My Subaru Forester was the perfect car I was looking for in my price range. I paid around $6,000 for the vehicle, and there are many things I like and dislike about the car. It is a major upgrade from the Ford Taurus I was driving before, and the car gets me from point A to point B with ease.

We purchased the Subaru Forester used from a local dealership. It was in great condition, no rust, low mileage and clean. After owning the car for a few years small issues began to pile up into large problems. The gas mileage has been great. I have a long daily commute and the costs have been low. Unfortunately, the engine has been burning oil. As a result I have to take it in for more frequent oil changes and that cuts into the gas savings. The rear hatch has been great for transporting. The downside is that the lock mechanism in the hatch has broke 3 times in the past 3 years. It's expensive to replace and requires a lot of the interior trim be removed. The heat shield on the engine comes loose very frequently. I find myself tightening it very often and if I don't it makes a loud rattle whenever I shift gears. Being a foreign car also adds additional costs when parts need to be replaced. The clips used to hold parts of the interior and exterior are very delicate. I've had to order replacements many times because I've snapped them off while trying to get to other sections of the vehicle for maintenance. The interior is very spacious and I am easily able to transport my family and a lot of materials around. It's easy to keep clean. There are a lot of pockets and holders for change, drinks and maps. The sun roof is nice and the seal has stayed intact. It makes for an enjoyable vehicle for distance driving and it's easy to stay comfortable while in the car for prolonged periods of time. As a distance commuter this is a great car for driving to work and listening to podcasts and audio books.