We have several new Subaru buyers in the Doctors parking lot and my Sister in Law just bought one.
I'm a little cool towards them... several friends had bought them new early to mid 90's... everyone either had head gasket problems or transmission... the two transmissions were CVT 4wd Justy... I think they were called.
The Justy was a tiny three cylinder car with one of the first CVTç—´. Surprised you know two people who own them! They had a one liter engine and the CVT was manufactured by Van Doorne in the Netherlands. They could only sell 500 a month because thatç—´ all the steel bands Van Doorne could supply.
You have to treat the head gaskets in four cylinder Outbackç—´ as maintenance items (like Toyota truck frames :laughing

. That was the first Subaru that sold in big numbers (because AWD wagon) and people treated them like rented mules. The typical Subaru owner at the time expected them to go 300,000 miles without maintenance. This led to the joke, å…¸he only thing thatç—´ cheap about Subarus is the owner.
We changed our head gaskets in the ?7 at 140,000 miles as a precaution, and the next owner (SIL) changed them again at 245,000. Because there are two heads itç—´ more expensive than an inline four. Like many fours they also need timing belt replacement at 112,000 miles. Ironically the turbo fours are beefed up and have very few head gasket problems.
Transmissions on the 4EAT and 5EAT used from the early 90痴 to 2014 were JATCO痴 and had few problems. By 2015 all their automatics were CVT. Subaru is the only major manufacturer who doesn稚 have a class action lawsuit over CVT痴: but they have two others on the head gaskets, and excessive oil consumption. They extended the head gasket warranty to 100,000 miles and run an oil consumption test for free, and if the engine uses too much oil it is replaced for free.
We stopped buying the 4cyl Outbacks and bought the 2006 3.0R new. It has their [very sophisticated] VTD drive system, 5 speed auto, and timing chains instead of belts. Currently has 226,000 miles.
In terms of this thread and how Subarus are used, the Bangor Maine Police Department posted this picture, not as a caution, but to congratulate the owner for solving the problem, å…¸he Maine Way. Itç—´ parked in front of a WalMart. May have posted previously.
And another “Optical illusion.” This boat is 3,500 lbs with a full fuel tank. The tow vehicle is a 2014 Outback with the 3.6L, 256hp H6.