2013–2021
I had a son, a mortgage, and a Discovery with 175,000 miles. Time to be responsible. I bought the Forester from an internet sales department in Manhattan Beach — it was about two years old — and I got the manual transmission. That was the last stand of independence.
It was practical. AWD, good cargo room, 23 MPG. I towed trailers with it. I drove it 128,000 miles.
At 125,000 miles it needed a new engine and transmission. $8,746. I had it done at the Subie Shop in Oceanside and they did quality work — the car ran fine for another 46,000 miles after that. Despite the catastrophic failure, it was still the most economical vehicle I’ve owned. The fuel efficiency paid for the engine.
Buying from a generic dealer rather than a brand specialist means you inherit the previous owner’s problems. I did. The car had probably been overheated before I got it, which is why the engine went.