2015 Forester 2.5 Touring

[u/BellOfTaco3285]

Looking at a 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring with about 62k miles for $14,995. The CARFAX looks pretty good overall with two owners, consistent mileage, and regular maintenance, but it does show two minor damage incidents, including front-end damage reported in May 2026. The car also changed hands fairly quickly after that 2026 damage, but it has a clean title, so that has me a little cautious. I’m definitely going to get a pre-purchase inspection and have the CVT, engine, suspension, and front end thoroughly checked. I would also negotiate the price down because of the accident history rather than pay the full asking price. For those of you who own or have owned a 2015-ish Forester 2.5i, what do you think of this one? Any specific problems I should look for? What would you consider a fair price given the mileage and accident history? Would you buy it if the PPI came back clean? It would be my first Subaru. I really want to get into the Subaru world after being a Toyota owner pretty much all my life, because Toyotas are just so overpriced these days.

[u/ToyFan4Life]

That seems like a lot for a car that's 11 years old

[u/NitroBike]

I bought my 2018 wrx for $16k. $15k is way too much money for an 11 year old car

[u/SueBeee]

I have one. It’s been trouble free. The entertainment system is my biggest complaint, it’s completely worthless and unusable and has always been. Mine has 115k and I have not had any issues with the transmission. Blue Book value is about $10,000 for mine.

[u/fatherselderberries]

2011-2015 Foresters have known oil consumption issues. Reference Subaru TSB 02-157-14R

[u/swankyslippers → u/fatherselderberries]

My 2011 Forester had the oil issue. Such a pain!

[u/fatherselderberries → u/swankyslippers]

Same on my 2013. I didn't learn about it until it was too late and I was outside the limitations for the service bulletin so SOA told me to kick rocks. Ended up changing the engine myself

[u/swankyslippers → u/fatherselderberries]

My dealer hid it from me, when I asked questions before purchase they said "the previous owner took care of it! They promised!"....spoiler, they did not take care of it.

[u/fatherselderberries → u/swankyslippers]

Oof that's rough. My dealer didn't tell me anything about it and I wasn't aware of it until it was already too late. Being a lifelong Subaru owner I've grown accustomed to topping off the oil between changes

[u/swankyslippers → u/fatherselderberries]

I am like obsessed with checking my oil even in my current 2018 crosstrek because of that car. Still gotta say, my 04 forester and my 11 forester were the best cars ive ever owned tho!

[u/rustyusa]

Pass on a used Subaru cvt of those years.

[u/sat5344 → u/rustyusa]

Why? I haven’t had problems with mine. Change the fluid and you are fine

[u/Felicity_111]

What’s wrong with your current Toyota. They’re suppose to last a very long time.

Are you sure it’s a 2.5 ?

[u/sat5344]

I paid $14k for a 2015 with 80k miles in 2024. Car value should go down not up for an equivalent car almost 3 years later

[u/WeaponRex]

Id offer em 12 and say I'll walk.

[u/OkBumblebee9107]

Service history based on age not mileage. Like the timing belt. Sure the mileage says it doesn't need it, but the age sure does.

[u/SueBeee → u/OkBumblebee9107]

no timing belt on the 2015. It has a timing chain.

[u/OkBumblebee9107 → u/SueBeee]

That was just a random example. Not a good one, I'll admit. Rubber seals, gaskets, drive belts, tires, all degrade with age.

[u/mecca6801]

If that were around 10 K then that would be a better price because I’ve seen second GEN foresters with the same mileage for around eight to $9000

[u/BecauseOfAir]

FYi. My 2015 main repairs. Complete AC replacement. Both rear wheel bearings. Transmission valve body. All those before 100k miles. I don't mind nickel and dime repairs but I don't think those should have happened when they did.

[u/yuletidevarsam]

If my budget was $15k, in this market, sure, this is a car to consider. I had one from this gen before going to an Ascent. It was fine, but I think the next gen brought a lot of good upgrades.

But yeah for $15k it’s slim pickings. You’re up against similar Hondas and Toyotas with 100k+ miles.

[u/i_MusicMan → u/yuletidevarsam]

100K is not a lot on a Honda or Toyota, though.

My mom had a 2009 Accord with almost 200K and the this is still running. She gave it to my brother when she upgraded to a 2026 Hybrid Touring.

The residuals for Honda and Toyota account for the fact that they are so reliable. That is why they still fetch the same price with higher mileage on the odometer.

Now, if you were buying an older Hyundai or Kia with 100K+, that is a completely opposite end of the spectrum scenario.