My only gripe!

[mbazer712]

This year I traded-in my 2021 Forester Touring for the 2025 model. Although there are new features that I like there are several things where I think Subaru has gone backwards. The one that bothers me the most is “Repeat Facial Scan”.

On the 2021 model it took two or three (I’m old – I don’t recall which) button-pushes to re-scan the eyes. It’s something that I usually do once or twice a week. This is necessary when you have gotten into the car and been occupied with tasks and the scan times-out. On the 2025 model it takes six (per the manual) or seven.

From the manual: (1) Touch the home button. (2) Press settings. (3) Press the Car tab. Note: if the Car tab is not showing you first have to press the right arrow. (4) Press “Driver Monitoring System”. (5) Press “Repeat Facial Scan”. (6) Press OK.

The reason I think that it should be different:

There is a button on the screen showing “driver profile icon”. Pressing this button serves only one function – adding or editing a driver to the system. It is very rarely used. On my 2021 model I used it once to add my wife to the car – on the 2025 I have not needed it because she doesn’t want to drive it. It would make much more sense for that button to tale you to the screen that step 4 above takes you to. That screen has several options in addition to Repeat Facial Scan, including "Register User".

For Subaru to change it would require a relatively minor software change. It just makes sense for it to work that way.

 

[Raymond3006]

This year I traded-in my 2021 Forester Touring for the 2025 model. Although there are new features that I like there are several things where I think Subaru has gone backwards. The one that bothers me the most is “Repeat Facial Scan”.

On the 2021 model it took two or three (I’m old – I don’t recall which) button-pushes to re-scan the eyes. It’s something that I usually do once or twice a week. This is necessary when you have gotten into the car and been occupied with tasks and the scan times-out. On the 2025 model it takes six (per the manual) or seven.

From the manual: (1) Touch the home button. (2) Press settings. (3) Press the Car tab. Note: if the Car tab is not showing you first have to press the right arrow. (4) Press “Driver Monitoring System”. (5) Press “Repeat Facial Scan”. (6) Press OK.

The reason I think that it should be different:

There is a button on the screen showing “driver profile icon”. Pressing this button serves only one function – adding or editing a driver to the system. It is very rarely used. On my 2021 model I used it once to add my wife to the car – on the 2025 I have not needed it because she doesn’t want to drive it. It would make much more sense for that button to tale you to the screen that step 4 above takes you to. That screen has several options in addition to Repeat Facial Scan, including "Register User".

For Subaru to change it would require a relatively minor software change. It just makes sense for it to work that way.

Making "sense" in America has nothing to do with "Making CENTS" half-way around the World ..... !

 

[rclark]

Bothers me more that things like facial recognition is even 'in' the car in the first place. I'd rather not even have the 'screen' in the car, or a camera, nor the eye-sight and other so called safety features. The interlocks drive me nuts, like can't use cruise control if eye-sight is disabled . Glad I got the 24 and not a 25 from what I can see it just getting worse.

 

[bmart]

Just curious...but all of the owners who hate the tech...didn't you check out the car before you bought it?

 

[rclark]

Oh course one checks them out. We like the Forester as a 'car'. That part met our needs nicely. We had a Crosstrek before that, and could 'opt out' of the 'tech' in 2018. Now, that unneeded stuff is 'standard' across all the models. I wish they were options for those folks that 'want' it ... or not.... Even my '24 I had to buy a device to defeat the 'stop engine when at a stop light' nonsense. Anyway, now they are pushing hybrid as well I see. Knob-less for environmental controls and radio. Like knobs... Big screen where useful knows could be placed. Getting silly out there with all the electronics push (more to go wrong, more maintenance cost later)! All for just the simple thing of 'driving' down the road to get from point 'a' to point 'b'. Note, most of this stuff could be handled by the cell phone that most people already have.

 

[bmart]

I agree. Keeping my old analog cars until the bitter end.

 

[Raymond3006]

Oh course one checks them out. We like the Forester as a 'car'. That part met our needs nicely. We had a Crosstrek before that, and could 'opt out' of the 'tech' in 2018. Now, that unneeded stuff is 'standard' across all the models. I wish they were options for those folks that 'want' it ... or not.... Even my '24 I had to buy a device to defeat the 'stop engine when at a stop light' nonsense. Anyway, now they are pushing hybrid as well I see. Knob-less for environmental controls and radio. Like knobs... Big screen where useful knows could be placed. Getting silly out there with all the electronics push (more to go wrong, more maintenance cost later)! All for just the simple thing of 'driving' down the road to get from point 'a' to point 'b'. Note, most of this stuff could be handled by the cell phone that most people already have.

You hit the RAIL-ROAD(ed)-SPIKE DEAD CENTER :
More junk to get you sucked into the Stealer-Shitttt after the Sale !

I consider the entire Subaru "line" of Vehicles to be The-Most-Expensive EVER to be owned and maintained by American Consumers !

Just one LOOK under the Hood, and see all that Keep-Your-Hands-OFF Plastic Covering ... If Subaru wants to cut weight, they can Start with getting rid of all that USELESS (barrier) Plastic , and also all those mechanical barriers to The-Right-To-Repair owners !

On my 2016 H4 , I had to replace the Cross-Over-Pipe seals that were leaking Anti-Freeze ; the standard procedure is to take the Top Half of the Engine OFF ; my solution was to :
(1) Remove The Alternator ;
(2) Dis-Mount and suspend the A/C-Comp (like suspending a Brake Caliper, only a little heavier : used the Hood (with an added (L & R) Set of physical support bars (like vehicles W/O the Lift Cylinders) & some Conduit-pieces & Wire to tie the Pump Securely Up & Out of the Way ;
(3) Dismount a LOT of top-engine wiring tie-downs ; and
(4) if your hands are bigger than anyone over 5'-9" , you can get a lot more hand room by also removing the Serpentine-Belt-Tightener, which is now just wasting space, with the Alternator removed :

at this point you can SEE AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE WHOLE CROSSOVER PIPE , from the Left Engine-Head , all the way to the Radiator Hose ..... !!!

And I probably saved myself at least $1,000 (PLUS-!) in both Subaru LABOR , and Subaru RE-INSTALL PARTS , not to mention NOT RISKING ADDITIONAL SERIOUS DAMAGE to a lot of well aged Bolts , Gasket Flanges , Wiring , and LOTS Plastic Intake Manifold Parts !!!!!!