I would def talk them down. I am leaning toward the subaru so I can just pay it off and call it a day!
Do you think it would still be worth it to buy the if it was in great shape? Usually good advice is to buy the latest model with the lowest miles you can find when looking for used. There is an enormous difference in fuel economy between the and models I would be hard pressed to not suggest you strongly consider the , but really you should drive both and for longer then 10 minutes and buy which ever suits you the best.
What maintenance issues should I look out for. Just skeptical to purchase a vehicle with that high of miles and expect to put another 90, miles in the next 5 years. How many miles should I expect outbacks to last? Hey there Justin, I cant tell you how helpful your expertise has been in my search for my first car. Looks like a pretty GD impressive machine and it seems like it has been well maintained, and its being sold by an authorized Toyota dealership not a independent dealer.
Any wisdom you could send me on this car? How do these tend to hold up? I love my 3. The key here is to have it inspected by a Subaru shop prior to buying it. Love the honesty of your answers.
The black and white opinions you find online is utterly astounding. Exploder that is like a beloved family member fighting off their second round of terminal cancer — I keep fighting for her to live, but she just wants to die. However, in the almost two years I drove the thing I became addicted. I am now looking at purchasing my second Outback, but am hesitant.
At one point she was put up in an auction. Her body is fit, though — let me tell you! Dark black skin with curves like an angel; and those dual moon-roofs give her that sexy librarian look, you know? The 4th owner did the same thing. My concern is with the turbo and the head gaskets as per usual. The current owner just buys and flips cars and has no idea.
The report indicates nothing that would allude to so much as a timing belt replacement, which also tells me that the HGs may not have been inspected. But could an inspection come up negative and then 6 months down the road she could have another episode? Is this a car I can bring home to meet the parents? They use a MLS gasket from the factory and they do hold up well to the lower compression found in he turbo engines.
I of course changed the oil every miles, and inspected the oil feed line filters, also known as union screws every 60k. If you have purchased the car, I would have the feed line filter the turbo inspected and or replaced, as well as someone removing the down pipe and inspecting the turbo shaft play.
If there is no record of the timing belt being done, thats a priority as well. I have as a company provided vehicle a Outback 3. I change the oil every 5k miles and opt for a major service every 50k miles. I tow on occasion a trailer with quads or a Rzr and quad at the limits of the Outback without a problem, and that includes some steep grades to Flagstaff. This car has never had one mechanical issue and does not use more than 1 quart in between changes, which it has done since new and is within Subarus specs.
I will be fitting my 5th the pair of tires soon and do not rotate in between changes. I always experience even wear and use the car off road probably more than average. There is no cupping or uneven wear. I will be getting my Outback early next year and hope that it serves me as well as this one. It now has , miles on it.
My husband and I had new struts and clutch installed during those 5 years. My husband passed away about 8 months ago and during that time I did accidentally let the oil go down. You have to add a couple quarts in between oil changes. I do have the choice of selling our Prius and the Outback and hoping for a Outback — but the Prius has never had a problem and has , miles. What would make you give up on spending large repairs for a car this age — and risk more of the same with another?
My thought process was with the two cars Prius and Outback I might be able to make it 6 years or so and then buy a 3 year old Subaru with low miles a few years before I retire. I drive miles round trip everyday and drive the Prius for gas mileage and the Outback for snow road days. I truly do wish I could ask my husband for advice. Assuming its a manual transmission replacing the bearings in the transmission is somewhat common, and very straight forward for a shop like ours.
So if its at a Subaru shop it should be a no brainer for them to make those repairs. The best advice I have is make sure your relationship with the shop is good and that they are very comfortable with the cars you own. At some point the Toyota is going to need some work as well, so I would also plan for that in the future.
If you want to down size to one car I think I would look at a Outback if at all possible. A will get much better fuel economy and have really shown to be good cars. Just make sure what ever you do if you buy a used car that you have it inspected by someone who really knows Subaru before you make any purchase. My concern, as with all the rest is it has k miles on the clock. We are recent college grads without a lot of cash and want to purchase an AWD drive car, at least I do ha , and I saw recently a Subaru for sale by a private party.
It is a model with a V6 engine and he has put about grand into it, and even replaced the bottom rack because it was a northeast car for a few years and got some rust. I am a first time car buyer and want something that will be reliable and last for a few years while we get situated in our new home in the mountains of Utah.
Ill be traveling up to the resorts for work from the valley so some good highway driving will be done. Any thoughts? He said the only issue that may arise in time but not soon would be the muffler. Just might need replaced. Would love to know your thoughts! Oh and he wants to sell for Which is really good for a college grad in student loan debt!
Please can you tell me how good a subaru forester will be…it was bought from a subaru dealership who said they maintained it.. I would tell you to have a pre purchase inspection performed by a good Independent Subaru shop. A Forester is a great option, but not everyone will be the same and you want to make sure the car you have in mind is a good car not a theory. Thank you Justin for this awesome resource!
I am looking to buy a beautiful blue WRX wagon with auto. It should be a good purchase, but you still need to have a pre purchase inspection performed to make the the car itself checks out okay. Hello, I own a Impreza wagon with about , miles. It is my only car, and I now drive about 15, miles a year with work and road trips. Plus, I like that my controls are no frills and simple.
My question, if there is one, is how much longer could I reasonably keep this car being that I use it for commuting and, well, everything? I know that it will need another timing belt replacement at the , mark, but how long can the transmission go? The transmission should easily go k to k or even longer this assumes good maintenance of course.
Hello Justin, sorry to ask a question that has been asked before. We just bought a Forester and I totally love driving it but it is primarily my girlfriends so I want my own Sube! I am looking at the older version of the Outback that are more like a station wagon than an SUV, I believe that means or older, correct?
So I think my search is for a ? I feel that the cars a run harder in Canada so I am concerned about longevity. Is there any change in the non-turbo 4 cyl between and ? I am trying to keep the mileage below , km, I will be putting about 10, km on a year. If you can find a Outback that does not have the AVCS system, I think that will hold up better over the long run, it came out mid year and it kind of makes the engines a little more fragile in my opinion.
There are some advantages to the and however such as better audio systems, better interior materials and slightly more efficient engines. We had it inspected by an independent mechanic that reported that the head gasket was sweating. We were not too concerned because we were told this was not a leak. However, after the first week we noticed oil drops in the garage floor.
We took it to a Subaru dealer that confirmed that there is a small leak from the head gasket. We were told to monitor it and that, eventually, we would need to have it fixed. Other than this issue the car is in great shape.
Under the purchase agreement we have 30 days to return the car, no questions asked. Do you think it would be worthwhile to keep it or should we return it? Without seeing the car its tough to say how the rest of the car checks out. But Id plan on the timing belt and components as well.
My dilemma is that I wonder if I should spend the extra money for the 3. Is the 3. I expect to be driving this vehicle for the next years so the vehicle will definitely have regular maintenance either way.
I live in western Quebec and will be driving this car to a cabin which will demands 60km of rough dirt road each way at probably a dozen times per year. Other than that, the car will be used for road trips long distance with just 2 of us in the car and bicycles on the hitch rack.
I drove transports for a number of years and used to going slow but steady. What would you recommend for engine? I drive the 3. I would not hesitate to by the 2. In doing research on this type of transmission, I understand that they only last for less than a , miles. I usually drive my Subaru for at least , miles.
I feel like Subaru is letting us down by using a transmission that will only last that long. There is no other engine you can use for the Tribeca. Just a Short block form Subaru, having the heads inspected and rebuilt as needed, replacing the timing chains, guides and tensioners etc. My wife wants a Subaru Outback. If you were looking to buy a used Outback in this range….. What year would you suggest and how many miles on the car would you feel comfortable with?
I live on the East Coast of Canada. I use my car for work and I drive daily. It has , km which is about , miles. I had to replace my short block. It was a bearing problem not oil consumption. I now need to replace the catalytic converter and possibly some fuel sensor not sure related to the intermittent check engine light. It goes on and off randomly. And the bad news is that the noise coming from the transmission whining sound can be fixed by replacing the transmission.
The CVT is not a serviceable unit. The vehicle has been dealer maintained since new. This is my third Subaru. So, is the day of the , mile Subaru over? Was this a bad model year?
The Bearing issue was from lack of lubrication most likely due to low oil levels, the result of extended oil change intervals. The Converter thing is less common, and I am somewhat surprised by it. But the car does already have miles, which is a lot for a The CVT Thing is only becoming an issue as there is confusion created about when to change the fluid, just like there is confusion when to change the oil.
Thank you Justin for your response on staying with a at this time for a 4 cylinder. We are only looking at the 4 cylinder so thanks for the heads up.
However, could you give a little more clarity on the why only the at this time? I would have a hard time articulating to my wife the way you could. She has a friend that said to go to the because they went from a timing chain not a belt. So now she is all twisted up. I have trouble telling anyone to buy a because of the possibility of buying one that may use oil, there is not a test that could ever be done to know if this might be an issue with the car, only time would tell.
So you could buy a car that technically checks out, but uses 2 quarts in between oil changes, have this drive you crazy, or not stay up on it and ruin the engine. Now Subaru is going to extend the warranties of these cars, but why buy something with a known issue? Just like I would advise against a Volkswagen Diesel right now. No idea if its a good deal.
Hi i am looking at a subaru impreza sedan with , year for 8, how may miles can you get in this engine? It all depends on how well it was and will be taken care of, but as a generality they should go k and beyond, again if well maintained. Purchased new, I now have , mi on my Legacy 2. Also there is no fluid replacement necessary according to maintenance schedule. So, in general, the CVT is not serviceable. Please comment on the CVT longevity and any recommendations Subaru may now have to extend its life.
We have replaced a few CVT transmissions. No more or no less then we would have the Prior Gen Auto transmissions going 5- 6 years out from new. My husband and I are looking at a used Subaru and I was wondering what your advice is. We are looking at either a Subaru Outback 2. Do you have any recommendations on which one would be the best for longevity?
Id gravitate towards the Impreza however, only because the Outback is a first year of a refresh, as is the Impreza. Need an advice on subaru. How many more miles can a typical impreza last if i were to purchase it?
I cant really speculate on how much longer it will go before it needs repairs and then go some more, it will most likely need service work in the future. Id start with having a pre purchase inspection performed by someone with Subaru Experience. Hi, I am considering buying a Subura Outback with , miles on it for my daughter. They said runs good, no problems but it is not inspected and does have some rust over rear wheel well.
I will definitely have a pre purchase inspection done but am concerned about the high mileage. The car is 16 years old and it will need service work if not now soon. Justin — I did the updated head gasket repair on my 2. The car now has , miles and runs perfectly. I will give you another update at , or so! I am about to flush the radiator. She has it in today having one of the cv joints repaired on the drivers side, and mentioned to the mechanic about a flush. He stated that she should have the belt replaced along with the radiator fluid.
It does not have a belt it has a chain. He said it should still be replaced. I am an old shade tree mechanic and never changed a timing chain unless I was rebuilding the engine. What do you say? Is it possible for time chain to break off or stretch due to use of low octane regular gasoline vs. I was advised to change my timing chain because I have used regular gasoline instead of premium which is recommended, causing my timing chain to stretch.
The car has just over k on it. If the thought process is the chain stretched due to lack of lubrication, you could point to lower octane fuel being A contributing factor but only if, it was also combined with poor maintenance and driving habits. A mutual friend is selling their Subaru Outback 2.
It has the CVT, and the inside and outside look in good condition, and they said the timing belt, head gasket, water pump and radiator were replaced at , at a Subaru dealership. Also, I plan to keep it for probably around years, and drive the usual k miles a year, and get regular maintenance at a dealer once I purchase it.
The thing I would look into besides having a pre purchase inspection is to see if the Torque Convertor has been replaced. I am wondering if this price is fair and what specifics should I ask about the maintenance that has been done or should look into, I am a first time buyer.
Sold by a private owner who list all the special mods to the turbo and such. Says it runs fine and should get a lot more use out of it, as long as the fluids are always topped up. I guess your best bet is to research what other similar years and mileage are selling for, if its close have a pre purchase inspection performed and take things from there based on that inspection. Based on the almost 7 years old thing make sure the fluids have been changed, they are due again at 60k and make sure someone tests the PH level in the coolant.
Hello Justin, My Forester XRT has 30 mpg plus for the first 50 miles or so after filling an empty gas tank then gradually drops to 20 mpg computer estimates confirmed with measured consumption.
Is this likely an oxygen sensor problem, software problem, mass air meter problem or what? No codes appear. There is and never will be an accurate Fuel economy display.
I have no idea why its telling you 30 and then 20, buts its most likely neither. Thank you so much for giving your expert advice. I have a Impreza 2. It has the head gasket issue, although the leak is small. Also, the car is registered in NC, so the insurance is nominal. If I get a new car, it will be 6 times as much. Should I get all these repairs done and expect to drive the car 80k more miles? Or should I throw in the towel? Thank you! You are on the right tack and have the proper mind set, keep the car you have, and get as much out of it as you can, the other way is just to expensive.
Hi Justin, I think I know the answer, but here goes. Subaru replaced the HG at 92K before sale to 2nd owner , but they are leaking externally again. Not much oil being lost AFAIK, and no coolant mixing yet,but if I am going to keep the car I know it needs to be done as the leak has been growing. In the recent past brakes all around, exhaust from CC back, front axles, tranny fluid exchange has all been done, along with a few minor suspension parts such as tie rod and wheel bearings.
Body is clean, interior nice. Considering all the work that has been done to the car in the past 50K or so, I am thinking this repair will take me to K no problem. My only concern is the repair is equal to the value of the car. Any reason I should reconsider? You just cant think Repair costs VS value of the car.
Current one purchased new , Forrester Km replaced transmission Serviced every Km. I expect this car to go for Km. One of the best cars you can buy. I know I need to have the car inspected, that said, I am looking 4 basic information. I am buying it in Az to take to my daughter in Oregon….
Plz send an email to my personal email asap. Ty again. Just found your site…. I am always happy to try and answer questions, just not usually ASAP, and also only in reply to a post here as that would take away from the customers that come to the shop locally.
That way a question you have that could be similar to another readers the answer is here for them as well. The HG can fail internally, but most likely they would have been addressed by now.
They are not known for ring problems in that era, but anything is possible. Inquire about rear wheel bearings, and of course has the timing belt been done, were the HG done yet etc. Thinking of buying crosstrek with 80k miles but I am concerned about the milage for the year of the vehicle and if it will need a new transmission soon.
I have heard some funny things about the CVT the fluid levels. Buying from dealer and carafe is clean but not sure how well previous owner treated and took car of vehicle. I think what you are trying to say is its difficult to check the fluid level in a CVT, which yes it is.
There is no way to predict the future, on a CVT but there is no widespread issue with the CVT, there are pockets of issues, just like there is with every single make and model out there. Is there any problems that I can expect coming up in the next miles?
What should I be looking for when I talk to the dealer? You really need to have a pre purchase inspection done and not rely on what a salesman tells you or what you can see for your self. But for starters has it had the Timing belt replaced it was due at k and if so was it just the belt or was it done properly with all of the other driven components.
Couple things… 1. I feel this is a bit high. Buying it at k, would you consider this a decent mileage for the age of the car? I understand that is not going to be convenient, but it will save you from a potential headache if the car does not Check Out.
I have a Impreza Outback Sport. Other than that, just little things wiper arm, CV boots and I did timing belt at k. I was thinking of purchasing a new vehicle and selling the Subie. My concern was longevity and reliability of the Subaru, thinking it may be at the end of its lifespan.
Glad I found your site, which is making me reconsider. Two questions for you: How much more life do you expect I can get from this car?
Also, I am considering adding a tow package and towing a small uhaul trailer for my move, about 1, miles. Do you have any advice on towing with these cars? However I just do not think towing with it is a great idea, so if that is something you want and need to do in the future which is totally understandable I would consider other options.
Given some issues with later models I would most likely suggest skipping most models, there are some things like oil consumption that could sneak up on you.
Thanks for the reply. Just wondering what you would say is the concern with towing. Transmission damage? Well as far as damage, the AWD system can suffer from traction loss under load, the cars brakes were never designed to tow a load like that and neither was the suspension. They claim that the tunes are too aggressive and run too lean, which means there is not enough fuel for the amount of air going into the engine. This can cause detonation issues that result in connecting rod failure.
As with any car, owners can avoid many issues associated with the FA20 engine entirely by driving it sensibly. But, when the car is inspired by actual rally cars, it makes it a little difficult to keep yourself from wanting to open it up and see what it can do. Despite the well-documented issues associated with the Subaru WRX engines of all generations, they still have a cult following of fans who drive them every single day.
As with any car, proper maintenance and reasonable driving go a long way in keeping a WRX alive. Furthermore, finding a well-maintained car with repair and service records is imperative when buying a car like this if you plan to use it every day. Despite their issues, the Subaru WRX is a fantastic experience of a car to drive. However, owners and potential buyers have to keep in mind that they are a bit more high-maintenance than your run-of-the-mill economy car.
Braden Carlson Updated: Sep 18, What has changed over the years? Which WRX engine is the most reliable? If you are looking for the most reliable Subaru WRX engine then there are really two options that would be good to look at.
The first is the North American 2. This has fewer problems than the 2. If you are looking for the most reliable engine then you would want to source a 2. These have had many revisions over the years and they are known to work very well and put out a lot of power for their size. Subaru engines have always been known to be a bit temperamental, but there is a massive aftermarket support community so if anything does go wrong with an engine they are fairly easy to repair.
There are also companies like Cosworth that build new versions of the Subaru engines and use more advanced engineering to help them last longer than the OEM Subaru options.
How long do Subaru WRX engines last? A Subaru WRX motor really has a wide range when it comes to the average lifespan. There are some WRX motors that have over , miles on them, and there are some that are worn out after just 60, miles. The most important thing to determine how long a WRX motor will last is to determine how well it was taken care of, and how hard it was pushed. There is a very large aftermarket tuning community for the WRX and STI from Subaru and this leads to some engines being pushed too hard and exceeding their limits which can cause premature failures in them.
In general if you find a WRX that has things like a new intercooler, new turbos, or other performance parts you may want to avoid it. There is a chance that the engine has been pushed too hard in its life and that could lead to headaches down the road. Do WRX break down a lot? The Subaru WRX is a car that can be very reliable, or it can be very fragile, ultimately it is dependent on the person that owns it and how they drive it. The motors are considered to be a bit fragile from the factory, but they are able to make a lot of power when they are modified.
This has led to a lot of people modifying the motors and that can cause them to become worn out much faster. If you have a WRX and you push the motor hard then yes they will break down a lot. That is true with a lot of vehicles on the road though. If you keep your motor relatively close to stock and drive the vehicle without pushing it then there should be no major problems with them.
You really only get problems when you are too rough on the vehicle and that causes them to break down. The Subaru sti is by far my favorite vehicle that I have ever owned. It delivers tons of power with it is horsepower turbocharged motor and exceptional handling with it is all wheel drive.
You can choose between 'intelligent, sport and sport sharp' modes. Intelligent lowers the power output of the engine and boosts fuel economy while the sport and sport sharp increase power at the cost of fuel efficiency. This gives you the ability to save some gas while driving in cities then open it up on the highways! The engine blocks are known to fail. Dave answered 3 years ago. I can't remember everything that went wrong with it, but it was always something. They at least do hold their value pretty decently.
Current WRX has been towed twice, once when the MAF sensor went belly-up, other from a maintenance error - you have to take lotsa stuff apart to change the plugs, and the mechanic apparently didn't reinstall a bolt, or tighten the hose clamp at the inlet of the intercooler, and it all came apart on I about 90 miles from Midland, Tx. Towed flatbed 90 miles to Midland, Basin Subaru got it back together in about 45 minutes with parts from a cannibalized car, and I continued.
I suggest not buying a WRX without a 5 year, K extended warranty. Love Subies, but damn Guru1TSWV answered 2 years ago.
My WRX had an issue with the throw out bearing at around 20, miles. The dealer replaced it because not only is 20K very early for a throw out bearing to go bad but another WRX had a similar issue same year at 15, miles. Not only did they replace the bearing but they also replaced the clutch pressure plate and flywheel. Except that I did everything but eat the car in the interest of trying to break it and didn't succeed until someone hit me on the highway at roughly 65MPH.
I stopped and they didn't it was a full sized Chevy extended cab 4X4. He fled the scene and I couldn't drive it due to the left rear being obliterated.
He went up and over the back quarter panel, bent the frame and crimped the metal of the panel over the back driver side door. Subaru was placed 8th out 26 automakers in the US for reliability according to a survey by Consumer Reports. On average we think its reasonable to expect between , and , miles from your Impreza which equates to well over a decade of service.
These vehicles are durable and will last between 13 and 17 years of service before breaking down or needing expensive repairs. Vehicle longevity can vary greatly and ultimately its down to the owner to get the most life from their car. Boy racers who drive in a fast and aggressive manner and fail to keep oil levels topped up can expect to see our projected numbers reduced whilst conservative drivers who practice regular maintenance might even see the K mark.
Although the current trend of automobiles suggests that rusting occurs less in newer vehicles, newer model years of Impreza, , , and , in particular, have been reported to accumulate rust in relatively low mileage. Alternatively, rust-proofing sprays are widely available and are designed to protect your undercarriage and exposed metal parts.
Sprays form a layer to guard against moisture and air and help combat rust due to their anti corrosion properties.
For areas subject to heavy snowfall, such as the Salt Belt States and regions close to the sea, we recommend taking extra precautions to mitigate rust, primarily keeping the vehicle clean.
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