With the newest addition to our family, I've been researching what SUV to get after we sell the IS. I (of course) would love to buy a '10 Forester XT Ltd. Leila kind of wants an RX330 or 350. Ultimately, we'd like to sell the IS and use that money and hopefully nothing more, to buy the next car. So basically, that would give us a nice used '06 or '07 RX330/350, OR a brand new '10 Forester 2.5 Ltd. Just say we sell the IS for $26.5, that seems to put the Forester XT or XT Ltd out of our price range.

Here's my thinking: The next car/suv we buy will be Leila's daily driver. I will RARELY get to drive it...probably only on the weekends, and the family will be in the car anyways (therefore, spirited driving time will be limited......if ANY). No matter what car/suv we buy, engine mods are COMPLETELY out of the question. No intake, no exhaust, no nothing. She did say that I could lower it and of course new wheels/tires, but THAT'S IT! (I'm not going to push it, since at least she gave in on the wheels). Then, even if we didn't get the Forester, and got something else, it would still be N/A anyways. The RX330, a Highlander, the Pilot.....they're all non turbo. Should the Forester be any different? Besides, for the price that we could get a used RX330 or Highlander or Pilot, we could probably get a brand new Forester Ltd. with full warranty.

The more I think about it, it seems like a non turbo 2.5 Ltd. would be a better choice for us. With the $$$ savings (almost $2500 between the XT Ltd and the 2.5 Ltd), I could buy the wheels/tires, suspension, and front lip and pretty much be done modding it. The only thing we'd be losing would be the power. Is it really worth spending the extra money for that extra power? Even more so for a car that I wouldn't really get to drive anyway?

 

never hurts to have more power just for the piece of mind

 

Bran,
Very little differences btw 2009/2010. Only interior light guage cluster less blue, and a switch on the 2010 to turn off the interior privacy lights.
Here's some specs to look over:

 

I say test drive both. And if you both agree that a non-turbo model is more than enough then done deal. Same goes with the XT. Personally I think it's worth it to get the XT. But that's just me because I hope to own one along with the lgt one day lol.

 

I say get the XT purely because if you need the power it's there. If you don't just don't boost. knowing you brandon you'll probably end up modding it somehow even though it'll be "Leila's car" hehehe.

 

IMO, just let her go with the RX330.
Its your wife's dd, and you'll rarely touch it anyways.

 

if you own a honda like me, yes.

 

i would not get the turbo...if it was for you i would say go for it but your wife wont care with it or without plus the na will get u better mpg. I am in the same boat as you i'm going to pay a visit to **** and start pricing the outback and forester

 

Agreed. I'd love to get the XT, but at this time I'm not too sure if I should be spending the money. I'm sure Leila would like the XT also, but just not sure if she'd need the power. Nice to have, but would she notice if it was gone? Hard to say. I know a lot can be done with that extra money though...
I like the RX330 too. Nice...Luxurious...Uber comfortable. But significantly more expensive. Plus, I'd HAVE to get a set of 20's if we got the RX. Lol...

Haha, if it was mine, I probably wouldn't have posted this. I'd figure some way to come up with the money and a turbo would be in it for sure....just for the "Just in case" factor like Jon mentioned.

 

You know my wife drives the 09 FXT we bought and loves it. i think it was worth it. at times we avg 25mpg in the Xt but mostly 21/22mpg which is damn good on a turbo awd AT SUV.

the power is there like jon said.(you will def notice the difference) going up hill you dont need to give it as much gas as you would in the n/a car. I noticed that is a big difference between the 2 since i test drive them all the time. always more gas on the n/a then the xt (giving it more gas i mean)

price at the pump is what 3 dollars more for prem. i say turbo all the way. the rims are nicer then the n/a models. and the scoop is wat subaru is all about lol

just lmk when you wanna come by i will show you the difference in power between the 2. red hill is a perfect place since it is a steady uphill

 

Yup like shaggy said the power is there. IMO she WOULD notice the difference if you guys got the N/A model. I remember last year they gave me a base impreza as a loaner. Man that thing sucked, I couldn't even get up to speed comfortably on on-ramps without feeling like I was trying to pull every last pony out of the damn car. Switching lanes on the freeway sucked as well cause I couldn't just tap the gas to get around someone. Get the XT and I bet you won't regret it. Besides don't you already have a N/A fozz?

 

Hey ****, couple things.

I know your kids are older, but can you fit a car seat in the middle position in the rear seat? Or do you have to pick a side and install it there? Just curious.

Yeah, I'm sure the power difference would be noticeable. I think I read like 50+ Hp and Torque. If it were mine, no questions asked, Turbo all the way. I know Leila is not overly concerned about power, more so how the car feels and how comfortable it is. In that sense, they're the same, with the exception of the price. I almost don't want to drive the XT, just because I know I'll probably want the turbo. We'll see though, need to sell the IS first.

BTW ****, can you pm me back if you have any 2.5 LTD's and XT LTD's in stock with Black leather. Thanks, B

 

You basically answered your own question. Buy the NA 2.5 ltd. I would also go as far as to tell you don't mod it at all. Not sure if this is your first baby but most of your fun money goes to the baby from here on out. Especially if this is your first...gotta buy a crapload of little things that add up.

Plus, you won't be driving the car much and none of those mods would help it retain its family car'ness.

Action Gurl and my plan is to buy a house after our current lease is up...then when my car is paid off we'll go buy her a NA Forester and not mod it all other than utility type stuff. After that car is paid off we'll then be getting me a new car (LGT probably or FXT).

 

Good advice. The hardest part is that I don't have a fun car of my own to mod. If I still had my wagon, the temptation would be less. Being that my Forester is NA, there is little I want to do to it. Even if we buy her a Turbo one, only suspension and wheels....that's it. The good thing is that she actually does like the Forester, so that makes selling her that much easier.

 

You answered your question yourself, and this is her car, let her decide and test drive!