Vehicle shopping...need opinions

[Jolt]

I never did learn to drive a stick...might not be a bad idea to know how just for emergencies (having to drive somebody else's car if we're out together and they get into a situation where they need me to drive, and they have a stick) but don't think I'd ever be interested in owning one. Too much multitasking, which I am not good at. There's enough to worry about when driving without adding shifting and trying not to roll backwards on hills to the mix.

[GLC1968]

I never did learn to drive a stick...might not be a bad idea to know how just for emergencies (having to drive somebody else's car if we're out together and they get into a situation where they need me to drive, and they have a stick) but don't think I'd ever be interested in owning one. Too much multitasking, which I am not good at. There's enough to worry about when driving without adding shifting and trying not to roll backwards on hills to the mix.

Our MINI has a sweet feature where when you depress the brake, it stays engaged for a few seconds once you release it or until you move forward...even on a hill. It makes hill starts ridiculously easy!

OK...so we bought a car! I cannot believe it because we had no intention of doing this until after we'd closed on the house because our debt to income ratio is lousy right now (two mortgages) but they didn't even run our credit. Just based on salary alone, they gave us the lowest rate. We actually considered leasing it, but when we did the numbers, it just seemed like a mistake in the long run so we financed it.

So...drumroll please....

We ended up with a 2014 Subaru Forester in the 2.5L engine, Touring trim. We really both are really happy with it!

On Friday, we drove the Outback and the Forester with the turbo. We ruled out the Crosstrek on size alone. We just didn't want to have to always put down the seats for the dogs. We liked both cars well enough. Then on Saturday, we drove the CR-V. The CR-V was nice, but kind of boring. I can see why it's the most popular crossover for people with families though - it had a lot of good features for managing kids in the back seat. Good solid car, but not the one for us.

We went to BMW and looked in the X1 and it was just too small. We didn't even drive it because we didn't want to compromise on size just because we loved how it drove! Really, the X3 would have been the best option for us, but it was out of our price range. Considering how little we will be driving this car, it just didn't make sense to spend that kind of money.

So we went back to Subaru that afternoon and drove the Forester without the turbo. At that point, we both agreed that we liked the Subaru's the best so then we proceeded to hem and haw for quite awhile about which one. We ruled out the Outback when we put both cars side by side. The Forester was taller with more dog space vertically, but it was shorter than the Outback in length which is good if we ever want to put it in our overly utilized garage! They got similar MPG and when we were honest with ourselves, driving the Forester was more fun. I also loved the incredibly visibility on all sides that wasn't quite as good on the Outback. My DH liked that the Forester seats were a bit longer, giving him better leg support (my hobbit legs didn't care one way or another!). Then we spent entirely too much time trying to decide on color and if we wanted Turbo or not. We ended up without it just because it wasn't THAT much better and it cost quite a bit more. The non-turbo version had plenty of pep and still got better MPG. The two versions had slightly different grill configurations as well and we liked the look of the non-turbo one there, too.

We balked pretty hard at the upcharge for living in the PNW, but there didn't appear to be any way around that. We did get them to throw in the paint and interior protection treatment for free because of it, but it was still a little painful to swallow.

For those that don't know, if you buy a Subaru in the PNW, you pay (in this case) $3500 more than MSRP just because of where we live. They are the most popular type of car here and they sell better here than anywhere else in the country, so they can rape you for it. He tried to tell us that we were getting a 2014 for the up-charge early in 2013, but when we pointed out that we'd happily take a 2013 except that they had none available, he didn't have an answer for us. When I asked how being the best selling car maker in the PNW cost them more (therefore justifying charging us more), he visible squirmed in his seat. Unfortunately, there was no budging and he basically let us know that if we didn't buy this car, someone else would, so tough toenails (he as clearly nicer about it than that, but you get the picture). If we hadn't spent so much time shopping around and if we hadn't been so thrilled that we both settled on the same car (finally!), we might have changed our minds. But, we knew that we couldn't agree on what would have even been the runner up option, so we figured that $3500 was worth a happy marriage at least.

We do love it. It's a beautiful pearl white with light grey leather interior and we got them to throw in the plastic covers for the backs of the back seat to protect them from dog paws/fur/slobber. It drives like a dream, too.

[indysteel]

Congrats on your new baby, I mean car, GLC! Sounds like a good choice for you and the dogs. I'd never heard of the Suburu upcharge though. I guess it pays to be a Suburu dealer!

[tulip]

Congratulations! Is it a manual? My neighbor had a manual Forester (2013) and really liked it. But she had to get a minivan to accommodate her Irish Wolfhound--talk about a big dog!

(off-topic, but manual transmissions really put the driver in touch with driving, not just being on autopilot. You cannot eat a burger or text when you have to pay attention to actually driving--shifting gears. I'm delighted there are those here who appreciate manual transmissions. It also keeps many people from borrowing the car--another plus, as otherwise I would get requests to borrow my hatchback for this and that if it were auto. AND it makes it easier and cheaper to rent a car in Europe...just something to consider if anyone is curious about learning how)

[GLC1968]

No, manual was not an option on this particular trim level. But, we wanted an automatic anyway. Since we can keep two cars, I wanted one to be automatic in case of emergencies.

I don't know why we didn't consider the Forester from the beginning. I guess it was because we didn't realize that Subaru had improved their MPG so much. And that AWD makes this thing a dream to drive. It's got a better turning radius than our MINI!

[jobob]

For those that don't know, if you buy a Subaru in the PNW, you pay (in this case) $3500 more than MSRP just because of where we live.

Even more than in CA? I assume everything costs more in CA, perhaps this is the one exception to the rule. I haven't been SubyShopping since 2003 so I don't know if there's a CA "because you're here" upcharge as well. Heh, I wouldn't be surprised.

[GLC1968]

Even more than in CA? I assume everything costs more in CA, perhaps this is the one exception to the rule. I haven't been SubyShopping since 2003 so I don't know if there's a CA "because you're here" upcharge as well. Heh, I wouldn't be surprised.

Yep, even more than in CA...but don't feel left out, you have an up-charge too. It's just not as large as ours!

I'm going to be in FL at the end of the month. I had a brief moment where I thought - I'll just buy one down there and drive it back! Then I came to my senses.