Any Subaru owners?

[RoyJackson]

Iv noted that Subarus tend to lose value faster than most others.

The prices hold very well in PA and even better further north (I don't know about the western states).
You folks in VA and further south don't regularly get those tough winters as folks in the NE do. Winters in my area aren't normally that severe (but every so often we really get walloped!), but snow removal on rural roads in PA can be quite hit or miss.

 

[dynasim]

I have a 2002 subaru outback. I really like it, and will get another when I am finished with this one. They are the perfect car for snowy areas.

My wife severely overheated the engine at ~80k miles, and I am still driving it. The issue is that the overheating has caused a leak of both water and oil. It isn't burning it(no smoke, either black or ethylene glycol).

My question is whether this is related to the head gasket issue. The oil pools in the spark plug hole. I'd like to fix it, but this would be a 2000$ mechanic bill where I live(a college town). If it gets fixed, I will have to do it.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Chris

 

[windy acers]

I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE, ENGINE GAVE UP AT 80,000 MILES DUE TO VALVE PROBLEMS. HALF SHAFT ON THE FRONT END WENT OUT AT 40,000 ALL PARTS ARE OUT RAGESS. THEY SOLD THE WARENTEE TO A PRIVATE COMPANY AND REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR. OVER PRICED PEACE OF JUNK. DO YOU SEE MANY HIGH MILAGE EXAMPLES ON THIS THREAD ?????

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have 900,000 on 3. Approx $2K total in repairs.
larry

 

[Botetourt]

Owned 3 Legacy's. Two Outback AWD's had cooling system issues as previously described. A '98 had a head gasket problem, a '00 had a cracked block. An old FWD version ('93?) ran forever, sold it back to the guy I bought it from when it had 190K on it. I think the Forester is better for the 2.5L cause it's lighter. The '00 Outback I owned had 2 sunroofs=more weight.

The mileage @ problem time was 125K-150K. Other than that, great cars. Good in snow.

 

[Sackett2]

I have a 2002 subaru outback. I really like it, and will get another when I am finished with this one. They are the perfect car for snowy areas.

My wife severely overheated the engine at ~80k miles, and I am still driving it. The issue is that the overheating has caused a leak of both water and oil. It isn't burning it(no smoke, either black or ethylene glycol).

My question is whether this is related to the head gasket issue. The oil pools in the spark plug hole. I'd like to fix it, but this would be a 2000$ mechanic bill where I live(a college town). If it gets fixed, I will have to do it.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Chris

The oil pooling in the spark plug holes are just the valve cover gaskets getting old/dry When you put a new head gasket on, this will go away. SOME of your oil leak could be just the VCG; have you confirmed coolant leakage?

 

[JB4310]

I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE, ENGINE GAVE UP AT 80,000 MILES DUE TO VALVE PROBLEMS. HALF SHAFT ON THE FRONT END WENT OUT AT 40,000 ALL PARTS ARE OUT RAGESS. THEY SOLD THE WARENTEE TO A PRIVATE COMPANY AND REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR. OVER PRICED PEACE OF JUNK. DO YOU SEE MANY HIGH MILAGE EXAMPLES ON THIS THREAD ?????

THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SOMEONE WHO HATES ANYTHING

I appreciate any reply, the pros seem to be more than cons, which is what I'd expect.

But as far as high mileage goes, all the used ones I've seen had 150,000 and up. Some had 250,000+

I call that high milage, especialy compared to the 75,000 this 01 has.

JB

 

[roygage]

THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SOMEONE WHO HATES ANYTHING

I appreciate any reply, the pros seem to be more than cons, which is what I'd expect.

But as far as high mileage goes, all the used ones I've seen had 150,000 and up. Some had 250,000+

I call that high milage, especialy compared to the 75,000 this 01 has.

JB

I hear you. Like the fact it is low mileage and agreed it is a wonderful car but. (-: I too am a tech and repair shop owner and I am getting a little tired of them.

We get mostly higher mileage ones, like all cars they have their Achilles heals, head gaskets and oil leaks being chief offenders as others have already pointed out.

What tires me is the oil leaks, replace cam belts and replace all the cam and crank seals oil pump seal and orings ect thinking all is good to go.

Come back leaking oil, replace VC gaskets, come back head gaskets leaking oil. Just seems when they get 150 k on it they want to leak oil, period.

Had one a few years ago would overheat sporadically. Could never pin down a combustion leak, would be good for 4000 miles then overheat for no apparent reason, check-over, do this and that works great, comes in for service everything is fine, two weeks later bang, overheat and comes in on hook. Finally get to test positive for leaking head gasket, new gaskets, put mirror finish on heads as required.

Could see had been apart before and looked as though the finish was rough so figured that was the cause of problem, finish up, no problems, get in for service about 3 k later, everything fine, two weeks later overheated and on the hook, this time she was cooked.

Cost me some money and frustration, have harbored a grudge since. (-:

But like i said, like your low mileage. As others have said, check out that PO 420, Cats are not cheap. Regards, Roy

 

[SPYDERLK]

I just checked my current one. It has 273K -- not the 250 I said earlier. I had the oil leak fixed around 220. Ill hit 300 by next yr if it keeps going. ... Seems ok. :confused3:
larry

 

[JB4310]

I hear you. Like the fact it is low mileage and agreed it is a wonderful car but. (-: I too am a tech and repair shop owner and I am getting a little tired of them.


Cost me some money and frustration, have harbored a grudge since. (-:

But like i said, like your low mileage. As others have said, check out that PO 420, Cats are not cheap. Regards, Roy

Thanks for the real life experiance.

I've been really dragging my feet on this car, I don't need it right now. But I have been stalking it :laughing: been driving by her house and it's still sitting there.
Was thinking of offering her $3500. but haven't gotten up the nerve yet.

She left me a message today that she had someone coming to look at the car and they sounded serious, she is very nice and I know she woud like me to get the car, so she was giving me a first chance of refusal.
I just got the message a few hours since she left it and I'm worried that she may of sold it. If so i won't be to upset, if she didn't sell it I have a better chance at her taking less for it.

JB.