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I want to love the 2014-15 Subaru Forester

How bad are the 2014-15 Forester seats?

  • My Butt hurts the seats are so bad

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Seats are tolerable but still below averge on long trips

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Meh, seats are average

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • Seats are better than average

    Votes: 1 11.1%

  • Total voters
    9

Scruffy

Active member
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
1,157
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38
Location
In the shadow of the moon.
...
At first I wanted a Jeep, but my wife reminded me I'm gonna have to keep it for 200K miles or 10 years (house financial guideline). Cars are just utility for us, not an end.

My short list didn't contain a Kia or Sorento...

Bill, can you elaborate on why the jeep ( and what model jeep?) didn't make your short list after your wife reminded you you'll need to keep the thing for 10 years? Reliability? Cost of maintenance? MPG? Resale value? Just curious, not starting anything. I'm in the market for a new ski vehicle myself soon and found this thread useful.
 

gmcunni

Active member
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
11,500
Points
38
Location
CO Front Range

crank

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
1,358
Points
63
Location
CT
My girlfriend has a 2014 Forester. Seats are fine...we take a lot of long trips up to northern VT, NH, etc. She did get a higher end package on her car though if that makes a difference in the seating quality.
 

Warp Daddy

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Joined
Jan 12, 2006
Messages
7,990
Points
38
Location
NNY St Lawrence River
Bill we have a 2012 Outback Limited ,leather heated seats are awesome , ride is smooth we love it has 25 k on it

also have a 2014 RAv 4 XLE , nice. Car like it too but the OUTBACK ride and seats are superior . Will buy another when necessary .
 

bigbog

Active member
Joined
Feb 17, 2004
Messages
4,882
Points
38
Location
Bangor and the state's woodlands
Bill,
If a Jeep Wrangler is still on the list......try a late model Xterra with 4wd(2012-15') or 4Runner. Quite a few lightly used Xterras around, for a dinosaur design..but works fine($.01_opinion).
MPG was never great but that's what you get for a truck chassis=great offroad.
 
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180

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Messages
1,939
Points
48
Location
mahopac, ny
We have a 2015 Outback with eyesight, full leather seats. Very Comfortable. Also interested in selling it.
 

catskillman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
1,174
Points
48
Are you aware that there is a class action lawsuit regarding the oil burning situation. These cars are burning oil. You need to add oil at 1500 miles.
 

JimG.

Moderator
Staff member
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Joined
Oct 29, 2004
Messages
11,997
Points
113
Location
Hopewell Jct., NY
We are driving 3 Subis now and have owned 2 others. Oil burning and topping off oil has never been an issue.
Subis do get leaky head gaskets that usually need replacement after 100,000 miles or so. Not a cheap repair but I have never replaced more than one on any of the Subis I've owned.

All have (gotten) over 200,000 miles and my 04 Outback had over 350,000; it would still be running if it had not been rear ended and totaled stopped at a school crossing. Seats were fine too.
 

JimG.

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Messages
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It's not normal for an engine to burn oil.

Oil wears out; "burning" oil may reflect a maintenance issue more so than mechanical.

An engine that "smokes" oil is truly burning oil and that is due to a mechanical issue. Or oil was spilled on the engine block/exhaust when replaced.
 

Cannonball

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Joined
Oct 18, 2007
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This user has been deleted
My 2013 Crosstrek has $60K miles on it. I've owned it since new. Occasionally and randomly it goes from completely full oil to almost empty oil instantly. I have to always carry oil just in case. The dealer shrugs.

My Mom's 2014 Impreza has $30K on it. She's owned it since new. Starting at brand new, it was frequently losing all of its oil instantaneously. She had it back to the dealer at least a dozen times for "seal and gasket" repairs. Eventually they replaced the engine.

My Wife's 2015 Forester doesn't seem to have any oil issues.
 

yeggous

Active member
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,170
Points
36
Location
Eagle, CO
My 2013 Crosstrek has $60K miles on it. I've owned it since new. Occasionally and randomly it goes from completely full oil to almost empty oil instantly. I have to always carry oil just in case. The dealer shrugs.

My Mom's 2014 Impreza has $30K on it. She's owned it since new. Starting at brand new, it was frequently losing all of its oil instantaneously. She had it back to the dealer at least a dozen times for "seal and gasket" repairs. Eventually they replaced the engine.

My Wife's 2015 Forester doesn't seem to have any oil issues.

How could an issue like this go on so long without being fixed? It blows my mind. At least in the case of BMW and Audi I can see some handwaving answer about a compromise with performance. Those German cars are known to be maintenance nightmares and buyers seem to accept that. But Subaru? This surprises me, but it seems to be the case.
 
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