Scary Reading - considering new 2025 Crosstrek

[KoinFlipper]

I had a 1992 Subaru Legacy Wagon and loved it. But moved to Deep South 18 months later and ZERO Subaru dealers here for maintenance or repairs so sold it. My 2007 Honda CR-V has just 66k miles but is 18 years old now (ADULT). Just replaced starter. Needs tires, struts and shocks. Starting to think maybe time for new car before major issues.

Test drove a 2025 Crosstrek Limited last week. Still haven't decided. Reading this forum giving me cold feet. All the electronics that can go haywire! Probably typical of 2020s vehicles? Only one Subaru dealer around. That would mean I am tied to that place. After almost two decades of zero trips to dealership, will be like a marriage. My CR-V had 2 recalls in 18 years (Takata airbags and door lock actuators). Replaced tires and battery a few times. The starter replacement last week first repair. So will I be disappointed with a new Subaru needing warranty visits? Should I just keep my old nontechy 2007 CR-V?

 

[bmart]

Buy a low mile 2000-2009 Legacy and lever look back.

 

[KoinFlipper]

By a low mile 2000-2009 Legacy and lever look back.

I need vehicle with good ground clearance. Steep driveway up to my house from convex shaped street. My friends with sedans can't drive up without dragging bottom of their cars on apron of driveway. So SUV, pickup or Subaru.

 

[piste]

I would not take a 2002 car to dealer for much of anything ...all DIY or indie shop.

 

[WordsMyth43]

A dealership isn't your only choice for servicing a Subaru, of course. Talk to a few independent "certified" mechanics in your area and see what they say and can guarantee. A certified independent with a good reputation (check this with multiple sources who've actually had work done there) can do any work/repairs and it will NOT invalidate the warranty. Can an Indie mechanic do Subaru recall work? I don't know. Worth asking about.

 

[perturbo67]

We have leased or owned 2015 Impreza, 2021 Forester, 2019 Impreza, 2021 Impreza, and now a 2023 Crosstrek Wilderness and a 2025 Crosstrek. NONE of them have ever had trouble with the electronics. There have been a few recalls here and there. One of the Imprezas had a problem with a battery that wouldn't hold a charge. The 2015 Impreza had an issue where the ignition key couldn't be removed--this ended up being the subject of a TSB, and it was fixed. So...all of them have been highly reliable cars.

 

[MrBlz]

2025 Crosstrek Limited that I leased almost one year ago. One issue that lit up the dashboard with multiple alerts and it was related to a software issue. Other than that smooth sailing. This replaced a 2021 Crosstrek 6MT that also never had an issue. Funny thing there. The dealer implied no one really wants a manual anymore. After I took delivery they put my '21 6MT on the lot and it was sole within the week. Good luck.

 

[Train Dan]

2025 Crosstrek Limited that I leased almost one year ago. One issue that lit up the dashboard with multiple alerts and it was related to a software issue. Other than that smooth sailing. This replaced a 2021 Crosstrek 6MT that also never had an issue. Funny thing there. The dealer implied no one really wants a manual anymore. After I took delivery they put my '21 6MT on the lot and it was sole within the week. Good luck.

Stopped to schedule a 5K service, and there was a WRX with a manual on the showroom floor. My bride could never drive it, but, damn, that was slick. My M340 has the great 8 speed auto, but I do miss a manual.
Consumer Reports ranks Subies at the top of the heap. Modern cars are full of truly terrifying 0s and 1s. I agree, an analog car has its appeal, but we've gotten used to a lot of convenience.
For the OP, Subies do have a great rep, among owners and at Consumer Reports. Buy with confidence.
Dan

 

[perturbo67]

Stopped to schedule a 5K service, and there was a WRX with a manual on the showroom floor. My bride could never drive it, but, damn, that was slick. My M340 has the great 8 speed auto, but I do miss a manual.
Consumer Reports ranks Subies at the top of the heap. Modern cars are full of truly terrifying 0s and 1s. I agree, an analog car has its appeal, but we've gotten used to a lot of convenience.
For the OP, Subies do have a great rep, among owners and at Consumer Reports. Buy with confidence.
Dan

I think the WRX had lower reliability than any other Subie model, but I'll bet that has something to do with how people drove it
I had a 2005 "Saabaru" (Saab 9-2x aero) with a 5-speed, which was actually a WRX with a Saab body on top. It had incredible turbo lag, but it was really fun to drive. Traded it in for a 2011 Audi A4, which was not fun.

 

[bmart]

Which Automakers Have the Best Recall Rate and Timeliness? - iSeeCars.com

A new study by iSeeCars.com analyzed over 31 years of recall history and found that Porsche boasts the lowest “recall rate” and Volkswagen the highest, GM...

www.iseecars.com

Enjoy

 

[JHutch]

I had a 1992 Subaru Legacy Wagon and loved it. But moved to Deep South 18 months later and ZERO Subaru dealers here for maintenance or repairs so sold it. My 2007 Honda CR-V has just 66k miles but is 18 years old now (ADULT). Just replaced starter. Needs tires, struts and shocks. Starting to think maybe time for new car before major issues.

Test drove a 2025 Crosstrek Limited last week. Still haven't decided. Reading this forum giving me cold feet. All the electronics that can go haywire! Probably typical of 2020s vehicles? Only one Subaru dealer around. That would mean I am tied to that place. After almost two decades of zero trips to dealership, will be like a marriage. My CR-V had 2 recalls in 18 years (Takata airbags and door lock actuators). Replaced tires and battery a few times. The starter replacement last week first repair. So will I be disappointed with a new Subaru needing warranty visits? Should I just keep my old nontechy 2007 CR-V?

I’m in somewhat the same situation. After a 2003 Outback, a 2013 Impreza and now a 2019 Crosstrek, I’m considering a new (or newer) car but am not sure I want all the over-the-top bells and whistles of the new Subarus. Driving my buddy’s 2024 Outback soured me to the latest tech-assault. It’s like being nagged about every little thing by a Karen-wife in the passenger seat. Also, gone is the ability to keep your eyes on the road and make adjustments to the temperature and fan settings by reaching over and feeling the manual controls. Now you’re forced to focus your attention onto a touch screen. Other drivers constantly flashed their high beams at me, thinking I had high beams on. Fact is, the “eyelid” headlights of my buddy’s Outback blind oncoming drivers on the low beams. Subaru is losing its way. They should allow buyers to opt out of the George Jetson features and drive without a mandatory babysitter.

 

[bmart]

Mazda is the brand with much less of all of that. My girl bought a CX-3 instead of the Crosstrek this year. Unless you're off-roading, it is a far superior car in every way. A lot of manufacturers are ditching the "everything on screen" approach, so it may be worth waiting for the future if you don't want something from the not too distant past.

 

[Train Dan]

I think the WRX had lower reliability than any other Subie model, but I'll bet that has something to do with how people drove it

Our nephew had one, used, that had been modded (and caned) repeatedly, but he was determined to have it. It broke down, relentlessly.
But not typical of the breed.
Dan
ETA- Had a look at that recall list, and saw Benz had a low rate. Personal exposure to some friend's Benz makes me a little skeptical of that. They don't rate well in current Consumer Reports evaluations.
D

 

[piste]

Didn't read the whole thread. But there is no way I would get rid of that Honda. Period. Cars need maint and repairs. Often newer ones cost a heck of a lot more when you compute your annual transportation costs. Tires, struts/shocks are nothing to worry about. Wouldn't worry about getting a new Sube either...but financially not your best play. I will read rest of the posts see if anything else to add. But there is your answer.

 

[bmart]

I need vehicle with good ground clearance. Steep driveway up to my house from convex shaped street. My friends with sedans can't drive up without dragging bottom of their cars on apron of driveway. So SUV, pickup or Subaru.

Outback and Legacy were the same body, just different heights and suspension. Plenty of Outbacks available.

 

[Train Dan]

My much lamented '03 Wrangler was utterly analog, the only things electronic were spark and fuel management, and that was a good thing. The O2 light came on occasionally, having replaced the sensor, it came on again. After so many restarts, it would clear. In 20 years, it wanted a starter...only major mechanical bit to fail.
Unhappily, it was loud, and somewhat thirsty, on the highway, and longer trips (to camps and bike trails) ended its long and happy run. Still miss it, and the manual transmission. Wish I could have had that on the Outback.
Some of the B&W are handy; the nav and backup camera especially. Thus far, the doodads have been cooperative.
Had a Toyota RAV for two years, and the tech was an utter disaster. It worked when it was in the mood.

I see folks endorsing keeping older cars; from a money saving approach, what works best is either an early trade, or keeping it 'till you can't stand the sight of it/or it becomes troublesome.
The 'becomes troublesome' thing does happen as any vehicle ages, no matter how well maintained. I started getting a little spooked, taking the Jeep a long way off the beaten path.
Dan