Should I buy a Forester???
So I’m moving soon and will have to give up my 2011 Forester (work car) 
I’ve been tossing up with what car I want. Some options being, Forester, Impreza, Rav 4, Grand Vitara, and Xtrail, to name a few.
Until recently I was very content to just buy a Forester 2000 - 2004 or thereabouts ($8K-10K). I really like my current Forester and so many people (especially on BW) rave about their Subaru’s.
But, then my mate (he’s a wrecker) told me Subis blow the head gasket easier than most cars. That got me doing some more research and soon I’m reading about common complaints, with the head gasket problem and several other common issues, making servicing costs very high for many.
So what do you guys reckon??? I really want to just go with a Forester, but with all the costly issues people seem to have with them (there are always lots of positive stories too) I’m not so sure anymore…. Feedback from Subaru owner’s or those in the know would be welcome. Cheers 
Mate, I’ve been a Subie fan for 27 years and have had no dramas whatsoever!!!!!
That’s why I am a Subie fan!!!!!
I also have a Merc and I just forked out $1200 for a new water pump, and its only got 100,000k’s on it!!!!!
If ya have been happy with ya current Subie, then it’s for a reason!!!!!
And the main reason why a head gasket goes, is ya drive it when it’s hot!!!!! (Overheating)
Kinda like people that have seized the block, blown pistons!!!!! Red Light that looks like an Oil Can = Bad!!!!!
Yeah, that is somewhat reassuring, thanks mate.
I’ve only done 43K+ in my car though, and it’s a new model. Aside from standard 100K large services, the bad faults people talk about are usually 150K and beyond. I know most car brands will have their inherent ‘issues’,.. But still…
Any feedback anyone has on any of the other cars I’m considering would be good too.
Short answer - yes!
Long answer - I had a 94 impreza from 2005-2012 and we got a ‘98 forester in August, 2012. I love it…and just before I looked in this thread I was actually looking at a picture of it and thinking how much I missed it!...Its sitting in my mum’s garage in Sydney awaiting our return from Sweden.
As mizu said, I think the head gasket problem is from people flogging theirs. My experience is that if you look after them, subis will not give you any problems.
Just go with the forester. If you already know that you like it a lot, then you won’t be disappointed!
And the main reason why a head gasket goes, is ya drive it when it’s hot!!!!! (Overheating)
Kinda like people that have seized the block, blown pistons!!!!! Red Light that looks like an Oil Can = Bad!!!!!
My mate recently put a lot of time and money making up an Impreza for his Mum. The head gasket actually blew on it recently. Crazy story though! She was driving it and noticed the fan didn’t seem to be working. She was hearing what sounded like bird noises from the engine area. The car was getting really hot without the fan working. Anyway, eventually my mate checked it out. Turns out a bird flew into the car and pulled the cable out for the fan, got stuck, and died! Crazy huh! He fixed it up and it seemed fine but it had obviously had too much strain and a week later or so gave way.
Wheel bearing failures seems to be one of the main other common faults. Have you guys had issues with that? Do you find your servicing costs are generally high? Do you go to a Subi service dealer or normal mechanic?
normal mechanics. Moved around too much to ever have the same mechanic for more than a couple of years, too. My servicing costs were never that high. Except for the timing belt ones on 100K and 200K, but that is pretty normal, I think.
Had to change the bushes on my impreza at around 220ks. Can’t remember if I ever did it before that (owned it since 67,00kms so maybe?)
Cool, thanks for feedback cords. Sounds like you haven’t had anything unreasonable need replacing.
Nah, you should buy a Mac.
I am on my 3rd Subie.
I had one of the old box subies when I first lived in Jindy (can’t remember how many Km’s)
The imprezza that went to car heaven had 126,000km on it when i got it
The Outlook I have now has 218km on it. Is due for the timing belt to be done but i am babying it along for a bit.
It was recently taken to the mechanics behind a tow truck as it was unwell. It did cost me $750 for the ummmmm crap someone remind me. (further details in the devo thread- coil or something?)
Anyway the mechanic says that is the first time he has ever had a subie show up behind a tow truck. (he was trying to tell me how awesome they are - his work shop is full of subies, mercs and audi’s) To be fair i only used the tow truck as I am a member of NRMA and it was free. He told that I could have driven from QLD with the problem and it wouldn’t have done any further damage. The problem wasn’t really that big of a deal and he also said he had never seen it on a subie. This is the 3rd car of mine this guy has worked on.
When I was looking for the Imprezza a friend of mind told me their forester has over 300,000km on it. they have owned it from brand new and the only thing they have ever done to it is the scheduled servicing.
There is a reason they are called the Jindy Holden. They are good reliable cars!
** eta cause it wrote in a rush before leaving for work.
I had a forester for a few years aswell. Loved that car and it didnt miss a bit up until 173K kms. Then a young p plater decided he didnt like how nice the back end of it looked and did this to it.
It was actually parked on those little grey squares you can see on the right, he hit it soo hard it smashed into that tree on the left hand edge of the pic which did the side door damage.
Oh and I have done the head gasket on 2 cars - Mizu is right! Treat em well and you wont do it!!!!
Both times on toyota corollas - two different aged cars though. 1979 and a 1984. Both in the 200,000km range.
The first I really should have known better! the second I really really really should have known better!
Both Azz and Mizu will attest to the fact these days I am now obsessed with checking my water and oil religiously!
Just look for one in the early 100,000km mark and you will prob have a new car before you hit the 200,000km mark
I paid $11,500 for my 2004 Imprezza with 126,000 on the clock.
Oh and normal mechanic for me too!
Pretty average looking place really LOL
Pretty sure Mizu takes his to a non dealer mechanic too!
Yeah, I take mine to a non dealer like oz said, but they are a Subie Specialist at the same time!!!!!
Wheel bearings will go earlier than other cars due to it bein a AWD, along with tyres, and fuel economy!!!!! But in the scheme of things, I don’t think it’s much of a budget blowout!!!!!
My first Subie, I had for 18 years and it had ~450,000 k’s on the clock!!!!!
That was the reason for my continued support of the Subaru Brand!!!!!
If Mrs Dragon were on here she’d be all over the Forrester - Loves them. She drove one as a work car for a couple years when we lived in Alice Springs, they put Heaps of K’s on it driving out to town camps, Tennant Creek, etc never had any problems