Auto loans: green 2021 Subaru Forester Base in Ruby

The 2021 Subaru Forester Base for buyers

We rent cars and sell one only now and then. There is no 2021 Subaru Forester Base for sale by us right now. CarmaCars does not finance cars. Renting is not a loan, so there is no credit check to rent. The 2021 Subaru Forester Base for buyers: what the numbers say, what to check, how to try it.

Before you sign for the Forester

Owners filed 210 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility/wiper, unknown or other and electrical system; have those parts checked. Look at the tires, brakes and battery; they are costly to replace. Have a mechanic inspect a used one before you buy it. A private seller in Ontario must give you a Used Vehicle Information Package.

Reading the spec sheet

The 2.5L 4-cylinder with all-wheel drive is the powertrain to look at. It runs on regular gas. All-wheel drive helps when pulling away on snow; braking and steering still depend on the tires.

Plan on about 25 litres per 300 km; the combined rating is 8.2 L/100 km. A 300 km weekend costs about $38.13 in energy at our price setting. EPA puts its fuel cost at US$2,300 a year for 15,000 miles at US prices.

Best uses

It suits anyone who needs a car for a few days, a week or a month without buying one. It suits a stretch of weeks between selling one car and buying the next.

Room inside

Its SUV body gives a high seating position and an easy load height.

A longer test drive

Try the Forester on your commute, then decide. Rent first, buy later: a week with the Forester answers the big questions. A week of your own driving tells you more than a test drive: the commute, the parking, the fuel.

Choosing the right one

Ask the seller which trim it is; badges can be swapped and options vary. Write down the VIN of any car you consider; it unlocks the recall and service history. Compare the Base with the other trims of the same year before you decide.

What it costs to run

At our price setting, 100 km costs about $12.71 in fuel. The EPA estimates US$2,300 a year in fuel for 15,000 miles at US prices. A 1,000 km month costs roughly $127.10 at our price setting.

Renting for Ruby

If you are starting from Toronto, rent the car here and drive it to Ruby. Ruby is about 281 km from Toronto, outside our delivery area.

When you know your dates

Questions about trying a car first? Ask in your request.