Should i buy a forester xt

I test drove a Legacy diesel when my annual mileage was close to 20, a year, but it was pre facelift, very dated inside and the diesel wasn't brilliant. Local dealer however is typical family outfit and very accommodating when you are interested - throw you the keys and let you out alone for an hour or so. Now my mileage is 10, probably less this year and petrol is back on the agenda I looked at the new Impreza hatchback, but it was just a little too small. However the new 2. Maybe the CVT box does not take the diesel torque?

The over-revving characteristic of CVT which wound so many pea-brained car reviewers up has now been engineered out. Makes DSG an over-engineered irrelevance.

I treat most not all motoring journalists as illiterate and innumerate fools who have no skills at their own job. Once you take that stance, you realise what they say and what they mean. Of particular note is its score of 95 per cent in the adult occupant protection category.

Audi has stocked the A3 with impressive levels of big-car safety kit, too. These include optional radar-controlled cruise control that maintains a set distance to the car in front, lane-keep assist, hill-hold assist and a pre-sense system to prepare the car in the event of an accident.

Another optional safety feature is a self-park system that will help you get into a tight parking space. The A3 also put in an impressive performance in 's Driver Power survey - coming in 16th place out of cars. And what do they acttaully SAY about reliability? Err nothing I've stopped paying attention to car magazine reviews these days as well. They seem to fall for the usual hype as well like the mythical VW reliability. I think it was Auto Express who were praising the germanic qualities of the Golf GTi they had on test.

Read the review in detail and it had a replacement gearbox at something like 5k miles - under warranty yes, but still hardly a sign of quality. I tend to read up on owners forums for more specific information about a car I'm interested in - perfect example was my Vectra.

Slated by the press but I liked it generally I had 3! Until then I'll stick to my 5 series and Golf. I havent bothered to look at one since, and as for getting 30mpg with the petrol well it ok but thats about all, 14 years ago i had a Audi Quattro 1. So i don't really think 30mpg on a new subi is anything to write about. Yes road tests do spend a lot of time on the ICE or whatever new name its now given, but thats because over recent years the systems have advanced quickly.

My CX-5 is already dated and due to be changed in Also i might mention the CRV is getting a 9 speed ZF auto in the UK which it needs to replace the pathetic 5 speed it uses at present, and the engine is bhp not , from a 1. Its not the first subi i,ve tested either also tried a 2L petrol boxer impressor years ago because i had read good things about the boxer engine noise, sorry it did nothing for me. Unless it's turbo'd, none of the Subarus built in the last 10 years or so will sound any good as they "upgraded" from the simple, unequal length exhaust headers which gave the off-beat sound to a more complex spaghetti with equal exhaust headers which are quieter, smoother and more refined.

The turbo's still use unequal length headers but the turbo back pressure muffles much of the sound - apart from the boy-racer versions of course. But it was over priced with the worst dash i have ever seen in any car. Way out of date. I'm afraid that to me, it just means it was clear, easy to read, and had as few buttons as necessary.

Cool, trendy and modern doesn't equate to good. I'm sure that my Saab would have the same criticism levelled at it, but it's simple and easy to use. That man is sorely missed! It was written too beautifully. The JD Power survey is very subjective - and dependent totally on owners' expectations vs experience. We have owned a Forester 2. Up to about 6 months ago, at approx. The first thing to go wrong was two secondary air valves and pump. I've since discovered this has been a common fault and basically down to corrosion of the metal used not able to cope with the condensation on cold start-up.

We then had a low-level knocking under the front floor pan which turned out to be worn bushes on trailing links connected to the anti-roll bar. There seems to be a common theme here of low-spec. I wouldn't expect these failures at such a low mileage.

Ther are records of - and cars for sale on Autotrader - having new injectors at 90k miles mainly diesels. And if the clutch does go, getting the replacement fitted right is sometimes a problem The secondary air valves is a well known fault. Introduced on 2.

The 2. You can get the 2. I think the system was designed to reduce emissions on start up. These engines run quite rich from cold.

The mirror might have been available at a specialist or breakers although I'm not sure on this one. Worn anti roll bar links and bushes are common on the Forester and happens on many other cars. Garage sound incompetent to me. Need to defend my local garags about their charges for the two anti-roll links. Checked the bill and included was a new tyre, valet and repair to a front pillar cover where a clip had broken off when we had a windscreen replaced. Locating these "rumbles" is time-consuming and can't always be relicated.

Sorry to mislead. On another point about the air valves corroding, isn't it a case of wrong materials being used or condensation not even been taken into account at the design stage?

Stivv " We then had a low-level knocking under the front floor pan which turned out to be worn bushes on trailing links connected to the anti-roll bar. I own a '56 reg. Outback, derived from the Legacy, owned since new and mileage The front links were replaced a year ago,and the rear ones recently. The links are a steel with rubber bushes and that kind of thing does become noisy eventually. One of the bolts had corroded in and had to be burned out, but apart from the wrong links being supplied by the dealer there were no other problems.

I know the flat four isn't very economical but if diesel is increasingly attacked and taxed more heavily petrol engines might make a comeback. Is that the case with the NA 2. From my memory of discussions on Subaru forums when I owned one, the head gasket issue was fixed by a significant design change in the early '00s so shouldn't be an issue on modern engines. I hope so, that's part of the reason for preferring another 3. We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing. The door on my Peugeot refuses to unlock?

Does the cam chain need tightening on my Subaru XV? What's a good car for a 17 year old? Latest Reviews 3. Used Car Pricing Search on. Value my car with , miles to buy or sell? How to reject a car Check if your car has a recall. Fuel Calculator Petrol or Diesel? What is the Fuel Calculator? Compare two cars to find the lowest fuel cost. Search the forum. Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion. View Threaded. Wed 17 Dec Will it last you a few years?

It could, yes. Get a PPI and go into it with your eyes open. At that mileage, needs you can expect: 1. Timing belt. Was it changed on schedule e. Were these replaced? If so, when? These should be replaced about once every 75K. If they are in bad shape, then that's additional wear and tear on the rest of the suspension, which may lead to more trouble ball joints, tie rod ends, etc.

How do the transmission, differential front and rear , power steering, and brake fluids look? Condition of fluids can tell you a lot about the general care philosophy of prior owners.

Head Gaskets. If they were not already replaced, make sure it is inspected by someone who can look for the early warning signs of EJ25 HG failures. You don't want to be the owner of this car if it has problems with head gaskets right now. The good news is that 1 above becomes a parts-cost-only item if done concurrently. These are the main items that come to mind at the moment! Not trying to scare you off here, just reiterating I've owned the following Subaru vehicles transmission type, length of ownership, and total vehicle miles : Subaru Outback AT, 6.

Many Subaru drivers have found that they can fit a 29 inch tire on their car without cutting fenders or sacrificing too much low end. Whether you have a brand new Outback, Ascent, Forester, or maybe an older Impreza that needs a little extra grip and off-road capability, there are some good all terrain tire options that many Subaru drivers trust. Lifted Subaru Vs. As an Amazon Affiliate, we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our participation in this program helps us continue bringing content to our readers.

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