AARRGGHHHH, This forum just lost almost my entire post. I hit "preview" and it went to a blank page. No amount of refreshing helped. When I went back almost the entire post was missing.
So, like the title says, I'm kinda stuck deciding on a new car. I've been going round and round this problem for a few months and have pretty much settled on two cars; a 2010 or 2011 Forester XT, or a 2008 Infiniti EX35. I realize that they're two very different cars, and somewhat hard to compare. The Forester new is slightly more expensive than it would cost to buy a 2008 Infiniti with under 15,000 miles.
I mountain bike, ski, and backpack, so I'm looking for something that maintains some level of utility, but as little as I can get away with. I like smaller vehicles, I like the feel, the look, etc... and I absolutely despise large SUV's (not that they don't have a place, just not one in my life). I'm staying away from Audi because of the reliability and repair costs. I also value performance; I don't want anything that performs worse than my current '05 FXT (STI RSB and STI Pinks). Playing around in the snow is one of my favorite things to do, but I really get the chance around 10 days a year.
If I went with a Subaru, I'd continue to cool my heels until May 4th, which is when I will have hit 6 months being a member of the IMBA and qualify for Subaru's VIP program. I'm also hoping to see them come out with the announcements for the 2011 Forester so I can see what's changing. (Direct injection, the WRX's powerplant, and the 5EAT Please!) (Yes, I realize that's mostly a pipe dream)
Both cars are larger than I'd like, but not by much. In a perfect world I'd have a much nicer interior and more refined version of my 2005 XT. Same size, etc... But that just doesn't really exist in anything that would be remotely fun to drive. I know this is a biased crowd, but what are people's thoughts?
2010 or 2011 Subaru Forester XT.
PRO'S
CON'S
2008 Infiniti EX35 AWD
PRO'S
CON'S
PICTURES:
EX35
(I would go for the dark gray/black interior, not this color)
Forester XT
So, like the title says, I'm kinda stuck deciding on a new car. I've been going round and round this problem for a few months and have pretty much settled on two cars; a 2010 or 2011 Forester XT, or a 2008 Infiniti EX35. I realize that they're two very different cars, and somewhat hard to compare. The Forester new is slightly more expensive than it would cost to buy a 2008 Infiniti with under 15,000 miles.
I mountain bike, ski, and backpack, so I'm looking for something that maintains some level of utility, but as little as I can get away with. I like smaller vehicles, I like the feel, the look, etc... and I absolutely despise large SUV's (not that they don't have a place, just not one in my life). I'm staying away from Audi because of the reliability and repair costs. I also value performance; I don't want anything that performs worse than my current '05 FXT (STI RSB and STI Pinks). Playing around in the snow is one of my favorite things to do, but I really get the chance around 10 days a year.
If I went with a Subaru, I'd continue to cool my heels until May 4th, which is when I will have hit 6 months being a member of the IMBA and qualify for Subaru's VIP program. I'm also hoping to see them come out with the announcements for the 2011 Forester so I can see what's changing. (Direct injection, the WRX's powerplant, and the 5EAT Please!) (Yes, I realize that's mostly a pipe dream)
Both cars are larger than I'd like, but not by much. In a perfect world I'd have a much nicer interior and more refined version of my 2005 XT. Same size, etc... But that just doesn't really exist in anything that would be remotely fun to drive. I know this is a biased crowd, but what are people's thoughts?
2010 or 2011 Subaru Forester XT.
PRO'S
- This would be my fourth Subaru, third Forester, second turbo.
- It's got, IMO, the best AWD system out there in anything close to a realistic price range
- I love the massive sunroof
- More hauling capacity as well as rated for towing (although I have yet to ever actually tow anything)
- Brand new car
- Great Visibility
- Better gas mileage than the Infiniti (19/24 for the XT vs. 16/23 for the EX)
- Large rear seat
- Reclining rear seats
- I know how to work on it already
- Pretty light
- More headroom
CON'S
- Terrible stereo
- Worthless navigation system, and required in order to get the HID headlights ($2300 is a lot for headlights alone)
- Sloppy suspension, which can be corrected
- Crappy tires
- Quite a bit slower than the Infiniti.
- A fair bit MORE expensive to insure than the Infiniti (still can't figure this one out)
- Cheap interior and many fewer options
- Requires Premium fuel. Which adds up to ~$1000 over a 120,000 mile life.
- Bland, boring, and uninspired exterior styling.
- Timing belt
- 4EAT
- No rear-seat vents
2008 Infiniti EX35 AWD
PRO'S
- Fast! 0.5 seconds faster in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile (297hp 253 ft pounds of torque)
- An absolute hoot to drive since, unless it's slipping, it drops into RWD
- Great interior appointments.
- Much more upscale feeling and more comfortable interior.
- Aggressive exterior styling, which I like. I like car's that don't look "normal" (i.e. '05 FXT, '92 SVX)
- Doesn't require premium
- Very solid and well tested motor.
- Better reliability across the board than a turbo Subaru.
- Better warranty (4/60k bumper to bumper, 6/70k powertrain)
- Options include adaptive HID headlights (something I would really like), Lane Departure Prevention, Adaptive cruise control, pre-crash detection, a pretty good nav system, wonderful stereo, full iPod integration, Rear/Around view camera system (also a con), and Bluetooth.
- Lots of gadgets
- Smaller than the Forester
- Cheaper to insure than the Forester
- Timing chain
- Memory everything (mirrors, seat, steering column)
CON'S
- Reactive, RWD biased AWD system
- Not rated for any kind of towing.
- Tiny rear seat. (I do sometimes have people back there, but rarely)
- Limited cargo space with the seat up
- Less cargo space even with the rear seats down than the Forester
- Tiny sunroof
- Lots of gadgets/more to break
- Worse gas mileage
- Aggressive styling leads to mediocre visibility, making the camera's almost required.
- Aggressive styling cuts in on interior space.
- 610 pounds heavier than the Forester
PICTURES:
EX35

(I would go for the dark gray/black interior, not this color)


Forester XT


