2019 Subaru Forester

6047 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Wrascal, Feb 13, 2020

stevenD

Discussion Starter · Jul 5, 2019

While it may not be a direct PP competitor in terms of engine and overall size, Features-wise it is somewhat comparable. Our daughter goes to school in Boulder Colorado and heading into her second year she wants/needs to take he care there. The problem is that she has a 4-door FWD Accord and for all I can ascertain, would not be good fit for a snow-ice environment.

She did not like the look of CRV's and the current RAV$ is a joke, so we looked at the newly redesigned (for 2019) Forester. It drove nice (is slower than her Accord - which is a good thing!) and the Premium model with the All-Weather package and a ton of safety features was approx. $28.7k, so we traded in the Accord and purchased it for her. It will not arrive for a couple of weeks as it is on a cargo ship from Japan.

Now, while I was impressed with it, I still don't see it as being on par with the Passport, but as I said above, I think it is a much better value than the higher-priced CRV and the horribly redesigned RAV4! The PP is simply too big and powerful for a 19 yo girl...(no offence..lol)...

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wildonz

· #2 · Jul 5, 2019

The Forester is a overall nice compact crossover, except for that CVT. The concern is towards the long term reliability of it. If you search the web you'll see plenty of people having issues with their Subaru CVT. Subaru even extended their warranty cover on the transmission.

To be fair, many people take their Forester off-roading, which cause the transmission to overheat. Normal driving should be fine.

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az_passport

· #3 · Jul 12, 2019 (Edited)

I had purchased a 2019 Forester Premium last year and recently traded it in for a 2019 Passport EX-L. I actually really liked my Forester, but I couldn't get past how under powered it was. Subaru dropped the faster XT model that had a turbo (which I would have got). The Forester was so slow I was not confident passing on the freeway and felt like I had to floor it just to get up to speed with the flow of traffic.

I've had my Passport for two weeks now, and so far I really like it. If Subaru brings back the XT I could someday see going back, but for now I am a very happy Passport owner.

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ErnieD2

· #4 · Jul 12, 2019

I too was shopping a Subie this year. I was so trying to wait for the 2020 OUtback refresh as I was reading so many things I felt would make it a very nice automobile. But I test drove both a 4/6 cyl Outback Limited and was actually quite impressed with the power and elec features. I went and test drove a '19 Passport next day.

The ride, features, size and quality feel of the Honda just stayed with me and I never looked back. I do plan to go test drive a '20 Outback...... just cause, I gots to know. ? peace y'all, e.

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az_passport

· #5 · Jul 12, 2019

Also I'll note that I am a former Subie fan. I had a WRX a few years ago and loved it. I just think that they have lost their way dropping the Forester XT. My fam is not okay with a station wagon, so the Passport was the best choice for me.

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stevenD

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 12, 2019

az_passport said:
I had purchased a 2019 Forester Premium last year and recently traded it in for a 2019 Passport EX-L. I actually really liked my Forester, but I couldn't get past how under powered it was. Subaru dropped the faster XT model that had a turbo (which I would have got). The Forester was so slow I was not confident passing on the freeway and felt like I had to floor it just to get up to speed with the flow of traffic.

I've had my Passport for two weeks now, and so far I really like it. If Subaru brings back the XT I could someday see going back, but for now I am a very happy Passport owner.

AWESOME to hear!, I want my 19 yo daughter to drive slower and the Forester may just do the trick...!

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SubaruWB

· #7 · Feb 12, 2020

Hey All,

My post is the premise that Subaru has not changed their quality of their components or hardware. This is based on the fact that why would they change their quality if all issues i have had were classed as "Normal Function" or "Normal Wear and Tear" by Subaru.

Hoping i can change someones fortune before they buy a Subaru like i did on the guise of Japanese Engineering is fantastic and reliable.

I bought my 2014 Subaru Forester XT off the show-room floor, first new car i have ever had and obviously super excited! I had done plenty of research prior to this but had either not done enough or the issues hadn't been found throughout lots of people so far.
Here is the list of things that have been wrong with my car:

A few months into owning my car, I noticed a large knock every time i went over a bump so i took it back to the dealer - the Tie Rod End nuts were completely loose.
I had and still do have lag and clunking when trying to move between gears at certain RPM ranges at seemingly random times. Talked to Subaru every time i got it serviced, could never replicate so it was always shrugged off.
My A/C compressor clutch started squeeling so loud every time it engaged i had to drive without A/C until it was fixed. Subaru did not want to have a bar of this as it was deemed "normal function"
My "leather" seats, which im sure, aren't actually leather, has started to crack quite badly (i am 80-85kg's. (175-185 pounds)).
Just now, every time i drove over 85km/hr, my whole car started to vibrate so much it couldn't be driven over that speed, i originally thought that it might have dropped a weight from a wheel, nope, my Front Control Arm Bushes are completely flogged out and the rear bushes are cracked. Obviously my car is out of warranty but these bushes should be nowhere near that damaged for the Km's i have put on it and the way i drive it so i got my local Subaru dealer to ask Subaru Australia for good will and their response was that it was denied.

My car has <85,000kms (52,800Miles) on the clock, has never been driven off road and i drive it pretty damned conservatively.(Chances are these bushes are exactly the same still, why change something they can get away with calling normal wear and tear that completely flog out at low Km's)

Everything in that list has been denied for either warranty or goodwill on the idea that all of that is either "Normal Function" or normal wear and tear.

So before you buy a Subaru Forester or ANY Subaru in general just remember that your car can be completely undriveable and it will still be fine in their eyes.

Don't touch Subaru, their quality is absolute trash, their post-sales support is absolute trash and their idea of what is "Normal" is laughable. Buy a Hyundai or Kia.

Rant over, for here, same story going to be posted on every forum i can damn find.

Cheers,

SubaruWB

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emj123

· #8 · Feb 12, 2020

I have had nothing but excellent luck with the 4 or 5 Subarus I have owned in my lifetime. Most recently a 2016 Legacy. Underpowered? Yes, a bit. But it was rock solid, otherwise.

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stevenD

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 13, 2020

emj123 said:
I have had nothing but excellent luck with the 4 or 5 Subarus I have owned in my lifetime. Most recently a 2016 Legacy. Underpowered? Yes, a bit. But it was rock solid, otherwise.

Our 2019 Forester has been awesome so far as well, not sure if that guy just joined to bad mouth Subaru or what(?) He has only one post, did not mention owning or even wanting a Passport and his screen name has Subaru in it, so I'd be surprised if he comes back or has much else to contribute... I guess we'll see..

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Beachbum07

· #10 · Feb 13, 2020

stevenD said:
AWESOME to hear!, I want my 19 yo daughter to drive slower and the Forester may just do the trick...!

My daughter has a lead foot! Very overconfident, and has been driving for six years now. Luckily, no accidents or speeding tickets. I gave her an ultimatum; change her driving habits or get her own insurance e policy. Hopefully, she changes. ?

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Wrascal

· #11 · Feb 13, 2020 (Edited)

I sincerely feel for you as I was once in the same position. Eventually mine did grow up - but only after several at fault accidents and multiple speeding tickets.

She eventually became a responsible citizen - unfortunatly she's now a young widow - with kids of her own.

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