Subaru Outback or Forester??

[2dogmom]

I had a 2009 Forester for about 2 years and liked it. It was "lightweight" compared to the Jeep Grand Cherokee I came from but it had good gas mileage. I hit a (smaller) deer with it and it held up well. I would still have it now if it wasn't the need for a bigger vehicle. I did drive the Outback once when I had my Forester in for service and I didn't like it as much.

 

[bethy]

I have owned several Subarus and loved each of them. They are fantastic cars. I drive something else at the moment b/c they do not make a big enough car for what I need at this stage in my life. Also, the only other downside to them is that I wish they made a bit more luxurious option. I've never had a better car for the snow.

 

[bumbershoot]

Great reason why if you live in NJ, it makes sense not to have one. Because I'd hate to be getting out every time to make sure that the attendant tightened my cap right. Mine was very finnicky, too finnicky to allow others to work with it.

And it doesn't explain why my Forrester lost power and began to roll backwards down a hill. Scariest moment of my life!

If my gas cap were finicky, I'd replace it! (I recently had the check engine light come on in our Mercury...thankfully BIL is a mechanic and actually owns the computer to check those codes, and it was just a gas cap thing...since I was the one that seems to have not tightened the cap (and in retrospect it was a COLD day and I might not have tightened it well just so I could get back into the car) we're not worried, but if it happens again, new cap!)

That definitely sounds scary. DH once lost his brakes going down a hill, yikes! (not in a Subaru, in a totally different sort of car)

The check engine light would constantly come on, for no reason. Every time it did, I'd have to take it to the shop to have it turned off.

I traded it in after a couple of years. Maybe it was just a lemon, but I will never own another Subaru again.

What did the shop say was causing the light? What was the code?

Probably was a lemon. ALL manufacturers end up with a few lemons. No need to avoid a whole brand. I had an almost-lemon Jetta once. Went through oxygen sensors like crazy. If it had needed ONE more o2 sensor in its first two years, it WOULD have been a lemon and I would have qualified under the lemon law for my state. If it's a smaller issue, you have to have it happen several times.

But if it's a big thing, like losing power and rolling down a hill? That's not something that generally has to happen a lot to qualify. Did you check into NJ lemon laws? What did the mechanic say happened?

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Dredging up an old post to say thanks for all the input. My DH bought the Outback last week. So far so good!