drove for 8 years and 100k+ miles. I bought it with 25k on the clock at the time, put on a stage 1 tune from a gen 1 cobb accessport that I'd gotten off ebay. I didn't straight up beat on the car but I didn't baby it either and had no turbo/head gasket/ etc issues in my time with it. Just basic maintenance and I even sold it with the original clutch which still seemed to hold fine. This wqas a great car for me.

I got rid of that to get my current car, a 2012 G37x which now has 140k on it and has only needed a starter thanks to years in garbage salty New England winters rotting the starter/solenoid wiring. I'd keep driving it but my Kid will be getting his license soon and will need a car. Wife loves her 2010 RAV4, doesn't drive much and eants to keep it. I looked into a cheap car for him but that seems like it will result in nothing more than buying somebody else's 140k+ mile problems for $9k . The wife says I might as well replace my car and give him the G, makes sense enough to me. 

I daily 60mi round trip in New England. I'd prefer AWD because we have a lot of hills around here and often see RWD/FWD cars struggling while I go around them in my G without trouble. Decent fuel economy is important. It seems like every late model thing I look at is around $25K and I found a 2017 Forester Touring 2.0 XT with 51k in my price range. It;s auto but seems to be the nearest modern equivalent  to my old OBXT.

I'm fine with auto for a daily driving . I see civic SI's(much different but just as an examople) for around the same money which for a daily driver in NE gives you, IMO, a lot less for the money. The dealer also seems to be selling with a third paty 10yr/150000mi powertrain warranty. I'm always leery of extened warranties but this is a major brand dealker and not a fly by night used car place so maybe it's ok? Is this generation of 2.0 turbo reliable? Will this be a regrettable decsion?

 

Thanks  for any advice.

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
4/29/22 7:53 a.m.

I'll bet the 10y/150k is not really a warranty but a service agreement.  Read the fine print (if they'll even give it to you in advance.) 

The service agreements often say that you have to have every service performed at that dealership (and that dealership only) often at inflated prices. These required services even include cabin filter replacements. Miss a service and the they void the "warranty" coverage which is their ultimate goal. 

Just be careful at paying too much for this 10y/150k.

A dealer chain here of major brands used to give "Warranty Forever", a 3rd party offering known in the industry as "Warranty For Never". 

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
4/29/22 8:10 a.m.

Not trying to be negative but poking at holes... 

You mention the desire for good fuel economy. The Forester turbo will only be slightly better than the Infiniti and still wants Premium fuel. 

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
4/29/22 8:22 a.m.

Similar but different, how about Hyundai Kona? 4wd turbo offered that is rated for 32 hyw on regular gas. 

Mazda CX-3 also. 

enginenerd
enginenerd Reader
4/29/22 8:37 a.m.

I've owned a 2015 Forester XT and also a 2015 NA Forester. I didn't feel like the XT was worth the price difference. I ended up getting pretty poor fuel economy and it just wasn't really that fun to drive.

The XT also seemed to eat turbos. The OEM turbo failed at 80k and an aftermarket replacement failed shortly after. 

SeanC
SeanC New Reader
4/29/22 11:58 a.m.

The warranty I thought sounded too good to be true and would definitely want it spelled out. It's included in the purchase and doesn't seem to up the price vs. other similar XTs I've found.

Eh, I'm ok with the G37s mileage though wouldn't mind better. It runs fine on regular though I'd neglected to consider that a turbo car might not. 

Maybe I got lucky with my old OBXT, nothing but good to say about that old car. 

I'll check out a non XT Forester/outback and see what I think. Maybe the power will be perfectly adequate for my daily commuting. Plenty of people drive them so they must be somewhat liveable. 

 

SeanC
SeanC New Reader
5/1/22 7:39 a.m.

Just posting an update in case it helps anyone in the future.

 

I ended up going with a low mileage '18 Forester 2.5i Premium. I drove it and couldn't believe what a quiet capable commuter it is. Much less power than my G37 for sure, but no problem pulling into traffic reasonably well, getting up to highway speed, etc... 

I went to look at two very different cars. I drove the Forester first. I drove the 2015 Acura TLX SH-AWD second. I decided to look at the acura figuring it would be a newer Acura version of my G37 but I found it to be unimpressive. It felt "softer" than my g37 and compared to the Forester it it was loud on the highway and in the end I had to admit the Forester offered much more value and utility for my day-to-day commuting, winter driving, gad mileage, and occasional cargo needs. I also look forward to not having the snow up to my doors every snow storm. One more thing, maybe I'm getting old but I like that I don't have to "fall into" and "climb out of" the Forester, lol.

The Subaru 2.0 turbo engines worry me and the Forester just won, IMO, over the other small SUV options I looked at/researched. My last Subaru was very good to me, I hope this one will me too.

Loweguy5
Loweguy5 HalfDork
5/2/22 7:00 a.m.

I have been looking at Foresters too.  I've mentally traveled the same path you have:  XT seems like a great idea, but regular Forester in a newer version is a nice rig and the fuel economy is amazing.  My FIL had a 2018 Limited and now has a 2021 Touring.  I drove it the other day and was super impressed with how well put together it was and what a nice place it was to spend time.

I'm looking for a 2020+ as I write this.  I think you made a great choice.  Post a pic of the new ride!

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