Subaru Options

"It's a "Porch-uh"" (ikazuchi) 06/13/2018 at 15:52 • Filed to: Subaru, Off-Road

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So now that I’m in the PNW I’m looking to replace my lowered A4 Avant with something I can take off into the mountains to go camping. For a while I had been thinking about a J80 Land Cruiser, then then I came across stories like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and parts like !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Now I’m thinking about joining the other 80% of Seattle and buying a Subaru. Maybe less off-road capabilities than the J80, but 95% of the time it will be driven on-road, so why not get decent milage and better handling? A lift kit and decent tires will help get me most places.

So have any of you had experience with the Outback and/or Forester? Outback looks to have better cargo space (need to fit the dog plus camping junk), but the Forester would have better approach angles (more stuff would need to go on the roof rack so the dog has room). Specifically looking at 2nd and 3rd Gen Outbacks, and 1st (SF) and 2nd Gen (SG) Foresters to keep costs down (this will be a second, and hardly used car).

Any year/generation I should stay away from? Should I seriously consider paying more for a newer model because of features/components/reliability/etc?

Thanks!

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > It's a "Porch-uh" 06/13/2018 at 19:23

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We run a dual range 2.0 SF which we’ve had since new. It is basically stock apart from some KYB struts with raised King Springs which replaced worn out bits a few years back. Add some all terrain tyres and there is not much they won’t do. Our SF also wears a Subaxtreme bull bar and (more importantly) engine protection plate. Don’t go anywhere off road without something like it.

Primary weaknesses over time has been wear related. Suspension and bushes mostly. After 250,000 km and 18 years our SF still has the original clutch and head gasket and the original front CVs were only replaced a month ago....

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > It's a "Porch-uh" 06/13/2018 at 19:33

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Prices in the PNW for Subarus are STUPID. You can get a cleaner car for less money if you travel a bit South and road trip it home. I could probably make quite a lot of money if I wanted to sell my STi in Seattle for example. Having bought it for $13.5k in LA, I could easily get $16+ up there. Granted I like the car so I could care less about that but in general it could work out well in your scenario to save some money.

Just make sure you avoid things with EJ25 series motor if you want to avoid headgasket issues. That motor is quite common though so good luck there lol. The turbocharged versions are better but EVERY WRX or STi I looked at still had head gasket issue history, despite what I was told.

Oh also, losing many quarts of oil is normal so I suppose dont worry about that. I lose about the same amount of oil in my Miata and Subaru. In the Miata it is horrifically bad and in the Subaru it is much better than average for my mileage. This fact makes me laugh every time I think about it.

Dusty Ventures > It's a "Porch-uh" 06/13/2018 at 22:05

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Pretty sure you want an Outback XT

Future Heap Owner > It's a "Porch-uh" 06/14/2018 at 05:11

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Naw you can get an older model if you want, just make sure there’s good documentation on the head gaskets. It’s no joke.

FWIW Consumer Reports’s reliability ratings for all Subarus have gotten way way better since the new Impreza/Outback platform for ‘11 and Forester for ‘12 (maybe off a year or two on those, I can double check). If you want this car to last you a while I’d go for newer ones.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Dusty Ventures 06/14/2018 at 12:29

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Had to look up the XT.

I think that’s a solid option.