Subaru Forester ?

[RadSav]

Do you really have to wear Birkenstocks and own a bong to experience the full Subaru potential? 

Ford Escape is hard to beat in that size.  Though I do not know what the weight and tow difference is.

[jackelope]

But still... the gasket issue is the big gorilla...

My sister in law got hers done under warranty at nearly 100k miles. She did not have a service contract. This was covered by Subaru...some sort of extended warranty. I think she even bought the parts and had them replace the timing belt, etc while it was apart....no additional labor.
90k timing belt?

[Woodchuck]

105k is the interval on the belt. The warranty extension is to 60k to start with, if there is an issue before 60 they do a "cooling system conditioner" and at that point the warranty is extended to 100k. If the "conditioner is not done before 60 you are on your own.

[jackelope]

Aaahhh I see. I don't know any of the details of her particular scenario. Thanks Chuck!

[addicted]

We're looking at new.  And the manual transmission Forester can be towed four down without any changes.

Thanks for the info, this has been a great help.  If anyone wants to add to this keep it coming.

I alreaady have a 90 Pathfinder, we are looking for something much smaller to tow behind a E-350 based class B gas rig.

Thanks

AWS

can I have your pathy?   

[Buckmark]

Just to add to this thread, something to consider no matter what rig you purchase to tow behind your E350, you should add a seperate braking controller in the towed vehicle.
Flat towing a 3000+ pound vehicle behind a class B camper van could be fun without any brake contribution from the towed vehicle...

[akirkland]

Just to add to this thread, something to consider no matter what rig you purchase to tow behind your E350, you should add a seperate braking controller in the towed vehicle.
Flat towing a 3000+ pound vehicle behind a class B camper van could be fun without any brake contribution from the towed vehicle...

[AWS]

A braking system is a given for me on a towed vehicle, thanks for the reminder though.

AWS

[nontypical176]

Well....I was hoping to avoid this conversation, but I also am the owner of a Forester.  My buddies in eastern Wa. like theirs/few problems, and with the fuel prices and major miles I put on because of work it only made sense.  I only have 20k on mine but thats in just a few months.  I get laughed at by the guys at work and friends, but I am laughing at the gas pump and when my monthly vehicle bill arrives.  The *censored*s even put some stickers on it(Save the Wails, green peace, 2 bears hugging, and a rainbow)....I removed them of course.

I looked for quite a while and for right at $20,000 brand new I couldn't find a better deal.  It has performed well as far as the 4'wheel drive goes, and although it has the highest ground clearance in its class it could still use a 4" lift.  Not a lot of room in the wheel wells, and the suspension ain't like a truck for sure, I have bottomed mine out.  The AC is a little week also.  Wish it had a 6 speed tranny to get a better granny gear for crawling and a little more at the top. 

It loves the 50-60mph range but fuel economy starts to fall at that point.  I do lots of hiway driving 70+ and crawling down backroads and all put together from the day I bought it till now its got 25.5mph combined, I have not reset the trip meter.  Thats idling and towing too, which by the way they put a 1"reciever on my rig, makes my little toyota 4x look pathetic(power wise) and tows my little trailer with a quad and motorcycle on it like a champ.  And it is roomy can handle 6'+ tall adults no problem, 4 of us took it to the beach clam digging first weekend I had it and my friends aint slim niether.  No problems to speak of at this time, but it is fairly new.

I am not gay, or worried about the polar bears.  I can't wait to stuff an elk in the back.  Hope that helps.

[twistiron]

o man time for my   
as i stated in my introductions i am from Vermont, subaru is the number 1 car. my mom has had an subaru since 86 i think she is up to 8 granted only the last 3 where new, she puts 60000 on a year with no issues. she had a 05 with a 2.5 that went to 140000 no gasket issues, could have been a good one. since then she has had 2, she got smart and traded before the milage killed the value, no issues. i almost bought my wife one but since we have a truck for off road the 50 mpg tdi jetta could not be beat. if i was in AWS's situation and it had to be a subaru it would be an out back, look it up they have the most ground clearence (more then a grand cherokee in 2010) and seam to get better milage. here is why i would not get a subaru, 3000 +/- lbs that they way is going to be hard as hell on a gas e350 rv thats a might bit of combined weight. i would find a clean suzuki samuri of geo tracker cheep, easy to maintain, light and T cases for easy towing. the little bit less milage they will get from the subaru you will far make up for in the savings in towing milage. as said before just my  good luck.