Like any used car..there is risk no matter. Get an mechanic to check it out.
Good luck.
Good luck.
2011 Forester 2.5x VIN not listed in oil consumption lawsuit
Hey, there is a used forester I'm looking to buy and the vin isn't listed in the oil consumption lawsuit but I'm wondering if this a a problem that I should be concerned about or was it really specific to the vins listed?
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Would a mechanic be able to tell what's up with oil consumption in one visit?
I guess my situation is that I've never owned a Subaru, found one I'm interested in, like the idea of this outdoor lifestyle stuff and everything a Forester would offer in that regard, plus I have a kid, a family, live in the Northeast with winters, but I go online and read all these horror storys of engines blowing up because of no oil and am feeling really apprehensive despite being super excited to own a Forester and am not sure whar to do. I am planning on taking this vehicle to a mechanic to check out before buying but I just read a story of someone who had 30pt inspection then 2k later or something their engine blew up.
Well, so as it turned out the mechanic told me not to buy the vehicle. The oil was overfilled and black, transmission fluid was burnt, there was a head gasket leak (slightly oil leak from back side), rear pads and rotors were shot, all 4 tires really worn, and some other small stuff so I decided to walk away. I had been targeting the 2011 Xs because they were in my initial budget but after checking out the interior and how it seems super cheaply made I really didn't like that and I'm wondering if maybe I should look into the 2014s when it appears the vehicle got a bit larger and the interior was improved? I know those ones used the CVT and not the 4EAT like the 2011, did the whole oil consumption issue and head gasket thing improve by 2014? Should I be looking into a Forester Turbo that uses the MLS gasket? Do the ones that use the multi layer gasket typically have gasket failure? After looking at a couple 2011s I'm a bit disillusioned by Foresters since they seem riddled with issues, perhaps I just looked at a couple bad ones and shouldn't give up? Anyone have any advice, guess I was pretty disappointed to see how my kids corn popper seems to use more quality materials than the inside of the 2011. From the pics the 14 looks a bit nicer. I don't know.
Head gaskets are no longer a problem since 2011. Yes you could always have oil seepage but the HG won't fail because the cooling circuits are separated between the block and gasket.
Subarus may be considering the best made, best handling, best is snow, and safest since dinosaurs...BUT they are very complicated considering the drive train and horizontally opposed engines. In short the things that makes them superior makes them (IMHO) a bit more maintenance intensive.
If money is a real issue you might be best off avoiding an older subaru, simply because you don't know how it was treated. But to be fair you can say that for any AWD. A CRV is the most friggi 'n boring car on the planet but is a bit safer purchase bc it is less complicated and an inline 4 is very simple (and maintenance free). In short..you need to pay to play.
My 2008 cost me over the years $5000 in maintenance. But it now has 190+K miles on it. It should go another 50K but will require the timing belt and all associated partrs which is around a grand.
Many will disagree with me on this board..its just an opinion.
Subarus may be considering the best made, best handling, best is snow, and safest since dinosaurs...BUT they are very complicated considering the drive train and horizontally opposed engines. In short the things that makes them superior makes them (IMHO) a bit more maintenance intensive.
If money is a real issue you might be best off avoiding an older subaru, simply because you don't know how it was treated. But to be fair you can say that for any AWD. A CRV is the most friggi 'n boring car on the planet but is a bit safer purchase bc it is less complicated and an inline 4 is very simple (and maintenance free). In short..you need to pay to play.
My 2008 cost me over the years $5000 in maintenance. But it now has 190+K miles on it. It should go another 50K but will require the timing belt and all associated partrs which is around a grand.
Many will disagree with me on this board..its just an opinion.
Head gaskets are no longer a problem since 2011. Yes you could always have oil seepage but the HG won't fail because the cooling circuits are separated between the block and gasket.
Subarus may be considering the best made, best handling, best is snow, and safest since dinosaurs...BUT they are very complicated considering the drive train and horizontally opposed engines. In short the things that makes them superior makes them (IMHO) a bit more maintenance intensive.
If money is a real issue you might be best off avoiding an older subaru, simply because you don't know how it was treated. But to be fair you can say that for any AWD. A CRV is the most friggi 'n boring car on the planet but is a bit safer purchase bc it is less complicated and an inline 4 is very simple (and maintenance free). In short..you need to pay to play.
My 2008 cost me over the years $5000 in maintenance. But it now has 190+K miles on it. It should go another 50K but will require the timing belt and all associated partrs which is around a grand.
Many will disagree with me on this board..its just an opinion.
$500.00 a year for maintenance cost is roughly a single car payment.
Not too shabby if the vehicle has been generally reliable over the years.
Oh I certainly agree. But when the HG's started to go and the vehicle had 120K miles on it It almost made economic sense to get rid of it. But my wife said it would not be right to even trade it in bc someone (like possible the OP) would struggle to pay for the repairs. But that happens in soooo many cases. Most people are not like my wife.:icon_wink:$500.00 a year for maintenance cost is roughly a single car payment.
Not too shabby if the vehicle has been generally reliable over the years.
What’s the deal with the MLS Head Gaskets vs. the single layer ones? If you get it repaired and use a MLS gasket, is that a more permanent fix?
I assume the FB has mls gaskets. I am not positive. But its not an issue in the FB engine bc like I said, the HG is not a coolant boundary.What’s the deal with the MLS Head Gaskets vs. the single layer ones? If you get it repaired and use a MLS gasket, is that a more permanent fix?
I see. With the CVT trans how often does that need to be serviced? Is that just flushing the fluid? Seems like those are going bad too.
if you are looking for the most reliability in a subaru., then a smaller one with a 2.0L engine , or a later 2015 thru 2018 would be better for you ,.............by late 2015 subaru had apparently worked out the bugs of the piston ring tension/oil burning problem and had begun to up grade the cvt seals and problems, ........they evolved the cvt every year with 2017 and 2028 being better than 2014/......................- subaru is a complex system, in all aspects, people buy it for the awd , and ability to haul stuff and can be higher maintenance, - you get what you pay for , you want the room, and mpg, and their better awd. then you pay for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. almost as good is toyota and it usually is less maintenance costs
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