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2015 Forester 2.0XT Touring 119,00

377 views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  TTiimm  
#1 ·
Hi,

Helping my recent college graduate look for a car to take to Alaska- Anchorage specifically.

She is going to Anchorage to do an internship for the NPS for a year. She needs a car that she can drive from Maryland to Anchorage and drive while in Alaska.

As a recent college grad doing an internship for the govt, she’s getting paid peanuts, so price and reliability are an issue. She has a budget of roughly $10k.

We found a 2015 2.0 Touring with 119,000 miles on it for 9k. Seems to have been well maintained as far as we can tell.

The car just had a fresh oil change and full mechanical inspection. Replaced front brakes and front lower arm control parts per mechanics recommendation.

She loves Subies, is part of the demographic😂, and for what she wants to do in Alaska ( some light offroading/rooftop tent camping) it seems like an excellent set up.

She’s a photographer and film maker along with having an environmental science degree so really loves the panoramic sunroof, the 18 inch tires, remote start, heated mirrors and seat.

In short, this seems ideal but then I read about reliability issues past 100k and big repair bills which she will not be able to afford ( again internship that pays peanuts and student loans😳)

Sorry for the very long post but thoughts? Should she move forward with this purchase? What should we look for?

Really appreciate any thoughts, she has to leave in the next 10-15 days to start her drive out there so we’re in a bit of a crunch between the time and her budget.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
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.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Man, them Buick LeSabre's will run forever.
Yeah it’s ugly as sin and the headliner is literally stapled to the top but it runs great and in four years in New Orleans needed nothing but oil changes and new tires due to the crazy pot holes there. We’re keeping it and she may sell the Subi in Alaska when she’s done.
 
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