[Boomer]

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer

[tophcfa]

Great cars, we have owned two of them. A highly desirable car in snow country with their outstanding all wheel drive system, but not really necessary in Florida. Both of our Burus got over 150,000 reliable miles driven in challenging conditions. The only downside of the vehicles was that with the all wheel drive it is recommended all 4 tires be replaced at the same time.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I had a Subaru Wagon (that was the model name, it predated the Forester). It was a 4cyl car and drove just fine.

I've only owned two 6cyl cars: a Jaguar and - obviously it was amazing because Jaguar. No point in comparing any 4cyl to it, that'd be just stupid. And a Ford Explorer Sport 4x4, which was equally amazing.

My Subaru was a 4cyl. My VWs were all 4cyl (one 1976 Bug, two Rabbits, one Microbus). All my other cars have been 4cyl, and other than one of the Rabbits which was a diesel, they've all handled great. If you're okay with a smaller, lighter-weight car, you should be zipping around easily in a 4cyl. Turbocharging has redefined performance on them over the years and you can get almost as much torque from one as you can a similarly-sized 6cyl car.

Or throw caution to the wind and get a Jaguar. Just make sure to get two - one to drive while the other is in the shop.

[CarlR33]

You might try pruzzing the internet for a Subaru forum. The Honda (Accord) and Miata forums I have been a part of usually have a wealth of information. For what it’s worth the newer vehicles I rent for work are packed with too much technology to the point of distraction. Not sure about Subaru through but be careful for what you wish for as it’s hard to beat an Accord.

[folkh]

I have a 2013 Subaru Outback, love it. Great in the snow of course but also wonderful for the heavy FL downpours.

[manaboutown]

Back in the mid 1980s I bought a compact Subaru car for my children as they were learning to drive. It was a 4 cylinder dinky little thing with a stick shift. It ran just fine and developed no mechanical difficulties.

In 2017 my son and his family moved way up into the Northern Idaho panhandle. Subarus are very popular up there, both car and SUV models as they come with all wheel drive.

Three points I would like to make. 1) I never buy a vehicle without a good local dealer for the brand. 2) Lighter weight vehicles can hydroplane at relatively low speeds on wet pavement, been there, done that back in the day in a 1966 VW bug, very scary. 3) Heavier vehicles protect their occupants better in collisions with lighter vehicles so now, as a somewhat fragile old geezer, I currently drive a large, heavy SUV, a 2023 BMW X5 M50i. I gotta have a V8!

[AMB444]

If you're happy with your Honda you might want to look at Mazda and Nissan cars. Good quality but better priced.

[Toymeister]

There are a few issues with boxer engines. Boxer engines have the cylinders in horizontal, oposing directions. All Subies use them but no other auto manufacturer opt for them. Some of them suffer from oil burning. I would research the model that you're interested in extensively for known engine problems.

[Snakster66]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

There are a few issues with boxer engines. Boxer engines have the cylinders in horizontal, oposing directions. All Subies use them but no other auto manufacturer opt for them. Some of them suffer from oil burning. I would research the model that you're interested in extensively for known engine problems.

This right here. My previous car was a subaru Legacy (bought new 2015). I never made it to the next oil change wihout having to add oil.

Also Subaru has some proprietary maintenance aspects. Our mechanic could not do certain things are use his computer diagnostics for certain things due to proprietary aspect of Subarus. If you are inclined to take your vehicles to the dealership for maintenance, this is not a big deal. But if you use your own mechanic, keep this in mind.

Generally I liked the car, but these annoyances did wear on me over time.

[Haggar]

My wife owns a 2022 Subaru Outback - my wife loves the car - great features and a good ride. Yes - all four tires have to be replaced even if one is bad. Not great on gas mileage.

I own a 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid. Gets 49 mpg - good ride, nice features. But a warning - passenger seat is low and has no available adjustment. My wife is 5 feet tall and can't see over the dashboard. Got a big cushion - helps a little bit she still rightfully complains. And it doesn't have sirius - and you can't add it. But it does have Alexa.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Boomer

My 2016 Honda Accord is doing fine and I will probably keep driving it. I am not someone who cares about always having a newer car. We take good care of our vehicles.

But Subaru has my attention lately.

I always buy 6-cylinder engines. Perhaps I need to get past that. Last century we had some kind of 4-cylinder car that was awful. Merging was scary. I have wiped whatever kind it was from my memory. I hated that car and have been buying 6 cylinders since. But is that really necessary with newer engine designs?

I am just now entering the thinking stage on this and would appreciate any input from Subaru owners, present or past. Thank you.

Boomer

I have a 2024 Subaru Forester Touring. It has plenty of power and surprisingly good gas milage. I think you see a fair amount of Subaru's riding around the Villages is because how well Subaru's hold up in bad accidents. Subaru's have a very ridged frame.

The Subaru Boxer engine is designed the way it is because it allows for Symmetrical all wheel drive. Subaru's remain in all wheel drive all the time.

[Boomer]

Note: I do not know why that blue, winking emoji is at the top of my post. I did not put it there on purpose and can’t seem to get rid of it.

Anyway, here’s my post:

Thank you. All your posts are exactly the kind of information I am looking for. I like first-hand experience.

:I rode with a friend in her Subaru and liked the feel of the ride. I have a friend whose Mercedes rides beautifully, but I am not going to spend that kind of money. I know 3 people who love their Subarus.

I have owned 3 Accords. A 2009, which is still in the family, is tooling right along. I bought that one new.

In Florida, in 2014, I bought a used 2012 Accord that had 10,000 miles on it, from a dealer. It stayed in the house there, but we drove it home one summer for an extra family car and that was when a weird thing happened to it…….

The tie rod broke, just plain broke, on a suburban street at a stop sign. Thank goodness not on an interstate. I always wondered if that used Honda had actually lived near saltwater and not in TV which supposedly it had. I must say that collapsing tie rod undermined my faith in Hondas, but I had already bought my new 2016 at that point. It’s still doing fine.

Even though I somewhat agree with the poster who said that sometimes safety features can actually be a distraction, I do think a bigger screen on the dash would be safer. My 2016 screen looks tiny to me now. I guess if I had not been riding with those friends with their big screens, I would not have known what I was missing. But now I know.

Again, thank you to those who have responded. I hope to hear more.

Boomer

[dewilson58]

Make sure U R happy with the ride & wind noise.

[blueash]

Last time I was car buying in 2018 got to three choices, a Subaru, Hyundai, and Toyota. The warrantee was so much better on the Hyundai that I was leaning that way, also a bit lower cost for same features.

Subaru salesman told me that his cars had much better reliability than the Hyundai. So I told him that if that is true then the dealership should have no problem with giving me a warrantee just like the one on the Hyundai for no additional cost. Somehow that was not available.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

CoachK has only owned Subaru Outbacks, 7 total, 4 and 6 cylinder, and great car, excellent mechanically, great mileage.

I change the oil every 5k miles, low oil light comes on after 8k miles. Must rotate tires every 10k mi to keep the wear front versus back as even as possible.

Great turning radius, do you really need a 6 cylinder for driving around TV?

Love the autopilot for maintaining car spacing and emergency braking.

Highly recommend with a dealer nearby for checkup every 3-4 years.