Looking at a 2018 Forester and wondering if this is a good year to buy. The one I found looks solid, but I want to hear from others who have owned one. Any common issues to watch out for?
2018 is one of the better Forester years according to Consumer Reports. It was the last model year before a redesign, so most of the early problems had been sorted out.
2014 was a rough year for these, but even with a solid model year, it really depends on how the previous owner treated the car. A well-maintained 2018 could last a long time, but one that was neglected might give you trouble.
@Cairo
Checked it out at the dealer today. The guy only dropped the price a little to $21,600.
It had two previous owners—low miles, but is that a red flag? The last owner was an older guy, so that might be a good thing.
Rust was minimal, no weird sounds, and it drove smoothly. The belt was slightly worn, but not bad. Couldn’t test the AC since it’s cold here in Canada.
Only thing that stood out was the Carfax … only three reported maintenance records. The last one was rust-proofing at 45k miles. The other two I don’t remember. Makes me wonder if the owner just did maintenance privately and didn’t report it.
@Quin
I picked up a 2018 Limited with 80k miles for $20k, one owner, full service records.
Yours sounds decent, but lack of service records might be something to dig into.
Indigo said:
@Quin
I picked up a 2018 Limited with 80k miles for $20k, one owner, full service records.
Yours sounds decent, but lack of service records might be something to dig into.
You paid in USD, right? I’m in Canada. Also, what’s VA?
@Quin
VA is Virginia. I think that’s what they meant.
@Quin
Yeah, Virginia, and yes, I paid in USD.
@Quin
Might be worth checking out another 2018 before deciding.
@Quin
Two owners with low miles isn’t always a bad thing. Could’ve been an older person who barely drove it.
I got a 2016 Forester 2.5i manual in 2019 with 36k miles. Just hit 82k, and it’s been solid. Only issue I had was replacing the rear wheel bearings.
Keep an eye on the oil, top it off when needed, and stick to regular maintenance. It’s not fast, but it’s quicker than my old Honda Fit.
@Alexander
Funny, I also switched from a Honda Fit to a 2014 Forester … and just replaced my rear wheel bearings last month.
StellarToyota said:
@Alexander
Funny, I also switched from a Honda Fit to a 2014 Forester … and just replaced my rear wheel bearings last month.
Now kiss.
StellarToyota said:
@Alexander
Funny, I also switched from a Honda Fit to a 2014 Forester … and just replaced my rear wheel bearings last month.
Now kiss.
kith
StellarToyota said:
@Alexander
Funny, I also switched from a Honda Fit to a 2014 Forester … and just replaced my rear wheel bearings last month.
I’ve owned a few Subarus over the years, and every single one needed new wheel bearings at some point. Just part of the deal with these cars.
@Alexander
I have an ‘18 Forester too—Premium trim, manual transmission. My wheel bearings had to be replaced under warranty, but other than that, just normal wear and tear: tires, battery, brakes.
It does burn a little oil, which seems common. I keep a quart in the trunk just in case.
I’ve got a 2018, and I love it. Some people say it’s underpowered, but I’ve never had issues passing or merging on the highway, and I do a two-hour commute daily.
It’s a great balance between a daily driver and something I can take out for a weekend trip. Threw on some Falken AT Trail tires, and it handles rain and snow better than most cars I’ve driven.
@Roux
This is good to hear! I also have a 2018 and was a little bummed I missed out on my grandma’s 2020 with a higher trim package, but maybe I lucked out in the long run.
Bought mine in 2020 for $18k with only 7,000 miles. The dealership was so mad she didn’t trade it in with them that they keep sending me postcards asking to sell it back lol.
@Roux
I like my 2018, even with the CVT. I don’t pass much on two-lane highways like I do with my 2010 XT, but for everything else, it’s got enough power. We use it for all our family trips.
The Subaru CVT isn’t the same as Nissan’s. I had a 2015 Forester before trading for a WRX manual. My Forester’s CVT held up great for eight years, no problems at all.
If you’re on the fence, I’d say go for it. It’s not fast, but the manual version is fun to drive.
@Jonathan
I hated my Nissan CVT, but my 2016 Forester XT has been great—super responsive.