Topic: Opinions on 2008 Subaru Forester

[evanphi]

We have an option to get a 2008 Forester for about 6000CAD out the door, including the trade on our Yaris.


2008
Manual 5 spd
AWD

188,000KMs.

Single owner, well cared for, looks like they never had anyone in the back seat (still has stickers on the headrest).


Good vehicles? Easy/inexpensive maintenance?

http://www.aberdeenmotors.ca/en/inventory/used/vehicle/2008/subaru/forester/xs/4889993

[Duke McDukiedook]

Sounds kinda high for the mileage since you are trading a car in.
You always get screwed on trade-ins. Just sell it for cash to some rando and you will make out better and negotiate on the price of the car better.

[Honda550k]

How much were they giving you for the yaris?

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[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Bought a 2007 Outback wagon Dec '14. VERY useful in Colorado. Probably more here than in any other state. Prices can be up there a little. 148,000 miles for $7951. Bought it from a Honda dealer. They had done the head gaskets, timing belt and water pump plus some front suspension stuff otherwise I'd avoided it at that price.

Those are the things IMO you need to consider with that mileage on it. Subies have a head gasket reputation. See if they can show you the paperwork on the head gaskets and the timing belt. Should probably be done together especially if the head gaskets are done. Another I looked at leaked oil like a sieve.

Nice little car. 30mpg+/-

[simon#42]

they are a great car , very reliable . not great on petrol though .
they are much cheaper over here !

[Bankerdanny]

I had a 2007 Forester for 3 years that I bought new. Mine was a 4-speed auto though (wife doesn't drive stick).

Generally the Forester is a terrific car. Great utility, lots of glass means easy to see out of. Decent gas mileage. The engine isn't very powerful, but the 5-speed should work better than the slushbox in my car. Best suspension of any of the 25 cars I have owned. Not in terms of overall handling, but ability to just soak up potholes and bumps.

Have the timing belts been changed out? This is an expensive job on Subarus and important to the overall life of the engine and not very DIY friendly. How old is the clutch, also not a cheap job, although you could probably save some money by doing the belts and clutch at the same time.

[flybox1]

+1 Good cars/engines, but need proper maintenance. My legacy went 260K mi.
Timing belt, water pump, trans service, coolant flush(this one is a ibtch because the system needs to be burped properly, or a bubble will hang up at the temp sensor, causing the fans to remain off when they should be on =  blown head gasket.  Should be done @stealership, or by subaru specialist)  an unfortunate design issue.

[simon#42]

the clutch is not the nicest of jobs but the cam belt is very straight forward , if you can do a goldwing you will have no trouble with a forester .
we seem to disagree on fuel consumption , it will do just over 30 to the gallon which in england is considered poor and if you paid our prices so would you .

[Bankerdanny]

Imperial gallons or us gallons? My automatic never did better that 27 us.

[simon#42]

imperial

[Don R]

 My daughters subaru outback needs head gaskets, a known problem.  The dealer quoted as high as $7,000 american to repair it. book value is $9K. of course it included $500 to pressure test the heads (each) and they already did the timing chain.

 I can buy a pretty nice new V8 crate motor  for that kind of money and have it installed.

[evanphi]

We've decided against that car. Thanks for everyone chiming in! I know they're great cars... but we are a single vehicle family. If we were getting it just to haul stuff/bikes around... I'd get it in a hearbeat.

So now it's between financing a 2 y/o Crosstrek and leasing a new Honda HR-V. I'm leaning more to the HR-V.