Subaru Forester Problems

It depends on the condition and kays of the Volvo. I would expect a 2012/2013 XC60 to have done on average 60,000 to 80,000 km. At that mileage it should still have plenty of life left in it, but it is closer to the end of the road than a new Forester would be. If you chose with your heart you’d take the Volvo, but your head would tell you to buy the Subaru.

The difference between 4WD and AWD has become blurred as some AWD cars have become more capable of use offroad. It used to be that a 4WD were part-time four-wheel drives with high and low range, which could be locked in for off-road use. An AWD was really an on-demand system, which was front-wheel drive for most of the time, and drive as sent to the rear wheels when needed for traction. A lot of AWD SUVS now have quite sophisticated electronic systems that give them greater ability to go down bush tracks. One of the big issues for AWDs vehicles off-road is usually their ground clearance, so you have to assess the roads you want to use and drive accordingly.

You have clearly done your homework, from which you should be able to decide which is best for you. Without knowing what your needs and wants are all we can advice is that the three cars you have honed in on are good choices.

The Michelins would probably give you a more comfortable ride, and the road noise should be better. Before ditching your Bridgestones you could try lowering the inflation pressure to 32 psi and see if that makes your life more pleasant.

Most cars today have convex mirrors to give you a broader view of what’s coming up from behind. It’s something you should get used to; once you do it’s not a problem. If you really want to change it for a flat mirror you could talk to a glass merchant, who might be able to do it for you. Subaru won’t do it.

The best thing you can do is to go around to various dealers and check a number of vehicles to see how they work for you.

As a guide you could expect to get $1500 to $3000 for your Laser. The RAV4 is a sound choice. You could get into a 5-star safety rated 2014 RAV4 for $20,000-$23,000, a similar 2012 model for $17,000-$20,000. You could also consider a Kia Sportage, Honda CR-V, or Subaru Forester.

I would use the factory recommended oil, at least while the car is under warranty. Once the warranty has expired you could use the Mobil oil and shouldn’t experience any problems.

There are no hard and fast rules for how fast you should drive when towing, but many companies recommend driving at a lower speed when towing. Subaru say you should not drive its vehicles, including the Forester, at speeds in excess of 80 km/h when towing. It's done for safety.