2018 Subaru Crosstrek - Thoughts?

[Number_35]

Thoughts on a 2011 Subaru Outback?

Low mileage (c. 130,000 km [80,000 miles]), one owner, from a small town where salt is not used nearly as much as here in the city.

I don't know what the price would be, but I'm guessing way less than the 2018 Crosstrek.

 

[jsean]

Thoughts on a 2011 Subaru Outback?

Low mileage (c. 130,000 km [80,000 miles]), one owner, from a small town where salt is not used nearly as much as here in the city.

I don't know what the price would be, but I'm guessing way less than the 2018 Crosstrek.

Depends on their financial situation. If they have the flexibility, I’d look at other options. The 2011-12 EB still had HG issues. 2013-14 FBs had oil burning issues. I’m not sure how the market is up there, but for relatively low cost they may be able to find a 2012-13 Passat or Jetta with the 2.5 engine. Around here, those are cheap, reliable and imo better riding vehicles than the Subarus of the era. The rear seats and trunks are pretty huge and work great with 2 rear facing seats. Just a thought. Good winter tires will get them much farther than AWD with mediocre all seasons and keep them and the kiddos safe. Just my $0.04 (inflation accounting my original $0.02 ).

 

[97prizm]

Friends are looking at a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. They have two little ones in car seats.

This one checks all the boxes - AWD, heated seats, good safety rating, etc.

My biggest concern would be the CVT, although I haven't heard much bad about Subaru's version. Is it the same JATCO as Nissan's?

I also wonder whether Subaru had solved the leaking head-gasket problem by 2018.

I know the boxer engines are quirky, but I don't know much about them.

I have no idea whether the price is fair - used car prices remain high here.

The seller is a VW dealership, so it's perhaps not a good sign that the previous owner didn't replace it with same, but that may mean nothing.

Any thoughts appreciated!

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- used- car prices remain high here.

Have you looked at vehicles that don't hold their value? Yeah I'm in Colorado and used Subarus are crazy high in price.

 

[Number_35]

Have you looked at vehicles that don't hold their value? Yeah I'm in Colorado and used Subarus are crazy high in price.

My friends are open to other Japanese brands. Agreed, there is a bit of a Subaru tax.

 

[IndyIan]

Apparently the EyeSight windshields are a special unit with super duper extra pricing as well. Might be worthwhile to call a glass shop for a quote just so you aren't in for a shock.

I thought that too, but the honest local installer said their isn't anything special any of them as far as he knows, they just have no shading where the cameras are. $500 installed on my Impreza, and I didn't have it re-calibrated, and as far as I can tell, there's been no change in how it works. The system has to recognize and work on hills and curves, and recognize lanes with all sorts of widths and line styles, so a minor change in the very slight differences in distortion of windshields shouldn't matter by my thinking anyways, and it didn't.

I think the average Subaru buyer is bit more concerned about minimizing risk, and the car is a bit different, so they get talked into more expensive mumbo jumbo with extreme tire diameter replacement requirements, and the eyesight thing, and some think its a japanese Audi and don't balk at high servicing prices...

Its a car, with a few things to know about, but as long as you don't run a smaller spare on the front axle, or tow it with one end down, the AWD system won't care about 3/32 difference in radius on one tire...

In terms of safety, Subaru engineers make it a priority to actually be able to see out of a Subaru, and most of the recent ones seem to be built like brick outhouses, at price points where a lot of competition isn't. So if you do want $60k+ car safety, for 50% off, some of the Subaru's will do that.

 

[IndyIan]

Thoughts on a 2011 Subaru Outback?

Low mileage (c. 130,000 km [80,000 miles]), one owner, from a small town where salt is not used nearly as much as here in the city.

I don't know what the price would be, but I'm guessing way less than the 2018 Crosstrek.

Oil consumption could be bad I believe? The FB engines are better and started in 2013.
I'm actually half looking for a manual outback to replace the silly sedan Impreza, and the ideal years are the last 2, 2016 and 17. But 2013 to 2017 is acceptable. CVT's got better in 2016, and then again in 2018 on the 2.5's. 2018, 19 are good years for CVT models as they were still a KISS engine but with improved NVH, apple carplay, but still had real buttons for actual vehicle functions.

 

[Number_35]

Oil consumption could be bad I believe? The FB engines are better and started in 2013.
I'm actually half looking for a manual outback to replace the silly sedan Impreza, and the ideal years are the last 2, 2016 and 17. But 2013 to 2017 is acceptable. CVT's got better in 2016, and then again in 2018 on the 2.5's. 2018, 19 are good years for CVT models as they were still a KISS engine but with improved NVH, apple carplay, but still had real buttons for actual vehicle functions.

Is the oil consumption due to sticking rings, as could be mitigated by running Valvoline Restore and Protect? (Or is it due an inherent mechanical issue?)

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Thoughts on a 2011 Subaru Outback?

Low mileage (c. 130,000 km [80,000 miles]), one owner, from a small town where salt is not used nearly as much as here in the city.

I don't know what the price would be, but I'm guessing way less than the 2018 Crosstrek.

For that era, the best Subaru would be a 2011-2013 Forester, which has the FB25 and a 4-speed automatic. While early FB engines had oil consumption, they all got replacement blocks under warranty

Also consider the Suzuki SX4, Matrix/Vibe AWD, and Mitsubishi

And yes, I have to mention the Dodge Journey with its 4-cylinder engine, AWD, and no CVT

Is AWD really necessary? I imagine most Canadians either have separate tires for winter, or at least use all-weather tires (which are even required in some provinces). Some good non-AWD cars include the Mazda 5, Ford Transit Connect, and the Chevy Orlando (which wasn't sold in the US).

 

[zzyzzx]

That CVT most likely can't be repaired, at least as of right now. And Subaru wants it that way.

 

[Number_35]

For that era, the best Subaru would be a 2011-2013 Forester, which has the FB25 and a 4-speed automatic. While early FB engines had oil consumption, they all got replacement blocks under warranty

Also consider the Suzuki SX4, Matrix/Vibe AWD, and Mitsubishi

And yes, I have to mention the Dodge Journey with its 4-cylinder engine, AWD, and no CVT

Is AWD really necessary? I imagine most Canadians either have separate tires for winter, or at least use all-weather tires (which are even required in some provinces). Some good non-AWD cars include the Mazda 5, Ford Transit Connect, and the Chevy Orlando (which wasn't sold in the US).

Is AWD/4WD necessary? Good question. I've never had either in a personal vehicle (though both my work trucks were 4WD) but do consider good winter tires a must. I'm sold on Nokians.

 

[Number_35]

That CVT most likely can't be repaired, at least as of right now. And Subaru wants it that way.

IIRC someone on BITOG successfully repaired/rebuilt a CVT. But in general, when a CVT fails out of warranty, the vehicle is scrapped.

 

[JD!]

I like the Crosstrek. Not powerful, but they're simple, decently reliable cars with a solid AWD system.

There were CVT issues in the early years, but the internet makes things sound worse than they really are. I just met a guy with a 2011 Outback at 250,000 miles on the original CVT; those were known to be failure prone.

As with any other CVT, fluid maintenance is important.

 

[IndyIan]

IIRC someone on BITOG successfully repaired/rebuilt a CVT. But in general, when a CVT fails out of warranty, the vehicle is scrapped.

I would have a go at just replacing it with lower mileage one from the wreckers.
A 2018 Crosstrek 100k km CVT is $600 USD on car-part.com.... So they don't seem to fail too often!
A 2018 Corolla CVT is around $1900 USD at the moment.

 

[andrew_j]

Highly desire used vehicle so pricing is high.

They see it as a car or have actual desire for the brand or model?

 

[Number_35]

Highly desire used vehicle so pricing is high.

They see it as a car or have actual desire for the brand or model?

Good question - I'm not sure. I think they're open to other manufacturers, though if they really want a Japanese wagon the field is small.

 

[addyguy]

IMO, too small a vehicle for what is required.
2 cars seats in the back, and the ‘luggage’ that goes with kids??
Not in a Crosstrek; there isn’t much trunk behind the seats.

 

[D60]

I service an '11 Outback 2.5 EJ and it lost HGs around 230k freedom. According to Mr Subaru it lasted longer than most. It almost always starts as excessive pressure in cooling system and eventually blows the neck off the upper rad hose connection.

Now around 240k the CVT is still somehow ok, although it's leaking at the pan -- which also suggests to me it's been serviced by an indy and they used a gasket. Subaru uses a you'll-never-get-it-off FIPG of sorts

My latest PSA to everyone with a Subaru CVT and any sealed transmission is WATCH FOR LEAKS. You have no dipstick and thus no way to practically check fluid level.

I'm presently replacing a TR690 in a '15 Outback because it was ran 5-6 quarts low for God knows how long. Only 97k freedom. The TR580 is susceptible to the same leaks, even by Subaru's own admission via TSB

 

[D60]

Also @CarbonToast rebuilt his TR580 and he's the man here. He knows his shizzle on the CVTizzle.

I spoke w clinebarger on Subaru CVTs and he said he doesn't see many in TX where people still have a modicum of sanity, but wasn't confident he could even get parts if he wanted to.

We only have one transmission shop locally and they said the same thing -- couldn't get parts for this '15 TR690 but if they could the last one they did was $7k -- I'm assuming this was a GO AWAY price.

 

[D60]

IMO, too small a vehicle for what is required.
2 cars seats in the back, and the ‘luggage’ that goes with kids??
Not in a Crosstrek; there isn’t much trunk behind the seats.

I thought that, too? The CrossTrek is targeted at the 20-something childless crowd who wants something that looks like a Nike shoe to "get to the trailhead". Bonus points for driving alone with an N95.....

 

[Trav]

They even come with a pair of free Birkenstocks and a save a tree bumper sticker.