Only you can decide if its too much.
For me? Heck yes. Something in the $3k-5k range should fit your needs nicely without being a piece of crap. Cars in this range still look good, work well, and depreciate little. Even with the occasional trip to the mechanic, it'll be WAY cheaper to own than the Forester.
Make sure you take into account fuel economy, insurance, taxes, registration, etc. when you look at cars. The newer the car, the more expensive insurance, taxes, and registration usually are.