Well, full disclosure: my decision is down to the Forester and the CRV. The Forester is sticking with their 2.5 liter engine, bored out for a few more horse power in the 2019 which shows it is reliable and worth modifying. Gone are the days of the oil burning Forester engines. The new one will be quieter and sit on their new global platform. It looks almost identical to the previous version it replaces with the exception that the hatch opening will be significantly wider than the current version and the rear seat room will be plentiful. I'm hoping my current ride will last me through next year for one reason: I believe people are going to hate the new Forester. The Subaru faithful are already up in arms about there no longer being a stick shift option nor a turbo option. Neither of these brought Subaru any profits where the Forester was concerned so they are sticking with the reliable 2.5 liter engine, paired with their CVT. I'm guessing sales will be VERY slow, resulting in Subaru putting incentives on the Forester very early in the production year. I plan on taking advantage of this. While I have not sat in the CRV, the reliability has been excellent on all the forums I surf. I simply question the visibility which appears good, but not great. The Forester simply stands out as a boxy comfort vehicle; easy in, easy out, and easy to drive and see out of. I had the CX-5 on my list but absolutely hate the new "aardvark" front nose look and the now smaller back window. It is off my list completely.

 

Wait, is Subaru still using the POS EJ25?

 

I agree with your comments about the CX-5...I hate the nose. Otherwise its a nice looking vehicle and gets an excellent rating from consumer reports. It's not as accommodating as the fit though. My friends wife has one and I'm pretty sure my Fit can hold more than her CX-5 and I'm pretty sure that it has more leg room and head room though I am not certain. It just felt really cramped. My brother leases the new CRV and I've been in it. It's got lots of cheap plastic parts all around and visibility is ok but the one thing I can't stand about it is something I don't like about the Fit and that is its short seats. The front seat hits me at about 1/2 up my thigh so the rest of my thigh (to my knee) hangs off the seat without any support. Being tall I need something with support under my leg. I would love it if the HRV was a better choice but it got lambasted on Consumer reports. Poor visibility, poor pick up and poor rear head room. If it wasn't so poorly rated I'd get one of those.

 

I've had several Subarus, and the maintenance does start to get more expensive than Honda after 100k miles. Head gaskets are still an issue with the boxer once you're into six figures on the odometer. Our '06 Tribeca had: AC failure, idler pulley failure, steering rack failure, wheel bearing failure, and then the death blow of head gaskets (at about 150k). We replaced it with a '17 Outback 2.5, as the wife loves Subarus... Overall the car is great, but I detest the way the CVT shifts, it feels very sluggish from a stop and through "2nd gear". We test drove the Forester, but the Outback was far more comfortable - seats had more support and longer seat bottom, or it least if felt that way. Also a bit quieter. I would take a Forester for an extended test drive before committing to purchase. We're planning on selling or trading the Outback (probably for another one) before the odometer gets to 100k, although that means at least 7 years with the reasonable miles we put on it.

 

Alpha: the long term reliability thing is precisely why I have never owned a Subaru before. I'm throwing caution to the wind if I do purchase the 2019.

Mike: this is what I found on a mechanical specs page, so I'm guessing the answer to your question is no:

engine model FB25
2.5L 2498cc 4 cylinder boxer engine
DOHC- double overhead cam
16 valves with
Active valve control system
Variable Valve Control
Sequential multi-port fuel injection
Cylinder head mounted injectors
Electronic throttle control
Timing chain
Compression 10.0:1
bore/stroke 3.70"x3.54", 94mm/90mm
Spark plug, Iridium Tipped, NGK SILZKR7B11
Igntion timing manual 16* +/-10* at 650 rpm, CVT 16* +/- 10* at 675rpm
Idle speed manual 650+/- 100, CVT 675 +/- 100
Firing order 1-3-2-4
Battery CCA 390a
AC Freon- R1234YF (new starting on the 2017 model, prior years used R134)

 

I swapped my Fit out for a 2018 Honda Accord EX-L 1.5 at the end of May. It is quite the step-up from the Fit.

 

itd be real cool if i can get a hold of a new tiguan SEL Premium with the RLine body kit to replace the GK. its slow but suv so i wouldnt care to go fast anyway. really digging the styling, AWD, and premium sound system, carplay, etc.

https://nsvolkswagen.com/wp-content/...lease-Date.jpg

but will probably get me a new Golf-R DSG to park next to my MT one since my wife wants me to keep the GK a couple more yrs as she hates driving new cars in fear of scratching it.

 

I wonder why Subaru would keep using the boxer style motor is head gaskets fail after 100k?

I owned a brand new VW (2001 Jetta) before and never again. I had nothing but problems with it. I hated that car. My wife owned a GTI and traded it in after only a year because it almost immediately needed $5k worth of work that was luckily covered under warranty.

I would think about a 2016 Accord but I'm not sure how good they are in the snow. I'm not fond of the 2018 redesign though it does sound like a better car than the 2016. I wish Honda would make a an AWD car. I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Can anyone recommend a decent late model AWD car for under $20k? I heard the Infiniti G37x is decent and I see a few lexus IS 250's for sale but I think they did fairly poorly in reviews. There is also the Acura TL but it's pretty hideous.

 

Because subaru loyalists are dumb & just want a BOXER AWD SUBARU

 

....getting back to helpful posts.....
Shawn: the CRV can be had with AWD. Check it out.

 

that and a tad smaller maz CX3 comes AWD too..

as for vw i don’t know their history but both my Golfs are doing great. it’s my Honda dat is a pos dese days.

 

What year and model honda do you have?

 

my subaru is also doing great. AWD FTW.

 

2016 Fit EX bought new. problems started 2nd day of ownership.

 

What year, model and how many miles?

 

wat is ur address your age your social security number and blood type? WTF mang..

 

haha....this thread is done...stick a fork in it. Thanks for the input.

 

lol i was just kidding.

 

Maybe if they come out with a 200+ hp turbo..