As far as I can tell, Subaru's are absolutely nothing special, and should be avoided unless you want 4WD. Now if you do want 4WD, supposedly theirs is pretty good. Yes, I used to maintain a 2000 Forester.
Furries can drive? Perhaps only the ones with opposable thumbs. All others have to get the models with CVT.....
I think they've been replaced with furries in the more recent times...
Yeah, it seems to me that they really started focusing on their reliability and reputation in the early and mid 2010's. Maybe they poached some Toyota QC managers? I think their N.A. marketing has been quite successful and over states the value of AWD and off road capabilities, but that's N.A. marketing for you... We have people convinced they need trucks with 1000ft/lbs of torque for towing 3 atv's on the weekend...Subaru's Trying to Fix Its Quality Problem Before It's Too Late
Subaru’s lineup is one of the more focused among major automakers, and also among the most beloved, which is why it’s always been a little curious why its cars haven’t always been well-made.jalopnik.com
I avoided the Forester 10 years ago because I didn't want AWD and they had not ironed out the oil consumption issues yet. My questions if I were to look at them again:
1.) How much does tire management run up the costs (replace 4 every time one is bad)?
2.) Past 100k or so, how much does AWD repairs run up the ownership costs?
3.) I assume you no longer need to be a lesbian to own a Subaru?? LOL, I intend not to chap anyone's rear end with this comment, but a few years ago there seemed to be some connection between Subarus and lesbians that mad for popular folkore on the net.
No furrie here. As for lesbian....well I will admit I do like women since I've been married to my wife for 29 years. In my area of the Appalachians Subarus are as common as any brand. We have three of them in our household currently. Cannot beat them for price and awd performance. Anything with the 2.5 FA engine has a semi closed deck and head and block cooling are separate; completely different than the old EJ series engines. Subaru also started using a much improved gasket in 2010. So for newer stuff this just isn't the problem it was. Reminds me of the Pennzoil made from Pennsylvania crude and has paraffin wax threads.....or something like that Once an internet legend starts...well you know.Furries can drive? Perhaps only the ones with opposable thumbs. All others have to get the models with CVT.....
Older Subarus with the EJ have head gasket problems, so you need Subaru Coolant Conditioner (Holts Radweld). If you have the DOHC EJ25D from the late 90s, that head gaskets fails internally, while the SOHC engines fail externally. Bar's Leaks Head Gasket Sealer works great in it, and perhaps you could even use Bars Leaks as coolant conditioner
The SOHC engines are also much easier to work on.
Subarus take green coolant. Zerex Asian Green, Peak OET Green, Pentofrost A2, or similar.
The newer Subarus with the CVT finally make 30 mpg possible. Cam2 and Transtar CVT fluids are the correct green color and a good price. In order to change the CVT fluid, you need a flat surface and a scan tool that reads transmission temperature.
There's nothing specific to AWD that has problems over 100k
Another problem you'll find in newer Subarus is the control arm bushings. It is easier to just replace the whole control arm. There is a special Subaru ball joint puller that you can use with either an impact gun or a slide hammer. Autozone rents out slide hammers free as part of their loaner tool program.
Manual transmissions have a completely different AWD system than the automatics. The manual's AWD is not electronic and always 50/50. In addition, the manual transmission is integrated into the front diff, while automatic transmissions use a separate front diff. The manual transmission/differential combo requires Motul Gear 300, while the automatics are much less picky: any modern Dexron synthetic for the non-CVT, any CVT fluid for the CVT, and the front diff in the auto/CVT uses any 75w90 GL5 gear oil.
Just an FYI, more modern Subaru's have a blue coolant. Asian blue works as a top up!
Newer ones don't have head gasket issues, but now can be plagued with oil leaks. I actually have a slight seep from the cam carrier on our '19.
I think they've been replaced with furries in the more recent times...
I am still waiting on my Coexist sticker. Figured it would have come in the mail already, or does it just grow on there? I figured you automatically get one when you buy a Subaru....
Toyota needs to step in and implement the Toyota Production System at Subaru, pull the ripcord on the old Nissan/GM era supply chain but do so in a way not to make Subaru a mere me-too of Toyota.Subaru's Trying to Fix Its Quality Problem Before It's Too Late
Subaru’s lineup is one of the more focused among major automakers, and also among the most beloved, which is why it’s always been a little curious why its cars haven’t always been well-made.jalopnik.com
Certainly a clunky one. I keep saying that my WRX would be just about perfect if it shifted as crisply and precisely as the average Honda does.The WRX used to have a glass gearbox. Not sure if that changed.
Toyota needs to step in and implement the Toyota Production System at Subaru, pull the ripcord on the old Nissan/GM era supply chain but do so in a way not to make Subaru a mere me-too of Toyota.
IMO, Subaru engineering and materals aren’t to the caliber of Toyota or even Honda. It’s closer to Nissan. Subies also are a bit more maintenance intensive than a Toyota. However, newer Subarus aren’t as bad as the 2000s era when a bankrupt and soon to be French-controlled Nissan handed over Fuji Heavy Industries to GM.
You should have easily been able to find better answers to your “research” than just regurgitating several internet myths. As several have pointed out, for every single true issue with a Subaru, there are probably 100+ cars without it, but there are 99 people who don’t know the facts and simply blow it out of proportion.I avoided the Forester 10 years ago because I didn't want AWD and they had not ironed out the oil consumption issues yet. My questions if I were to look at them again:
1.) How much does tire management run up the costs (replace 4 every time one is bad)?
2.) Past 100k or so, how much does AWD repairs run up the ownership costs?
3.) I assume you no longer need to be a lesbian to own a Subaru?? LOL, I intend not to chap anyone's rear end with this comment, but a few years ago there seemed to be some connection between Subarus and lesbians that mad for popular folkore on the net.
That is what they focus on. Some professionals in Russian FSB would or are admiring their marketing. All those commercials: if you don't buy Subaru, your family will die in miserable death; that is the reason for the 8th amendment, just to follow with the golden retriever commercial. They literally had billboards here: nothing goes in snow like Subaru.Yeah, it seems to me that they really started focusing on their reliability and reputation in the early and mid 2010's. Maybe they poached some Toyota QC managers? I think their N.A. marketing has been quite successful and over states the value of AWD and off road capabilities, but that's N.A. marketing for you... We have people convinced they need trucks with 1000ft/lbs of torque for towing 3 atv's on the weekend...
Anyways, they are a tiny automaker who has found a niche and are trying to make a few cars well now. 1 main global chassis, a few engines, and 2 cvt transmissions, I like that KISS approach and that they design and manufacture their own CVT's.
Ours has been good so far, they had a warranty fix for a squeaking driver seat, and have an extended car battery warranty now as some had problems. So it seems to me they are interested in taking care of their customers and keeping them.
The whole replace 4 tires thing seems a bit overblown to me, its not really a big issue on actual subaru forums,
That said, if you don't need AWD, don't get it, in a Subaru or anything else.
That's what marketing is about, we also have lots of commercials with Crosstrek's with kayaks on the roof bombing down muddy trails like they are ATVs...That is what they focus on. Some professionals in Russian FSB would or are admiring their marketing. All those commercials: if you don't buy Subaru, your family will die in miserable death; that is the reason for the 8th amendment, just to follow with the golden retriever commercial. They literally had billboards here: nothing goes in snow like Subaru.
That is why they are first in the ditch.