Subaru Forester, Jetta Sportwagen - Feedback, Anyone?

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

Wife is considering a Jetta Sportwagen or a Subaru Forester.

Decision coming Monday.

The Jetta isn't AWD but we've heard that with snow tires it's still a beast.

Bit more information here on my personal blog.

Anyone with feedback on either?

P.S. I own a Touareg, like it, and we're trading in her Aztek, which she loves and which was mine for the first four years we had it.

**NI4NI** · August 30, 2009

What's been your impression of the VW-badged and Subaru-badged products? How were the test drives between the two, and how do they compare financially?

My neighbor's brother just bought a VW Tiguan after comparing it to both the Forrester and Sportswagen - said it was the best overall in his opinion. Again, to each his own...

FWIW - of the three ASE-certified mechanic friends / family members I trust, none is fond of either VW or Subaru (based on design for repairs / location of components, cost of OEM / sub parts, dearth of authorized dealers in rural areas, and overall subjective opinions). Again, your opinion will vary, esp. since you are a current VW owner.

Side Note: looks like you just missed "Cash for Clunkers", if it was even applicable in your case.

Guess like I really didn't help you after all...

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

What's been your impression of the VW-badged and Subaru-badged products? How were the test drives between the two, and how do they compare financially?

Those are things we'll consider. We're asking for feedback from people in here because we can use that as a factor. We're not asking others to make our financial decisions.

FWIW - of the three ASE-certified mechanic friends / family members I trust, none is fond of either VW or Subaru (based on design for repairs / location of components, cost of OEM / sub parts, dearth of authorized dealers in rural areas, and overall subjective opinions). Again, your opinion will vary, esp. since you are a current VW owner.

Haven't had any problems. VW's don't seem to have the best reliability ratings, but every Subaru owner we've known seems to put a ton of miles on them and really like them.

Side Note: looks like you just missed "Cash for Clunkers", if it was even applicable in your case.

It didn't apply to us. We don't really care.

Thanks for your feedback. Any others?

**NI4NI** · August 30, 2009

Those are things we'll consider. We're asking for feedback from people in here because we can use that as a factor. We're not asking others to make our financial decisions.

They were rhetorical questions. Obviously you are going to factor those (and other critical components), into your personal decision equation. I mean, asking a public forum to crunch #'s for you is foolish at best.

Good luck with the decision.

**pshizz** · August 30, 2009

The jetta sportswagen is a very sharp looking car. VW just released it, and up here in boston they are selling like hot cakes. There is a 3 month wait if you want a new one here...not too sure about if there is a wait in erie. I cannot give you too much info on the forester, but the jetta seems like a more smart decision, unless you need the extra room with the forester for hauling things.

**sean_miller** · August 30, 2009

We looked at every reliable (according to consumer reports) people and stuff hauler in 2006. We bought the Subaru Forester because of the handling, safety record, and styling. The AWD has saved my life a couple times on the highway.

If I had to do it again, I'd opt for the better sound system and stainless steel exhaust. The manual transmission isn't as smooth as other cars I've owned, but it's getting better with age. The wife didn't like the manual after trying it for a year - it's my car full time now. She drives the Mazda.

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

VW just released it, and up here in boston they are selling like hot cakes. There is a 3 month wait if you want a new one here...not too sure about if there is a wait in erie.

???

My friend Gabe bought a Jetta wagon about five years ago, and the 2010 SportWagens aren't coming until October or so.

We looked at every reliable (according to consumer reports) people and stuff hauler in 2006. We bought the Subaru Forester because of the handling, safety record, and styling. The AWD has saved my life a couple times on the highway.

Thanks. And yeah, we're looking at the Limited, so it has virtually everything. Probably looking at paying invoice + half of sticker for a few little add-ons that come with the cars on the lot. They're 2010s also.

**Fraser** · August 30, 2009

I don't know anyone who owns a Subaru and isn't anything but delighted with it, and most of those are Foresters. Plus they are as reliable as night following day.

**Cussin hacker** · August 30, 2009

Have you looked at Toyota's new Sport wagon? "Venza" I believe it's avalible with AWD.

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

Have you looked at Toyota's new Sport wagon? "Venza" I believe it's avalible with AWD.

Yeah, and it goes up to $36k. She's not interested in spending that much. You don't even get leather until about $32k from what we could see on the lot. Not the greatest mileage, either.

But yeah, we saw them. Then we walked away from them.

**uttexas** · August 30, 2009

I own a Subaru Legacy, have put tons of miles on it. No problems.

I have rented a Forester (standard model) for a ski trip. Performed well in the snow.

From my experience, objective data doesn't register with my wife. She'll choose whichever she subjectively "likes more".

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...ta-SportWagen/

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/research....ection=reviews

**Cussin hacker** · August 30, 2009

Yeah, and it goes up to $36k. She's not interested in spending that much. You don't even get leather until about $32k from what we could see on the lot. Not the greatest mileage, either.

Yeah that is a bit pricey! Thought the milage would be better though. Can't go wrong with Subaru's quality. Not to informed on VW's but do like that they have a diesel option in many of their cars.

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

I own a Subaru Legacy, have put tons of miles on it. No problems.

Good to hear. Thanks.

From my experience, objective data doesn't register with my wife. She'll choose whichever she subjectively "likes more".

Sometimes I think my wife takes too much objective data. She's a bit put off by the horrible "Reliability" rating in Consumer Reports.

Yeah that is a bit pricey! Thought the milage would be better though. Can't go wrong with Subaru's quality. Not to informed on VW's but do like that they have a diesel option in many of their cars.

Yeah, she's looking at the TDI. 31 and 40 MPG is pretty good - well higher than the added margins for diesel gas.

**TheLauncher** · August 30, 2009

I can't speak to either of those specific models, but having owned a Jetta previously and owning a Legacy now, I'd say I liked driving the VW more and the design more. While the Jetta was good in the snow, the AWD of the Legacy is a great comfort. My wife has been commuting a ways lately and it definitely holdS the road better than the Jetta. But, if you're not driving on hilly or mountainous roads in rural areas, it's not that big of a factor.

Either way, both good choices, IMO.

**jamo** · August 30, 2009

I have a Jetta (non-wagon, similar car) with 132k on it and it drives well, not too well in the snow though (i might be biased, the Jetta cant get up my steep driveway, but my dad's Passat can). Reliability is a slight issue, as a lot of money has been put into it.

From everything i hear, Subarus are great cars. Aren't the new Foresters a bit more SUV-ish though?

***iacas*** · August 30, 2009

From everything i hear, Subarus are great cars. Aren't the new Foresters a bit more SUV-ish though?

A tiny bit, yeah.

Thanks to the power of the Internet we bought a car today (well, we put $200 to hold it until they're allowed to sell the car tomorrow - bizarre Ohio state law). Invoice for the car, invoice for the options. Oh, the Subaru Forester 2.5X Limited with a lot of little extra options, all of which we wanted. Got the color she wanted, too. Should handle great in the snow and has a good bit of storage and the moon roof is great, etc.

**imtomtomim** · August 30, 2009

good choice. My wife to be (in a week), her jetta has had an extremely high number of faults and her father owns a passat with the same amount of shop visits. water pump's, catalytic converters, oil leaks, breakline failures, radiator leaks... the whole 9. It rides nice, but I've found that VW's don't hold up well.

**pshizz** · August 31, 2009

???

I ment to say that they were just re-designed.

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