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Need Input from People Smarter than Me :)

Model Years 2018 to 2023 
4K views 47 replies 26 participants last post by  dpc166 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi everyone - I don't know squat about cars. :)

I own a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek with less than 10,000 miles on it. Yes, that mileage is correct. I work from home and only put a few thousand miles a year on my vehicles. Historically I've only driven the car a couple hundred miles (at most!) in any given week. The car is garaged when not driven, serviced as recommended, and has never had any sort of mechanical issue at all. I love this car.

The current market is strong for used cars, and I can get almost what I paid for that car in 2018 if I sell it right now. I've looked into ordering a 2023 Crosstrek, and I can get a brand new car for just a few thousand out of pocket. It sort-of seems like a no brainer....except I really like my current car and don't want to spend a couple thousand on a new car right now if I don't have to.

I'm considering doing it anyway, because I occasionally have to drive a few hundred miles away on my own, and that trip takes me through some sketchy areas. I never want to break down along the way.

So my question, for people who know more about this than me and yet have no vested interest in selling me a new car - do you have any thoughts about the reliability of a 2018 Crosstrek with 10,000 miles on it, vs. a brand new 2023? If the sole deciding factor are the chances of a mechanical failure, what would you recommend?

Really appreciate any thoughts, and thank you!
 
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#2 ·
A 2018 with only 10K is practically a brand new car. Unless you just absolutely want a new car (and it doesn't sound like you do) then keep the 2018. You also stated that it's serviced as recommended, which even further reduces the chances of having a break down. Just make sure you keep an eye on the tires as they will degrade regardless of the miles.

My recommendation . . . keep the 2018 and the extra few thousand of your money.

Oh, and I appreciate the fact that you think I'm smarter than you. :D
 
#3 ·
That is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!! And trust me, I can virtually guarantee you know more about cars then I do. :ROFLMAO: I know where the gas goes, I can refill the window washer fluid, and I can indeed check my own oil. Beyond that I'm clueless!! LOL.

This has been a solid car, zero issues. It seems to have high reliability ratings, but I am out of my element trying to make this decision (keep the current car vs buy a new one....)
 
#6 ·
Hi everyone - I don't know squat about cars. :)

I own a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek with less than 10,000 miles on it. Yes, that mileage is correct. I work from home and only put a few thousand miles a year on my vehicles. Historically I've only driven the car a couple hundred miles in any given week. The car is garaged when not driven, serviced as recommended, and has never had any sort of mechanical issue at all. I love this car.

The current market is strong for used cars, and I can get almost what I paid for that car in 2018 if I sell it right now. I've looked into ordering a 2023 Crosstrek, and I can get a brand new car for just a few thousand out of pocket. It sort-of seems like a no brainer....except I really like my current car and don't want to spend a couple thousand on a new car right now if I don't have to.

I'm considering doing it anyway, because I occasionally have to drive a few hundred miles away on my own, and that trip takes me through some sketchy areas. I never want to break down along the way.

So my question, for people who know more about this than me and yet have no vested interest in selling me a new car - do you have any thoughts about the reliability of a 2018 Crosstrek with 10,000 miles on it, vs. a brand new 2023? If the sole deciding factor are the chances of a mechanical failure, what would you recommend?

Really appreciate any thoughts, and thank you!
My personal choice if I were in your shoes? Keep the 2018 with 10k miles. It’s essential still brand new. And still under some warranties for another year,

The 2023 may have some minor changes that cause electrical or accessory problems - which yours clearly does not have yet. Any issues with the 2018 have been found and recalled or TSBd. If you do run into a issue with your current car, it probably has happened before and it will be reasonably quickly fixed.

the 2023 may have new issues of its own, although not quite as much a concern as a whole model refresh year where drivetrain and more prominent components such as suspension and such are completely changed. The 2023 is a minor refresh, but still, the probability of a minor issue popping up due to the changes that have been made seems higher than sticking with a 2018 that has four years of users reporting issues and getting them fixed. That was an excellent model year for the Crosstrek as well.

for Reliability - keep 2018
For financial - keep 2018
for the new warranty - get 2023 (not worth)
For a couple new features - get 2023

I think you’ve got a gem here… yes the used market is high, but if your mileage continues to stay that low, the car will still be worth a lot in upcoming years - Crosstrek holds highest resale value for more than a couple years now I believe. They’re a highly sought after vehicle, and especially with low miles like yours will have in a few years if you decide to upgrade eventually, it will sell for a good price. No need to feel rushed to do it now based on market volatility. You’ve got a great little car that’s basically still new, no need to incur debt / spend cash when you’ve got a tank of a car that’s serving you well and will continue to for years to come!
 
#9 ·
My wife has a 2016 Impreza Limited Sedan, current mileage 16.5k... I thought she was leading the pack. You have her beat .... Well played.
She works from home extensively and is very happy with its needs... i.e. gas/oil/etc.

If no mechanical issues with the 2018, keep it. Plus lower insurance rates as that can be a (minimal) deciding factor.

My $.02
 
#11 ·
This is so very helpful everyone, you have no idea how much I appreciate everyone weighing in.

You are correct that a larger engine holds no appeal for me - as long as the car goes when I push the gas pedal I'm happy. Having a new warranty would be nice, but my primary concern is more with reliability (i.e.,, I just don't want to break down on the highway in a skeevy place) than the potential costs of repairs.

As far as a shiny new car - my current car is still pretty darned shiny and new. :ROFLMAO: I keep it super-clean, I've waxed it a few times every year, there are no exterior dings and only a few very tiny scratches. I also don't have kids and the dog only rides in the car once a year to the vets, so the inside is also pristine. I have a 2018 that literally looks showroom new. I love that car.

The sole reason I would buy a new car right now is if it substantially decreases the chances of a mechanical failure while I'm on one of my road trips. What I am hearing is that a 2018 with 10,000 miles which is well-maintained and never treated roughly is not much different in terms of risk than a new 2023.

If that's true, then I'm keeping my couple thousand in my bank account and will continue to love my current car for awhile longer.

Again, truly appreciate everyone weighing in. Thank you!
 
#15 ·
This is so very helpful everyone, you have no idea how much I appreciate everyone weighing in.

You are correct that a larger engine holds no appeal for me - as long as the car goes when I push the gas pedal I'm happy. Having a new warranty would be nice, but my primary concern is more with reliability (i.e.,, I just don't want to break down on the highway in a skeevy place) than the potential costs of repairs.

As far as a shiny new car - my current car is still pretty darned shiny and new. :ROFLMAO: I keep it super-clean, I've waxed it a few times every year, there are no exterior dings and only a few very tiny scratches. I also don't have kids and the dog only rides in the car once a year to the vets, so the inside is also pristine. I have a 2018 that literally looks showroom new. I love that car.

The sole reason I would buy a new car right now is if it substantially decreases the chances of a mechanical failure while I'm on one of my road trips. What I am hearing is that a 2018 with 10,000 miles which is well-maintained and never treated roughly is not much different in terms of risk than a new 2023.

If that's true, then I'm keeping my couple thousand in my bank account and will continue to love my current car for awhile longer.

Again, truly appreciate everyone weighing in. Thank you!
Oh, you’re most likely going to get another 50 thousand miles without any drama. I can’t imagine you being stranded or broken down until well into the 1xx,000 mile range. Especially since you maintain it properly and check fluids etc, in all likelihood it will go past 100k without any issues let alone a break down level issue. I wouldn’t worry about it at all, in fact, less than a brand new one as I said.

most often a new car will have issues in the first couple thousand miles, (and) or later on in life. If you’ve had none so far and it’s at 10k, it almost certainly has more life to go problem free. Enjoy your basically new car and the extra jingle in your pocket you’re not wasting on keeping up with the joneses 😜
 
#12 ·
So my question, for people who know more about this than me and yet have no vested interest in selling me a new car - do you have any thoughts about the reliability of a 2018 Crosstrek with 10,000 miles on it, vs. a brand new 2023? If the sole deciding factor are the chances of a mechanical failure, what would you recommend?
Several thoughts.

First: Your 2018 is getting up to the point where you should consider replacing the battery. At least have it tested to see what condition it is in. (Car battery's don't last long.)

Second: You might want to have the spare tire air pressure checked. One would think that the dealership would check that, but I wouldn't count on it!

Third. You might want to check this site and see how much a windshield replacement for a 2023 cost verses what it costs for your 2018.

Personally, I would keep the 2018 and drive at least 100k before getting something new. My bet is that before you get 30k on the 2018, EV's will be the preferred choice!

Hope this helps!

:)
 
#13 ·
Skyfix, that actually helps a ton.

I do have a new battery. The car sat for a few weeks over this past winter without me starting it, and when I tried to start it....nada. I had a new battery put in then.

As far as the spare tire - THANK YOU! It never even occurred me to check that. Oops. Great advice.

You're probably right about EVs. Considering it took me 4 years to get to 10k, it'll be another ~8 before I hit 30k. We may have flying cars by then....ha.
 
#14 ·
My 2018 recently topped 13,000 miles. There are no long road trips to be done on the island even though it is The Big Island.

I agree with those who urge sticking with the known car that has been reliable, is maintained and garaged, and that you "really like." A replacement might be even better, but some, perhaps a small, percentage of any product coming off an assembly line will have problems. The only reason I could see for myself to replace a car that is in good condition and low mileage like yours would be to get important features not on your car (and the newest Crosstreks do not offer such major changes). The money you save now by not replacing will pay for a good amount of maintenance to keep the '18 dependable.
 
#16 ·
Just curious, did you have all the recalls completed on your 2018? There have been several updates since that model came out.

Personally, I'd get the new car. 5 model years newer could possibly pay off if and when the market gets back to normal. Something to think about. That 2018 may not be worth anything near what the 2023 would be in a few years if prices normalize when you go to trade. As long as they are not raping you on price of the 2023, to me it's a no brainer.
 
#17 ·
I have had all the recalls completed. I think there were maybe 4 or so (right...?), and I started to get nervous because I got like 2 or 3 in quick succession a few years ago. There was a brief period when I thought maybe I had a lemon, LOL...

All the recall work was done. Zero issues, either before or after. Car has never had any sort of hiccup, weird issue, funky sound, vibration, hesitation...nothing. Literally the only problem was the dead battery this winter, which was probably more my fault that I didn't start it for a few weeks when it was eleven million degrees below zero here in NY.
 
#18 ·
I’m in lake placid NY area. I know the weather can be a jerk on our vehicles lol.
If you’re happy with your car and you like not spending money you don’t need to, just keep your basic at new car that’s zero issue and non problematic - which you self admittedly love.
Be confident your car is a good one, since it clearly is, and that your money saved by not chasing the latest and greatest will more than cover repairs for a long time at the mileage rate you put on!
 
#21 ·
I love Lake Placid. The Adirondacks are stunning, they really are so beautiful they defy description. I happened to be in Lake George at The Sagamore a few weeks ago and I swear I felt my blood pressure drop 10 points driving up I 87 and looking at nothing but greenery and trees.

Thank you everyone who weighed in, you all gave me some great information that I either didn't know or hadn't considered. What's fun about this one is that I don't think there is one right answer - it's all subjective based on what we each value the most.

The heart of my question is whether there are catastrophic mechanical failures that are as much a function of time as they are mileage and driving habits, etc. My car is almost 5 years old now, but really low mileage and looks brand new and has been well taken care of.

It sounds like the answer is that my 5 year old car has roughly the same chances of breaking down as a brand new car. What a new car gets me is...well, a new car. 😃 So I get a brand new warranty, start over at 0 miles again - and 3 years from now my car would be 3 years old instead of 8 years old. It's that last part that has me still thinking. Now is a good time for me, personally, to part with a few thousand to get a new car- so do I take the plunge now and trade away a car which is perfect but 5 years old to get a new car...which may or may not be perfect.

I'm going to think about it a few more days and keep poking around online for pictures and info about the 23. Really appreciate everyone weighing in, and your kindness too. Thank you!!
 
#24 ·
I love Lake Placid. The Adirondacks are stunning, they really are so beautiful they defy description. I happened to be in Lake George at The Sagamore a few weeks ago and I swear I felt my blood pressure drop 10 points driving up I 87 and looking at nothing but greenery and trees.

Thank you everyone who weighed in, you all gave me some great information that I either didn't know or hadn't considered. What's fun about this one is that I don't think there is one right answer - it's all subjective based on what we each value the most.

The heart of my question is whether there are catastrophic mechanical failures that are as much a function of time as they are mileage and driving habits, etc. My car is almost 5 years old now, but really low mileage and looks brand new and has been well taken care of.

It sounds like the answer is that my 5 year old car has roughly the same chances of breaking down as a brand new car. What a new car gets me is...well, a new car. 😃 So I get a brand new warranty, start over at 0 miles again - and 3 years from now my car would be 3 years old instead of 8 years old. It's that last part that has me still thinking. Now is a good time for me, personally, to part with a few thousand to get a new car- so do I take the plunge now and trade away a car which is perfect but 5 years old to get a new car...which may or may not be perfect.

I'm going to think about it a few more days and keep poking around online for pictures and info about the 23. Really appreciate everyone weighing in, and your kindness too. Thank you!!
Lake placid is gorgeous! :)

I’ll say again, reliability shouldn’t be a issue at all. 2018 was one of the very best years for Crosstrek reliability - Id expect that the way you maintain and drive it, you won’t see an issue for a very very long time - probably never in fact, If you trade out in three more years, as it will still be a prepubescent boy at less than 30k miles 👍🏻


Check this website out. There’s many others too


By year eight of ownership it should still be worth $22,000 assuming you Put on 6k mikes a year. The way you drive, it will likely retain a value of over $23k which will be a much better trade in value in the future as skyfix noted - when an EV is likely your next car and a good trade in plus cash you didn’t spend now, will still be assets you have on hand.

Your car is not going to Depreciate substantially in a few more years, literally not much more than a dealership holding onto it in the lot for three years.

also this isn’t something that will likely change. Crosstrek has held its value like a boss since yours came out - the 2018 was notable in reliability and resale value. The trend of value retention and reliability in more recent models has not wavered, and I would expect to see them continue to be high in resale value for years to come, especially the unicorn of a car that you have that’s so well kept and extremely low on miles. Someone will pay royally for that in three more years.


Good luck with your decision! I hope none of us have been too pushy (myself included!) but rather helpful in
 
#25 ·
No one is being pushy at all, you have all been great. What I like about this forum is that everyone is passionate about Subaru. The people here know more about Crosstreks than basically anyone else on the planet - it's why I asked the question here, I knew I'd get very useful information.

You all have no idea how helpful this forum is for someone like me, who isn't knowledgeable about cars. Any time I've ever had a question about my car, I search here and someone else has almost always asked/answered it. How do I stop that annoying seat belt alarm from chirping? Solved that here. :ROFLMAO: How the heck do I replace the battery in the fob? Found step by step directions here.

I also learned that the 23s may not have manual dials to adjust HVAC anymore. If that is true, that’s a minor detail to a lot of people which is going to annoy me greatly. Ha. I fiddle with air flow and direction all the time and really don’t want to scroll through 7 screens. Right now I don’t even need to take my eyes off the road because I know which button or knob I need and what direction I need to go.

I appreciate all the responses. I understand where everyone is coming from and several people pointed out things I hadn't thought of before...including seeing if I can find a 22....

(y):giggle:
 
#26 ·
I also learned that the 23s may not have manual dials to adjust HVAC anymore. If that is true, that’s a minor detail to a lot of people which is going to annoy me greatly. Ha. I fiddle with air flow and direction all the time and really don’t want to scroll through 7 screens. Right now I don’t even need to take my eyes off the road because I know which button or knob I need and what direction I need to go.
I don't think anything has changed for '23. You either have the manual controls or auto. Both have knobs but the manual is connected with cables, the auto electronically. Depends on which model you buy as to which version you get. I have a US Sport with the auto climate control. The manual version is a little easier to adjust without looking but there are advantages with the auto such as when remote starting turning on the AC or Heat remotely. You'll get used to either version in no time.
 
#28 ·
Some really good responses here. I'll quickly add my $0.02. If you can find a new Crosstrek Sport to test drive, you should. If you like your current car better, keep it. I feel like you're not going to go wrong with either choice based on what you've shared, and the insane used market as well. I only recommend driving a new Sport because I really, truly love my 2021. It's a fabulous car.
 
#31 ·
The only reason I see to upgrade is a new capability with significant benefits. For example, sensor based safety systems, especially front radar braking, are worth the upgrade in my book. Your 2018 may already have them.
Conversely, for some folks additional nanny safety systems in new model is a reason not to upgrade.
 
#33 ·
I went through this myself about 4 months ago. I have a 2019 Limited and just hit 9,000 miles last week. The car has been 99.9% reliable (there have been occasional hiccups with the head unit on startup but those should be fixed by a dealership update of the firmware (that's what they said)). And I do like the car very much, too.

However, the actual cost of upgrading to a 2022 (not a '23) was something like $5,400. At the rate I'm going regarding mileage, that $5,400 will pay for about 3 or 4 years of gas and insurance and I still won't be in need of any repair work by that time and estimated total mileage. So even with depreciation, at my low income level, it's a no-brainer to keep my current Crosstrek. Also, if I traded it in, I'd probably have to wait a few months to get the new car and I would only have my motorcycle for transportation in the meantime and it's not a grocery-getter by any means.

Sure, I love shiny new things and the more powerful 2.5 liter engine and slightly better mpg is appealing but it's not the smart move for me. It doesn't sound like it's the right move for you, either.
 
#34 ·
If your 2018 is paid off or is close to being so keeping your car is a good idea especially if your only putting 2500 miles on your car every year.

on the other side your trade in value may be high enough to get you into a 2023 for not a lot of money with inventory so low its a strange time that your old car is worth a lot if money now but next year may be different if inventory levels improve.

Benefits of upgrading
Fresh warranty
Better engine 2.5L
Remote starlink features (I love remote start with climate control so your cars more comfortable to get into ) on hot or cold days
 
#35 ·
Rest assured that both options have their pros and cons, it's not a clear cut decision. I'll add a few arguments in favour of the new car though:

- Current market conditions with a spike in the value of used cars are very anomalous and won't last forever. It's a period where upgrading to a new car costs the least due to two overlapping factors: a nearly inexisting depreciation of used vehicles combined with the fact that new car prices haven't caught up with inflation yet, which they will. In essence, 2022 is/was the window to get maximum equity for a used car without paying too much for a new one. Expect (IMHO) sustained jumps in new car prices in 2023/2024, along with financing rates.

- 2018 was the first year, not without some troubles as all the recalls testify. Reliability will likely be a notch higher for later years. 2021 saw, for example, minor modification in suspension design and there were other parts that were quietly replaced by improved versions throughout this generation, eliminating some quirks or potential reliability issues.

- Wear and tear occurs with time as well as with mileage. Your current car has a fabulously low mileage, but all its parts are already 4 years old. Weather strippings, rubber gaskets, bushings - pretty much anything flexible "dries out" over time, no matter the distance driven. Each winter adds to the beating as well due to corrosion. There's a reason that scheduled maintenance intervals are in mileage or months, whichever comes first.

Basically, picture yourself in 2028. By that time, will you want to have a 10 year old car (with its first share of maintenance issues) or a 5 year old one ? Do you have any long-term financial plans to correlate with your vehicle? Is warranty important to you? Would you rather save your money now and be ready to spend it in 5 years, or do you prefer to spend it now and avoid car-related expenditures for much longer?
 
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