Yet another - What car should I get

[HybridSquirrel]

My turn to make this thread suppose. My 07 Forester shit the bed (headgaskets) when I was heading up skiing and i'm looking to replace it. I don't want to buy used - I don't have the cash on me. Instead i'm planning on stop-leaking the heads and rolling it down to a dealer for a trade.

Car would be for my wife, since we had an agreement she gets the next one. Currently we have: 06 STi, 07 Civic, and a 98 Mazda B4000 and want to avoid getting the same type of car as one we already have

Shortlist:
Rav/CRV - Both have similar form factors and drive-ability. Fit my wife well and good space.
Forester (again) - I loved my forester. Have owned 2. Would consider it. Engine is an older design but they've fixed the HG problems. (supposedly)
Used 335xi - because with boltons and a tune it can push out serious power without sacrificing driveability. maintenance cost is the only thing prohibiting this. Fairly inexpensive as well even for CPOs
Fusion Hybrid - surprisingly comfortable and quiet inside. Price is inline with gas powered fusions. Smaller storage space though due to the battery in the truck.

Honorable mentions:
Leaf (lel) - Lease offer for 229 a month. With the trade i'd pay 0 out of pocket and with a 150 gas bill a month it's only costing us ~70 / month.
Mazda 3 - the internet's go-to car for these types of threads. But too similar to the car she has now and we'd ultimately have 2 econobox commuters.
BMW M2 - trade both the STi and the Forester. BMW Select financing for ~350 a month. Would have about 15k residual after 5 years assuming only paying the minimum. wife would have to s uffer the civic some more and i'll deal with dailying the shitbox truck


Ultimately, we're shooting for low-mid 20's. Good in the snow and can get up the mountains in snow storms with 3 + gear. Compact SUV ideally, but open to larger sedans as well. I'd also like to avoid getting the same ty[e car she has now. I'll take over beating the civic around daily. Anyone else have recommendations?

 

[jlee]

If you love the Forester, why not get the head gaskets done and run it for another 10 years?

Used 335's are (really) cheap. I thought this a couple of years ago and they're even less now. If resale value a few years down the road is a concern, keep that in mind.

I am a huge fan of the Lexus GX line, but that's not in the compact SUV category.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

because its the second time i've done them for this car. I'm over it. It also needs a timing belt. PS rack and pump and some suspension work in the rear to fix an alignment issue. It's going to cost over 5k to get all the work done, so meh.

 

[NutBucket]

The engine in the current Fozzy is new as of 2013 or so, FB vs the EJ in yours. I'm surprised the gaskets failed again as you should have had updated ones installed the first time.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

It wasn't affected by the recall of the head gaskets. Even then, plenty of people had issues after the recall and after replacing them. I got them done at 100k when I did the timing belt. They had been leaking again for a while but finally decided to give up on life.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

2017 CRV or Mazda CX5 - best compact SUV's on the market right now. CRV is a bit roomier, CX5 drives better.

If you want electric - go used. You can find Leaf's under 20K miles for $9K. I'd splurge and pay $11K for the used Focus Electric over the Leaf. The Mitsubishi IMiev can be had for under $6K, the Smart Electric for about $8K

 

[HybridSquirrel]

2017 CRV or Mazda CX5 - best compact SUV's on the market right now. CRV is a bit roomier, CX5 drives better.

If you want electric - go used. You can find Leaf's under 20K miles for $9K. I'd splurge and pay $11K for the used Focus Electric over the Leaf. The Mitsubishi IMiev can be had for under $6K, the Smart Electric for about $8K

less financing options and warranty options on used. also no tax credit.

 

[HitAnyKey]

RAV has the better engine, is much more comfortable inside and is pretty bulletproof in reliability and resale. I think they still have a real 6spd and not CVT like the CRV which is a solid second choice.

I have nothing good to say about the Forester and wouldn't touch it. Not worth it over the other options on the market at the moment. Even a Ford Escape is probably a better option than the Subbie.

I know somebody looking for an engine for a late model 335, apparently they can self destruct I am told.

 

[NutBucket]

Why do you consider the Toyota engine superior to the Honda? Just curious. And for this type of vehicle the CVT is superior because moar MPGs.

 

[nisryus]

My wife and I love our 2014 Forester, and we had a 2008 CR-V before and she used to be an avid Toyota fan. I like the CVT for MPG and the one they use in the Forester has been great. I know a few friends who hate CVT but for a daily commuter it works great. Now that she is not working, the Forster is kind of a bit too big for us.

 

[Demo24]

Crv and cx5 lead the market. I think the crv is a nicer car, especially after the massive 2017 model refresh. The CVT at leastast in the previous model (similar), seemed pretty good for a CVT. I had to tell my GF why it felt a little strange, but she didn't seem to mind that much. The rest of that model (pre 17 crv)let her down so she got an accord v6. Accords are pretty decently sized, quiet, comfy, and good on the mpgs.

 

[PricklyPete]

2017 CX5. They updated it this year and worked out the few complaints people had of them.

 

[HitAnyKey]

Why do you consider the Toyota engine superior to the Honda? Just curious. And for this type of vehicle the CVT is superior because moar MPGs.

Because it doesn't have the same problems as the Subaru one. The previous motor in the RAV4, the 2.4 was notorious for burning oil. Toyota didn't waste any time in replacing it with a 2.5 motor that has proven to be very reliable. Funny how many Japanese car makers are sticking to the 2.5L size. Subaru should just source the Toyota engine in their cars and call it a day. And of course maybe borrow some interior design cues as well. It wouldn't be the first time they share design ideas, FRS/BRZ comes to mind.

I find CVTs can be a real pain when trying to merge or really move after trying a few out. CVT might be get you a few MPGs more but I still prefer what I know works, conventional transmissions.

OP: I forgot about the CX5. I would definitely look at the new Mazda CX5. Has everything you want and they improved it again this year.

 

[fleshconsumed]

In addition to all the CX-5 suggestions above, be aware that Mazda is finally bringing diesel CX-5 to US at the end of the year. Could be fun to drive, if you can wait that long.

 

[pauldun170]

My turn to make this thread suppose. My 07 Forester shit the bed (headgaskets) when I was heading up skiing and i'm looking to replace it. I don't want to buy used - I don't have the cash on me. Instead i'm planning on stop-leaking the heads and rolling it down to a dealer for a trade.

Forester (again) - I loved my forester. Have owned 2. Would consider it. Engine is an older design but they've fixed the HG problems. (supposedly)

I like to observe Forresters (and Subarus in general) from a distance.
15 years of the same internet forum posts.
OP: My Subaru needs head gasket @ 120K
Poster A: That's only for model years between (current year - 12) to (current year - 9)
OP: Cool, gonna buyt another one because I love my Forester.
Poster B: My old Subaru has 119K on it!!!! Not one issue!!! Except for oil consumption and slight anti-freeze smell

I vote Rav4 or CX5

 

[PricklyPete]

I like to observe Forresters (and Subarus in general) from a distance.
15 years of the same internet forum posts.
OP: My Subaru needs head gasket @ 120K
Poster A: That's only for model years between (current year - 12) to (current year - 9)
OP: Cool, gonna buyt another one because I love my Forester.
Poster B: My old Subaru has 119K on it!!!! Not one issue!!! Except for oil consumption and slight anti-freeze smell

I vote Rav4 or CX5

Living in the heart of Subaru country, I feel the same way. Lot's of friends with Subaru's current or past and they ALL have problems. Friend just had a second CVT fail on his wife's relatively new Legacy (2013 I believe). Two friends had 2005 outbacks (one with 4 and one with 6 cylinder engines)...both were a heap of trouble after 100k miles. Another friend had a 2000 outback that had was stricken with the head gasket problem.

To be fair, my brother-in-law does have an XC Crosstrek and it has been trouble free...but they are only 2 years into that one...so we'll see how that goes.

To top it off, they carry a ridiculous premium in these parts.

Even with all of that, I probably would take a serious look at an outback if I were in the market because of what it has to offer...but the idea that they are reliable has been lost on me.

 

[NutBucket]

While I can't disagree that the rate of HG failure is rather high (our '05 WRX needs new ones), overall the car is well built and well engineered so it doesn't bug me. Just need to think of the HG as a wear item like a timing belt We'll see if we keep our Forester long enough for that play out.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

I know people hate Subaru because of leaky HG's and oil consumption. But I absolutely lvoe it. It performs way better in the snow than any other AWD car i've had and even better than my truck. I ski 3 times a week and often times the roads are shit up in the mountains, so it's pretty necessary for me to have AWD at a minimum. I'd love to keep the Forester, I just have repair costs mounting on it. I still have the STi for winter rallying.

I think we're going to test drive a CX5 today. The AWD variant is pretty expensive compared to the forester though. The one's were seeing nearby are around 30k with AWD, Rav's are around 28. vs 22k for the Forester.

 

[desura]

I've had my eye on the Hyundai Ioniq and the Kia Niro lately.

But like, my next car will likely be electric.

 

[NutBucket]

That's an unfair comparison since a $22k Forester has steel wheels and even no roof rails. I'm sure a $30k CX-5 will have lots of bells and whistles....but no turbo like a $30k Fozzy!

 

[HybridSquirrel]

That's an unfair comparison since a $22k Forester has steel wheels and even no roof rails. I'm sure a $30k CX-5 will have lots of bells and whistles....but no turbo like a $30k Fozzy!

Actually the dealer invoice was $23k after incentives and was pretty well equipped, rear view camera, blind spot, infotainment whatever package, roof rack and pano roof. Had steelies but whatever, I rock them 6 months out of the year anyway with snow tires. CX5 drove nice but I don't think it's for me. Visibility was really poor compared to the Forester and interior space was surprisingly lacking despite its size. Also couldn't pair my BT to the stereo which is a software limitation apparently, not huge but still annoying. Wife seemed to like it though, and it handled better at least on the on/off ramps. I wonder how good it does in snow because it didn't feel like true AWD.

 

[NutBucket]

You can fix the handling of the Fozzy with a bigger rear sway bar from an STI. Makes a huge difference.

That seems like odd packaging. I swore you had to get the Premium to get the sunroof...and that has alloy wheels. I didn't think you could get a sunroof on a base.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Meh, it was from dealer inventory which is why it was so cheap. Who knows how they configured it. Colorado get's weird car packages. I don't know what else to look at as far as cars though, I don't think we'll end up with the CX5. Wife is small and had a hard time with blind spots and visibility even with the adjustable seats.

 

[NutBucket]

Heuberger?

 

[PricklyPete]

Forester sounds like the right vehicle for you. You could look at CPO Audi Q5.