Our 2001 "extra car" Forester is at 189,000. My wife's 2007 is at 185,000. Our son's 2012 is now closing in on 150,000. Other than timing belt and head gasket changes on the older two at 100k, no major issues with any of them.
I have 2009 FXT that has been very good to me. My wife drove it gently for first 200k. I don't drive so nice, but at 255k it's still going strong. We've definitely put some money in it over the years, what saved it was finding a really good mechanic who specializes in subs. It burns oil but not too much. Never had to change head gasket. Personally I like the looks way better than any other gen. It has large hood scoop and sport grill. Looks great coming at you!😁
Just bought my first car at 18. 2006 Subaru Forester. I pray it serves me well. I don’t care for luxury or flashy things. I mean it has a moonroof! Taking good care of it & regular maintenance, I hope it lasts me a very very long time.
How's it doing? If you're in a rust-prone area, make sure to keep an eye on the front lower control arms. They were recalled and can be replaced for free by Subaru if both, or either, have yet to be replaced. Also, keep an eye on the rear shock towers. I crushed my '06 a couple years ago due to a) the front lower control arm snapping as my wife pulled in the driveway before b) finding that the rear shock towers were holier than a hunk of Swiss cheese.
Love my 03 forester 2.5X. Bought it dirt cheap 2 years ago with a blown engine. Picked up a used engine, freshened it up then installed. I drive this thing daily and love it. Great video as always.
I used to do sometimes 2 Subaru head gasket jobs a week but I pulled the motor out and resealed the whole complete engine plus head gaskets really made the customers happy no more oil leaks
Great rundown on forester history, my gf owns a 2018 with only 33k miles and only issue we’ve had is a rear wheel bearing started making noise recently. I own a 2013 xv crosstrek with 108k miles and no major issues for the 40k miles I’ve owned it. Looking forward to keeping up with our services for miles to come with the help of your videos, appreciate all the help and info!
@@DeSoccerRefMan it has the CVT, it also just needed new head gaskets and re-seal of cam carriers at 46K miles. Thankfully still covered under warranty, I still need to check if the PCV valve is functioning as mentioned in other MrSubaru videos. Looking to trade it in for the new Tacoma at some point though
I have a 2015 Forester with CVT (built march 2014) with 75,000 KM the only issue is the remote door locks sometimes don't work on the front doors (mostly on the driver's side) but no oil burning or any other problems. We really like the 360 degree visibility and easy access which was the main reasons we bought it.
The 14 to 18 engines are so reliable you can buy them used with less then 30k for less than $1000 shipped. I've changed subaru engines since the 1.6 ones from the late 70s and subaru hit a home run with the 2014 base model forester no direct injection, no infotainment system no climate control , no power seats, and gets over 30mpg. The cvt with 30k fluid changes lasted 320k in my 2015 forester and the engine still ran like new. Installed a used cvt and engine with 30k and I'm going to take this car to over 500k.
Just bought another Subaru, a beautiful 05 Forster XT 5MT with 88k!!! First thing I did after purchase was check out your channel haha. Amazing video as usual, I’m grateful for your depth of knowledge and professionalism!
I had a 2018 forester 6MT. Loved the car. AC went out 6 times under warranty! Then failed a 7th time out of warranty and Subaru wasn't willing to fix it. That's when I decided to sell it. I really enjoyed it, though. Got great mileage. The close ratio 6 speed was great combined with the 4.44 final drive. Never burnt a drop of oil.
I have a 2018 Forester Base, 6MT. Just tanked up at 26.6mpg in the Cleveland winter today, 31.3mpg in the summer, used it to pull a 1k pound teardrop trailer, space for four adults and a black lab, plenty of pull, AWD tears through snow. Very pleased with it.
@@nowiecoche I bought it just as they were stopping the 2018! If I waited another month I would have had to get the CVT. I don't mind CVTs. The one thing that scared me away from a SK forester was the electronic parking brake. That's a hard no from me.
It's worth mentioning how similar the 04-05 xt engine is to the STI engine. Lots of people put the sti turbo intercooler and a tune on their xt for an extra 70-90 horsepower
@@csechrist1 I recall the bore on them being smaller than on the Impreza as well as the exhaust and air filter not being on par. You don't have to update those things, but your engine will suffer without doing so.
I agree with your assessment of the start/stop feature on my 2020 Forester. It is irritating. I usually remember to turn it off, but I wish I shut it off permanently. The only issue with the Eyesight system was some dust from road mantainance. The brakes locked up as if there was an obsticle in my path. Fortunately, the car behind me was able to avoid a collision. Overall, I like the car. It is comfortable and has got me to some amazing destinations.
The "only" issue with eyesight.... Luckily it wasn't a semi truck behind you, you could be dead or permanently injured. If that happened to me, I'd be looking into permanently disabling the system.
Just picked up a 2012 Forester and couldn’t be happier with it. Only had it a couple of weeks but I’m loving it. Glad to be a part of the Subaru community! Edit- it burns so much oil at highway speed I can’t refill it fast enough. Had a 2 hour drive the other day and it started knocking and smoking. Pulled safely off the road to fine there was ZERO oil in the motor. I’d checked and refilled 3 days before and only driven a few miles before my road trip. Boxer engines are garbage.
Bought a ‘17 XT Touring w/o Eyesight in 2019 with 21,000 miles. Came off a lease. Wife loves it. Her previous car was an ‘05 Toyota Sienna. She wanted something smaller, but with the good visibility. Has 50,000 miles on it now. Doesn’t burn oil, CVT is fine. I did put an AOS on it. I change oil every 3k miles. One odd thing, I just had to replace the control arm bushings on the front suspension. The front bushings were really bad and the compliance bushings were starting to crack. I replaced the ball joints too since I had the front end apart and the left one was a little loose. Other than that, it’s been trouble free. Oh, I didn’t tell my wife about the S & I modes for the first year. 😉 After I showed her S Mode, she said “wow!, it’s easy to merge on the freeway now” which progressed to “well I beat a Ferrari across the intersection, but then he disappeared.” 😆
The 2004 STi had the same banjo bolts with filter screens in the lines going to the turbo and valve control system. Same possible point of failure. Good videos...Thank you.
Still driving my 1998 Forester S. w/ 240,000 mi+. Dealt with the HG's with 6-star replacements, rear wheel bearings (Koyo Japan), manual shift linkage, a knock sensor, full on Aisin timing belt kit (x-2), clutch & pressure plate (throw-out & pilot bearings), a brake job and a battery. Haven't had to do much more than that over the last 20 years except regular oil and filter changes and the occasional coolant, brake fluid changes. Still runs great, good compression, super to drive in bad weather. A great car, I think I'll keep it a while.
I love my JDM 2011 NA Forester with FB20 and 4EAT. Drove it for 3 years in Mongolia with no issues. I do the regular maintenance myself. Personally, I like the design and everything.
The majority of these issues are hugely blown out of proportion. I still don't believe the pickups crack at the braze. Maybe one batch during one year was affected, but it's mostly a BS issue. N/A Subarus from 06+ use the same pickup as the turbo models, but supposedly the N/A models never have that issue.. The SH chassis is based on the 08 impreza platform which is based on the fourth gen Legacy platform, which is my favorite and is what every modern Subaru chassis is based on. Bolt in hubs alone make these much better than the previous version imo. These are probably the best bang for buck Forester imo.
Just picked up the lower end 2014 Forester for my son to drive as he is 6' 3" is not a bit more. Got 174,200 miles on it and back in the Subaru family again (my parents had several that I eventually got - from a '79 DL sedan to an '85 GL. My mom just got another Subaru recently after years of not owning Subaru. Local dealer in Fairborn. Ohio is fantastic...
I just got a 2019 and so far I love it. It's a really comfortable daily driver for road trips and such with a nice stiff body but it also crawls over anything I want and the addition of skidplates and rock sliders keep it in good shape when I go off road, which I do regularly
I have a Crosstrek sport with the auto stop start and I agree it's harsh and a terrible idea probably just to help them boost epa ratings. I've gotten used to pressing the disable button every time I drive and it doesn't bother me that much but it's stupid the system won't retain the setting. Otherwise love the car! This was a great breakdown
I own a 2015 forester. It’s a hell of a car. 166k miles and the only major work done on it was replacing the rear wheel bearings. I’ve taken it on heavy snow, sand, mud and it’s gotten me home safely in torrential downpour. I’m glad I picked it over the RAV4 despite it having 20hp less. I’ve gotten used to the CVT, which seems to be demonized. My only complaint would be oil consumption that was noticeable after 140k miles. Simple solution was to change the oil more frequently at 2.5-3k mile intervals. I’ll drive it till her last hurrah.
I've been looking at a new forester for my wife! But I've been iffy about the engine reliability. Currently own an 06 sti but that's been built just about 600whp. Would you recommend a new forester from your experience?
@@derikmonson1941 the engine is pretty good I’ve done almost always highway miles and conservative driving. I do try to get a nice amount of 80mph driving from time to time to really clean the injectors. I’m a daily driver as well of the forester. I do know the older generations of foresters had bad head gaskets that would leak and there would be early problems with leaks in multiple areas of the engine. They seem to have fixed that with the newer generations. It’s a fun car to work on as well with many of the maintenance features east to access. The wilderness looks pretty neat but the other trims look just as promising. I’m not a fan of turbocharged engines though.
@@robertlucas8104 I appreciate it! I agree with the turbocharged versions and they just don't seem as reliable. We'll probably test drive one soon and see how it goes. I know for sure she'll probably want it fully loaded! 😆 🤣
Have to disagree on the SH Forester. I picked up a cheap 2010 model in Australia, 3000km from home to tow a caravan back. Just a basic X model with the 4EAT. Just gave it a oil change and fitted 4 new tyres/tires. I bolted a 17” Euro caravan to the back and towed this van home without issue including on some of Australians shocking roads. This forester had a hard few years, damaged rear bumper, front guard crushed so you could not open the passenger door, full of dirt in all lower panels, was going to just sell it but have been fixing things and is about to be our main family car, has 280,000km. Drives great
I run a 2006 XT and have now done 210,000 miles. Only repairs have been head gaskets, a radiator change and rear shocks. This car has been serviced regularly and only the best oils and filters have been used. Oh yes and the brake linings were replaced at the last service.This car is till absolutely rattle free and runs like a new one.I fully agree with declansdad that this is by far the best vehicle i have ever owned..bar none.
Mr Subaru, my 15 (turns 16 in one week) year old daughter absolutely LOVES the looks of the 2nd gen Subaru Forester and has saved her own money and bought her first car when she only had her learners permit. We drove over 2 hours from where we live in Chattanooga, Tn. to a little town called Hazel Green, Alabama to look at a 2007 Subaru Forester LL Bean edition that was in great shape with the exception of some hail damage on the outside. The interior was in excellent condition and I have already had this car to our local Subaru dealership to find out how the mechanical side of this car looks. I wish we would have lived closer so I could have taken it to the dealership BEFORE she actually purchased this car, because the invoice from the dealership gave us quite a bit of sticker shock as well as disheartened my daughter a little, but she still wants this car! It looks like I will be your best viewer in the future because based on how good your videos are and how you explain things so clearly, I will have to refer to them quite frequently I am sure. This car has 2 main concerns that they put on the “to do” list and both are pretty costly at the dealership ($1600, and $3800). We noticed that the steering wheel was turned to the left a little when you were actually driving straight and then after picking up speed, it would correct itself to the straight position. The other thing was we could smell the “burnt oil” smell a little and found out that the head gaskets both need to be changed out and I believe while they were doing that, they were going to change out a laundry list of things out since that had the motor out and tore apart. This was the $3800 fix and the $1600 fix was the power steering rack (rack and pinion?) If she really wants the car and we bite the bullet for these expensive repairs, do you see this car going the distance without anything else really major? Is this car reliable enough to go ahead and show her some love?
Love your videos thanks for the information and clearing up the confusion my mom has a 98 legacy's that she bought brand new that has 146,000 on it she is 88 years old and still drives it. My daughter has a 2012 Forester that she bought from my aunt and now I am looking for a car for my son. I appreciate your easy-to-understand information especially about the head gasket issue
I'm currently labouring under my SG 2.0 X, paying lots of rust-repairing dues from lazier days in order to hold on to my "big guy" for as long as possible. The 2004/2005 SG was the sweet spot: Manual transmission + manual low gear, no blip-blop bollocks, no distracting screens and you can operate any button and dial wearing mittens at -15°C. And it has an ash tray, and yes, I will burn my own CDs to listen to XD
Great review. thanks! A valiant effort to help Subaru over the hump of it's EJ series engines and the head gasket. I think Subarus are great cars ... but I have to say when a manufacturer has a major issues like a demonstrable and consistent H gasket failure for 15 years of models, something serious has gone wrong at the corporate decision making end re fixing the problem! The reputation blow back on other models is undeserved, by and large, but the fault for the reputation lies with Subaru corporate for dragging the chain for over a decade. But you have great insights on the models and very useful stuff.
My Wife and I bought a new 2018 Forester in November 2017. Presently, it has 16, 820 miles on it. Granted, it gets limited use because we are both retired. It has been one of the best cars we have ever owned. During this time, it did incur three "Recalls". However, Subaru completed all the Recalls very fast with each requiring only one visit to the Dealership. All my maintenance it performed at my local Subaru Dealership, because I can no longer perform it and I trust them, they do good work. I would highly recommend the 2014-2018 model, just like Mr. Subaru stated, "This is a really good Model". Thanks for sharing.
I had an '01 2.5 XTI with a 5 speed and it was the best car I have ever owned. The only engine problem I ever had was the fuel pump going out. Never had a head gasket fail like I have on Datsun/Nissan. Lost it in an accident, but would love to have another one!
My '06 is over 400,000 km, third owner. The dealer did the clutch, head gaskets and timing belt before selling it to owner #2. Needs 1-2 litres oil between changes. Oil is cheaper than another engine. Worst thing was a front axle replacement. The SG is sized just right. I'm waiting for an Impreza with the same interior volume. The Levorg would be just right.
Thanks for the great info! It's reassuring to hear the 4EAT is very reliable. I've got a beautiful silver JDM 2008 SG5 (10th Anniversary special edition, basically an X with nicer paint job, wheels, and steering wheel) with a 2.0L N/A EJ20 engine making about 140 hp. Yeah, it's less than the US version, but it's totally enough for here in Japan (very slow road speeds), and there are much fewer problems with head gaskets. Then again, I only have about 70,000 miles on it, so I guess I just need to wait and see. I'm going to try to keep this baby as long as possible!
All Foresters were progressing to be bigger and bigger and more bloated and less fun to drive. The 2009-2013 models were the most balanced, imho. In terms of size, looks and performance they represented a great mix. Smaller and nimbler with nice smooth looks, none of that excessively folded, bended, jagged, sheet metal nonsense.
So much info to absorb for a used Subie. I'm no mechanic but looking for a Crosstrek. For peace of mind I may just go new (if/when I can get one) and let the dealer take care of the servicing. I have worried about issues you mentioned but dispelling the real problems gives me good reason to go ahead and for that, thank you.
I have the 2021 Forester Touring (previously had the 2014 Forester Touring) I nodded when you got to the auto start/stop feature. I always turn this off when I start my car. When I fail to do so it really hacks me off. The eyesight can also be quite the pain the the a--. Other than that I find myself loving the car - many major improvements over my 2014 Touring. Great video and thank you!!
I currently have a 14 Forrester touring which I absolutely love! When it’s time to upgrade, I’d like to get an 18 XT touring. This is by far my favorite version!
Sigh …. agree! I have the last of the SG9 series - 2008 FXT. Immaculate and relatively low mileage (130,000km). Have loved owing and driving it over the past 10 years and planned to keep it running as long as possible. It was damaged in an accident last week - front bumper, lights and other bits and pieces ripped off. Repairable but has been written off today by the insurance company as uneconomic to repair. I‘d buy the exact same model if it was ever released as a new model despite its age. What an amazing all rounder it was!
I go an 07 Forester X non turbo. Have had it since 2015, I just gotta do the valve seal covers now as it’s leaking oil but in 9 years of owning it, it’s been reliable. I’m just gonna keep it til it isn’t worth fixing. For now, it’s still going strong
Your videos have been super helpful as we consider adding a 2010 Forester to our family for a teen driver. I know now to ask if the head gasket work was performed. Tha ks so much
my first was an 04' 2.5x she had over 250k miles on her when we sold her. wish i still had the car. currently have a 2011 forester xt. 121k miles. did the timing set and waterpump yesterday with the aisin kit you recommended.
Ej251 and 3 - 165hp. Mainly head gasket issues - Failure prone 120-150,000 miles leak. Replaced once or twice - better type replacements. Timing service. Things to look at on the 2003 Forester. 4EAT transmission low problems, no turbo. Wheel bearing issues. Rust in wheel wells. One of the best Foresters.
I bought a 2014 forester 2.5 touring last year, i really thought i was going to hate the CVT, but its not that bad, once you understand what its going to do, you can manipulate it pretty easy. And as a true manual lover, control is important. Also, my mom has an 02 forester with the 4EAT and i like the CVT more, BUT i refuse to put a hitch on my forester, i just use hers to haul 😅
I have a 2010 outback. I just recently picked it up with 104k miles for 5 grand. So not cheap, but def not dealer price expensive nnits paid for. I needed awd n wanted a beater (just not a true pos beater lol, work vehicle). It does have a 2.5l and it does worry me about the head gasket obv. So, i dont issues just yet, but, im imagining at some point I'll need to make a decision on what to do there. So far so good. It gets decent mileage. Doesnt lose or burn any oil. I did have the cooling system serviced by the dealer, mainly because i really wanted to know if there was anything wrong, had them pressure test it and they claim it to be good. Its had the timing belt and water pump replaced a few thousand miles before i got it. It did have a bad timing belt tensioner which i didnt know until a cold start the next day of ownership. That was 600 bucks from the dealer, but the seller paid for it, which was amazing lol. It does have the cvt, but so far its not bad either. It does have the tow hitch, but im doubtful it was used much if ever. Either, for the price, if i get 2 years everything after that will be a bonus to me. I change the oil every 3k miles, I'll probably up that to 4k soon as my most of my mileage is highway. If u look under my car, i live in pa salt everywhere in the winter, it looks so good its amazing. Zero rust in the front half, literally zero. Typical surface rust in the rear half but not bad. I got it at the start of the winter n coated everything i could with cec marine protection spray, like fluid film but even better. Anyway, good luck with ur car
may I ask why you dont put a hitch on your '14? I am planning to buy a used SJ XT cuz the current gen doesnt offer the turbo anymore and was thinking of adding a hitch to haul bicycles or flat beds when needed
@@jeromegaces6184 I won’t put a hitch on it because I would be tempted to pull my utility trailer with it and I just don’t trust the CVT with that type of hauling, plus my mom loves it when I use hers to haul because she gets to drive the “14 lol. A hitch for a bike rack would be just fine though. But I’m not big into biking so I don’t really have a need for it.
@@todtalk3912 wow, that’s a really good deal! I got mine with 150K for 9K! But that was dealer prices. It’s the nicest car I’ve ever owned, aside from my short time with my ‘12 STi, but that was more sporty than nice.
I had a 2013 for 4 years and didn't have any issues with it, just expected maintenance. A tree fell on it recently so I got an 09 LL Bean edition. The 09 has been well maintained with one owner, and it definitely feels like a luxury version. A lot of people who are big into Foresters may not like the body but I do. I used to not appreciate older Foresters but they've grown on me - they're just too rusty and too many miles to bother with in this economy. One day I'll drive south and get a clean gen 1 and/or gen 2. They used to look too boxy and bulbusy, had the swagger of a PT Puker or something of the like. But I can appreciate the stepping stones that led to my models, now.
I love your roasting of bad Subaru owners. They really are the reason these vehicles get such a bad rep. Just bought a 2020 Forester and aside from the auto start/stop that I and everyone else despises, its a great car! People just don't understand how to take care of nice things anymore and then complain when they break or fail. I work in the tech industry and see the same problem.
2020 Forester owner here. Eyesight providing adaptive cruise will trump any issues I have with it. I sort of disagree about auto stop/start. There's a simple mod to disable it permanently if it bothers you that much. I don't hate it anymore after living with it. You can also just not press the brake pedal so hard. It will only activate in specific circumstances. There are a lot of buttons, but I'd rather have this than have everything buried in the touchscreen.
Thanks MrSubaru - as always this is very informative. I have a 2014 2.5i Touring with the TR580 CVT. I would have thought even a high level review like this would mention the CVT issues - especially early failures - Subaru's lifetime CVT fluid recommendation being a recipe for the lifetime being about 100k. Other than the CVT - both how it feels and it being an expensive weak link - I love my Forester. But if I were in the market for a used one, the CVT would be my biggest concern.
In a couple days I’m buying a 2014 2.5i sport legacy with 90,000 on it. It seems to be kept in excellent condition with one original owner who doesn’t seem like a thrill seeker. However I am very nervous about the boxer motor and cvt trans.
Nicely presented info. Unfortunately my '09 XT had auto trans problems, and both my '14 and '17 Forester XT's (they did "tweak" the '17 to take edge off ride and interior) had problematic turbo engines that often ran rough climbing hills and badly carboned their tail pipes, plugs and valves (Subaru seems to have solved that with the 2.4 XT in my Outback).
We have a '15 Touring model and it's been one of the best, most economical vehicles we've owned over the past 55 years. My wife is sad to let it go, but I've decided it's time to upgrade to a new RAV4 Limited Hybrid. I might have gone for another new Forester Touring, but our dealer couldn't give us an ETA on a new one other than to say it would be a '24 model. That and the RAV4 Hybrid combined mpg is 40 and the Forester is 29, plus I love the looks of the new RAV4 and their reliability is legendary.. Our forester will be handed off to our youngest daughter.
That filter at 4:43 caused me tears, killed two turbos within the span of two months, since removing it and replacing the TD04 with a VF39 never had trouble since, so to anyone not familiar with that sack of shit filter, REMOVE IT Also I don't drive my automatic 2004 XT like miss daisy😂 but I have had no issues with the transmission I'm on 170k km. And I drive fast the car is amazing
Yeah the Auto Start/Stop on my 2019 Forester Sport is irritating especially when one forgets to disengage it everytime. Not a big fan of the Eyestart as well, excessive fog or rain or makes it disengage itself but more annoying is when attempting to overtake a vehicle on the highway if you get too close from behind trying to overtake the vehicle in the front EyeStart applies the brakes thinking you are going to rear end the vehicle in front so one needs to change the lane real fast to avoid this especially when you are in heavy traffic and can't change lanes in advance
I have a Subaru Forester STI here in the UK love it! Yes i have had one head gasket replaced which went at 80,0000 but it is a 2.5 turbo so its not just the naturally aspirated engines. all 2.5 seem to have chocolate head gaskets.
looked at a 2011 model, asked about the head gasket service and timing belt. They said they had no idea if that type of service was ever done on the car since they werent the original owner. The vehicle history report show no record of that type of service being done on the car. Maybe it never needed it? but maybe it will soon? Ultimately, the uncertainty was a deal breaker.
I own 2020 e-boxer. Good economy. It's slow but I don't care as I like my visa in Japan so it keeps me from speeding. The Eyesight was a big pro for me. It's great in the motorway. The drivers camera is slightly annoying and maybe unnecessary for me. It doesn't bother me much though. The square trunk is awesome. There is too much space behind the rear seats - my mother in law is supper short anyways so I'd prefer bigger trunk. Not a deal breaker though, I often fit the cooler box behind the seats. AWD is great for my needs - mountains, rain, snow, some mud or vegetations in the road. The roadnoise is acceptable for the price and shape of the vehicle. Comfort is decent, although I'd prefer for the central armrest to move forward. Leather + heated steering wheel + heated frond and back seats. Makes few of my family members happy. The visibility is great. I'm happy with my choice. It fits my needs very well. Unfortunately there isn't much competition for vehicles of affordable price who priorities usability.
I've been very happy with my 2011 Forester XT. The only issue I've had with mine (so far) is the radiator cracking apart at the seams. Otherwise. Oh, and whoever owned it before me didn't seat the intercooler on properly so it made a whistling sound until I took it off and fixed the seal. I do agree with the body styling. It's not my favorite of the foresters in its base state without the rear "spoiler." But with it, it changes the whole feel of the vehicle, as does having the "turbo bump" on the front. I think since 2016 they've had the worst tail light configuration. That god awful crab claw design that so many other brands also have. I think the 2012-14 got a more squared off tail light that looks a bit better. The worst of all of the Foresters, imo, though are any of the "sport" branded foresters really don't offer anything in terms of performance enhancements. Just a reddish orange stripe
I’ll keep my 2016 base Forester with manual transmission as long as it’ll run with scheduled maintenance. All I want is a vehicle that is as simple as possible. I don’t care for all the whiz bang bells and whistles, touch screens, navigation, fancy transmissions, or turbo doo dads. I just wanna put it in gear, press a clutch, and get from A to B. If I can’t have that anymore in a new Subaru, then I’ll just get a base Jeep. 😅
The SJ section basically only touched on the interior and technology. I own a 2017 (SJ) and could speak on some of the mechanical reliability. Transmission: a few owners reported issues related to the CVT shifting. I have only experienced hard or delayed shifting when the transmission is hot, (read: warm weather, working hard, and/or stop and go traffic). Subaru issued an extension to the transmission warranty to 10 years - 100,000 miles (TSB 16-115-18). Battery/Electric: Some owners reported electric issues or battery drain issues, there is currently a settlement with SOA due to battery failures. I had a battery failure 2 years ago and replaced it with an AGM (Optima) battery. HVAC: Owners reported Air Conditioning issues/failures prematurely. There is a warranty extension to replace the faulty condenser (15-269-20R). I had mine fail at 38,000 mi, prior to the warranty extension, and had a independent Subaru mechanic repair the issues. Airbag: Airbag recall, easy bring to dealer to replace. The issued made my airbag warning light go off, dealer fixed under warranty prior to recall. Engine: Burns oil (approx. 1 qt every 3,000 miles). Common with most new Subaru motors due to loose tolerances and fuel economy requirements. Brakes*: Squeak when they are cold (not rust). I may have light glazing due to wheel modifications (smaller wheels and larger tires). Other than a few minor issues that caused me to drop the car off at a dealership while I went to work, the car has been fantastically reliable and I'm looking forward to many more miles.
The only potential issue with the turbo 09-13 turbo motors was the Banjo bolt filter screens. The 14-18 turbo ones were good just needed intake valve cleanings from the direct Injection. Not really an issue just a little more maintenance. Everything else was spot on. Just something I didn't see. Great video!
I have ALWAYS wanted to get my hands on 2008 Forester STI !!! Id put some cool wheels on it and do just a few tasteful mods just to wake it up a little, about 350 hp would be perfect!
My 2001 Subaru Forester S Turbo SF5 Manual was amazing too drive just watch out for rust rare af the subframe rotted so bad it fell off half of it needed alot of welding i had too sell it rear turrets were rotten took 4.5 KG of sheet metal and a new GC8 Wrx subframe
Our 2001 "extra car" Forester is at 189,000. My wife's 2007 is at 185,000. Our son's 2012 is now closing in on 150,000. Other than timing belt and head gasket changes on the older two at 100k, no major issues with any of them.
That's an awfully expensive "other than".
@@rangerdoc1029 Routine maintenance for those years, not failures. About $850 in parts and a weekend in the garage, goof for another 100k or more.
I have 2009 FXT that has been very good to me. My wife drove it gently for first 200k. I don't drive so nice, but at 255k it's still going strong. We've definitely put some money in it over the years, what saved it was finding a really good mechanic who specializes in subs. It burns oil but not too much. Never had to change head gasket. Personally I like the looks way better than any other gen. It has large hood scoop and sport grill. Looks great coming at you!😁
Just bought my first car at 18. 2006 Subaru Forester. I pray it serves me well. I don’t care for luxury or flashy things. I mean it has a moonroof! Taking good care of it & regular maintenance, I hope it lasts me a very very long time.
I hope so too!
How's it doing? If you're in a rust-prone area, make sure to keep an eye on the front lower control arms. They were recalled and can be replaced for free by Subaru if both, or either, have yet to be replaced. Also, keep an eye on the rear shock towers. I crushed my '06 a couple years ago due to a) the front lower control arm snapping as my wife pulled in the driveway before b) finding that the rear shock towers were holier than a hunk of Swiss cheese.
Drive it like you care about it. Baby your vehicle change your oil with high milage full synthetic and a good filter and you should be good.
Love my 03 forester 2.5X. Bought it dirt cheap 2 years ago with a blown engine. Picked up a used engine, freshened it up then installed. I drive this thing daily and love it. Great video as always.
I used to do sometimes 2 Subaru head gasket jobs a week but I pulled the motor out and resealed the whole complete engine plus head gaskets really made the customers happy no more oil leaks
Great rundown on forester history, my gf owns a 2018 with only 33k miles and only issue we’ve had is a rear wheel bearing started making noise recently. I own a 2013 xv crosstrek with 108k miles and no major issues for the 40k miles I’ve owned it. Looking forward to keeping up with our services for miles to come with the help of your videos, appreciate all the help and info!
If your gf wants to get rid of her 2018 id like to get one, especially of it has the ^MT. Thanks
@@DeSoccerRefMan it has the CVT, it also just needed new head gaskets and re-seal of cam carriers at 46K miles. Thankfully still covered under warranty, I still need to check if the PCV valve is functioning as mentioned in other MrSubaru videos. Looking to trade it in for the new Tacoma at some point though
I have a 2015 Forester with CVT (built march 2014) with 75,000 KM the only issue is the remote door locks sometimes don't work on the front doors (mostly on the driver's side) but no oil burning or any other problems. We really like the 360 degree visibility and easy access which was the main reasons we bought it.
I have the same problem with my 2014, I was told to replace the door lock actuators.
@@coolcarz-nf5tj oddly enough, ours have been working fine for the last almost year now.
I bought a new Forester Base model in 2015. No problems at all yet but it only has 30k miles on it.
The 14 to 18 engines are so reliable you can buy them used with less then 30k for less than $1000 shipped. I've changed subaru engines since the 1.6 ones from the late 70s and subaru hit a home run with the 2014 base model forester no direct injection, no infotainment
system no climate control , no power seats, and gets over 30mpg. The cvt with 30k fluid changes lasted 320k in my 2015 forester and the engine still ran like new. Installed a used cvt and engine with 30k and I'm going to take this car to over 500k.
Just bought another Subaru, a beautiful 05 Forster XT 5MT with 88k!!! First thing I did after purchase was check out your channel haha. Amazing video as usual, I’m grateful for your depth of knowledge and professionalism!
I love my 2005 manual Forrester xs I’m keeping it forever
I had a 2018 forester 6MT. Loved the car. AC went out 6 times under warranty! Then failed a 7th time out of warranty and Subaru wasn't willing to fix it. That's when I decided to sell it.
I really enjoyed it, though. Got great mileage. The close ratio 6 speed was great combined with the 4.44 final drive.
Never burnt a drop of oil.
Whenever I read about someone owning a newer manual Forester, I am always surprised and just feel dang happy that they are on the road.
I have a 2018 Forester Base, 6MT. Just tanked up at 26.6mpg in the Cleveland winter today, 31.3mpg in the summer, used it to pull a 1k pound teardrop trailer, space for four adults and a black lab, plenty of pull, AWD tears through snow. Very pleased with it.
@@nowiecoche I bought it just as they were stopping the 2018! If I waited another month I would have had to get the CVT.
I don't mind CVTs. The one thing that scared me away from a SK forester was the electronic parking brake. That's a hard no from me.
It's worth mentioning how similar the 04-05 xt engine is to the STI engine. Lots of people put the sti turbo intercooler and a tune on their xt for an extra 70-90 horsepower
In fact, the long block is identical! The only difference is the smaller turbo, intercooler as you mentioned, and some ECU tuning.
@@csechrist1 I recall the bore on them being smaller than on the Impreza as well as the exhaust and air filter not being on par. You don't have to update those things, but your engine will suffer without doing so.
I agree with your assessment of the start/stop feature on my 2020 Forester. It is irritating. I usually remember to turn it off, but I wish I shut it off permanently. The only issue with the Eyesight system was some dust from road mantainance. The brakes locked up as if there was an obsticle in my path. Fortunately, the car behind me was able to avoid a collision. Overall, I like the car. It is comfortable and has got me to some amazing destinations.
The "only" issue with eyesight.... Luckily it wasn't a semi truck behind you, you could be dead or permanently injured. If that happened to me, I'd be looking into permanently disabling the system.
@@alsheremeta Agreed, any system that can cause your brakes to lock up randomly even in rare circumstances is totally unacceptable imo.
Just picked up a 2012 Forester and couldn’t be happier with it. Only had it a couple of weeks but I’m loving it. Glad to be a part of the Subaru community!
Edit- it burns so much oil at highway speed I can’t refill it fast enough. Had a 2 hour drive the other day and it started knocking and smoking. Pulled safely off the road to fine there was ZERO oil in the motor. I’d checked and refilled 3 days before and only driven a few miles before my road trip. Boxer engines are garbage.
Was this a joke or did you just accidentally and yet perfectly describe the “Subaru community”?
Bought a ‘17 XT Touring w/o Eyesight in 2019 with 21,000 miles. Came off a lease. Wife loves it. Her previous car was an ‘05 Toyota Sienna. She wanted something smaller, but with the good visibility. Has 50,000 miles on it now. Doesn’t burn oil, CVT is fine. I did put an AOS on it. I change oil every 3k miles. One odd thing, I just had to replace the control arm bushings on the front suspension. The front bushings were really bad and the compliance bushings were starting to crack. I replaced the ball joints too since I had the front end apart and the left one was a little loose. Other than that, it’s been trouble free.
Oh, I didn’t tell my wife about the S & I modes for the first year. 😉 After I showed her S Mode, she said “wow!, it’s easy to merge on the freeway now” which progressed to “well I beat a Ferrari across the intersection, but then he disappeared.” 😆
And yeah.. clunky eps rack
The 2004 STi had the same banjo bolts with filter screens in the lines going to the turbo and valve control system. Same possible point of failure. Good videos...Thank you.
love both of my foresters, 2001 and 2020
Still driving my 1998 Forester S. w/ 240,000 mi+. Dealt with the HG's with 6-star replacements, rear wheel bearings (Koyo Japan), manual shift linkage, a knock sensor, full on Aisin timing belt kit (x-2), clutch & pressure plate (throw-out & pilot bearings), a brake job and a battery.
Haven't had to do much more than that over the last 20 years except regular oil and filter changes and the occasional coolant, brake fluid changes. Still runs great, good compression, super to drive in bad weather. A great car, I think I'll keep it a while.
I love how your presentation style is akin to a 1980's episode of motor week. 😄👍
Glad you like it!
I love my JDM 2011 NA Forester with FB20 and 4EAT. Drove it for 3 years in Mongolia with no issues. I do the regular maintenance myself. Personally, I like the design and everything.
The majority of these issues are hugely blown out of proportion. I still don't believe the pickups crack at the braze. Maybe one batch during one year was affected, but it's mostly a BS issue. N/A Subarus from 06+ use the same pickup as the turbo models, but supposedly the N/A models never have that issue.. The SH chassis is based on the 08 impreza platform which is based on the fourth gen Legacy platform, which is my favorite and is what every modern Subaru chassis is based on. Bolt in hubs alone make these much better than the previous version imo. These are probably the best bang for buck Forester imo.
Just picked up the lower end 2014 Forester for my son to drive as he is 6' 3" is not a bit more. Got 174,200 miles on it and back in the Subaru family again (my parents had several that I eventually got - from a '79 DL sedan to an '85 GL. My mom just got another Subaru recently after years of not owning Subaru. Local dealer in Fairborn. Ohio is fantastic...
I just got a 2019 and so far I love it. It's a really comfortable daily driver for road trips and such with a nice stiff body but it also crawls over anything I want and the addition of skidplates and rock sliders keep it in good shape when I go off road, which I do regularly
I have a Crosstrek sport with the auto stop start and I agree it's harsh and a terrible idea probably just to help them boost epa ratings.
I've gotten used to pressing the disable button every time I drive and it doesn't bother me that much but it's stupid the system won't retain the setting.
Otherwise love the car!
This was a great breakdown
I picked up a used 2011 a few years ago for my daughter, it's been a very good car for her.
Mr Subaru after owning a 2019 Forester I love the Eyesight system especially in heavy traffic. Bad wiper blades will cause many Eyesight issues.
I own a 2015 forester. It’s a hell of a car. 166k miles and the only major work done on it was replacing the rear wheel bearings. I’ve taken it on heavy snow, sand, mud and it’s gotten me home safely in torrential downpour. I’m glad I picked it over the RAV4 despite it having 20hp less. I’ve gotten used to the CVT, which seems to be demonized. My only complaint would be oil consumption that was noticeable after 140k miles. Simple solution was to change the oil more frequently at 2.5-3k mile intervals. I’ll drive it till her last hurrah.
I've been looking at a new forester for my wife! But I've been iffy about the engine reliability. Currently own an 06 sti but that's been built just about 600whp. Would you recommend a new forester from your experience?
Have 125k on ours. Same, just bearings on rear. Great car.
@@derikmonson1941 the engine is pretty good I’ve done almost always highway miles and conservative driving. I do try to get a nice amount of 80mph driving from time to time to really clean the injectors. I’m a daily driver as well of the forester. I do know the older generations of foresters had bad head gaskets that would leak and there would be early problems with leaks in multiple areas of the engine. They seem to have fixed that with the newer generations. It’s a fun car to work on as well with many of the maintenance features east to access. The wilderness looks pretty neat but the other trims look just as promising. I’m not a fan of turbocharged engines though.
@@robertlucas8104 I appreciate it! I agree with the turbocharged versions and they just don't seem as reliable. We'll probably test drive one soon and see how it goes. I know for sure she'll probably want it fully loaded! 😆 🤣
@@derikmonson1941 the forester touring sounds like her type of car! Good luck! 😁 they’re loaded with awesome features for a stylish and comfy ride!
Have to disagree on the SH Forester. I picked up a cheap 2010 model in Australia, 3000km from home to tow a caravan back. Just a basic X model with the 4EAT. Just gave it a oil change and fitted 4 new tyres/tires.
I bolted a 17” Euro caravan to the back and towed this van home without issue including on some of Australians shocking roads.
This forester had a hard few years, damaged rear bumper, front guard crushed so you could not open the passenger door, full of dirt in all lower panels, was going to just sell it but have been fixing things and is about to be our main family car, has 280,000km. Drives great
Had a 2008 Forester...man, I loved that car! Had to choose between my 2000 Impreza RS or my Forester when I move to the Mainland... the RS won!!!...
I run a 2006 XT and have now done 210,000 miles. Only repairs have been head gaskets, a radiator change and rear shocks. This car has been serviced regularly and only the best oils and filters have been used. Oh yes and the brake linings were replaced at the last service.This car is till absolutely rattle free and runs like a new one.I fully agree with declansdad that this is by far the best vehicle i have ever owned..bar none.
Mr Subaru, my 15 (turns 16 in one week) year old daughter absolutely LOVES the looks of the 2nd gen Subaru Forester and has saved her own money and bought her first car when she only had her learners permit. We drove over 2 hours from where we live in Chattanooga, Tn. to a little town called Hazel Green, Alabama to look at a 2007 Subaru Forester LL Bean edition that was in great shape with the exception of some hail damage on the outside. The interior was in excellent condition and I have already had this car to our local Subaru dealership to find out how the mechanical side of this car looks. I wish we would have lived closer so I could have taken it to the dealership BEFORE she actually purchased this car, because the invoice from the dealership gave us quite a bit of sticker shock as well as disheartened my daughter a little, but she still wants this car! It looks like I will be your best viewer in the future because based on how good your videos are and how you explain things so clearly, I will have to refer to them quite frequently I am sure. This car has 2 main concerns that they put on the “to do” list and both are pretty costly at the dealership ($1600, and $3800). We noticed that the steering wheel was turned to the left a little when you were actually driving straight and then after picking up speed, it would correct itself to the straight position. The other thing was we could smell the “burnt oil” smell a little and found out that the head gaskets both need to be changed out and I believe while they were doing that, they were going to change out a laundry list of things out since that had the motor out and tore apart. This was the $3800 fix and the $1600 fix was the power steering rack (rack and pinion?) If she really wants the car and we bite the bullet for these expensive repairs, do you see this car going the distance without anything else really major? Is this car reliable enough to go ahead and show her some love?
Love your videos thanks for the information and clearing up the confusion my mom has a 98 legacy's that she bought brand new that has 146,000 on it she is 88 years old and still drives it. My daughter has a 2012 Forester that she bought from my aunt and now I am looking for a car for my son. I appreciate your easy-to-understand information especially about the head gasket issue
I'm currently labouring under my SG 2.0 X, paying lots of rust-repairing dues from lazier days in order to hold on to my "big guy" for as long as possible.
The 2004/2005 SG was the sweet spot: Manual transmission + manual low gear, no blip-blop bollocks, no distracting screens and you can operate any button and dial wearing mittens at -15°C. And it has an ash tray, and yes, I will burn my own CDs to listen to XD
Great review. thanks! A valiant effort to help Subaru over the hump of it's EJ series engines and the head gasket. I think Subarus are great cars ... but I have to say when a manufacturer has a major issues like a demonstrable and consistent H gasket failure for 15 years of models, something serious has gone wrong at the corporate decision making end re fixing the problem! The reputation blow back on other models is undeserved, by and large, but the fault for the reputation lies with Subaru corporate for dragging the chain for over a decade. But you have great insights on the models and very useful stuff.
Watch Mr. Subaru's video just on the head gasket issue of the EJ series engines. Explains and shows exactly what the issue is.
My Wife and I bought a new 2018 Forester in November 2017. Presently, it has 16, 820 miles on it. Granted, it gets limited use because we are both retired. It has been one of the best cars we have ever owned. During this time, it did incur three "Recalls". However, Subaru completed all the Recalls very fast with each requiring only one visit to the Dealership. All my maintenance it performed at my local Subaru Dealership, because I can no longer perform it and I trust them, they do good work. I would highly recommend the 2014-2018 model, just like Mr. Subaru stated, "This is a really good Model". Thanks for sharing.
Just what I was looking for and I own a 2001 Forester. Looking to upgrade.
I had an '01 2.5 XTI with a 5 speed and it was the best car I have ever owned. The only engine problem I ever had was the fuel pump going out. Never had a head gasket fail like I have on Datsun/Nissan. Lost it in an accident, but would love to have another one!
My '06 is over 400,000 km, third owner. The dealer did the clutch, head gaskets and timing belt before selling it to owner #2. Needs 1-2 litres oil between changes. Oil is cheaper than another engine. Worst thing was a front axle replacement.
The SG is sized just right. I'm waiting for an Impreza with the same interior volume. The Levorg would be just right.
Ive had a 2011 Forester from new. Has done 235,000 kilometres. 2 X CV joints and 1 head gasket. No other repairs other than routine servicing.
Thanks for the great info! It's reassuring to hear the 4EAT is very reliable.
I've got a beautiful silver JDM 2008 SG5 (10th Anniversary special edition, basically an X with nicer paint job, wheels, and steering wheel) with a 2.0L N/A EJ20 engine making about 140 hp. Yeah, it's less than the US version, but it's totally enough for here in Japan (very slow road speeds), and there are much fewer problems with head gaskets. Then again, I only have about 70,000 miles on it, so I guess I just need to wait and see. I'm going to try to keep this baby as long as possible!
Im at 380,000, and I'll drive right up the mountain with no problem. The fan under the dash needs replaced no heat or AC. But I'll go places
New subscriber her glad I found this channel. I got a 2016 legacy with 148k on it it runs like a champ.
All Foresters were progressing to be bigger and bigger and more bloated and less fun to drive. The 2009-2013 models were the most balanced, imho. In terms of size, looks and performance they represented a great mix. Smaller and nimbler with nice smooth looks, none of that excessively folded, bended, jagged, sheet metal nonsense.
So much info to absorb for a used Subie. I'm no mechanic but looking for a Crosstrek. For peace of mind I may just go new (if/when I can get one) and let the dealer take care of the servicing.
I have worried about issues you mentioned but dispelling the real problems gives me good reason to go ahead and for that, thank you.
Meanwhile I still have 3 months to wait for my Forester Wilderness...assuming we aren't in a nuclear war next week of course.
240k Miles on my '07 Forester Definitely the best loooking generation.
The ‘04 xt 0-60 5.4 sec😳.
I had one and messed with sports cars on the way to work and trail riding on the weekends with keepers. Just awesome.
I have the 2021 Forester Touring (previously had the 2014 Forester Touring) I nodded when you got to the auto start/stop feature. I always turn this off when I start my car. When I fail to do so it really hacks me off. The eyesight can also be quite the pain the the a--. Other than that I find myself loving the car - many major improvements over my 2014 Touring. Great video and thank you!!
I currently have a 14 Forrester touring which I absolutely love!
When it’s time to upgrade, I’d like to get an 18 XT touring. This is by far my favorite version!
04-08 forester xt is the best and there’s absolutely no debate
Agreed, but much preferably w/ 5 speed manual. I couldn't stand the 4EAT at all.
Sigh …. agree! I have the last of the SG9 series - 2008 FXT. Immaculate and relatively low mileage (130,000km). Have loved owing and driving it over the past 10 years and planned to keep it running as long as possible. It was damaged in an accident last week - front bumper, lights and other bits and pieces ripped off. Repairable but has been written off today by the insurance company as uneconomic to repair. I‘d buy the exact same model if it was ever released as a new model despite its age. What an amazing all rounder it was!
@@taelee347 My Euro spec 2006 "Facelift" has the "Sportshift" option, do you know if that is any different to the 4EAT
Or even better - swapped 6 speed manual
Auto or manual? Been looking at a automatic one with electronic shift
I go an 07 Forester X non turbo. Have had it since 2015, I just gotta do the valve seal covers now as it’s leaking oil but in 9 years of owning it, it’s been reliable. I’m just gonna keep it til it isn’t worth fixing. For now, it’s still going strong
Your videos have been super helpful as we consider adding a 2010 Forester to our family for a teen driver. I know now to ask if the head gasket work was performed. Tha ks so much
I’m thinking of buying a 2010 with 108k miles
my first was an 04' 2.5x she had over 250k miles on her when we sold her. wish i still had the car. currently have a 2011 forester xt. 121k miles. did the timing set and waterpump yesterday with the aisin kit you recommended.
Next time we don't wait so long. 100K max
SG is the best. I think I agree with every word that came out of your mouth. I have a 20 Ascent and the eyesight isn't wanted.
Ej251 and 3 - 165hp. Mainly head gasket issues - Failure prone 120-150,000 miles leak. Replaced once or twice - better type replacements. Timing service. Things to look at on the 2003 Forester. 4EAT transmission low problems, no turbo. Wheel bearing issues. Rust in wheel wells. One of the best Foresters.
I Really Like MrSubaru1387. Very Good Mechanic, Expert on Subarus. Very Good Presentation, Information and Honest. Thanks!
Love my 3 Foresters SF, SH, SK Great video.
I bought a 2014 forester 2.5 touring last year, i really thought i was going to hate the CVT, but its not that bad, once you understand what its going to do, you can manipulate it pretty easy. And as a true manual lover, control is important. Also, my mom has an 02 forester with the 4EAT and i like the CVT more, BUT i refuse to put a hitch on my forester, i just use hers to haul 😅
I have a 2010 outback. I just recently picked it up with 104k miles for 5 grand. So not cheap, but def not dealer price expensive nnits paid for. I needed awd n wanted a beater (just not a true pos beater lol, work vehicle). It does have a 2.5l and it does worry me about the head gasket obv. So, i dont issues just yet, but, im imagining at some point I'll need to make a decision on what to do there.
So far so good. It gets decent mileage. Doesnt lose or burn any oil. I did have the cooling system serviced by the dealer, mainly because i really wanted to know if there was anything wrong, had them pressure test it and they claim it to be good.
Its had the timing belt and water pump replaced a few thousand miles before i got it.
It did have a bad timing belt tensioner which i didnt know until a cold start the next day of ownership. That was 600 bucks from the dealer, but the seller paid for it, which was amazing lol.
It does have the cvt, but so far its not bad either. It does have the tow hitch, but im doubtful it was used much if ever.
Either, for the price, if i get 2 years everything after that will be a bonus to me.
I change the oil every 3k miles, I'll probably up that to 4k soon as my most of my mileage is highway.
If u look under my car, i live in pa salt everywhere in the winter, it looks so good its amazing.
Zero rust in the front half, literally zero. Typical surface rust in the rear half but not bad.
I got it at the start of the winter n coated everything i could with cec marine protection spray, like fluid film but even better.
Anyway, good luck with ur car
Get the CVT and diff(s) fluid drained/ filled with new!
may I ask why you dont put a hitch on your '14? I am planning to buy a used SJ XT cuz the current gen doesnt offer the turbo anymore and was thinking of adding a hitch to haul bicycles or flat beds when needed
@@jeromegaces6184 I won’t put a hitch on it because I would be tempted to pull my utility trailer with it and I just don’t trust the CVT with that type of hauling, plus my mom loves it when I use hers to haul because she gets to drive the “14 lol. A hitch for a bike rack would be just fine though. But I’m not big into biking so I don’t really have a need for it.
@@todtalk3912 wow, that’s a really good deal! I got mine with 150K for 9K! But that was dealer prices. It’s the nicest car I’ve ever owned, aside from my short time with my ‘12 STi, but that was more sporty than nice.
I had a 2013 for 4 years and didn't have any issues with it, just expected maintenance. A tree fell on it recently so I got an 09 LL Bean edition.
The 09 has been well maintained with one owner, and it definitely feels like a luxury version. A lot of people who are big into Foresters may not like the body but I do.
I used to not appreciate older Foresters but they've grown on me - they're just too rusty and too many miles to bother with in this economy. One day I'll drive south and get a clean gen 1 and/or gen 2. They used to look too boxy and bulbusy, had the swagger of a PT Puker or something of the like.
But I can appreciate the stepping stones that led to my models, now.
The turning radius, legroom, and storage space is unmatched. I'll always have a Forester in my arsenal
I have a 2008 forester xt sports 5mt. By far my favorite car. Sadly the canadian winters are beginning to take a toll on it. 😔
I have two stock, 04 FXTs. They are an absolute blast to drive. We love them and treat them well. OE parts only. If allowed, I'd buy another.
I own an 06 STi and just bought an 04 XT… wish I would have watched this before buying haha everything turned out okay. So far..
The frameless Windows are great in snow country, they don't get frozen closed like framed windows do.
I love your roasting of bad Subaru owners. They really are the reason these vehicles get such a bad rep. Just bought a 2020 Forester and aside from the auto start/stop that I and everyone else despises, its a great car! People just don't understand how to take care of nice things anymore and then complain when they break or fail. I work in the tech industry and see the same problem.
Robert great video your editing skills are second to none lol adding all them pics
I have a 2011 and it uses a lot of oil but it doesn't leak oil. And Mines a manual so I feel lucky I got that.
2020 Forester owner here. Eyesight providing adaptive cruise will trump any issues I have with it. I sort of disagree about auto stop/start. There's a simple mod to disable it permanently if it bothers you that much. I don't hate it anymore after living with it. You can also just not press the brake pedal so hard. It will only activate in specific circumstances. There are a lot of buttons, but I'd rather have this than have everything buried in the touchscreen.
Still have my '04 XT, 5-speed. No mods. 160k and still running like "new". Get a lot of offers, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Thanks MrSubaru - as always this is very informative. I have a 2014 2.5i Touring with the TR580 CVT. I would have thought even a high level review like this would mention the CVT issues - especially early failures - Subaru's lifetime CVT fluid recommendation being a recipe for the lifetime being about 100k. Other than the CVT - both how it feels and it being an expensive weak link - I love my Forester. But if I were in the market for a used one, the CVT would be my biggest concern.
In a couple days I’m buying a 2014 2.5i sport legacy with 90,000 on it. It seems to be kept in excellent condition with one original owner who doesn’t seem like a thrill seeker. However I am very nervous about the boxer motor and cvt trans.
17:21
A co-worker has a early 2000s green forester, beat up, bad loud exhaust, high mileage, paid off, runs scolded dog!
"Paid off". I appreciated that. That's the best type of car. 👍
Nicely presented info. Unfortunately my '09 XT had auto trans problems, and both my '14 and '17 Forester XT's (they did "tweak" the '17 to take edge off ride and interior) had problematic turbo engines that often ran rough climbing hills and badly carboned their tail pipes, plugs and valves (Subaru seems to have solved that with the 2.4 XT in my Outback).
We have a '15 Touring model and it's been one of the best, most economical vehicles we've owned over the past 55 years. My wife is sad to let it go, but I've decided it's time to upgrade to a new RAV4 Limited Hybrid. I might have gone for another new Forester Touring, but our dealer couldn't give us an ETA on a new one other than to say it would be a '24 model. That and the RAV4 Hybrid combined mpg is 40 and the Forester is 29, plus I love the looks of the new RAV4 and their reliability is legendary.. Our forester will be handed off to our youngest daughter.
Hi, love your channel. I just got a new Subaru Forester Wilderness. I had to wait a few months due to the supply chain issue, but it's been worth it.
I have a 2006 Forester and is the best car i have ever driven, but you must give it constant maintenance to keep it in optimal and safe conditions.
Totally I agreed with you about the start/stop engine. It’s annoying.
have a 2005, running great, thinking of getting a new one soon...
I haven’t had a hard time buying 3 new Subarus below MSRP
Was this within the last 24 months? Curious
Unpopular opinion but I love the 3rd forester (2009 -2013)look more than any other…
With the way cars travel these days for auctions, I’d recommend checking for common rust problems regardless of where you are when buying.
Thanks for making this video!
Got 2002 Forester S model last year at 145k miles on it.
Putting new Timing Belt Kit in it this week before i get into fixing a few suspension issues.
Thanks for sharing this helped me out a lot in my purchase
That filter at 4:43 caused me tears, killed two turbos within the span of two months, since removing it and replacing the TD04 with a VF39 never had trouble since, so to anyone not familiar with that sack of shit filter, REMOVE IT
Also I don't drive my automatic 2004 XT like miss daisy😂 but I have had no issues with the transmission I'm on 170k km. And I drive fast the car is amazing
Yeah the Auto Start/Stop on my 2019 Forester Sport is irritating especially when one forgets to disengage it everytime. Not a big fan of the Eyestart as well, excessive fog or rain or makes it disengage itself but more annoying is when attempting to overtake a vehicle on the highway if you get too close from behind trying to overtake the vehicle in the front EyeStart applies the brakes thinking you are going to rear end the vehicle in front so one needs to change the lane real fast to avoid this especially when you are in heavy traffic and can't change lanes in advance
I have a Subaru Forester STI here in the UK love it! Yes i have had one head gasket replaced which went at 80,0000 but it is a 2.5 turbo so its not just the naturally aspirated engines. all 2.5 seem to have chocolate head gaskets.
11.07 2 liter 158 HP 5 manual ❤ Hunter Edition
looked at a 2011 model, asked about the head gasket service and timing belt. They said they had no idea if that type of service was ever done on the car since they werent the original owner. The vehicle history report show no record of that type of service being done on the car. Maybe it never needed it? but maybe it will soon? Ultimately, the uncertainty was a deal breaker.
I own 2020 e-boxer.
Good economy. It's slow but I don't care as I like my visa in Japan so it keeps me from speeding.
The Eyesight was a big pro for me. It's great in the motorway. The drivers camera is slightly annoying and maybe unnecessary for me. It doesn't bother me much though.
The square trunk is awesome.
There is too much space behind the rear seats - my mother in law is supper short anyways so I'd prefer bigger trunk. Not a deal breaker though, I often fit the cooler box behind the seats.
AWD is great for my needs - mountains, rain, snow, some mud or vegetations in the road.
The roadnoise is acceptable for the price and shape of the vehicle.
Comfort is decent, although I'd prefer for the central armrest to move forward.
Leather + heated steering wheel + heated frond and back seats. Makes few of my family members happy.
The visibility is great.
I'm happy with my choice. It fits my needs very well. Unfortunately there isn't much competition for vehicles of affordable price who priorities usability.
I've been very happy with my 2011 Forester XT.
The only issue I've had with mine (so far) is the radiator cracking apart at the seams. Otherwise. Oh, and whoever owned it before me didn't seat the intercooler on properly so it made a whistling sound until I took it off and fixed the seal.
I do agree with the body styling. It's not my favorite of the foresters in its base state without the rear "spoiler." But with it, it changes the whole feel of the vehicle, as does having the "turbo bump" on the front.
I think since 2016 they've had the worst tail light configuration. That god awful crab claw design that so many other brands also have. I think the 2012-14 got a more squared off tail light that looks a bit better.
The worst of all of the Foresters, imo, though are any of the "sport" branded foresters really don't offer anything in terms of performance enhancements. Just a reddish orange stripe
I stopped taking my Forrester XT out on Friday nights because she drinks too much. Especially the hard stuff called “Premium.”
Lol, how but the fuel consumption? 1L = km ?
🙄Why can’t North America use km like everyone else?
In Europe we got the 2.0x with the ej204 which in my opinion is way more reliable than the 2.5 came in America
I’ll keep my 2016 base Forester with manual transmission as long as it’ll run with scheduled maintenance. All I want is a vehicle that is as simple as possible. I don’t care for all the whiz bang bells and whistles, touch screens, navigation, fancy transmissions, or turbo doo dads. I just wanna put it in gear, press a clutch, and get from A to B. If I can’t have that anymore in a new Subaru, then I’ll just get a base Jeep. 😅
The SJ section basically only touched on the interior and technology.
I own a 2017 (SJ) and could speak on some of the mechanical reliability.
Transmission: a few owners reported issues related to the CVT shifting. I have only experienced hard or delayed shifting when the transmission is hot, (read: warm weather, working hard, and/or stop and go traffic). Subaru issued an extension to the transmission warranty to 10 years - 100,000 miles (TSB 16-115-18).
Battery/Electric: Some owners reported electric issues or battery drain issues, there is currently a settlement with SOA due to battery failures. I had a battery failure 2 years ago and replaced it with an AGM (Optima) battery.
HVAC: Owners reported Air Conditioning issues/failures prematurely. There is a warranty extension to replace the faulty condenser (15-269-20R). I had mine fail at 38,000 mi, prior to the warranty extension, and had a independent Subaru mechanic repair the issues.
Airbag: Airbag recall, easy bring to dealer to replace. The issued made my airbag warning light go off, dealer fixed under warranty prior to recall.
Engine: Burns oil (approx. 1 qt every 3,000 miles). Common with most new Subaru motors due to loose tolerances and fuel economy requirements.
Brakes*: Squeak when they are cold (not rust). I may have light glazing due to wheel modifications (smaller wheels and larger tires).
Other than a few minor issues that caused me to drop the car off at a dealership while I went to work, the car has been fantastically reliable and I'm looking forward to many more miles.
About to be buying a Forester in the next few weeks with my Xterra being a shitbox. Thinking SF or SG with either a WRX or EZ30D swap
Why the ez30d i have one in my 04 outback.anything i might not know is always helpful
The only potential issue with the turbo 09-13 turbo motors was the Banjo bolt filter screens. The 14-18 turbo ones were good just needed intake valve cleanings from the direct Injection. Not really an issue just a little more maintenance. Everything else was spot on. Just something I didn't see. Great video!
I have ALWAYS wanted to get my hands on 2008 Forester STI !!! Id put some cool wheels on it and do just a few tasteful mods just to wake it up a little, about 350 hp would be perfect!
I just bought myself a jdm SG9 Sti 2004. loving it.
Very informative video and I'll never buy another Subaru after watching his video.. Time for a Honda
My 2001 Subaru Forester S Turbo SF5 Manual was amazing too drive just watch out for rust rare af the subframe rotted so bad it fell off half of it needed alot of welding i had too sell it rear turrets were rotten took 4.5 KG of sheet metal and a new GC8 Wrx subframe
Grate info, as usual!