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Gen0cide

Gen0cide

Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Location
Kinston, NC
so.. in this shit storm of politics where everyone feels the need to belittle everyone else for the sake of "I'm right" and reestablishing my strong feelings of distaste and overall hatred for the human race in general... let's ask a really important question -

What do you guys think of those little AWD subarus?
I approached a similar, more general question a bit back, but hadn't really narrowed down anything yet.. Been looking at the outback or forrester? Once the w2s/taxes come in I'll have a little to add to my current savings to put on a new vehicle to replace the one the meth head plowed into while I was in it a few months back. They seem ok in the cost to own category, enough space for the fam and good on gas with my current commute to bum fuck egypt every day (still looking for jobs in WNC want to move this summer). And it seems that I can get one newer than 2000 for less than 8k... I also ran across a Mercury Mountaineer Hybrid today online, I have absolutely NO ideas on hybrids or mercury, although it seems like I had a guy tell me the mountianeers & jeeps were the only ones left with "true 4wd?" But that was a car dealer and several years ago. so. not sure how much stock I put in that...

Just looking to see what ya'll think about them. Usually when I ask a question like this I get really good feedback from a variety of sources, as well as an entertaining disagreement on something. :)
 
I own two at the moment, a 2004 WRX and a 2006 Impreza 2.5i. Same engine family in the Forrester and Outback. They're awesome. And yes, Subarus have symmetrical AWD, full time. Not the greatest fuel economy for the engine size because of that, parasitic driveline loss takes a little toll over something FWD or a Haldex-type AWD system (which is FWD most of the time).

Both of mine spent 7 years in Colorado doing daily driver duty, if you're worried about the laughable North Carolina winters.
 
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The hardest thing about owning a Subaru?
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Telling your parents you're gay
 
Fabrik8 said:
I own two at the moment, a 2004 WRX and a 2006 Impreza 2.5i. Same engine family in the Forrester and Outback. They're awesome. And yes, Subarus have symmetrical AWD, full time. Not the greatest fuel economy for the engine size because of that, parasitic driveline loss takes a little toll over something FWD or a Haldex-type AWD system (which is FWD most of the time).

Both of mine spent 7 years in Colorado doing daily driver duty, if you're worried about the laughable North Carolina winters.
Click to expand...

I'm sure Colorado has a tougher winter climate than NC could ever hope to sustain.. you guys hiring art teachers out there!?!? ha!
I know that full time AWD isn't the best on gas, which is one of the reasons I looked at the subarus, with the 4cyl instead of the v8 or v6 that I have had in the, it would still be better than what I got. I just didn't want to go with a dinky little 2wd that I would immediately want to sell one we got to the mountains.. the winters may not be up to colorado specs, but some of those driveways with just the right amount of rain, thought I might die trying to come down one of them a couple weeks ago.
 
I did just see a 2007 Toyota highlander AWD hybrid on CL.. they want $6800 for it, but says the AC isn't working. .
 
i think Subarus are unique. just dont ever have to work on one.
 
ckruzer said:
i think Subarus are unique. just dont ever have to work on one.
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That is one of the things I would like to know about! I've never had one or known anyone who has.. I know some types of "imports" are harder or more expensive to have worked on. I didn't know if subarus were in that category. It's not worth it to me to pay 5 or 6k and turn around and it cost that much or more to fix anything on it, or have to drive miles out of the way to find a special dealership to work on it..
 
I think the Outbacks ride nicer than the Foresters. The Foresters have more of a late-90s to early 2000s pickup truck ride I think.
 
Subaru generally makes a good car. that's why so many of them are seen. STI WRX is a bad m'fer.


However....if you purchase the Mercury.....

Let's just say I'd dd any Subaru (prefer old Brat if no STIs are available) over the nicest Mercury Mountaineer Hybrid a man could find.
 
Pretty sure they didn't make a Mountaineer hybrid. They did make a Mariner hybrid (i.e. Ford Escape) which is just awd, no 4L.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a forester or outback, but my wife hates them. It'd be a fun little "rally" car.
 
RubiconBear said:
Pretty sure they didn't make a Mountaineer hybrid. They did make a Mariner hybrid (i.e. Ford Escape) which is just awd, no 4L.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a forester or outback, but my wife hates them. It'd be a fun little "rally" car.
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I just went back and looked at the listing, your right it is a mariner... I misread it..
I'm not in love with the subarus, they look a little funny to me, but I prefer the outback over the Forrester to look at. I think I read it had a higher tow capacity and a bit more backseat room.. i think.. I've looked at so many listings and articles the last week or so they are starting to run together.. But they serve the purpose I need and is one of the options I see EVERYWHERE in WNC. So, they must be good in that area which I'm hoping to get to soon.
 
frankenyoter said:
Subaru generally makes a good car. that's why so many of them are seen. STI WRX is a bad m'fer.


However....if you purchase the Mercury.....

Let's just say I'd dd any Subaru (prefer old Brat if no STIs are available) over the nicest Mercury Mountaineer Hybrid a man could find.
Click to expand...

good to know. saw a toyota highlander hybrid as well.. 2007. but, it has an AC issue that they don't know how to fix and still want 6800 for it.. Don't know enough about the hybrids or AC work to know if it's worth it or not.
 
VortecJeep said:
I think the Outbacks ride nicer than the Foresters. The Foresters have more of a late-90s to early 2000s pickup truck ride I think.
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As much as I will be driving it, I would prefer the nicer ride! :)
 
RubiconBear said:
Pretty sure they didn't make a Mountaineer hybrid. They did make a Mariner hybrid (i.e. Ford Escape) which is just awd, no 4L.

I've toyed with the idea of getting a forester or outback, but my wife hates them. It'd be a fun little "rally" car.
Click to expand...

Most all of those are not a great AWD system either, they're a normally FWD system with the ability to shift a certain amount of torque rearward if needed. It's "AWD lite".
 
:gay:
 
I looked into getting a Subaru to DD. I don't remember which engine a year but there is one that pops head gaskets like crazy. I think it is 2.0 but not certain. The outback (maybe others) also tend to have rust in front of the rear wheel in the door opening. This is what i can recall from when I looked at them 2.5 years ago. I test drove one in Boone, it was a pos. I ended up with a 2002 jetta tdi. It's an ok car, great on fuel but pretty blah everywhere else. I've thrown a lot of parts at it but it has 299k on it and it's the usual stuff, clutch, thermostat, shocks, front end parts blah blah.... I would also buy a Subaru over a mercury.....
 
I owned an 03 WRX for a while. It was a fun car, like a gokart, fast, handled great, etc. Gas mileage was not great for a tiny ass little car, and the interior was so cheap feeling. I think my tshirts were thicker than the carpet. And the shifter SUCKED. I rebuilt it thinking it was just worn out. Nope, just a shitty shifter. I HATED the shifter in the thing.
 
The Toyota a/c issue? If it's because the compressor keeps locking up it might be due to the fact there not replacing the condenser, it is prone to get clogged and create high pressure situation that takes out the compressor. Not to bad on price to repair if that turns out to be the problem.
 
I think I'd rather have a Subaru Forester than something like a new "Renegade" I have a genuine hate for those.
 
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