Rob has had a pretty good track record with Subarus, but he can’t stand his 2017 Forester. He has a $40,000 budget to replace it with something more unique, but something that can still handle Michigan winters. What car should he buy?
(Welcome back to What Car Should You Buy? Where we give real people real advice about buying cars. Do you want us to help you find a car? Submit your story on our form.)
Here is the scenario:
When and what car should I buy? I have a 2017 Subaru Forester 2.5i Limited with under 50,000 miles. While I have loved my previous Subarus I can’t stand this one. The whine of the CVT, the lackluster power, unsupportive seats, an autostart that turns off when doors open, outdated infotainment, and the list goes on. Given the market, the resale on these vehicles is quite high, but once you exit the seller market you become the buyer. Fortunately, I have a three-pedaled 2016 BBS/Brembro Miata to keep me sane in the warmer seasons. I eventually want to sell the Subaru, but I’m wondering when I should do it? Should I sell it now, drive the Miata throughout the spring/summer/early fall and then buy something else in the fall? Will the market be much different then? Or should I hold on to it? But the real question is: what should that car be?
We plan on having a kid in the near future. I’m often on call at night and prefer not to wake up the neighbors (i.e., no hellcat redeye)
I’m targeting AWD, winter package, hopefully unique (I feel like all CUVs look the same forester, CRV, RAV, Escape, Rogue), decent acceleration/torque. Budget up to $40,000
Quick Facts:
Budget: Up to $40,000
Location: East Lansing, MI
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: AWD, decent power, not too loud
Doesn’t want: The same old crossover
Expert 1: Tom McParland – Unique With More Power Than You Would Expect
After a run of Subarus, it’s time for something different. To address your first question of timing, you can probably sell that thing whenever you like as Subarus tend to hold their value pretty well, and a seven-year-old Forester is well beyond the major depreciation drop, so it probably won’t make much of a difference in terms of value if you offload it now or later.
If you are looking to change it up to something unique with a bit more fun, Mini has the answer for you, as it’s one of the few brands that still makes cars that don’t quite blend in as easily and can be a bit more fun to drive. You can score something like this Mini Certified Cooper Clubman AWD in the correct shade of green.
But this isn’t just an ordinary Cooper, this one is a John Cooper Works trim that cranks up the turbocharged 4-cylinder from an already respectable 228 horsepower to over 300. That should be quite the upgrade from the sluggish Subaru motor. The interior is a neat mix of luxury and retro, with features that you would expect from Mini’s parent company, BMW. The wagon body style offers more practicality than the Cooper hatchbacks and the barn-style rear doors make for easy loading. These JCW models weren’t cheap with an original retail price nearing $50,000, but you can pick one up well within your budget along with some extended warranty.
Expert 2: Rory Carroll – A Standout In Its Class
Boy, I volunteered to do this WCSYB entry before I read the prompt, and when I finally clicked through, my heart sank a little. You said “I feel like all CUVs look the same,” and buddy, they pretty much are the same. When it comes to choosing one, my default is “who cares?” But then I remembered a car I drove recently and really liked, the Acura MDX.
Here’s one near you and just under budget. They look unusual, handle great and are plenty comfortable, with space for baby when the time comes. Is 50,000 a lot of miles to you? If so, there are RDXs in your area that should suffice. Either way, you won’t see yourself coming and going on Grand River every day.
Expert 3: Collin Woodard – Isn’t It Ioniq
Since Tom’s the real expert here, I’m going to defer to him on when to sell your Subaru, Rob. He’s probably right that you can sell it whenever you feel like it and still get about the same money. Personally, I say sell it now, throw some Blizzaks on the Miata, and have a blast.
As far as what you should buy to replace the Forester, I’d recommend going electric. Specifically, getting a used Hyundai Ioniq 5. It won’t be ideal for long road trips, but that’s why you keep the Miata (or rent a different car for said road trip). It’ll make a heck of a daily driver, though, and it definitely won’t be confused with the CR-V, RAV4, Rogue, etc.
Don’t want to wake up your neighbors? No need to worry. The Ioniq 5 is as quiet as it gets. If your neighbors have a problem with the amount of noise it makes late at night, that’s on them.
Getting one for less than $40,000 with all-wheel drive, however, won’t be as easy as you might like. Here’s one with 19,000 miles on it for just under $33,000. Technically, it’s in Virginia, but CarMax will ship it to Michigan for $249. If you can find one locally for less, go for it, but I didn’t see any while I was looking.
Expert 4: José Rodríguez Jr. – New Year, New Truck Vibe
Rob, I understand your reluctance to get the same old crossover. You already own an enthusiast-approved car. Why not go for another? If you want something with good power, torque, traction and enough room for a growing family, I recommend the midsize twins, the GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado.
At the end of the day, any crossover or crossover SUV is going to feel mostly the same. But a midsize truck will check most of your boxes while still being able to handle harsh winters. The GM twins also handle impressively well for what they are, and I’d take either one over a crossover.
The caveat will be price since adding 4WD increases the cost of both the Canyon and Colorado. The Chevy is the cheaper buy, and a 2024 Colorado Z71 starts around the $40,000 mark. It also comes with one of the better engines in the lineup, the TurboMax 2.7-liter inline four making 310 horsepower and 430 ft-lb of torque.
But I get the sense that you want something more upscale than the Chevy. In that case, I recommend stretching the budget slightly (by about $3,000) for a GMC Canyon AT4, which will match the Z71 in capability but comes with a nicer cabin. It’s possible that some dealers will be trying to clear out last year’s inventory so you may find a 2023 GMC Canyon AT4 that costs the same as a 2024 Chevy Colorado Z71. Either way, you’ll get a spacious, capable machine that will shrug off the Michigan winter.