New or old?

[Tannin]

What would you rather have? A new Forester? Or an older one? And why? Or would you really rather something completely different? (An Outback, some other brand completely?)

Me, I'm considering replacing my MY05 Forester X.

The new models (MY09 and up) seem not to be as well regarded as the wonderful MY99-MY08 breed, so I'm thinking either:

(a) A nice example of the older model (MY06, 07 or 08).

(b) A brand new Forester.

Cost is not really an issue. A new one would cost something close to 40k, but I'd get 10 years out of it, so around 4k a year. A nice MY07 (say) might cost anywhere around 10k or 15k (don't really care so much about that, happy to pay a couple of thousand more for an A1 vehicle if I can find one I like with not too many k on it). Add in a bit for the extra maintenece on an older model and call it 20k averaged over five years or so. (Bit less with any luck.) So that's still somewhere round about 4k per year.

Reasons to prefer the new one.

• Diesel engine (range, torque, economy)
• CVT transmission (??? I have always liked manuals (only evr owned one auto and hated it) but the CVT seems like a neat idea. (Must remember to borrow my mother's tiny Mitsubishi Colt to try one out.) Not sure if I'd like it or not. Are they any good off-road?)
• Quieter on the highway.
• More dependable for outback trips?
• It doesn't take that bloody weirdo 215/60 R16 tyre size!
• Must be lots of other reasons.

Reasons to prefer the old one. (Not in any order)

• Visibility. Modern cars (any damn brand) have garbage all-round visibility. That's why they all have reversing cameras - 'coz the stupid back window is more like a prison slit. Tried backing a trailer when you can't even see the bloody thing? Or just judging a bit of tricky manouvering between trees or rocks?
• Frameless windows. I love the frameless windows. Yes, they make it noisy at highway speeds but I'm used to that. Never had them before the MY05, now I'm a convert.
• I can remove the back seat cushion and have lots of extra storage under the floor. (Typically two weeks of emergency food and water - a necessity for outback trips where you can get stuck behind a river or something.) (Possibly you can do this with a new one too. Anyone know this?)
• All my gear fits perfectly. I've evolved and fine-tuned a system for carring everything I need for a 6 or 8 week photography trip over the years - that's a heap of gear - without ever needing to obscure the windows and without needing a roof capsule or a trailer, or needing to pack the and I always know where everything is. Some things I need to unpack a bit to get at, but these are all things you have to have but seldom need (e.g, winch, second spare, snatch strap, emergency water - with any luck you won't want them at all). Not sure that a new one would be as good for that. (It might be even better, but I'd still have to learn a new system. Using the exact same system every time is good 'cause I know where everything is and I very seldom forget anything - you notice the empty space before you leave home.
• Dual range transmission. Love it!
• No BS gimmicks like touch screens and electric seats. Not interested in any of that nonsense.
• I already have a full set of spare wheels. Very handy. You can have part-worn everyday tyres on one set and nice new off-road tyres on the other set.
• No stupid bells and alarms and beepers! The only one on the MY05 is the seat belt warning which takes 5 minutes to short out. Not sure how easy it is to get rid of the noises in a new one. (I do bird photography, often from inside the car - you have to stay in the car or the bird flies away - which is why I can't have it making weird noises, and is also why I like the all-rond visibility and the frameless windows.)
• Probaly other reasons I forget.

So what are your thoughts on new vs old? Your experiences? If you have upgraded, what things do you like? What things do you hate?

 

[Ratbag]

Gidday Tannin

We have both SG (MY06) and SH. Our SH (MY10) still has the EJ-253 donk and ProDrive 4EAT tranny.

I far prefer the nippiness, size and handling of my SG. SWMBO prefers her SH. I find the size and handling of the SH not as good. The SH is undoubtedly a better family car ...

I also prefer the EJ-253 to the later engines, and very much more than the FB-20 in many later Foresters. While the Forester would be more economical and still perform adequately with the 2.2L donk, I reckon that a N/A 2.0L is just too small for the size and weight.

The EJ-253 gives the N/A Forester sufficient power and torque when off road or towing, without it being either a speed demon or a gas guzzler.

We bought mine with 101K Kms on the clock, and our SH with just about 63K Kms on it. Someone else had paid around $20K+ depreciation on both of them :biggrin:.

Agree about the visibility issues of modern styling. A friend has an XV and complains that they would never have bought it if they had realised how badly the sharply sloping front pillar interferes with vision ...

 

[jf1sf5]

Old :iconwink:

 

[casperfromholland]

Would go for a SG. With a nice budget to alter it to your taste. (Big wheels liftkit etc)

 

[Red XS]

I agree with most those points. I'll add to them.

Pros for new.
For sand driving, the new Foresters are way better then my SG II. Stock they are better offroad, with bigger tyres, more clearance and superior AWD.
Nicer car to drive on road, better handling and more comfortable. SG's are great, but a modern Subaru is better. (and the Outback is better again)
Roomier. Especially if you get an Outback.
Subaru's CVT is great. You don't need LR with a CVT, however they make driving boring. If you put your foot down the revs just jump up and scream. Acceleration is actually pretty good, it just feels slow because there's no kick back from the solid gears.

I love my SG II and would never sell it. But if I had the money I would get a new Outback 6 speed manual diesel as a daily and for soft offroading, like runs down Wedge beach, then turn the SG into a dedicated offroader.

 

[ateday]

With 350,000 plus kms on my 13 yo MY03 wouldn`t change it for quids.
However things, usually expensive, do go wrong and I would hate the 1.59 LR to die. Low 2nd is just great.
Yes it is not as economical or as quick as a new model but it just, fingers XXXX`d keeps going.

 

[NachaLuva]

I prefer the 07 SG XT for the size, weight, looks, interior & engine, the later models for the VTD & XMode :biggrin:

 

[Robbks]

I prefer the SH Model,
It's bigger than all the others and without strut towers in the rear, the luggage space is excellent
Is Diesel
Is Manual
It's a Premium Pack
it's got better clearances than the SJ I believe

Isn't as ugly as the late SG or SJ

 

[PauSum]

Subaru's CVT is great. You don't need LR with a CVT, however they make driving boring.

Boring? Wait till you tried playing with the paddles. I'm sure it comes down to personal preference too so no worries

If you put your foot down the revs just jump up and scream. Acceleration is actually pretty good, it just feels slow because there's no kick back from the solid gears.

Even with normal acceleration on my cvt diesel outback at traffic lights, I am enjoying sending dust to all the big cars behind mine daily

I love my SG II and would never sell it. But if I had the money I would get a new Outback 6 speed manual diesel as a daily and for soft offroading, like runs down Wedge beach, then turn the SG into a dedicated offroader.

I still love my MY06 Forester and enjoying my CVT diesel Outback :biggrin: