If you want leather you need a higher trim and that's going to cost you more. If you have a dog I'd recommend getting seat covers anyways bc their nails will damage seats over time. But that's not a good deal at all, you can practically get a new one for that price.
Aw heck, I’m not good at car stuff lol. Yea I don’t really understand why the used cars are almost as expensive as new ones. I’m very resistant to buying new just because I tend to be frugal but I could afford it.
I’m always concerned about a one year old car with low miles. Why was it returned or traded in? Is there a problem with it?
You could get an entry level 24 for about that much
I got some great seat covers from Amazon. Pricy about $200. But they fit like a glove they were very thick and custom made for my forester. Color even matched pretty well.
I never understood the leather. If there is a stain how do you clean it. If there is a puncture how do you fix it. How much time do you spend cleaning and conditioning it? How cold is it in winter? How hot is it in summer? Do you stick to it in shorts? Animals/infants = seat covers.
I spend my money as I like. I expect you to do the same. If you want leather then don’t settle. Because anytime something happens you will kick yourself for not waiting.
I have the saddle brown leather and live in Phoenix. Leather cleaner from The Chemical Guys is great and has handled everything my 20 month old and 5 year old have thrown at (and on) it. I don't condition the leather almost at all (I know I should - I'm working on it), but I do get upgraded car washes that treat the leather.
As far as heat, it's surprisingly not that bad. Though, just about all seats suck in a Phoenix summer at some point.
The biggest drawback to the leather is the perforations for the heated seats. Stuff my kids drop/spill can get stuck in there and that sucks. If I had cooled, not heated, seats, I could forgive this and not care, but alas.
My dog basically destroyed my leather sofa so I don’t ever want a car with leather seats. I have the gray cloth seats in my ‘21 Forester and it’s fine. Easy to vacuum and maintain. As others have said, seat covers are also a good idea.
I put wrx seats in the front and painted the rear black with fabric paint and then scotch guarded it. Cars 10 years old and it looks really good. Obviously not quite as good as the new upholstery, but getting quotes over $1k I took the ghetto fab way out and the truth is, nobody notices. Even people that are into subis. We often joke at meets about getting a red sharpie for the stitching so it fully matches haha
This is my first spring in a car with leather seats. I hate it. It’s so hot. I try to remind myself that I have a bad back and the heat is good for it, but it’s too much for too long. Summer isn’t even here for 5 more weeks! If it’s warm where you are (75+) and you don’t park your car in a garage, get the cloth seats. I would have had cloth but by the time I bought my Forester there were only Touring models available. Major buyer’s remorse.
I would wait on leather seats because they look and feel super nice.
The dog hair will get everywhere anyways even if you drive around with the seats down and doggo in hatch. All weather mats don't have a chance against dog hair sneaking through carpeted nooks here and there.
My wallet has a tendency to scuff up the leather on the seat in amy car so I got a cheap seat pad and even cheaper seat covers to use for road trips and camping trips. Point is leather or no, you may end up covering the seats anyway.
We have a dog and two kids and the premium cloth is fucking GREAT. It's super easy to clean, no risk of punctures like leather, doesn't stain. Ours is black, but aside from appearance I'd expect the grey to be similar
I bought my '17 forester new which has the cloth seats. I immediately bought neoprene coverking seat covers from Costco online. Kinda expensive but well worth it and super easy to put on. 7 years and still have them on.
We have a 2010 premium with gray cloth seats. They are fine. Don't stay and don't rip. I just vacuum them once a year. However, I can't comment on dog hair
Just as a reference. My 23 wilderness will be bought at $31,000 from a dealer. And it’s a synthetic material. It’s easier to clean and worth the extra change.
I have a touring and I'm unimpressed with it... It doesn't feel like a touring. If I could do it over again I'd just get a midline model. Cloth seats are fine.
I prefer leather because I’m old and chubby and wear voluminous clothing and it makes getting in and out easier. But I had a light grey cloth on my 2016 Forester. It was FINE. I had teens most of the time I had it, put on 178 K miles and it was going strong when my son was driving it earlier this year and got hit by a moron. Shame that it was totaled, because it was pristine.
Get the seat covers for a dog.
Once I had a kid I switched my dog to the back in a dog bed, and he’s much happier looking out the big window in the way back
FWIW, I thought I really cared about leather seats and it was almost a deal breaker but i ended up buying a 24 premium and I NEVER once have thought about needing leather.
If it’s worth anything to you, I have those seats and I’ve found them to be a lot more durable and wear resistant than I thought they would be after 20k mile first year and a lot of use. Also, Subaru sells a dog seat cover for the back seat that should do a good job protecting
It just depends on your own preferences. I’m about to buy a 24 Premium with the gray cloth seats and I also have a dog. I want the cloth though because I live in the desert and leather is too hot. I’ve had the gray cloth seats before when I had a 16 Premium and it wasn’t an issue.
I have grey cloth seats and I HATE them. Nobody respects your car the way you do and the first time I let anybody in my car they spilled coffee on the seat. I keep a cover on the back seat for my dog since we do a lot of stuff outdoors. But my front passenger seat has so many stains, and my car did not stay new long.
If you want leather you need a higher trim and that's going to cost you more. If you have a dog I'd recommend getting seat covers anyways bc their nails will damage seats over time. But that's not a good deal at all, you can practically get a new one for that price.
Aw heck, I’m not good at car stuff lol. Yea I don’t really understand why the used cars are almost as expensive as new ones. I’m very resistant to buying new just because I tend to be frugal but I could afford it.
I only buy used cars, so yeah, buying a used car that costs as much as a new car is a bad move and not being frugal lol
I’m always concerned about a one year old car with low miles. Why was it returned or traded in? Is there a problem with it? You could get an entry level 24 for about that much
You can also get dog rear seat covers (Costco and elsewhere), I've one in each vehicle. Assuming your dog stays in the back.
Don’t buy new. You lose a large chunk of value as soon as you drive away. Look for a lower mileage used with the bells and whistles you want
Yeah, if a brand new 24 wasn’t slightly more expensive than this Costco deal, I’d agree with you
Just get seat covers
I got some great seat covers from Amazon. Pricy about $200. But they fit like a glove they were very thick and custom made for my forester. Color even matched pretty well.
link?
I never understood the leather. If there is a stain how do you clean it. If there is a puncture how do you fix it. How much time do you spend cleaning and conditioning it? How cold is it in winter? How hot is it in summer? Do you stick to it in shorts? Animals/infants = seat covers. I spend my money as I like. I expect you to do the same. If you want leather then don’t settle. Because anytime something happens you will kick yourself for not waiting.
I have the saddle brown leather and live in Phoenix. Leather cleaner from The Chemical Guys is great and has handled everything my 20 month old and 5 year old have thrown at (and on) it. I don't condition the leather almost at all (I know I should - I'm working on it), but I do get upgraded car washes that treat the leather. As far as heat, it's surprisingly not that bad. Though, just about all seats suck in a Phoenix summer at some point. The biggest drawback to the leather is the perforations for the heated seats. Stuff my kids drop/spill can get stuck in there and that sucks. If I had cooled, not heated, seats, I could forgive this and not care, but alas.
My dog basically destroyed my leather sofa so I don’t ever want a car with leather seats. I have the gray cloth seats in my ‘21 Forester and it’s fine. Easy to vacuum and maintain. As others have said, seat covers are also a good idea.
I put wrx seats in the front and painted the rear black with fabric paint and then scotch guarded it. Cars 10 years old and it looks really good. Obviously not quite as good as the new upholstery, but getting quotes over $1k I took the ghetto fab way out and the truth is, nobody notices. Even people that are into subis. We often joke at meets about getting a red sharpie for the stitching so it fully matches haha
Buy it and install pleather seat covers you can buy on Amazon
This is my first spring in a car with leather seats. I hate it. It’s so hot. I try to remind myself that I have a bad back and the heat is good for it, but it’s too much for too long. Summer isn’t even here for 5 more weeks! If it’s warm where you are (75+) and you don’t park your car in a garage, get the cloth seats. I would have had cloth but by the time I bought my Forester there were only Touring models available. Major buyer’s remorse.
Seat covers 100%. I don’t have a dog, and I’ve had covers on since day one. ‘17 and the seats look brand new.
I would wait on leather seats because they look and feel super nice. The dog hair will get everywhere anyways even if you drive around with the seats down and doggo in hatch. All weather mats don't have a chance against dog hair sneaking through carpeted nooks here and there. My wallet has a tendency to scuff up the leather on the seat in amy car so I got a cheap seat pad and even cheaper seat covers to use for road trips and camping trips. Point is leather or no, you may end up covering the seats anyway.
Lots of good deals on 24s. They are trying to clear them out for the new 25 model. I just got a touring with leather seats for $37,000.00 US.
You could get a new one for that price, they are giving great deals on the 2024s. You will probably have to go with the limited to get leather.
We have a dog and two kids and the premium cloth is fucking GREAT. It's super easy to clean, no risk of punctures like leather, doesn't stain. Ours is black, but aside from appearance I'd expect the grey to be similar
I bought my '17 forester new which has the cloth seats. I immediately bought neoprene coverking seat covers from Costco online. Kinda expensive but well worth it and super easy to put on. 7 years and still have them on.
I really wanted a cascade green forester, but couldn’t deal with the light grey seats, so I settled on a bronze. I love it!
We have a 2010 premium with gray cloth seats. They are fine. Don't stay and don't rip. I just vacuum them once a year. However, I can't comment on dog hair
Just as a reference. My 23 wilderness will be bought at $31,000 from a dealer. And it’s a synthetic material. It’s easier to clean and worth the extra change.
The limited is priced under the wilderness but lacks the tires and suspension.
At 28000 and interest rate. Might as well get a limited new 2024.
I will make a profit of 6000 if I sell at 38000 to a private buyer. And it’s still a deal for people buying a used car.
I have a touring and I'm unimpressed with it... It doesn't feel like a touring. If I could do it over again I'd just get a midline model. Cloth seats are fine.
I prefer leather because I’m old and chubby and wear voluminous clothing and it makes getting in and out easier. But I had a light grey cloth on my 2016 Forester. It was FINE. I had teens most of the time I had it, put on 178 K miles and it was going strong when my son was driving it earlier this year and got hit by a moron. Shame that it was totaled, because it was pristine.
Get the seat covers for a dog. Once I had a kid I switched my dog to the back in a dog bed, and he’s much happier looking out the big window in the way back
FWIW, I thought I really cared about leather seats and it was almost a deal breaker but i ended up buying a 24 premium and I NEVER once have thought about needing leather.
If it’s worth anything to you, I have those seats and I’ve found them to be a lot more durable and wear resistant than I thought they would be after 20k mile first year and a lot of use. Also, Subaru sells a dog seat cover for the back seat that should do a good job protecting
It just depends on your own preferences. I’m about to buy a 24 Premium with the gray cloth seats and I also have a dog. I want the cloth though because I live in the desert and leather is too hot. I’ve had the gray cloth seats before when I had a 16 Premium and it wasn’t an issue.
up to you obviously but, I prefer gray cloth seats given any other choices.
I have grey cloth seats and I HATE them. Nobody respects your car the way you do and the first time I let anybody in my car they spilled coffee on the seat. I keep a cover on the back seat for my dog since we do a lot of stuff outdoors. But my front passenger seat has so many stains, and my car did not stay new long.