VOTE- Subaru Outback or Subaru Forester?
Which one of these cars is more reliable? The Outback is built here in
Lafayette, Indiana, while the Forrester is built in Japan. For all the oil
burning issues, I've read and heard about more problems with the Forrester,
but, you may have heard differently. The Forrester got the new FB series
engine a couple of years ahead of the Outback, so, this could be the reason.
And, from what I hear its mostly affecting manual-transmission vehicles.
10 Answers
My 2015 Forester was built in Japan is a piece of junk. The replacement engine was also made in Japan and it had a bad rear main seal.
TheSubaruGuruBoston answered 8 years ago
Initially Japanese production was more reliable, but in the past decades Lafayette seems a bit better. More important is comparison of the MODELS, not the factory. Given that Toyota owns a chunk there's pressure to cost-cut materials (especially metallurgy), so we'll see how the rust curves end up in the future.
TheSubaruGuruBoston answered 8 years ago
Initially Japanese production was more reliable, but in the past decades Lafayette seems a bit better. More important is comparison of the MODELS, not the factory. Given that Toyota owns a chunk there's pressure to cost-cut materials (especially metallurgy), so we'll see how the rust curves end up in the future. Now that Toyoburu ruined the OB redesign in '10 there isn't that much diff between the relatively mediocre handling of both the For and the OB. (PS Next time you go to Europe rent a new Legacy non-turbo Wagon and see what Subaru can REALLY do if unhampered by North American marketing.)
It's not uncommon for car manufacturers to collaborate, see this attachment below. Actually, I wouldn't say that Subaru Outbacks are ruined as you put it, the sales trajectory of these cars has been growing consistently over time. And, I think it's great credit to the hard working folks in Lafayette, Indiana that they are building better cars than Japan. The Subaru Outback and Legacy are both built in Lafayette, Indiana.
TheSubaruGuruBoston answered 8 years ago
Mark, again: you do NOT have the historical experience of driving the prior models to make an objective analysis. YES, Subaru sales are expanding, but that's because newer markets are being found for crossover (in both senses of the word) purchasers who haven't a clue what a fine handling sport wagon handles like. To an SUV, truck, or sloppy sedan driver a new Subaru Outback or Forester seems fine. To anyone who's owned An Audi Avant, 3 series wagon, or '01-'09 Subaru Leg or OB Wagon the serious compromises are obvious.