Honda CRV 2.0S VS Subaru Forester 2.0X

**supercar** · January 12th, 2009 10:57 AM

Just to confirm the ground clearance of both CUVs (from the PH model web sites):

CRV 2.0 AT: 185mm
Forester 2.0X AT: 215mm

**bolJack** · March 2nd, 2009 10:53 PM

Thanks SuperCar for a very informative piece. I'm deciding which to buy between the two. I'm sold on the features and performance of the Forester over the CRV. However, I have some concern over cost of maintaining the Forester over the CRV. Since CRV is a Honda, there are lots and lots of service centers, as well as spare parts suppliers here. The Forester only has Motor Image as a service center and part suppliers (although ive read in the Subaru Car Talks area that there are other venues to get spare parts). I want to know if the Forester is comparatively as economical and easy to maintain as a well established car as CRV or RAV4. Are spare parts easy to come by? Personally, I'm in love with the Forester, but I have to prove that it's also a practical buy to my wife.

Hope someone can answer my questions.

**istan** · March 2nd, 2009 11:51 PM

10k PMS of a Subaru Impreza = P6,328. I would think the Forester 2.0X would be the same because they have the same engine.

**Gen. Miting** · March 3rd, 2009 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by bolJack

Thanks SuperCar for a very informative piece. I'm deciding which to buy between the two. I'm sold on the features and performance of the Forester over the CRV. However, I have some concern over cost of maintaining the Forester over the CRV. Since CRV is a Honda, there are lots and lots of service centers, as well as spare parts suppliers here. The Forester only has Motor Image as a service center and part suppliers (although ive read in the Subaru Car Talks area that there are other venues to get spare parts). I want to know if the Forester is comparatively as economical and easy to maintain as a well established car as CRV or RAV4. Are spare parts easy to come by? Personally, I'm in love with the Forester, but I have to prove that it's also a practical buy to my wife.

Hope someone can answer my questions.

basta rule of thumb, if a car is somewhat rare, sigurado open for price bloating yan.

**bolJack** · March 4th, 2009 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by istan

10k PMS of a Subaru Impreza = P6,328. I would think the Forester 2.0X would be the same because they have the same engine.

When I went to MI, they said that the 1k checkup should cost around P4600 since its just an oil change. But I heard from someone that it cost him P11k for his 1k checkup for the Fozzie. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ganun kamahal binayad niya but I'm trying to ask him again for more details.

Regarding naman sa spare parts, is it easy to come by? Meron din nagsabi sa akin kasi na 1 month daw siya nag-intay for the parts he needed.

**pup2** · March 4th, 2009 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by bolJack

When I went to MI, they said that the 1k checkup should cost around P4600 since its just an oil change. But I heard from someone that it cost him P11k for his 1k checkup for the Fozzie. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ganun kamahal binayad niya but I'm trying to ask him again for more details.

Regarding naman sa spare parts, is it easy to come by? Meron din nagsabi sa akin kasi na 1 month daw siya nag-intay for the parts he needed.

My 1K checkup was even less kasi may discount pag member ka ng subaru club (shameless plug pero totoo).

That 11k might've meant kilometers dahil walang PMS na lalapit man lang doon, with the possible exception of the timing belt one.

There were a lot of nightmare stories with older subbies but I think these were while subby was under GM rather than MI.

Lowdown, it has slightly higher maintenance cost than Honda pero the service is as good as the best Honda dealer, if not better.

These refer, of course, only to small parts issues dahil unlike Honda, walang 'replacement' parts ang subaru. They only have OEM and aftermarket. So kung mabangga ka or masiraan ng tranny or something like that, mas mahal talaga ang Subaru.

Sa parts AVAILABILITY naman, forester is their best-selling brand so I doubt you'd encounter these -- again, except possibly for major parts that aren't commonly broken.

Pero matibay siya ... just not as maintenance-free as Honda methinks. Pero sa driving dynamics/ride comfort, panalo ang subaru by far. They don't even recommend "double rustproofing" -- ganun ka kumpiyansa sila sa tibay ng major parts nila.

In the end, if cost is the bigger issue talaga, just like Shoemart, choose Honda (or Toyota for that matter). Kung di ka masyadong takot sa gastos, subaru (Hey, it's STILL cheaper than euro cars and just as theft resistant).

**hajabah** · March 5th, 2009 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Gen. Miting

basta rule of thumb, if a car is somewhat rare, sigurado open for price bloating yan.

not to offend, but that is quite stereotypical. Then again, so is the conception that Subarus aren't good because they aren't popular.

We have two Subarus. There is a VERY reasonable amount of labor charge. no dagdag bawas. They charge fairly considering that the parts they supply are original. Aftersales is, dare i say, just as good as Honda, if not better, even if they have, oh, about a hundred less dealerships. Quantity vs. Quality.

The only time we had to wait was when they had to change all 4 bearings of our Forester.

i dunno man, but money aside, i'd still go Forester. CR-V's a great car, but in my opinion, Forester's still better.

**pup2** · March 6th, 2009 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by hajabah

not to offend, but that is quite stereotypical. Then again, so is the conception that Subarus aren't good because they aren't popular.

We have two Subarus. There is a VERY reasonable amount of labor charge. no dagdag bawas. They charge fairly considering that the parts they supply are original. Aftersales is, dare i say, just as good as Honda, if not better, even if they have, oh, about a hundred less dealerships. Quantity vs. Quality.

The only time we had to wait was when they had to change all 4 bearings of our Forester.

i dunno man, but money aside, i'd still go Forester. CR-V's a great car, but in my opinion, Forester's still better.

Dalawa na suby mo Hajabah? Di ba kakalabas mo lang ng unit mo late last year? Pangalawa na ba yun o dalawa nilabas mo?

Personally, I don't even want to try convincing those who are too afraid of new things. Subbies aren't for everyone after all -- kaya nga mas madami pa ding maller ang SM kesa greenbelt eh.

**hajabah** · March 7th, 2009 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by pup2

Dalawa na suby mo Hajabah? Di ba kakalabas mo lang ng unit mo late last year? Pangalawa na ba yun o dalawa nilabas mo?

Personally, I don't even want to try convincing those who are too afraid of new things. Subbies aren't for everyone after all -- kaya nga mas madami pa ding maller ang SM kesa greenbelt eh.

di. yung Forester yung galing pa sa dreaded GM. dati pa yun. Yung Legacy lang yung galing sa MIPilipinas.

and sa bagay, you have a point. Subarus aren't for everyone....