@Greenjeepmama I would NOT touch or go near the XT. It's got a Turbo and that needs looking after meticulously. And you also don't know the history of the vehicle and what the previous owners may or may not have done to the vehicle. Find a NON-XT/NON-Turbo model is the way to go.

 

I would love to hear more about how to look after my 140k XT (I'm a second owner from 40k, fingers crossed zero issues).

 

Agree. The 2.0 is turbocharged. This isn't the right car.

 

The FA20DIT in the XT Forester very likely has the same turbo as the FA20DIT found in the 2015-2021 WRX, and there are people with with very long service life on them without any crazy amounts of "careful eye" or stuff beyond normal/preventative maintenance..

 

Thinking out loud....

Direct injected engines require walnut blasting to keep the intake valves clean. Lots of us have had driveability issues.

The FA20DIT engine is extremely sensitive to metered air flow. They are less tolerant of third party air filters and seem to run better with the correct Subaru filter, part number 16546AA10A. Regular MAF cleaning seems to keep them running better as well.

Turbochargers rarely have problems but its just one more thing to go wrong and the college grad will be a poor intern.

In Alaska, I'd make sure that TSB 02-173-18 was done. See https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10140480-9999.pdf.

Not sure an oil guzzling 2015 non-turbo would be any better.

A plug-in block heater would be nice. Subaru sells them for about $200.

 

College students don't maintain their vehicles. I know this for a fact. My son is in college. Their focus is on their studies. They don't have time nor the funds to get their oil changes at the required intervals for the XT engine. They don't have time to notice something is wrong. All they care about is getting in the vehicle and driving it. And we also don't know the skills sets of the OP's college person. Are they even trained NOW to properly maintain any vehicle?

 

Look elsewhere. Potential huge money pit. For 10K you will likely get an unreliable money pit no matter what you get. If she has a car now get a set of Michelin Crossclimate 2s. They may take you places where an awd with normal tires may not go.

 

I'd be right in the general area of a 2011 Honda CR-V w/ all wheel drive.

Here's an example. Alloy wheels. Recently washed and detailed LoL. $1100 below budget!

2011 Honda CR-V SE for sale in Newton, MA - CARFAX

Make a more informed buying decision at CARFAX by first viewing vehicle history on this 2011 Honda CR-V SE.

www.carfax.com

 

Actually a CRV isn't a bad idea. I had a 2005 I loved but it seemed to go through brakes but overall just needed basic maintenance. I ran it up to around 245K and sold it. (Should have kept it but wanted something new). Having worked at the Honda dealership I believe the 2010 and 2011 had oil consumption issues. My daughter had a 2011 that burned oil. The 2009 was a good year for the CRV in your price range. Good luck on your search.

 

Thanks everyone.

We’re ruling out the turbo based on opinions here. Seems like it might be ok but if it’s not it’s a big catastrophic repair.

We’ve found 2 non-turbo ones with good service records for roughly the same price ( within less then $1000) 10k for a 2016 2.5 Touring with 133k or a 2014 2.5 Touring with 120k. Thoughts on them? Would on be better then the other?

To clarify she’s 24 almost 25.
She just finished her Masters degree, so not a young college student but still poor because well environmental science major and doing post grad internships to build her resume.

Her current college car is a 2004 Buick Lasabre. While it’s been pretty rock solid with very little maintenance it’s for sure not the right car to take to Alaska.

We’ve considered a Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 or a Lexus RX350 but to be honest the Forester seems to still be the front runner as it meets all her needs in ways the others just don’t but we are still looking at them if we can find one with the right options for the right price.

 

Her current college car is a 2004 Buick Lasabre. While it’s been pretty rock solid with very little maintenance it’s for sure not the right car to take to Alaska.

Man, them Buick LeSabre's will run forever.

 

Skip the 2014, they still had excessive oil consumption issues even into some 2015 NA models. 2016 would be a good year in that regard, the oil consumption issues were resolved then.

 

Ive got a 14 i run 5 30 like they do in japan and burn zero oil. Im good about oil changes but at 134 its a great car and does great up to about 2.5 feet of snow. After that it just doesn't weigh enough to get the snow tires to pavement and swims a bit especially uphill