Thoughts on 2012-2014 Subaru Forester?

What's up, guys?

Well... Some asshat in a pink Dodge Challenger slammed into my 2006 Outback while it was parked outside my house, then took off. AAA says the car is totaled...

So I need a new car. I loved my '06 Outback, but I'm not at all impressed with the new roof rack system they introduced around 2010.

That leaves me pondering a Forester...

*Anyone out there drive a 2012 through 2014 Forester?

*Any experience with the oil consumption issue I've read about?

*Any general thoughts on the CVT transmission, if that's what you've got? (99% sure I'd opt for another manual, but curious anyway).

Any other random suggestions for an AWD/4WD car/SUV/whatever they're called these days? Ideally something with decent ground clearance. (It boggles my mind that they make cars that can't even hop a curb if needed...)

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/opinions/recommendations!

Cheers,

~Alex

Not sure how much it helps but I have a 2006 forester and love it. I have lots of space in the trunk, plenty power for a 4cylinder, and even a good towing capacity even tho I havmt installed the hitch. I personally like this model more than the new one because it doesn't look as much of a soccer mom car.
The gas mileage is pretty decent. Not great but decent. 28 highway and 23 street if I remember correctly. Ground clearance is good enough to get over curbs and even do some off roading. If not a 2 inch lift kit will range about 100-150.
Mines seen mud water and snow and handled it fine. And the racks are low enough to kayaks on to it easliy.

Thanks for the reply! I feel ya on the soccer mom thing... My least favorite part about the new ones.

I just sat in a 2012 Forester they had on the lot in Walnut Creek. I've gotta say I was pretty unimpressed with the interior. Cup holders in the doors? MCome on... My 2006 Ouback was much better equipped, despite being 6 years older.

I may just end up looking at 2009 Outbacks, since that was the last year before they completely ruined them (in my humble opinion).

Not being more than hearsay this is maybe not so useful, but when an artist friend was looking for a new car last year, several of his friends advised against getting a subaru due to having issues of their own with them.

Thanks, seabird. Any idea what kinds of issues they had, or what model years they had?

I have a 2014 Impreza Sport Limited hatchback that I love. It's my first Subaru and I have had no problems whatsoever (I already have 30k miles on it). The CVT does take some time to get used to - it just feels like one big gear and you always expect it to shift, but it never does. You get used to it, and the CVT is supposed to get a few MPGs better in gas mileage than the manual, though not as fun to drive obviously.

if i was buying another, i'd be looking for a 2008 year OB.  I love my '05 OB but its getting up there in miles, plan to keep it running for another 12 years until Olivia starts driving... 

Lots of good info here, Alex: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=46987.0
And yeah, I agree the distance between the crossbars on a new Outback is ridiculously tight. I like them to be farther apart for better weight distribution etc.

Thanks guys. The more I look around, the more I realize I already HAD the perfect Subaru.

It was a 2006 OB with 104,000 miles, 5-speed manual, 8-way power adjustable heated drivers seat, heated mirrors, extendable center console arm rest, fog lights, premium sound (woofer under drivers seat), etc, etc. It will be tough to replace, especially with the $9,600 that AAA is willing to pay out.

I don't see many out there with the 5-speed trannies AND some upgrades to the interior. Most of the 5-speeds seem to be bare bones base models.

is it real bad? maybe see if AAA will sell it back to you for a pittance and fix it up on a salvage title.

It's pretty bad. Estimated cost to repair was almost $9,000. About $5,000 in body work and $4,000 in suspension work. Body work is actually needed because the tail lights and bumper are toast (and rear hatch doesn't really close right). Two tires and three rims are toast. Who rear suspension assembly is toast, so no avoiding that cost.

It got hit from behind so hard it bounced up onto the sidewalk, trashing the tires and rims on the way.

Honestly I'm not sure I'd want to keep that thing even if it did get repaired. With that much jarring, I have a hard time believing they'll find each and every piece that was affected.

Thanks for the reply! I feel ya on the soccer mom thing... My least favorite part about the new ones.

I just sat in a 2012 Forester they had on the lot in Walnut Creek. I've gotta say I was pretty unimpressed with the interior. Cup holders in the doors? MCome on... My 2006 Ouback was much better equipped, despite being 6 years older.

I may just end up looking at 2009 Outbacks, since that was the last year before they completely ruined them (in my humble opinion).

Hey well there's the solution, save some bucks and buy an older one. The 2009 are nice looking and I agree on how they ruined it, not a fan

I've had a 2001, 2011 and now a 2015 Forester.
My 2011 had an oil consumption issue.  Subaru service center did an oil consumption test and determined it used too much oil.  They replaced the motor.  Didn't cost me a dime!  So, I figured it was worth some coin and went to the sales department and told them I bought this from them, they put a new motor in it and what I could get for a trade on a 2015.  I ended up with the 2015 Forester with CVT and 2.5 motor.  We LOVE it!!  It's MUCH bigger than the 2011.  Holds a lot more, more ground clearance and stands taller.  It rides better.  Also has the 'Eye Site' system.  You literally can not drive this car into a building, gas pump, person, deer, etc.  It will sense the object, disconnect throttle and hit the brakes.  Had a deer jump out in front of me a few nights ago.  I barely registered it but the car saw and hit the brakes. 

These Subaru cars keep changing model style every 4 years.  The current style started in 2014.  It was also the first year of the 'Eye Site' system.  I paid somewhere around $23,000 for mine and got $14,000 trade-in on my 2011. 

I really love my Foresters and will continue to get one when I want a new model car. 

Oh, the rear seat tranny hump is MUCH smaller on the new 2014+ Foresters, making the middle rear seat functional for a full sized adult.  Prior years there was too tall a hump and the middle passenger had to share floor space with the other passengers. 

The Pearl White paint is very nice, doesn't show dirt as much I think.


****EDIT****
I'll add things as I think of them;
1. This car has 7 (seven!) air bags!  That's safety.  Driver steering, Driver knees, Driver side, Front passenger side, Front passenger dash, Both rear passengers have side air bags as well. 

2. 17" wheels

3. Full 2" receiver hitch. (I bought mine after market and installed since the option is $400 and I paid $120 new to install myself from e-trailer)

4. Heated front seats.

5. Nice computer display with multiple screens.

6. Blu tooth your phone to the radio and with steering wheel controls for phone and other things. 

7. Moon roof is the biggest thing I've seen and as close to a convertible as you are likely to get.

8. Spare is stored INSIDE under the rear deck.  Not under the car exposed to road crap. 

9.  A great roof rack

I want to also mention I got my Subaru via COSTCO.  Just got to Costco's web site to start the process.  Basically you get the car at fleet rates.  Once I queried that, a week later I got a coupon for $1000 off a new Subaru.  After I made my deal, I presented the coupon and sure as rain, they knocked another grand off. 

Also right now, you can get two season passes for Sierra At Tahoe if you buy a new Subaru.  Those cost over $400 each right now.  If you don't ski, then it's not worth anything. 

Check out the Sub CrossTrek...loving mine.

Interesting. Thanks for the reply, Jerry!

I have read many versions of the oil consumption story, and they don't all have happy endings like yours. Glad to hear that worked out in your favor.

As for the CVT, I'm hesitant. They just haven't been offered in the main stream for long enough to confidently say how they'll do after 100-200k miles. I've searched long and hard for reliability data, but mostly all I find is anecdotal cases of CVTs (and/or torque converters) failing around 100,000. Some covered under warrantee, others not. Some dealers recommending fluid changes, others not. Until they figure this all out, I'm not jumping on it.