I've never owned an SUV-type vehicle and in fact have often disparaged them (sorry about that). But I'll be ready for a new vehicle in the next couple of years and my wife and I have decided that a small SUV or crossover vehicle would be the best for our current lifestyle. My last two personal cars have been sport sedans (Audi A4, BMW 325), but now that I'm retired and we're doing more traveling (often taking bikes with us), and I'm also into x-c skiing, duathlons and other cycling activities, it just makes sense to go this way.
Anyway, I've always been intrigued by Subaru as the most likely Japanese-brand vehicle I might buy. The new Outback is just too big for us, so I've been looking at the possibility of a Forester probably in the 2012 model cycle.
But I've also always hated to buy a particular model only to see it look outdated when they come out with the "all new" model a year later. I'm not sure what the platform history of the Forester is, but does anyone know when Subaru is scheduled to make a major redesign? If it's as soon as 2013, I'd even be willing to wait the extra year for it (not really that anxious to give up the Bimmer!).
By the way, the other vehicle I'm considering is the Ford Escape, and I know for a fact that it's going to get a full redesign for 2012 and probably move to more of a "crossover" look like they just did with the Explorer. So that's possible competition for the Forester for my interests.
Anyway, I've always been intrigued by Subaru as the most likely Japanese-brand vehicle I might buy. The new Outback is just too big for us, so I've been looking at the possibility of a Forester probably in the 2012 model cycle.
But I've also always hated to buy a particular model only to see it look outdated when they come out with the "all new" model a year later. I'm not sure what the platform history of the Forester is, but does anyone know when Subaru is scheduled to make a major redesign? If it's as soon as 2013, I'd even be willing to wait the extra year for it (not really that anxious to give up the Bimmer!).
By the way, the other vehicle I'm considering is the Ford Escape, and I know for a fact that it's going to get a full redesign for 2012 and probably move to more of a "crossover" look like they just did with the Explorer. So that's possible competition for the Forester for my interests.