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Unfortunately it is time to think about changing my trusted mondeo with 125k on the clock and not far off 10 years brilliant service. It cost around 12k as a year old car at the time.
So I thought it’s a no brainer I will replace with another one. But they are like hens teeth in estate format and there’s not much change from £20k for a 6-12 month old one!
For not much more I can get a year or so old outback, which is luxurious, looks like a similar load area and will hold its value better. What are they like to live with day to day. All I want is an estate car, 150 bhp ish, capable of being loaded to the gunnels for a week away and not cost the earth! SUV’s seems to have killed the estate market!
Are the running costs expensive? Even the fuel economy seems to compare to the mondeo. Skoda seems to be a similar cost to equivalent outback.
Any reason not to get one and keep for 10 years?
Have a similar decision to make myself, at the same price you are looking at you can also get an e class.
I'm a fan. Had an Impreza and Forester, driven the Levorg and Outback. Put over 100k on the Impreza, was faultless. Our Forester is the same, just an annual service, now 5 years old with no issues. Fuel consumption higher than other cars, but I've always had the petrol turbos. Emissions bit higher too.
The models available are a bit odd, the importers don't seem to import the more interesting cars. Last year was a disaster for them. Sold less than 1,000 cars and promise to do better.
But IMO worth considering if you want a rugged car with AWD that you're planning to keep longterm.
I have one, bought new a year and a half ago. I love it but I am a bit of a Subaru fanboy (we owned our previous Legacy estate for 13 years). Can't comment too much on UK running costs since I currently live in Switzerland but fuel economy on the 2.5L is fine, certainly better than our old 2L Legacy.
A great car for getting out and about in the mountains, mtb in the summer and skiing in the winter for us - superb AWD for the snow and ice and the Eyesight safety system is excellent. Loads of room in the back and surprisingly luxurious interior compared to Subarus of yore.
Do note though that it comes with a CVT which some people just can't get on with. I found it took a bit of getting used to but fine with it now.
Also be aware that new model is coming out this year (already been available for ages in the US) on a completely new platform and with new turbo engines - I might be tempted to upgrade when they arrive here 😉
i've got an older one (2010). if/when I replace it it'll almost certainly be with a newer one.
The Lineartrontic CVT is pretty good I find, once you get your head around it. Not like the old DAFmatics that seemed to scream along at high revs. Mine keeps the revs at 1,500 rpm all the time, so you hardly hear it. It will rev higher if needed or if you put it into one of the sport modes. So I assume the engine is pretty unstressed, hopefully good for longevity.
