Sportage 2.0 or Forester 2.0 or Montero non VGT

[April_Ryan]

Thanks Starex_Gold, and the other members here.

This is actually my 3rd thread in this sub-forum.

In March 2011, I asked about SUVs in the 1.3M price range - http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...orester-78850/

Then around September 2011, I again did a survey, with a lower budget - http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...zda-3-a-83583/

Akala ko kasi, may budget na ako last year but I was wrong. Pero talagang-talaga na, bibili na ako this September. and everyone's inputs have been invaluable.

I'm taking a look at the Montero tomorrow. But I think I'm just including it on my shortlist because everyone (and their mother) keeps telling me to include it. Hahaha. Pero ang sure ako, the Forester XS and the Sportage both make me smile from ear to ear when I sit on the front seat (the Forester more so). In both instances, I have concerns which I know will not be issues if I get the Montero - cost of ownership for the Forester and long-term reliability and value of the Sportage. Wish me luck.

[Gerbo]

Precisely why Monterosport is what it is among car buyers today. Price. Cost of ownership. Value.

[April_Ryan]

With your indulgence, I'm revising my query again because I've decided it may be worth it to increase my budget to 1.4M.

I'm only looking at the following:

Diesels:
Sportage 2.0 CRDi - 1.290M
Tucson 2.0 CRDi -1.368M
Sorento 2.2 CRDi 5 seater - 1.330
Montero 2.5 GLS VGT - 1.44 M (but with discount, down to 1.38M)

Gas:
Subaru XV 2.0 (base model) - 1.398M
Subaru Forester 2.0 XS -1.398M (but with 40K discount, down to 1.358)

Planned use: city driving mostly, daily use, 1-2 passengers, not much need for cargo space or seats, blinding speed or engine power
Current car: RAV4 SV, M/T

Here are my observations after the last few days...

Design/Looks:

Exterior - I'd rank the Subaru XV the highest, with the Sportage 2nd, the Forester 3rd, the Sorento 4th. The Montero which I did not like initially, grew on me when I saw it at the showroom this morning.

Interior - I give a slight edge to the the simple, some would say spartan look of the Subarus.

Features:

I think the cars are almost equal here, with the Subarus getting the slight edge as the diesels are the base models. The diesels should perform better in FC compared to the Subarus.

Price:

The Sportage CRDi is the lowest priced, the XV the highest, with a waiting period to boot. As I mentioned, the VGT Montero's SRP is higher than the XV, but they're giving a substantial discount up to the end of this month.

Issues:

Coming from a Toyota, I have concerns about switching to a Korean brand though I've heard a lot of good things from Hyundai/Kia from the posts here, especially the diesel engines. However, the Sportage for example was launched only last year and the diesel variant this year, so there is no "track record" to speak of yet, both in the car itself and the service.

My concerns about the Montero: (a) there are far too many of them on the road; (b) it's a lot bigger than my current car so there will be an adjustment period.

My only concerns about buying a Subaru are: (a) the cost of the parts; and (b) fuel economy, at least compared to the diesel models I cited here.

Thoughts?

[dfopiso]

sharing the thread on Forester's PMS, same lang daw with CRV http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...53/index4.html

so i will vote for Forester

[macstar1]

Montero's strength is practicality.
But as per your requirement, I'd go for Forrester.

Although mas malakas ang torque ng koreans, mas OK ang handling ng Subaru.
Although my subaru experience is more of a backseat passenger ng kaskaserong colleague, I was impressed sa responsiveness nya, mapa singitan sa makati, or zigzag from punta fuego to tagaytay

[dfopiso]

here is one story with a happy ending http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...6/index20.html

SF yung final choice after ma-consider ang maraming options. pero sa wifey yung SF. si hubby choice nya yata eh Forester

enjoy reading

[yebo]

walang sorento lx bare na 1.330M, hangang advertisement lang yun. kahit san dealer ka pumunta walang 1.330M na sorento available. ang meron e yung 1.430M 5 seater a/t 2012 sorento lx, less discount pasok pa sa budget mo.

since ok naman sa iyo ang manual tranny, meron manual na sorento lx, 1.230M.

[dfopiso]

here is one story with a happy ending http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...6/index20.html

[dfopiso]

here is one story with a happy ending http://tsikot.com/forums/car-compari...6/index20.html

SF ang winner after considering a lot of options. sa wifey yung SF. kung si hubby masusunod, Forester daw dapat

[dct]

kahit pa montero ang lamang sa price, cost of ownership or value, kung hindi ka rin naman magiging masaya dyan, wag na. dun ka na sa pinakagusto mo. yung forester then next ang sportage