Thread: suburu outback pros/cons ?

I have one; it’s been the most reliable car I have ever owned it's now got 246,000K's on it and still drives like when it had 40,000K's on it. The only thing I have to get done to it is the exhaust system is leaking at the front where the Y pipe splits off, and I have some clear coat coming of a bad repair job. Is this one Auto or Manual? Check all rubber boots on drive shafts as they do go.

Adobe.

thnaks Adobe
sorry too it is a 97 gen2 limited
check gen chat about the thread as well , could be a potential scam

My brother had the 2004 Outback wagon,pretty good except he had troubles with the Intake manifold bolts. It took the dealer few weeks to fix it up..

They are a great car I now own a Subaru RS Turbo Liberty Wagon 10 years older n Im still super Impressed a Good place to Ask is for Pros n cons is

I don't own one but i heard that there were some headgasket problems with subaru's built around that time.

I would definitely get the car inspected Ive used "state roads" before and they've saved me from a couple of lemons but there not in WA. Im sure a good inspection will find enough wrong with almost any 2nd hand car for you to be able to bargain the price of the inspection off the car's price. I think they also do all the REVS checks for you aswell.

Subaru's can get expensive to fix, I had a L series that needed a new cat which would have cost more than the car

Originally Posted by Gerbertron

I don't own one but i heard that there were some headgasket problems with subaru's built around that time.


Subaru's can get expensive to fix, I had a L series that needed a new cat which would have cost more than the car

I have heard similar about Subarus, great reliable cars but regardless of what people tell you, just remember its over 200000Km old and its entering troubled times.

No matted who built it, the alternator as an example can only last so long, its good times are ending and unexpected problems may start to appear.

Not trying to put you off it, just opening your eyes, if its cheap enough, it should cover the cost of most faults but remember factory parts are seriously expensive for them.

There are many aftermarket non factory day to day parts available such as brake rotors, pads, thermos, belts etc etc. Exhaust systems can be built from scratch or repaired with new sections for less than the price of a factory item.

Its once you need specialized parts like driveline components that things get expensive, in those cases places like Subaru forums and wreckers can save you a fortune.

Funny thing with the price of factory cats, i get many calls from people asking for factory cats (and insisting that they must be factory items).

Whats wrong with a aftermarket universal cat? A exhaust fitter just needs to cut the old one out and weld the new one in, they are less than $100 new.

thanks all
I am going to check the car out tommorow the guy that owns it has done 200000k service which is new timing belts , guides etc , he has also put a new alternator , battery and radiator in it in the last 3 months , he has all receipts . He wanted $7800 , but we worked out a deal that if i do buy it I would only pay $6500 . He has had it on the market for 4 weeks , and has 4 other cars , he is an old age pensioner and cannot afford all the rego anymore , the only other bites he has had were time wasters and two scammers wanting the whole paypal shit
If the car is as good as he makes it out to be and all the receipts are good , I think it is pretty good value for the type of car and the dollars paid
$6500 accordingto redbook is pretty good as well , what do you guys think good value for money ?

Dont mean to sound like a prick, but have a good look at it, point at a few scratches and start him at less than 6K.

Then negotiate from there, try to get him lower if you can. Maybe meet half way?

He sounds desperate to sell, no real takers, your offer is close to what he wants.

I just bought a car that was advertised for $16800 for $12800, you gotta bend them over when buying.

yeah I am pretty good like that mate lol
once i check out the car if there is anything i will certainly hit him for lower than the 6500
just the type of second car we are after , the A30 is no good where we live now , something i can throw a bale of lucerne in the back is good
I agreed to the 6500 if the car was as promised , I am positive i can be find a few niggly things which will cost the world to get right lmao

This is one of the best publications about at the moment it started in nz but works well here

I am on my 3rd SUBARU and there is about a dozen within my family.

They are very well built cars - I sold my tough little '90 L series after driving it for 8 years in some very rough country - most of the local roads being gravel. Nothing ever failed with the L series and I put 200,000km on it after buying it with 110,000 already done....engine never out/repaired except for a timing belt and a new exhaust system at an expensive ~ $1200 - the new catalytic converter quickly shit itself and fell to bits internally blocking the gas flow almost completely. I replaced the converter with a straight-through Y-section and the L series went harder than ever and also increased the fuel economy. There are no vehicle checks in South Australia but a smart policeyman could/can defect the vehicle for no converter...but only if you get caught !

Some L series still on the road have done 400,000+km and never had the engine out.

I now use a Gen III RX Sedan which at 9 years old has still only done 95,000km and never had a failure of anything - totally reliable. The 100,000km service will hurt a bit at around $1200 but this gives me new timing belts, fluids etc.

My brother has a Gen III Outback, mum's got a Forester and these cars are equally reliable and trouble free. I reckon they are bloody good cars !

thanks guys
he did say something about replacing the head gasket after an issue about 4 years ago . He also had an oil leak , but it was a plastic guard or something that had worn out which he has since had replaced . It is the auto
like I say hopefully the vehicle is as good as it sounds , I would rather have this than a hyundai that has doen hlaf the klicks that and the type of vehicle suits the need totally

Originally Posted by ozchips

am looking at purchasing a 99 model , 200000k on it , but fully serviced
anything I should look out for in these ? I have generally heard good things , but if anyone has one I would like to hear the goodand the bad

Had plenty of them..... and also friends, brilliant all round vehicle
(space vs comfort vs ability off road or snow vs cheap to run on long distances vs appointments).... In my mind, they still haven't built a car that can compare to it.

Manuals have a weak clutch if you abuse it or load it up in thick sand driving.

Thats it