Cheeseburger

Hi guys. Post #1 for me. If i'm asking well worn questions I hope you'll be kind with me... it always takes a while to learn to navigate a new forum. I'm thinking very much of buying a Forester. I'm not set on any particular incarnation yet (well, it'll be a 2004 or later XT), but my budget is about $15K, and I live in Australia. That's enough to get me into a decent 79V of some sort - neat S3's are just out of range. Anyway, I need to ask a few questions to get a feel for what direction to head. I currently own a BMW E36 328i and a Suzuki Sierra/Samurai, both of which I maintain myself (I like hands on relationship with my cars). These cars are extreme opposites - the Bimmer offers monster on-road performance and driver comfort, and the Zook is unstoppable offroad and is as basic as it gets. Unfortunately my interest in hardcore offroading is all but gone, and the Bimmer is more performance than I can ever use. I need a practical middle ground option. Something that can comfortably commute, yet also good for camping and adventuring. Enter a Forester. Subaru is a marque i've never dabbled in before, so I need to know: Would you classify Foresters as DIY friendly vehicles, or are they quite a headache for a DIYer? Are they expensive to maintain, or typically Japanese in terms of upkeep? Do they have any inherent quality issues... ie, issues that would stop you from even considering buying a 10yo example? Is any year a recognised standout for the Forester, or simply a case of the later the better? Is there a light year of difference between 79V's and S3's or just subtle improvements? Auto vs manual. I think i'm just about done with manual gearboxes, but I keep reading bad things about the 4-speed auto in the mid-00s Foresters. Is this a case of unrealistic reviewers expecting cutting edge performance from a mid-price SUV, or are the auto trannies genuinely terrible? How pervasive is the head gasket issue? And assuming a proper service schedule, how long is the bottom end of a 2.5 motor good for? Would you consider the Forester to have strong aftermarket support, or is it somewhat of a niche vehicle? I think you get the general drift of what i'm asking. If you can offer me any advice or food for thought i'm all ears