We bought an 05 Forester XT, which is my wife's daily drive. I keep forgetting why we bought it until I drive it, it's really fun with the turbo. Subs are kind of odd I have discovered, but seem to be built very well. It handles like a sports car, kind of, and the CRV drove like a truck to me. I would always pick the Forester over a CRV, and tried them both.
Forester or CRV?
- Thread starter integrare
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CRV
After extensively driving both the CRV, RAV4 & the Forester I picked the Forester. While all are very reliable and well designed for their purpose I felt the Forester With automatic to be constructed more solidly. The lower center of gravity in the Forester didn't feel as tippy towed when traversing a corner briskly. Anyway I get 22 mpg during my suburbin driving and 27-28 mpg on cruise at 70 mph on expressway trips. I love it and have for the last 102,000 miles and it's running as new.
The CRV is being redesigned for 2007 so I would wait if you can as I expect many improvements over the present design. Maybe they will get rid of the bleeping back end design with your spare hanging out in the weather.
I have an older CR-V, fwiw. It's held-up well and is quite good in all regards.
I went w/ the 2002 CR-V EX over the Forester. The Forester looked great until I saw it in person. It's just a station wagon. The CR-V at least does a better job of pretending to be an SUV. W/ regard to awd sucking gas, it's on demand on the V (or at least is in mine), so no big loss over the fwd. The shifter on the dash operates just like a column shift. You'd never know the difference if you didn't look. The V, by the way, was Car and Driver's top rated until the turbo version of the new forester came out. The V is supposed to be updated w/ a turbo version (I've heard) and also a diesel version when the redesign comes out. The 2.4l iVTEC is a great little engine and very reliable. I've done nothing except change the oil and the rear diff fluid in mine in almost 4 years of ownership. Nothing, and I mean nothing, beats the cargo bay of the V. It's ridiculous how much stuff you can pile in there. As far as the awd engaging in my 2002, it is pretty instantaneuos in mine. My only complaint about the V has been the lack of amenities. I mean, spec'd out, my V pushed $28k. Yet, it only had a Civic quality set of features. I also hate I got a 4 speed auto but the 5 speed auto doesn't seemed to have changed either acceleration or fuel economy. The stock tires are kinda noisy but I replaced them with some Kuhmo touring tires that give a nicer ride AND less noise. Plus since tirerack's warehouse is right down the road I got them very cheap, lol.
I'll drive it into the ground. Based on the spotless engine internals, that'll be a LONG time from now.
I'll drive it into the ground. Based on the spotless engine internals, that'll be a LONG time from now.
I have 2005 CRV LX 4x4 Auto. Paid about $21,000 for it.
Consumer Reports rated it best small SUV, most reliable and with excellent resale value. I am amazed how well this SUV is made. Solid, precise, no problems whatsoever. As for 4x4 - it engages via hydro clutch. I "tested" it on a deserted field in deep snow and icy surfaces and it rocks. I loved it.
The engine and transmission work great. I had it fully loaded with adults, a kid, and a whole bunch of pizzas and luggage (don't ask) and it felt like I was driving a V6 engine.
Sorry for keep on rumbling. Just love the CRV.
That being said - Subaru is a great brand. I do think that their regular 4 cyls when matted to auto transmission make the car a bit slugish compared to CRV. Still, a good car (though, IMHO not as good as CRV).
Consumer Reports rated it best small SUV, most reliable and with excellent resale value. I am amazed how well this SUV is made. Solid, precise, no problems whatsoever. As for 4x4 - it engages via hydro clutch. I "tested" it on a deserted field in deep snow and icy surfaces and it rocks. I loved it.
The engine and transmission work great. I had it fully loaded with adults, a kid, and a whole bunch of pizzas and luggage (don't ask) and it felt like I was driving a V6 engine.
Sorry for keep on rumbling. Just love the CRV.
That being said - Subaru is a great brand. I do think that their regular 4 cyls when matted to auto transmission make the car a bit slugish compared to CRV. Still, a good car (though, IMHO not as good as CRV).
Integrare,
Make sure that you keep up posted on your purchace. Although a difficult choice, there really is no poor choice in this class of small SUV's. I wouldn't be supprised if you fooled us all and ended up buying something else...Good Luck!
Make sure that you keep up posted on your purchace. Although a difficult choice, there really is no poor choice in this class of small SUV's. I wouldn't be supprised if you fooled us all and ended up buying something else...Good Luck!
Thanks for the help, guys. I won't be surprising anyone and buying something else...especially with all of the good thing ya'll are saying about these two vehicles! I'm still on the fence, but I'm considering the more truck-like ride vs. car-like ride. I'm not going to be taking the thing off road alot and the city I live in is pretty much a flat grid. Are the spark plugs hard to get to on the Forester? Thanks for all of your help everybody
My research has shown that almost every subaru is a consumer reports best buy. So is the CRV.
If it were me I would buy the CRV because:
- I think subaru's are a little overpriced for what you get.
- My friend has a 2.5L subaru impreza normally aspirated, and he is really disappointed with the fuel economy. The CRV does better.
That's just me. I'd think from a reliability or resale standpoint they'd be comparable, with perhaps the honda getting a slight edge.
All things being equal, the fuel economy and price would make the decision for me.
[Edit - my friend also finds his impreza pretty slow, he's disappointed with that aspect as well]
If it were me I would buy the CRV because:
- I think subaru's are a little overpriced for what you get.
- My friend has a 2.5L subaru impreza normally aspirated, and he is really disappointed with the fuel economy. The CRV does better.
That's just me. I'd think from a reliability or resale standpoint they'd be comparable, with perhaps the honda getting a slight edge.
All things being equal, the fuel economy and price would make the decision for me.
[Edit - my friend also finds his impreza pretty slow, he's disappointed with that aspect as well]
My wife didn't want to be seen in a Forester. That was another consideration. Subaru DID have a unique marketing campaign at one point.
Plus, when I went to go over numbers w/ the Subie dealer, he stopped me and said "We don't deal." I said, "I won't buy." and pretty much settled which I would go for. I DID consider the Santa Fe but I was buying at the end of the model year and they had already sold out of awd ones.
Have you considered the Hyundai Tuscon? I know you are trying to decide between these two. What ruled the others out?
Being a CR-V owner, one thing I am hesitant to bring up is the a/c compressor. I accidently overfilled mine and it blew sky high. Well, not literally but you get the point. When I got on the CR-V boards at HondaSUV.com, I found out a lot of folks (well, a few, at least) had their compressors go at about 50k.
I had an indy mechanic look at mine before deciding to let Honda repair it. They weren't going to be more expensive and had all the parts already (I had to replace the whole system). But anyway, the indy mechanic said it was the cheapest-looking a/c compressor he'd ever seen in a Honda. So, that's one thing to consider. But I have no idea the frequnecy of those failures. It did seem a little surprising that my Honda dealer had a complete CR-V a/c system sitting in the parts department waiting to go.
Plus, when I went to go over numbers w/ the Subie dealer, he stopped me and said "We don't deal." I said, "I won't buy." and pretty much settled which I would go for. I DID consider the Santa Fe but I was buying at the end of the model year and they had already sold out of awd ones.
Have you considered the Hyundai Tuscon? I know you are trying to decide between these two. What ruled the others out?
Being a CR-V owner, one thing I am hesitant to bring up is the a/c compressor. I accidently overfilled mine and it blew sky high. Well, not literally but you get the point. When I got on the CR-V boards at HondaSUV.com, I found out a lot of folks (well, a few, at least) had their compressors go at about 50k.
I had an indy mechanic look at mine before deciding to let Honda repair it. They weren't going to be more expensive and had all the parts already (I had to replace the whole system). But anyway, the indy mechanic said it was the cheapest-looking a/c compressor he'd ever seen in a Honda. So, that's one thing to consider. But I have no idea the frequnecy of those failures. It did seem a little surprising that my Honda dealer had a complete CR-V a/c system sitting in the parts department waiting to go.
If you are rough on the CR-V automatic, be prudent and at least drain/refill the transmission every other oil change, or every 30000 miles, etc. Several Hondas have that auto transmission as their weak spot.
Mazda Speed6... Check it out..
That Mazdaspeed 6 is a sedan, rather than a wagon or
SUV, but it is seriously HOT.
274 HP from a 2.3L 4-cyl.... wow.
SUV, but it is seriously HOT.
274 HP from a 2.3L 4-cyl.... wow.
"My wife didn't want to be seen in a Forester. That was another consideration. Subaru DID have a unique marketing campaign at one point."
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LOL. FWIW I do notice a fair number of rainbow stickers on Foresters. Unfortunate for Madison Avenue to pigeon-hole a vehicle like that.
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LOL. FWIW I do notice a fair number of rainbow stickers on Foresters. Unfortunate for Madison Avenue to pigeon-hole a vehicle like that.
I decided to go with either of these two vehicles because of (1) the safety ratings (side airbags), (2) reliability, (3) price range. I like the styling of the Tucson, but the rest of the Hyundai lineup doesn't have the excellence in safety as these two and I'm not sure about the longevity of a Hyundai.
I don't like the sound of having low grade parts like an A/C compressor stock. Thanks for the tip BrianWC. I will say that I've been happy with the hondas I've had so far. But I've hear Subaru makes a reliable product as well.
I don't like the sound of having low grade parts like an A/C compressor stock. Thanks for the tip BrianWC. I will say that I've been happy with the hondas I've had so far. But I've hear Subaru makes a reliable product as well.
Hi,
I have 05 CRV and nor reliability issues at all. My friends with older models - no probs at all. Another thing with CRV is the best resale value you can get.
Subaru-s are nice though so whatever you decide you will make a good choice. The only thing that kept me away from Subaru (which I was also considering) is that the car was slow when matched with auto transmission.
I have 05 CRV and nor reliability issues at all. My friends with older models - no probs at all. Another thing with CRV is the best resale value you can get.
Subaru-s are nice though so whatever you decide you will make a good choice. The only thing that kept me away from Subaru (which I was also considering) is that the car was slow when matched with auto transmission.
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