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Hi All:

 

After having 7 hondas, I have decided to buy a subaru! I really need your help. I am torn between 2 cars!

 

Please give me your opinion:

 

Car 1: 2002 forester S with 18,500 miles. 5 year loan with 5yr/100K warranty for $280/month

 

Car 2: 2005 Forester X with 59 miles. 6 (six) year loan with only 3 yr/36000 warranty for $280.00 month

 

Thanks all! Im buying one of them tomorrow!

 

Lori

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I owned a 2002 Forester...and currently a 2004 Forester. I had many problems with the 2002 from 7 oxygen sensors in 58K and a very bad case of piston slap, leaking seals and gaskets. Of the 7 Subaru's I've owned, this was the Worst.

 

The 2004 is much quieter, larger rear seat leg room, more comfortable and better gas mileage (best on the 2002 was 26.6, Worst on the 2004 has been 27.1) Both were/are 5 speeds.

 

My $.02.

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I'd look at it from a price function, not a monthly payment function. A monthly payment focus is a way for the Dealer to get your attention off the actual sales price--which should be the focus of your attention!

 

NADA says the 02 S is $14,725 + an $850 add for LOW mileage = $15,575

(low book value used - but that's where you should be looking anyway)

 

I don't know what your 05 X price is but you'd end up paying $3,360 more for the 05 (12 X 280). NADA takes $-1,800 off the value from an 04 vehicle for HIGH miles, an 05 would be even more of a hit on value for the high mileage.

 

My thoughts are miles are life! The more miles you have, the less life left on the vehicle. That would steer me to the vehicle with the lower miles for the year. Looks like 15k is acceptable per year.

 

So if your looking at the 02 in good shape (no repaint/repair/clean title)

and can get it for $15,575, I'd go that way.

 

New cars depreciate faster, the 04 Forester in one year depreciates $416/month The 02 Forester in one year depreciated $135/month. If you had to sell the newer Forester you could easily be upside down. (owe more than you can sell it for).

 

All my calculations are based off LOW BOOK, in the Pacific NW October edition of NADA

 

I paid $11,900 for my 01 Forester L a year and a half ago with 38k on it--CLEAN.

 

Good Luck,

Glenn

82 SubaruHummer--owned for 22 years.

01 Forester--newbie.

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Without looking I do believe the new '05s are significantly lighter then previous years and the powertrain is geared and valved differently then other Subaru offerings as well....you may want to look that up....I don't have time to right now...there are a couple reasons for example why the Forrester XT is faster then the WRX but is a bigger car with lesser hp #s

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What Sweet82 said (very well, I might add). Dealer salespeople LIVE by touting monthly payments, not intrinsic value. Also, check the relative insurance costs, since the vehicles are in the same catagory and class the additional costs will reflect only the new vs used car cost to insure.

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well for me personaly I would look at some stuff first:

 

1. How long do I plan on keeping the vehicle.

2. If from a dealership will it have a warranty behind it (used of course cause of new usualy comes with a Warranty)

3. For repairs down the road what will I see and how much. (especialy true for Kia's and won't go there even though I have never owned one and not plannin it either)

4. Payments, are they worth it?

5. the fun factor, basicaly will it put a grin on my face when I drive it or will it make me mad cause of bugs in the system or uncomfortable on any drives(especialy for me since I am 6'5" tall) or just feels like a grandma's car

6. Can I modify anything on the car if I want to and how easy would it be.

 

for me I would go for the 05 but it is a base model compared to the 02 S which has alot of the bells and whistles but is the older design, but which one is the 5 sp in the equasion or are they both autos? for me personaly again I would go with the 5sp cause I like the more direct drive approach

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