<p>Keep us in the loop…I am also in the market this year. I’m negotiating with SO for a VW Jetta Wagon Diesel. We drive a lot on highway. My folks have one and love it. </p>
<p>My DH wants that diesel Jetta TDI wagon!</p>
<p>I have a Subaru Forrester. Pluses -assembled in the USA in a Green Factory (or at least they were last time I checked) It has been really reliable -no breakdowns.
Cons: I don’t like the way the driver’s seat sits. It is fine for short trips-but for long rides it gets uncomfortable for me. Also don’t tike the position of the I-pod Jack and the seat heater switch. Actually the I-pod jack is broken right now and I also had a seat latch break. </p>
<p>Both of the girls have access to Subarus. Great for our climate.
Cars seem to be getting less expensive, or perhaps there are just more models. Hard to keep track.</p>
<p>New crash test results came out today.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/49/6/1”>http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/49/6/1</a></p>
<p>We bought a Mazda 5 last year. It is not a very popular car but we love it!. It is classed as a small wagon but I call it a Mini Mini Van. It has 3 rows of seating and seats 6 which is hard to find in a smaller car. It sits a little higher than a sedan, not as high as a mini van. It is big enough to move our son to college each year (I’m not sure it would work for a daughter!). We had a hard time convincing the sales people that we really didn’t want an SUV and we were happy with a smaller car. The Subarus were our second choice, but even though we live in the snow belt in upstate NY I really didn’t feel that the all wheel drive is a necessity. We’ve been here for 25 years and have done just fine without it!</p>
<p>2 years ago we bought our first small SUV. I looked at a lot of cars and was looking for a present for my husband who drove the mini van, which finally gave up, for years. I narrowed it down between the usual suspects: CRV, RAV and Forester. I let my H choose. He chose the CRV. My car would have been the Forester. DD doesn’t love the 2007 CRV (too big that year) but really appreciated having something reliable and it handled snow and ice well. </p>
<p>For some reason, in the last 2 years, I went from 0-3 small SUVs. My parents gave me their 2005 RAV (only 25 K miles!) which I love, and DD drove a 2006 CRV (needed 4 wheel drive). I hope to sell the 2006. </p>
<p>One other thing I like about my Forester which probably won’t matter to most-- I prefer a manual transmission. If I am at a light heading up a steep hill it will not roll back when I am shifting. No more glaring in the rearview at the guy who insists on stopping two inches off my bumper. Not really a problem after so many years of driving a stick but still a nice bit of technology. I don’t know why all cars with manual transmissions don’t offer this. </p>
<p>Subaru has had it for years. I had it in a front wheel drive legacy back in the 80’s!</p>
<p>Picking it up tomorrow! Woo hoo!</p>
<p>I had a 2002 Forester from October 2001 until February 2014. I loved it in many ways, except for two huge problems – it had continual problems with anything to do with engine overheating (radiator, hoses, water pump, and the granddaddy of them all - 2 head gaskets going at 70,000 miles.) I had a few episodes of seeing my temperature gauge suddenly veer all the way up to the top red zone and frantically trying to get home or to a mechanic in time.</p>
<p>Also, at around 100,000 miles the car started to use oil too fast (no leak) and I had to check oil once a week to make sure I had enough. </p>
<p>My mechanic said these were common Subaru problems. I don’t know if Subaru has fixed these problems or not, but when it came down to getting a new car, I just couldn’t buy another one. I drove that car the last few years looking at the temperature gauge every few minutes and scared to drive it any significant distance. I just didn’t trust it anymore. I traded it in at 145,000 miles when I would have loved to keep it a while longer.</p>
<p>I will say one good thing for Subaru, the company. When the head gaskets went, I did some research and saw there had been recalls for this problem for the two model years before mine. I called 1-800-SUBARU to see if I could get any consideration, being as head gaskets really shouldn’t go at 70,000 miles. I thought if I was lucky, I’d get some kind of discount on the horrific $3,000 bill I was facing. Instead, Subaru covered the whole thing - I was impressed (and relieved!)</p>
<p>I still miss my Subaru. My current car, a 2012 Honda Accord, is reliable – yet I really don’t like it at all. It’s too damn big. It’s surprisingly wide, to the point that I can’t fit into a lot of parking spots. There are too many blind spots. And I liked the small SUV look and feel. </p>
<p>EPTR, tell me the differences (pro or con) between the Forester and the Crosstrek. I’m really curious!</p>
<p>Me too, I love my Forester and have been planning to get another when I need a new car.</p>
<p>We have a 2013 Jetta Wagon which is not the diesel, which is probably why we got a ridiculously good price for it. Despite not being the diesel, we get very good mileage (not like our Civic Hybrid, but still good --mid-high 30s hwy). Overall, I love everything about it.</p>
<p>Hi! So I picked it up and it’s adorable. The difference between the Forester and the Crosstrek is mostly size. The Crosstrek has a lower profile but the undercarriage clearance is the same as the forester. The engine’s are both 4 cylinder but the crosstrek has a bit less horsepower because it is smaller. The crosstrek is less expensive with only two models as opposed to the three for the forester. Each model is pretty much prepackaged with features. I got the Limited which is the upper end model. It comes with bluetooth, improved stereo, back-up camera, heated leather seats, heated windshield and mirrors. Bottom line it was just under 25.000. The same options in the forester would have been about 30,000.</p>
<p>Found out through telling friends about my new car that, apparently, Subaru’s are Lesbian cars. Whatever! Why should the Lesbians get all the good cars! :)>- </p>
<p>My lease before this one was a Forester and I loved it.</p>
<p>And I’m not a lesbian. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. :)) </p>
<p>I’m not either, VaBluebird! We can NOT be lesbians together. </p>
<p>Forgot to mention that the Crosstrek comes in a hybrid version. I didn’t get that one but was tempted.</p>
<p>Lol at Subaru being a lesbian car! I have several lesbian friends and family members. None of them drive Subarus. D goes to school in Vermont where almost everyone drives a Subaru, wears Birkenstocks or hiking boots and plaid flannel and no makeup. At first I thought there must be some sort of lesbian compound or village near her school! But that’s just Vermont!!!</p>
<p>Just drove the Forester and the Outback wagon (2014 version, the 2015 is out and it’s redesigned) and can’t decide which I like better. Forester is slightly less expensive for same equipment. Would like to test drive the VW Tiguan but ran out of steam. Can anyone compare these three?</p>
<p>I haven’t driven the new Outback, but did look up the stats. It’s larger in every dimension than the Forester…mostly the 9" in length.<br>
I’m torn, though, because they have better color choices. (Hey, when you keep a car 10 years, you need to like the color…)</p>