Based on my experience with a Forester 5 speed I owned for 10 years, I'd get an automatic or CVT if/when I get another Subie. For my 99% street driving I prefer a manual, and for 80% of the dirt I did it was fine (or fun) but with the tall gearing, there were places where painful clutch slip, or excessive speed and bouncing off hard parts (or both) were the only painful options. I got Primitive skid plates to make the latter more bearable, but in the end, just like with the "real" 4x4's I've owned, I'd prefer an auto. How is the Crosstrek CVT for crawling and descents, and is it ok on the highway, specifically long grades and rolling twisties like we have out West?
By the way, we found a glass insulator once, cleaned it up and stuck it on the mantle and forgot about it. I just pulled it down and Googled it ... it's a Hemingray-10 from 1945. No chips or cracks. Thanks for helping me learn something new today!