Why Do People Buy Subarus?

They seem the absolute worst cars even compared to the low price point. Who can explain?

A lot of people love the station wagon. My first two cars after college were station wagons (one was a Ford and one was a Subaru).

The Subaru broke down pretty quickly (it was very used when I got it) and the Ford was great until I ran over a bear in the Cascades, both airbags were set off, and the car was never really 100% after that.

But I still really like the concept of a station wagon.

If I ever got into Rally, I'd build up a car like this:

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BTW, here are the 2023 reliability rankings:

• Lexus 84
• Toyota 82
• Mazda 71
• Acura 69
• Honda 65
• Lincoln 64
• Mercedes-Benz 59
• Mini 59
• Subaru 58
• BMW 55
• Audi 55
• Nissan 53
• Buick 49
• Cadillac 49
• Kia 48
• Tesla 46
• Hyundai 45
• Volvo 44
• Ram 39
• Ford 37
• Chevrolet 37
• GMC 31
• Jeep 27
• Chrysler 19

I am slightly worried because I own a Ford and a Chevy at the moment and I HATE car repairs... I used to own two Toyotas (which the kids drive now) and they are 100% maintenance free.

torquenews.com

Subaru’s New 10-Year Reliability Study From Consumer Reports And Why It’s So Low

Denis Flierl

Where does Subaru rank with other automakers in reliability? Consumer Reports says Subaru is slightly above the middle of the pack. See why Subaru ranks lower in the latest study.

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Most of the people I know who drive Suburus like them. I have no personal experience with them.

They seem to have lost touch though. You don't see Foresters out on the road as much anymore. They used to be everywhere before Covid. I think it's the generation thing. A lot of middle class folks thought it made they outdoorsy or whatever. I don't think they're very reliable. I see some not so old ones on the road and often making noises. Stick to Toyota or Honda for the same money. They're all boring but at least these two are very reliable.

Had a 2020 WRX, loved the car and previously owned a 2008 Impreza hatch, adored that one as well…. However, after babying the wrx, having more than the minimal maintenance and servicing the engine failed after less than 13,000 miles over 3 years.. both the dealership and Subaru refused to offer alternative means of transport during its under warranty engine replacement and I was without a car for 60 days. I dropped the car and got a new Mazda 3 hatch… lost awd, lost the sports car, but I likely will never buy Subaru again. Everyone makes a lemon but if they don’t care about the customer than I will show zero loyalty to dealership or company.

They are perfect for the mountain lifestyle.

You obviously don't live in Colorado...

Love my Subie (Forester). Never had issues in years (and I got it with over 100,000 miles on it). All wheel drive is awesome on snow/ice (also given you have good tires of course). Decent enough fuel efficiency, ground clearance, pretty high safety ratings and plenty of cargo space for all our camping gear, skis, bikes etc. Before that I drove an old Rav 4.....which I'd say is also pretty good nowadays. We drive on 4WD dirt roads in the mountains quite often to access certain trails.

What I don't understand is the people that live in the cities (who don't work in construction or farming) who would get a giant monster truck?

Had what I believe was a 2007 (or 2008) Outback. It was the last year of a particular generation. We got it because we had two Labradors that could ride in the back. It was a regrettable choice: bad gas mileage, disappointing control in poor weather, unreliable and horrendous styling. Best thing to be said about it was the defiant message you could try to send: “I am so secure in my standing in life that I can drive this POS and not care what you think.”

I have 2 Subarus. One (Impreza wagon) is 20 years old and has 245K miles. It has been nearly indestructible. I would get rid of it if it ever broke, but it just hasn't happened yet. With a 3" lift, it is a formidable offload vehicle that regularly does better that Jeeps on rugged trails, but of course has its limits.

The other is a 2016 Forester w 115K miles. Also pretty reliable and decent offload, but maybe not quire as well built as the older one.

Why did I buy them? Wanted offload ability, decent price and reliability. Excellent utility also as wagon/hatchback fits bike, furniture, house supplies, etc. Small and easy to park, decent maneuvering. All boxes checked. Bought both of them used a few years old. They are not luxury cars and gas mileage is just OK, but that has been fine for me.

Great vehicles, both of my parents drive them in a rugged area of winter state... Maybe most dependable winter vehicle... AWD gets you through almost anything... Wouldn't call them cheap but they are definitely good value

I heard a car start up across the parking lot the other day and it had to turn over a bit more than expected to start and then it sounded like the engine was about to break and I immediately knew it was a Subaru and then I looked over and sure enough it was a ~2011 obs

u r a bus

I love older (pre-2005) Subarus and have Legacy wagons (1996 and 2003). I like them because think wagons are the best (grew up in similar size/form factor Volvo 140/240 series wagons), prefer driving manual transmissions, prefer AWD due to real winters where I live, and prefer the car to not be lifted or clad in plastic (so I prefer the Legacy over the Outback versions) because I don't drive off road. Search craigslist or online auction sites for AWD manual wagons older than 2005 and almost everything that turns up will be a Subaru.

That there are many 20+ year old Subarus still running well and being sold (at least outside the rust belt) speaks to them not being "the worst". I bid up to $7K on a nice 1995 Legacy earlier this summer and would have paid another $2K to ship it home if I had won. A low mileage Legacy of that generation sold for $18K last year on Bring A Trailer. Most German luxury cars that old have long since gone to junkyard by then.

I've owned Subarus for a combined 30 years (the two Legacys for 24+5 years, plus a Loyale for 1 year) and they've very been reliable, inexpensive to maintain, and easy to work on. The 1996 Legacy is at 218K miles and on the original head gaskets (legendary EJ22 engine still runs like a top) and has been dirt cheap to own for the past 24 years. In the past month, I road tripped the 2003 Legacy from Vermont to California, and then California to Alaska (arriving yesterday in a winter storm) for a combined 6500 miles in a month, so that shows how much I trust a 21-year-old car with 160k+ miles. I'd not hesitate to do the same trip in the 1996 too.

It's the vehicle of choice for same sex couples.

Price and safety most likely. This may blow your mind but a lot of people who can afford a really expensive car don't buy one and a lot of people that can't afford an expensive car buy one.

Funny answers here.

Subarus are not cheap because of their all wheel drive system. That makes them very good cars for areas with tough winters.
They are not exactly nice cars, very practical and also very reliable.