2016 Subaru?

What say ye? Girlfriend is looking at a new car, shes got the hookup with enterprise car sales and is looking at a forester from them ('15) and a '15 Rav4. I wasn't sold on the subie, but she also got approved for a low rate from a local dealer on a brand new 16. I've heard some issues of the newer ones being lower quality and they definitely felt it, but I think their AWD system is the best in the class.
Opinions?
She's not particularly attached to one or the other based on looks, comfort, or perceived performance while driving.

I've got a 15 Crosstrek and love it...fwiw

Mazda CX-5

Or better yet - don't buy new. Complete waste of money. Love my car, but regret buying it new.

Normally "don't buy new" is solid advice, but subies residuals are stupid high. I bought a 14 forester, have driven it 2.5 years and it's only lost 2k in value.
The new foresters are GREAT vehicles, but feel a lot different from other CUV's in that they feel more like a car and are more nimble on their feet. Interiors are still not great, but they're functional.
What trim level is she looking at? I have the Premium 6MT and it's nice. I wish I could have gotten leather, but the shift action is nice, it has the heated windshield/mirrors/seats, so it's perfect for winter.

I had a 13 Forester that I lost in the divorce the thing felt cheap but it was/is a beast. Gas milage was not great and I image a turbo would be worse but I always wished I had got the turbo.

I don't know about buying a used enterprise rental. I beat the shit out of anything I rent so...that said I dont think you can go wrong with either subbie or toyo.

Buying a rental car is a bad idea.

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

I had a 13 Forester that I lost in the divorce the thing felt cheap but it was/is a beast. Gas milage was not great and I image a turbo would be worse but I always wished I had got the turbo.

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The only way you wanted the turbo is if you lost it in the divorce. Trust me on this one.

Enterprise has a fleet division, so the car may have been a corporate lease.

My wifes '13 Outback has been a good car so far. We ended up buying new because the used were so expensive and the interest rate was so high. Doing the math were better off buying new at the .9% or whatever it was.

The zoom zoom CX5 is also a good car, but the stock tires suck. I've only put 30k on it so far and unfortunately or fortunately it will be gone by the time I get to 45k, so no real idea on longevity.

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Originally Posted by strawjack

We ended up buying new because the used were so expensive and the interest rate was so high. Doing the math were better off buying new at the .9% or whatever it was.

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Thats what happened to us Subaru at the time was offering 0%, no brainer.

Thanks all. I browsed some used sites today, there are some really good deals to be had on 15's with premium or limited packages (the offroad switch feature I really like the idea of) as well as all weather package, for under 15k miles for the price of a new one. I think it will come down to if she gets approved for the 1.9 they are offering now, but we'll look and talk about some of these used ones today.

If you're looking used, check out the Subaru certified used inventory near you. That's what I did for my present Forester, and saved a bunch with a factory warranty.
Stay away from the Outback. Awful roof rack system that both Thule and Yakima make no base bars for, so, no roof box. Well, you can attach a box, but, watch one go by some day and do that shake and wiggle at speed. Nope.
Mazda dealership network sucks.

I bought a certified used Outback last year. It was selling for exactly the same price as a new Outback at the same dealership, only the used one had slightly better upgrades (tinted windows, all weather floor mats, etc)
The real kicker was that the warranty is actually BETTER for Certified Used Subarus than it is for new Subarus.

Really, 0.5% difference translates to about $6/month difference on a 5 year loan. You're going to make your car purchase decision over the amount of a Venti Caramel Macchiato?

I think the Foresters feel like shit compared to the Outbacks. Every Forester I've driven has felt cheap and boxy.

I hope she isn't looking at the Rav4 I rented in Providence last year.

Beat. The. Shit. Out. Of. It.

Yeah, .5% isn't much, but when shes looking at 2.99(Enterprise friend called in a favor) or 3.69% from another dealer, 1.9 is pretty appealing. We're going to dive into used inventory today.

My understanding is that the "don't buy new, buy a late model used car" advice isn't always correct anymore, the paradigm has changed and the cars don't lose thousands of dollars in value just by driving off the lot. Around here, used cars -- especially AWD cars -- are stupid expensive. So it's certainly worth doing the math/comparison.

But wtf do I know, the newest car I have ever purchased was 4 years old with 50k miles on it.

We have a 2012 Impreza and a 2014 CX-5, both good cars so far. I prefer the CX-5's handling, but my wife prefers the Subie, i.e., it's a subjective thing. The 2012 Subie seems less tinny than previous Subie models, and @ 45K miles no rattles, no parts falling off. Subie AWD seem a bit better in rain, ice and snow but the CX-5 AWD (FWD bias) hooks up plenty fast when it gets slick. Re the Rav4, I dunno whether Toyota's AWD system has improved but it's a nice car. I'd also throw Honda CRV into the consideration, although I have not been impressed by Honda AWD system. Plenty of solid Japanese CUV options. Drive 'em all, do the research and pick the one she likes best.

Buying used can save you $$. The purchase price of our 2014 CX-5 with 15K miles was $9K+ less than new 2016, $7K less than year end 2015 inventory, and under WA law the original manufacturer's warranty transfers to subsequent purchaser as a matter of law. OTOH, buying new has the advantage of knowing the car's complete history of use/abuse and maintenance.

Love the older 02-06 CRVs. Will keep buying used ones from Texas.

Does it have Eyesight? We have a 15 Forester and the eyesight cruise control is pretty cool.

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Originally Posted by Beer Drinker

Buying a rental car is a bad idea.

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Just to explain why this is a bad idea, allow me to offer some reviews of various model rental cars that I've driven over the past few years:

-the Mazda3 is relatively easy to get airborne
-if you turn off traction control, a Dodge Grand Caravan will do burnouts on dry pavement for DAYS
-a Jeep Liberty can be driven approximately 5 miles at 50mph with the e-brake engaged before said e-brake is no longer functional. It also handles driving over curbs at 30mph better than average.
-the stock tires on a Chevy Cruze flat spot very easily
-most new cars disappointingly cannot be held at redline in neutral when cold (my preferred method of warming up a rental car). Fortunately most manumatic transmissions can still be held in a lower gear, allowing long periods of driving in 2nd or 3rd gear on the rev limiter.

Don't ever buy a used rental car.

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Originally Posted by adrenalated

Just to explain why this is a bad idea, allow me to offer some reviews of various model rental cars that I've driven over the past few years:

-the Mazda3 is relatively easy to get airborne
-if you turn off traction control, a Dodge Grand Caravan will do burnouts on dry pavement for DAYS
-a Jeep Liberty can be driven approximately 5 miles at 50mph with the e-brake engaged before said e-brake is no longer functional. It also handles driving over curbs at 30mph better than average.
-the stock tires on a Chevy Cruze flat spot very easily
-most new cars disappointingly cannot be held at redline in neutral when cold (my preferred method of warming up a rental car). Fortunately most manumatic transmissions can still be held in a lower gear, allowing long periods of driving in 2nd or 3rd gear on the rev limiter.

Don't ever buy a used rental car.

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:biggrin: Your post might deserve it's own thread about rental cars.

It's like how you have to promise that you won't take that Wrangler you just rented at SLC off road, yet every single one you see being returned is completely covered in mud, dust, and snow.

Omg, thanks for making me look like a seizuring lunatic in the middle of Salt Lake International.

My wife had a Limited 09 Outback 130k that she traded for a 16 Limited. She drives up the hill from Golden to Evergreen so the 6cyl is handy. In CO the 6cyls are hard to come by and the rates were moronic. She drove the piss out of her 09 and I think the worst thing she had wrong was I broke the passenger elec seat.

CRV? I had no idea you were so butch.

my dad drives a company CRV and has had the '13 and '15. I drive it probably once a month, but we both think the AWD system blows. his company is actually moving to a Subaru fleet based off of complaints on it. I drive a Subaru and his personal is a 4motion. anecdotal/subjective and all.

Meh, snow/ice driving is mostly skill and experience anyway. Never had a problem with mine.