New family car - Subaru ?

[Mayuri Krab]

Main complain I hear about the CVT, besides many people hating the way it "feels" is that they can't handle much torque beyond the factory 350Nm so not good from a modification POV.

But probably doesn't matter too much if you are using it as a family car.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Ron, did you consider a ZB tourer?

No mate.
VF is my last Holden...
We had a long relationship but it is time to move on...

 

[lmoengnr]

CVT: Final drive by rubber band...

 

[_R_J_K_]

Ron, did you consider a ZB tourer?

Wouldn't even be comparable to Levorg. Turbo Levorg is waaaay better value for money with a much better support network and way bigger range of aftermarket parts (not even talking for performance) and arguably a better engine for cheaper than a VXR, not to mention has AWD as standard.

Re the reliability thing, "those turbo boxer engines" are fine particularly if you don't do anything to it. An SR20 or a RB is super reliable if you don't do anything to it. Generally it's the ones that people have tried to screw power out of on the cheap or just went too big. The boxer blocks are not great to make big power on and typically will split, I'm guessing due to having open decks. As a stocker they're totally fine.

 

[Voodoo_SV6]

They're also dirty engines and need the upper engine clean at regular intervals. I didn't find parts were cheap compared to anything with Holden badge on it.

I struggle with the lack of headroom in the premium models (because of the sunroof, and the Povo packs don't have enough adjustability in the seats for me to get comfortable in one.)

That said, a drive in a turbo Subby on a wet day, is hard to beat - the traction is amazing. Took me a few weeks to get used to how to get the most out of the Subbys AWD when I first bought one, but once you grow the balls to leave the right boot into it, and not lift for traction (otherwise you get lift off oversteer), they're a great drive.

I used to do 4000km oil and filter and upper engine cleans and they keep going. Wind the wick up on the turbo and you have to open your wallet for repairs and replacements. In standard form, they're reliable.

 

[Forg]

I didn't find parts were cheap compared to anything with Holden badge on it.

This is a good point … but then, nothing is as cheap as Holden for parts, at least not when bought locally. Traditionally speaking, prolly different now they're all made elsewhere. But also speaking traditionally, you didn't need as many of those more-expensive parts if you had something from Japan (a tradition that the good folks at Nissan & Mr Bishi are trying hard to break).

 

[Derekthetree]

I rented a forester with a CVT, and really disliked it. You put your foot down and the engine just drones. I can appreciate the benefit by keeping in the peak torque band, but it just feels like you're not making any progress.

Also remind me of public buses!

 

[_R_J_K_]

I didn't find parts were cheap compared to anything with Holden badge on it.

This is a good point … but then, nothing is as cheap as Holden for parts

The days of cheap parts for Holdens is over (for new ones at least). Forg's on point (on point about Nissan too), Commodore parts were cheap purely because how many Commodores were sold here and how the competition for such a big ownership base would drive down price, other cars (eg Subaru) didn't sell as well (or one could even argue were better built back in the 90s making some part replacements uncommon). And even then it was only for Commodores, any of their other cars parts would have been just as pricey. Not going to happen for any new Holdens at their amazing sale rates.

I guess a really good example of that competition would be the VE timing chain thing which initially sounds like a problem but a lot of businesses saw it as an opportunity. When it started becoming a common problem heaps of places were stocking chains and trying to beat others on price (on both the part and total cost of job) to get effected cars in the door. Initially the parts and job were expensive but got cheaper as the job became more common and people were competing to try and get business from that issue. The car and issue and specific part failure (because Holden/GM were cheap too) became so common they could rinse and repeat and smash them out. If it was a timing chain on any other car, job price and parts would be through the roof because it just isn't that common for other ones to fail in Australia because the cars just aren't as common here.

At least the one massive upside for Subies over almost every other brand is that there are local shops (both brick and morter mechanics and online stores) which really specialise in them because every car in their range is essentially the same on a technical level with a slightly different body and the people who work at these places are typically intrinsically keen on them. Not saying that Subaru is superior to everything else in this sense but the fact that their base and performance models are essentially the same means that the beater daily getting serviced at a Subaru specialist will typically be serviced almost exactly the same as something substantially more expensive or performance oriented. Price isn't too bad if you know where to look and what you are looking for. Changing boxer spark plugs looks like it does suck though.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

My budget is around 40k and I really want something that has enough room for us and 2 kids and decent amount of boot space for ocassional trip up and doen the coast.
I've mainly been looking at cars that have some power and are reliable at the same time...

Mazda 6 2.5T and KIA Stinger are also options for now...

Out of those Levorg is probably the best looking...

Like I said small hatchbacks and suv's are out so that budget does not really let me get too excited...

 

[Forg]

Ron, I reckon you should get a VF2 SS, would suit your needs to a T.