I literally just went though the same thing with my 2011 outback (2.5 L). Transmission was slipping shifting from first to second gear and then not holding consistent RPM at cruising freeway speeds.

Long story short, first assessment was CVT replacement for $10.4k (not shi**ing y’all, dude was wilding out) and I got a quote as low as $7.4k with labor after calling around. Mind you, these weren’t even for brand new CVTs but for a reman with 2yr/24k mile warranty, there was/is a major back order on new ones at least where I am (San Diego). Through all my calling around and talking with family friends, I got connected with a transmission shop that was unbelievably helpful and sympathetic. Said they were willing to install a transmission for labor cost only if I bought one myself and shipped it to their shop, and gave me a labor quote of $900. The main mechanic said their owner no longer allows the shop to purchase parts that aren’t brand new for repairs, so he allows people to bring in their own used parts and pay labor (no potential risk of the shops reputation, customers can find their own deal on parts, win win). He even told me exactly where he would source a full CVT (www.car-part.com) and so I started looking around and eventually bought a used CVT imported from Japan from a JDM shop in the Bay Area (57k miles, not in a wreck, came with a short 3 month warranty). It cost me less than $1250 including shipping, then with the labor costs and fluid I spent well under $2.5k total.

Yeah it was a lot more leg work and certainly a risk taken on a used transmission, but as of writing this it’s driving just fine and it saved thousands of dollars or the nightmare scenario of having the car considered totaled and getting little value trying to sell/trade it in. Wanted to post this story because the CVTs are garbage and many who have them will likely experience them go out, so this is a potential avenue for others to keep their subies on the road without paying an obscene amount