Honda CRV or Subaru Forrester

I'm a CRV owner. I too am looking at new cars. The only two I am considering is a CRV or a Subaru. To me it comes down to one issue. Do I want an automatic or manual? Because I will drive the car till the wheels fall off I will be 75-77 when its time to buy another car. At 75 I don't think I want to play sports car driver with a manual transmission. Just my thoughts.

I recently traded in my AWD auto trans Subie for a automatic AWD 2013 CR-V, if I could have towed the Subie 4 down I would have done it. Both the wife and I like the CR-V better and I do not ever want to drive a manual transmission car again. The CR-V is all set up now to use as a toad. Dick

CRV: You can get 2WD or AWD. Forester: Must be Manual Shift, Will be AWD. With Subaru's recent changes, I'd GUESS (but please check specs) that Forester is slightly roomier and probably heavier. Forester might be more expensive.

We towed two different Subuaru Foresters behind our Country Coach before we got into the fifth wheel. Both Subies were 5 speed manual trannys, which is all that is towable. Both towed beautifully, except the one I left in gear and blew up the engine, but that's another story.

Seriously, they're a great toad, if you don't mind driving a stick.

I just bought a 2005 Jeep Liberty. If I was looking for new would be looking at the new jeep Cherokee 4x4 automatic. It is front wheel drive. When you put it in 4x4 it ingauges the rear. Rated at 31 mpg. coming out late oct. I no longer want to drive a standard shift.

For me, it would be the Subaru, manual transmission.

I've been a very happy owner of a 2008 Outback. The new Forester is getting rave reviews, but both the Honda and the Subaru Forester and Outback models are very good vehicles. Assuming the manual transmission models can be towed, it really ends up being a matter of which vehicle you prefer as everyone has their own priorities and preferences when it comes to a vehicle.

Our (adult ) kids have a late model CRV that I ride in a fair amount .
My sister has the late model Outback that I ride in also.
I think the CRV is better .

The Honda CRV is towable up to 65 mph 4 down per the owners manual.

ALL Subaru's are towable 4 down without restriction if equipped with MANUAL transmissions ony. Same with all KIA's and Hyundai's, Nissan's, Toyota's, most Ford and Honda's. BUT make sure towability is in writing from the vehicle mnufacturer!

Yup, Check all towing specs carefully. Different strokes for different folks!