ANyone here ever owned a Subaru Forester long term, either the pre 2008 boxy ones (SF , SG, SH) or the newer shape from 2014 (SJ, SK)

Are they any good? Reliable?

Not as such, but I have mates. General report on Subaru is decent reliability, not so good on fuel (even the non-turbo 2.0l only does 30mpg).

Mate has one, a 3.0 NA.

 

He loves it dearly and has done well over 100k with it. He shoot as well so it's had a reasonably hard life running around fields and he swears it's better off road than many true 4x4s dues to the perminant 4x4 and differential layout.

 

He has spend a fair bit on maintenance over the years, it does seem that all subarus have a weak point for rust in the exhaust system, they hole at one little point where it can't be welded and you have to replace the exhaust at some considerable expense (over £1k).

 

Fearsome thirst, if he floors it I swear you can hear the tank drain.

 

He's thinking of changing now but really struggling to think of something that does everything for him like the Subaru does.

Not the Forrester but have a mate who had a 2.0 Impreza Sport (ie the non-turbo-nutter one).  He absolutely loved and and put a lot of miles on it...   until someone decided to use a spade to open the back  door to his house and nick the keys and car...

This seems to be the case, that people seem to love their Subarus, that's what I am trying to find out firsthand , even though they seem not to be the most reliable or efficient

Best mate had a 53 plate 2.0 turbo. Absolute beast. Great reliability and running costs were ok. 

 

I worked for Subaru in 2006 and drive one of the newer ones. It was a pleasant place to be. 

 

I like Subaru's and especially the Forester. 

19 hours ago, TonyTonic said:

This seems to be the case, that people seem to love their Subarus, that's what I am trying to find out firsthand , even though they seem not to be the most reliable or efficient

 

I think they are known to be pretty reliable and well made. The complaints come when you do have problems as parts sometimes have to come from Japan and they are expensive. I knew someone with a Legacy (lovely car btw) and when his wing mirror was smashed to bits it was over £1k for a replacement.

My mates car is some oddball performance version and came with an active exhaust. When it went he couldn't replace it, since the part was from some Subaru skunkworks (can't remember the name). So now he's got a non active exhaust which works fine but he's sad to lose the noise.

 

Efficient they are not. All scoobies like a drink.

 

I think it's one of those car brands, if it scratches your itch you'll probably be a Subaru driver forever.