Pre-Forester Subarus are GREAT! I've had my little gem "RubySue the Subaru" since '85 when she came off the line. No one can seem to explain why a little tin can from across the sea can hold up better than the sedans, trucks, and vans (foreign and domestic) that I've also owned. She's 200K and still plugging along. It gets a little cramped at times with folks, instruments, and critters, but if I ever am in a spot like Kendall, there's no question as to which wheels we're taking.

*come to find out later that they are also some of the safest cars on the road! front-wheel drive is great, and the engine rests at an angle so that in the event of a head-on, it gets pushed under the driver instead of into their lap. and ya can't beat the mileage on them either*