My diesel Subaru Forester (2015, 150k KM) might need to be replaced as some of the heater plugs are not working, but in the summer the garage said they were too rusted in to remove. Some warning lights came on recently and my local guy read the codes and said is was the heater plugs. However, it might not be worth the effort due to car age/condition and labour costs and if 1 garage couldn’t replace them there is a high chance another garage can’t or there is also a risk to crack the motor. Although the errors messages are shown, the car actually starts fine at -7C so I am not even sure this is a critical fix but I don’t want to get stuck somewhere and it looks like spending money on the Forester is not worth it.
It is the worst possible timing with my wife literally on her death bed and I will start chemo on Friday… So I am looking at a low stress option. I think the Skoda Kodiaq is perfect for me but looking for alternatives and advice. I started looking to get an idea before some darker months ahead of me.
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- My daughter does training/racing every weekendA critical feature is a ski pass through, and a sufficiently large car to take GS skis and lots of ski racing gear. . I have a roofbox on the Forester, but I cannot park in most supermarkets underground parking. I cannot install or remove the ski box myself. Not many cars have a ski passthrough, 60:40 seats don’t really work as it looses a useful seat.
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AWD is highly desirable. Although 90% of the time roads are cleared very well, conditions can change fast and parking lots are often ice rinks. I have never once had an issue with the Forester (using snow tires), so I don’t need full locked diffs etc.
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Car size is a trade-off. Day-to-day I don’t want bigger than the Forester, but for trips to the mountains the extra space of the Kodiaq will be very useful. Again, the goal is to not rely on a roof box.
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I like a PEHV , but with the Kodiaq that rules out AWD.
Also, when looking at prices locally, I don’t see so much depreciation. I always preferred a 2-4 year old model with 20-40K km but what I see is:
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a 2022 model 46K KM with relatively standard options, 1Year warranty == 38,000CHf. I likely need to add winter tires etc at 1k CHF Škoda KODIAQ ST 2.0TSI 190 4x4 7DSG Occasion, SUV, Carburant, Automatique | Auto AMAG
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43K CHF gets a 2024 with 50 KM in higher trim, or 2025 model basic trim. The most interesting is https://en.comparis.ch/carfinder/marktplatz/details/show/32601191 but is the PHEV without AWD, and warranty might be the original 3 year Skoda, so maybe 2+ years left.
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Brand new 2026 on order, many extra options and extra like winter + summer tired, extended 5 year/100k KM warranty is 53,000CHF. E.g. this is brand new and could be shipped https://fr.skoda.ch/apps/stock/carDetail/CHE00597597D20098374 for 50,500CHF and I might get an 8% |rebais flotte”… I have an offer form local AMAG with some extra like 3rd row seats for 53K CHF and I haven’t negotiated.
So although it pushes my budget, I see little advantage in 2nd hand? if you consider a brand new car, after 5 years and about 100K km (my average seems close to the population average) I would have a car I ight be able to sell on for 16-20K CHF, vs buying a 2022-2024 model with 50k km it will be 150K KM and worth a lot less, so that 10-12k CHF extra for a brand new might be saved any way and provide less stress over the warranty period.
I am aware it will take a few months to deliver but I have a small 2nd car that will work for emergency use if the Subaru dies suddenly.
