looking for a new car. suggestions?

Do you truly believe that is the worst thing you have read in TW?

 

I’d believe the VAG car was more reliable over a Subie.

 

If she’s doing localish or less than 100 mile trips mostly, consider an EV, if you’re otherwise getting an automatic anyway. One gas car is enough if you wanna make a longer trip without planning stops and don’t mind using the Tacoma. And you share/swap vehicles sometimes.

Gas is cheap so who cares about mileage, but EVs drive way better than most ice vehicles, and the regen braking makes them better in traffic. Acceleration is like a life sized slot car compared to you last vehicle. There’s a lot of choices that can still get the full tax credit.
https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml

I would stay away from Muskmobiles though - too digital and too connected, plus politically disliked from both ends of the spectrum. There are EVs that don’t obviously look like EVs and have better dealer discounts. Depreciation might be bad but is offset by discounts and tax credits to an extent.
And they are heavy, so they are relatively safe versus everyone else’s heavy vehicle.

RWD is nice for an amazing turning radius.

 

They make a Corolla hybrid AWD. Might be a viable option.

 

Not a lot to choose from at 30k or under. I've read several mixed reviews on Subaru. Maybe a base trim RAV4?

 

I took a close look at new CrossTreks, Foresters, RAV4s, and Corolla Crosses before I found my Tacoma. I was going to go with the Forester Wilderness because I wanted something I could drive to trailheads with confidence. I had high hopes for the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but then I watched this review from Driving Sports TV.

FWIW Consumer Reports gives the Crosstrek and Forester good ratings and my in-laws have had great luck with Subarus.

 

Fed tax Credits, state vouchers, discounts, and incentives bring various $40k+ EVs below $30k effectively. Also, lease + lease buyout might work, but might not be as relevant under the current year tax credit workings.

 

Yeah, but then there's the limitations of range and the cost of charging. Probably okay for a second or third vehicle for some though.

 

Just one more datapoint: ‘13 Impreza base, low miles. Burns oil like a ****. Falls out of third if the shift lever isn’t jammed in aggro. Otherwise not bad, not great. I’m very unlikely to buy another subie.

 

I wouldn't.

 

Subaru is kinda shitbox
so if you're looking for something that is similar and better

the Germans make competitors, among others

 

Hyundai/kia. I have owned a 2017 Elantra MT since brand new. Drove cross country and have had 0 issues. Things I have done it’s regular oil change and oil filter every 5k, did swapped the air filter and swapped a set of tires. Car is reliable, A/C works and get usually 40 mpg highway, and has great safety rating. I used to have a crosstrek before this one. What ever you do stay away from Nissan if you value your money.

 

Always been a Toyota guy (owned 7, still have 3), Toyota family since 1989, there’s really nothing that beats them.

Subarus are as many people say, but the issues are pretty well known.

Wife has a 23 Forester Limited, awesome driving car, but had its ticks - infotainment would crash with iPhone/CarPlay, firmware update fixed it for now, then the windshield randomly cracked with less than 5000 miles, fixed under warranty. Both common issues.

The new CVT’s are far more reliable, very smooth, just don’t beat it, it’s an all wheel drive car, I imagine it’s the weakest link.

My brother bought both his daughters 2010ish outback’s, he’s a firefighter, the a pillars are so strong they can’t use the jaws of life, have to use a hot saw. Same true for the seat steel, I drilled out some rivets to retrofit Crosstrek seats into my 99 (DONT DO THIS, they don’t fit well, too tall at the seat base and back), Jesus those things were tough, Toyota steel (we all know about the frame cancer issues) are like putty by comparison.

My mom was in a serious collision with a drunk driver in her 07 Forester, not a scratch.

Had a friend who only bought legacy wagons/outbacks, very neglectful on maintenance, drove the piss out of them, they’d only die when he wrecked them

That said, they’re both full of Aisin, Denso, Mitsubishi/boshi parts, they’re both great brands.

 

IDK, me personally, life is too short to just drive reliable…or we would all just drive Honda’s. It’s a trade off worth taking, as German cars are just so much more interesting and engaging to drive. Are maintenance costs higher? Sure…but every time I have ever gotten in my Audi S4, or BMW M3 (past cars) I had a smile on my face and felt alive. Can’t say the same for the Prius I leased for a year. Ymmv


Oh, because German!!!

 

Thanks everyone for your input, pulled the trigger on a 2024 Subaru forester premium. Fingers crossed. Only dealer in my area without the stupid markups.

 

My wife puts hers thru hell.
We got a 18 limited leather seats Harmon carden sound system etc.
Her headlights even move left and right starting it up. Has all the tech I bought extended warranty just because of all the tech. It had 7k miles when we bought it and was 3 yrs old it was 20k$.
She has 25k miles now.
Had it undercoated at suby 10 yr warranty.
I personally don’t like it but it’s her car.
I was gonna just buy it without financing they offered .09 percent damm she needed some credit rating shit most everything has been in my name.
We financed 1/2.

 

All the Audi's drive like absolute once they hit about 30k miles. It's like they're made to fall apart when the lease is up. A3, A4, Q3, Q5, Q7, ect. Their suv's ride really rough too. The RS6 and RS7 with the 600hp V8 are pretty cool though.

BMW... well, bring my wallet it's out of warranty.

Porsche 911 would be my preference out of the German segment.

 

We looked at bmw suv went like a raped ape but then I looked cost to own service.
Very few places around here want to deal with German vehicles. It was also a diesel.