Non Boring Transportation Appliance?

Make sure you drive the 2017 Forester. Even the 2016 will have the classic Subaru noisy cabin so it won't compare well to the Q5. For a lightly used Q5 my Audi dealership had demos, which they have to sell as certified used so 6-year 160,000km warranty.

The Subaru sits lower on the road, but still has great visibility. Its power is much punchier than the 3.0L Q5 but both get you up to speed in the same amount of time/distance.

For the $15k difference (new) you'd really have to love the Q5 and want the slightly higher ride height. From a practical standpoint the 2017 Forester is tough to pass up.

Make sure you drive the 2017 Forester. Even the 2016 will have the classic Subaru noisy cabin so it won't compare well to the Q5. For a lightly used Q5 my Audi dealership had demos, which they have to sell as certified used so 6-year 160,000km warranty.

The Subaru sits lower on the road, but still has great visibility. Its power is much punchier than the 3.0L Q5 but both get you up to speed in the same amount of time/distance.

For the $15k difference (new) you'd really have to love the Q5 and want the slightly higher ride height. From a practical standpoint the 2017 Forester is tough to pass up.

Thanks - yeah I was leaning towards the Forester anyways. My wife is more interested in the Q5 though because she thinks Subarus are ugly/lame hahaha.

Keep an eye out for the Jaguar F-pace. It's pricing looks good for the segment and it has gobs of power.

Also, the new Q5s should be landing in the Spring so the current inventory should see clearouts. The new ones are supposed to have more features though…

Thanks - yeah I was leaning towards the Forester anyways. My wife is more interested in the Q5 though because she thinks Subarus are ugly/lame hahaha.

Is the Outback too small? It's a nice vehicle that also has decent gas mileage.

Is the Outback too small? It's a nice vehicle that also has decent gas mileage.

The Outback is bigger than the Forester… at first I was thinking about getting an Outback but my wife hates the look of the outback and only mildly dislikes the Forester.

Forester = CVT =/

The Outback is bigger than the Forester… at first I was thinking about getting an Outback but my wife hates the look of the outback and only mildly dislikes the Forester.

The Outback is clearly bigger and you feel it in the front seats. However, it has the same storage behind the rear seats and because of the Forester's design I felt the Forester had greater visibility. The Outback is smoother though.

I think the CVT is fine because the car is so light. Clearly it isn't as satisfying as a 6MT.

Sorry…but, doesn't look boring!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTtVa7WSCFc

Have an issue spending money on a "Luxury" SUV when you do this to it on a regular basis. Somehow after two weeks highway driving in the interior over xmas break no cracked windshield, that's a first.

Also wash that brine/ Magnesium Chloride off your car ASAP. It eats brake pads etc.

yeah when living in cowtown I always thought it was weird when people drove around their luxury vehicles in the winter. they get destroyed there. keep a beater around

Exteriors are exteriors. Bit more paint and more expensive windshield but that's about it if you run cheap winter wheels.

Running expensive 20" or 22" rims in the winter is something I don't understand.

yeah when living in cowtown I always thought it was weird when people drove around their luxury vehicles in the winter. they get destroyed there. keep a beater around

Would I drive a 911 or M3 in the winter? Hell no! But a luxury SUV? Absolutely. That's what these things are designed for. As long as you're rinsing off the salt regularly (including the undercarriage) then there's really no issue. Not sure about other euro brands but BMW and VW have a 12 year unlimited mileage corrosion warranty and they don't restrict it according to the region where the car is driven.

In Calgary it isn't abnormal to see M3/M4 and 911s all winter. Heck, the car spot in front of the bike rack at work is a guy's daily driver M3.

Recently test drove a Toyota Highlander and was impressed. Was originally looking to buy used to save some money but it's crazy expensive the used ones are. Thinking about picking up a 2017 - they are expensive but you seem to get a lot (all models have the new Toyota Safety Sense P pre-collision system) so I think it would be good value in the long run. Anyone have any experience with the current generation (2014+) Highlander?