$20k budget for used car

[msi1337]

yeah, its very nice.. I only missed out on the heated seats and remote start, but I can always add later if it bothers me.

I went with Jet Black Mica. Its a sharp looking ride.. the acceleration isn't mind blowing (I had a mustang GT once, and a Infiniti G37), but it handles nice and is great

 

[BonzaiDuck]

This is all anecdotal of course, but, I am happy with my 08 Subaru in general.
Some Caveots: The head gasket work at 125K was expensive.
Around 135k, the AC compressor failed so I had it replaced.
Heat shields started rattling something awful around 110K miles (replaced rusted bits and bolts and reenforced with coat hangers)
One of the wheel bearings failed around like 60K or 70k and was replaced under warranty.

Subarus are not as cheap to own as Toyotas, but I'm happy with mine though I always crave a bit more power/something faster. (Back when I bought this, the XT wasn't in the budget. Whenever I decide to replace this, I will probably get something a little quicker.)

The OP found his car, but your post drew my attention, since I was looking at the Suburu lineup.

You say you just "blew the head gasket" at 125K? Was there anything you could identify as having caused that to happen?

You could figure that parts like the AC compressor would need replacement at that level of mileage, although my Trooper's compressor is still going strong after 185K. Same with heat shields. But wheel bearings at 60/70K? Did you follow the maintenance schedule for packing the bearings as a lubrication item?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Head gasket was leaking around 120k or so as reported by my mechanic.
They could tell because the coolant was leaking.
My brother mentioned that he smelled coolant from the cabin, but, maybe he was imagining something.

I don't think I ever asked anybody to do any work on the bearings, I'm due for an oil change and a tire rotation, so I'll ask the shop to do that too. Usually, they remind me of maintenance if I forget to ask them to check something.

One other mention, I tend to be hard on my cars, flooring the throttle before and during every turn, and pushing the little engine as hard as it will go all the time.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Head gasket was leaking around 120k or so as reported by my mechanic.
They could tell because the coolant was leaking.
My brother mentioned that he smelled coolant from the cabin, but, maybe he was imagining something.

I don't think I ever asked anybody to do any work on the bearings, I'm due for an oil change and a tire rotation, so I'll ask the shop to do that too. Usually, they remind me of maintenance if I forget to ask them to check something.

One other mention, I tend to be hard on my cars, flooring the throttle before and during every turn, and pushing the little engine as hard as it will go all the time.

I guess that treatment might promote something like a blown head-gasket, but I'm just guessing. Were there two engine options for that car?

in '09, my Trooper's water-pump froze up, caused overheating. Also, it was at that time that the timing-belt broke, and we needn't discuss the potential with damage there. We worried about it. We worried that the headgasket might have been damaged. But we installed the new timing belt, there had been no engine damage, and the headgasket was fine. That was about 30,000 miles ago. It's currently at 185K.

Once, back around 1988, I tried to back-flush my Civic's radiator and cooling system, but there was too much water pressure. And so it damaged the head-gasket, prompting me to overhaul the engine at 162,000 miles.

So I'm interested in the Forester as a prospective replacement for my Isuzu. I want to wait until I can pay cash for it all at once. We're driving about 2,500 miles per year, so I'm pretty sure the Troop will make it.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I guess that treatment might promote something like a blown head-gasket, but I'm just guessing. Were there two engine options for that car?

in '09, my Trooper's water-pump froze up, caused overheating. Also, it was at that time that the timing-belt broke, and we needn't discuss the potential with damage there. We worried about it. We worried that the headgasket might have been damaged. But we installed the new timing belt, there had been no engine damage, and the headgasket was fine. That was about 30,000 miles ago. It's currently at 185K.

Once, back around 1988, I tried to back-flush my Civic's radiator and cooling system, but there was too much water pressure. And so it damaged the head-gasket, prompting me to overhaul the engine at 162,000 miles.

So I'm interested in the Forester as a prospective replacement for my Isuzu. I want to wait until I can pay cash for it all at once. We're driving about 2,500 miles per year, so I'm pretty sure the Troop will make it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine

Mine is a 2008 model year (made in 2007, last year of Gen 2), it hasa 2.5L SOHC Boxer 4 (EJ25, I believe EJ253 specificly).
Mine is running a 4 speed automatic transmission. (transmission is slow to shift, and a bit rough, but, haven't had any problems with it yet)
In the US, Subaru also offered a turbo 2.5L (EJ255) which is a DOCH version and uses different heads so it doesn't appear to be affected by the same design issues.

The "XT" Trim is the turbo trim. It has the better built turbo'd engine with worse mpg. Subaru stopped offering it in the US for the forester on new models though
You probably want a standard transmission since that is going to last a lot longer than an automatic, and, on top of that they started using CVT a number of years ago, the CVTs have had a lot of problems, though maybe they are getting better.

I'm not very hands on with cars, I understand the engineering of how all the bits go together and how everything works in a drivetrain, but, if I were to take parts off, I would never figure out how to put them back on again without a manual. Thankfully, I have a good mechanic, and my brother is capable enough to help with most basic stuff.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Forester
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_EJ_engine

Mine is a 2008 model year (made in 2007, last year of Gen 2), it hasa 2.5L SOHC Boxer 4 (EJ25, I believe EJ253 specificly).
Mine is running a 4 speed automatic transmission. (transmission is slow to shift, and a bit rough, but, haven't had any problems with it yet)
In the US, Subaru also offered a turbo 2.5L (EJ255) which is a DOCH version and uses different heads so it doesn't appear to be affected by the same design issues.

The "XT" Trim is the turbo trim. It has the better built turbo'd engine with worse mpg. Subaru stopped offering it in the US for the forester on new models though
You probably want a standard transmission since that is going to last a lot longer than an automatic, and, on top of that they started using CVT a number of years ago, the CVTs have had a lot of problems, though maybe they are getting better.

I'm not very hands on with cars, I understand the engineering of how all the bits go together and how everything works in a drivetrain, but, if I were to take parts off, I would never figure out how to put them back on again without a manual. Thankfully, I have a good mechanic, and my brother is capable enough to help with most basic stuff.

Yes, this CVT technology has me slightly concerned. I've also heard from some folks that manual transmissions may be fading from current use, but I can't say definitively myself at this point. I had always favored manual transmissions, which is a reason I had fallen short of keeping an eye on Dexron III fluid levels and leaks in my Trooper. But since I'm older, an automatic is more convenient and comfortable to have.

And I used to be more ambitious as a DIY enthusiast, thinking that I was saving money. I once rebuilt a carburetor properly, and replaced a head-gasket and timing belt. But I'm just too old to be inclined to those things anymore. The knowledge is valuable, as a means of protection against unscrupulous repair shops and mechanics. Right now, I'm looking around to replace the mechanic and shop owner I had for 14 years who just retired and sold his business. I may pay the new owners a visit, and give them something to do and test expectations.

It's always a good idea to find someone to engage in a longer-term customer-business arrangement. If you don't do that, then one should keep a spreadsheet of dated parts replacements and repairs to pass on to the prospective repair shop. You'd use it anyway yourself, together with the shop-manual maintenance schedule so you could avoid things like broken timing belts or long-overdue transmission flushes.

Of course, a brand-new car or recent-year "certified/previously-owned" has a drive-train warranty, and you'd probably take it to the dealership for maintenance and repair. But eventually, one might need to link up to an independent repair shop.