Vermontsailor

All - opinions solicited... Blew the engine at 234K on my 2008 Forester - eventually will re-power her up, but at that mileage I'd prefer to go new. What are the must haves on a 2015? And I want the base model - or close to it - so what has anyone paid new for one. I'm trying to see what wiggle room there is in the market. I live in Vermont. I think its time to buy post-Turkey Day. Deals in December they say.

This stuff is contagious...I have 2008 Forester X that was head gasketed 30,000 miles ago. I am in complete Hamlet mode: "...to do, or not to do, the head gaskets: that is the question..." as this the engine has 235,000 and in April had an overheat, then again in August, then two weeks ago. Topped off and burped each time, new Subaru thermosta. And now: Builds up tremendous pressure in the system - the last overheat it blew the top hose off. Radiator appears to be leaking. Car sputters when I step on the gas and I have fault code lights on - am scanning them today on the odd chance that this is all about a bad sensor - which I strongly doubt. Then it dies. Does not appear to be losing coolant at this point (?) So - is this a head gasket or something else? TIA, O.P.