OT: Any Subaru owners read the pack?

[CochiseCowbell]

I wasn't looking for one. I'm actually looking for another truck. But, a neighbor is selling his 2001 Outback for a damn good price in my opinion. He just bought himself a brand new 2018 one, & is only selling it because his wife is making him. This Aeronautical Engineer has taken extreme care of that badboy.

My thoughts are that this will buy me some time to get the truck I want rather than settling for one I can get.

 

[expireddog]

I just got a Subaru Forester as a company vehicle in April. Already put 16,000 miles on it as my territory is most of Mississippi.

Had an Altima before the forester and prefer the Altima. The forester reminds me of a geo tracker. I pretty much have to fill up every other day as it only gets about 400 miles to a full tank.

Not gonna complain too much cause it’s free.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

I had a Suburu Legacy and I loved it. You cannot kill them.

 

[jwbigcreek]

Had a 14 Forester & got an 18 Forester now. Safe, reliable, good fuel economy. And I can throw deer in the back. Got about 37 MPG on first trip to MS.

 

[WrapItDog]

The late 90s early 2000s Subaru 2.5 engine had head gasket problems.

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html

3. How much should I expect this to cost?
Depending on the year and engine configuration of your 2.5 Subaru, the base head gasket job for parts (including tax and labor) costs between $1600 and $1700. Adding the timing belt, idlers, and tensioners, seals and water pump adds about $700. The typical total cost for an automatic transmission car runs between $2500 and $2700. The typical head gasket job on a manual transmission car including a clutch runs $2700-$3100. This isn’t to say yours could be a little more or a little less, but these are the numbers we are used to seeing.

https://independentmotors.net/subaru-head-gasket-replacement/

 

[mcdawg22]

Wife has a 16 Outback. It is great. Gets great gas mileage rides nice and is supposed to last forever.

 

[Hellsyeah]

I hope your Altima was a later model. My 07 four cylinder only gets about 400 miles to a tank. That was the first year for the continuous variable shift transmission. I’ve already had one free transmission due to a factory recall and this replacement one is about to crap out too. I only drive about 30 miles per day now, all highway. I always thought highly of Nissan before I actually owned one

 

[OnlyDawgInMinn]

Mother and father-in-law each have Subaru’s. One’s and outback and the other is a forester... both pre ‘08. They bought theirs strictly for the winter here in the north. They have been pleasantly surprised at the reliability and utility of both of their vehicles. My MIL had a steering issue from hitting a snow-hidden pothole, but it was an easy and cheap fix... under 400 bucks.

I think the main problem you may run into is possibly finding someone experienced with these vehicles from a mechanical standpoint. From what I understand, the reliability is unmatched, but they can be pretty time consuming and labor intensive to repair if needed. NBD if you have a dealership somewhat close by.

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

I have a feeling that the number of Subaru owners that read Sixpack would strongly correlate with the number of lesbians that read Sixpack.

 

[Awwhellnaw]

Thank you... thought I was the only one thinking this...

 

[o_Native Son]

Came very close to it - it made it down to our final two (the Forester, our height pushed it in front of the Outback) after a year of research and test driving a dozen similar ones, but we went with the Nissan Rogue. Haven't regretted it after four years.

 

[RocketDawg]

I have a '15 Forester. There are quite a few of them, along with Outbacks, here. The only issue I have with it is that it's a bit underpowered ... the turbo version is better ... but I'm not racing it and it's not a sports car. I drive it every day. So far the dealer seems to be excellent for maintenance, but I've never needed a repair.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

I have a feeling that the number of Subaru owners that read Sixpack would strongly correlate with the number of lesbians that read Sixpack.

I’m sorry that you can’t appreciate automotive technology and cutting edge engineering without the douche nozzle Lexus or Infiniti Badge.
A Suburu is the Japanese equivalent of an Audi. Both rally-inspired with long histories of racing dominance.

The Suburu appearance tends to be a little dated because they focus on engineering. When everyone else is being pretentious and flashy the dependable Suburu usually wins the day with Safety, practicality and dependability.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

I had a Suburu Legacy and I loved it. You cannot kill them.

This is something I've learned recently, through a small amount of research the past two days.

Every Subaru owner I've encountered, even before this, has been a die hard one, like the seller. He's meticulous as hell about each and every issue I may encounter. As I test drove it, he opened & thoroughly explained his portfolio of plans he had for it in the "future" (including his 8 page Carfax report) & he's 240K+ miles into it.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

Mrs Socks had a 15' Outback... It was badass. Traded in for something European as she ends up driving around execs when they are in town and was getting a little self conscious about the snobbs getting in the family wagon... Unfortunately I have to have a truck for work, otherwise I would have kept it for myself. It's the dollar for dollar best vehicle we have ever owned.

 

[WrapItDog]

As I test drove it, he opened & thoroughly explained his portfolio of plans he had for it in the "future" (including his 8 page Carfax report) & he's 240K+ miles into it.

If it's the 2.5 engine has the head gasket ever been replaced and did he use cooling system conditioner as recommended by Subaru?

 

[CochiseCowbell]

WrapIt, I'll definitely look into this & ask before I buy. Thanks for the info.

 

[Requiem For A Dawg]

I’m sorry that you can’t appreciate automotive technology and cutting edge engineering without the douche nozzle Lexus or Infiniti Badge.
A Suburu is the Japanese equivalent of an Audi. Both rally-inspired with long histories of racing dominance.

The Suburu appearance tends to be a little dated because they focus on engineering. When everyone else is being pretentious and flashy the dependable Suburu usually wins the day with Safety, practicality and dependability.

Sorry you were triggered by my post. It’s not something I made up though. Just google lesbian and Subaru. Plenty of articles will show up.

 

[Fx4Dawg]

View attachment 10854 Sold my FX4 F150 and went to Outback for something more conducive for carrying kids around. It also supports my mountain biking and pond hopping fishing addictions quite well. Have had no issues with it and the BFG AT’s take me wherever I want to go.

 

[Digging dog]

View attachment 10854 Sold my FX4 F150 and went to Outback for something more conducive for carrying kids around. It also supports my mountain biking and pond hopping fishing addictions quite well. Have had no issues with it and the BFG AT’s take me wherever I want to go.

Might want to update your user name. May I suggest OutbackDawg****

 

[HumpDawgy]

I love Subarus and I love women.....so I guess that makes me a lesbian (side note....can a dude be a lesbian?)

 

[mstateglfr]

I wasn't looking for one. I'm actually looking for another truck. But, a neighbor is selling his 2001 Outback for a damn good price in my opinion. He just bought himself a brand new 2018 one, & is only selling it because his wife is making him. This Aeronautical Engineer has taken extreme care of that badboy.

My thoughts are that this will buy me some time to get the truck I want rather than settling for one I can get.

We have an '18 Outback and it is easily the best 2nd(smaller) car for our family that I could hope for. We already have a Honda Pilot with 3 rows for hauling kids beyond our 2 when needed and also for bigger road trips.
The smaller vehicle needed to be flexible in use and nice but not too nice since as a family we are hard on cars. It was between a new Honda CRV or an Outback. The Outback costs more, but i dont regret buying it at all.

The quality rubber mats in the back are perfect for sports gear, dogs, groceries, etc. Seats fold down really easily too.
The engine is plenty strong for what we need. I have yet to find myself on an on-ramp wishing for more power to get up to speed.
The MPG is perfectly fine, but I admittedly have low expectations/care on this. I dont buy cars based on advertised differences in fuel economy.
The leather/leatherette upholstery is comfortable and quality.
The controls are all laid out well for both driver and passenger to use and the buttons are solid instead of cheap feeling.
I can hitch carry 4 bikes, roof a couple double kayaks, 4 people, and the necessary weekend camping gear. Thats nuts considering the car's size.


This doesnt even begin to address the symmetrical AWD, balanced boxer engine, excellent crumple zones and crash ratings, strong resale, and more.



Obviously a lot is different between an '01 and an '18 so some of the above doesnt apply. With that said, I am hardly a brand loyal consumer and actually find such consumer behavior to be comical, but damn if my wife and I arent now brand loyal to Subaru. I could easily see us having 2 whenever our other vehicle needs to be replaced.
I would get an '01 in good shape as a temporary car for sure.

 

[mstateglfr]

Sorry you were triggered by my post. It’s not something I made up though. Just google lesbian and Subaru. Plenty of articles will show up.

For sure- Subaru target advertised to the Lesbian demographic back in the 90s. It was subtle with vanity plates in ads showing something about Xenia Princess and referencing Provincetown. Then Martina Novetelova was a spokeswoman for the brand a decade+ ago back in the early aughts.


It is kinda funny how something small from 15-25 years ago has stuck. Thats some serious advertising power- it wasnt even a huge campaign back a quarter centruy ago, yet its very much remembered and associated still.

 

[ShrubDog]

The Ascent is going to be really nice. Can’t wait.

 

[AROB44]

Looked at one but found the seats extremely uncomfortable. Was a deal killer for me.

 

[woozman]

Came very close to it - it made it down to our final two (the Forester, our height pushed it in front of the Outback) after a year of research and test driving a dozen similar ones, but we went with the Nissan Rogue. Haven't regretted it after four years.

Odd - I did the opposite. Had driven an Altima for years and loved it so in 2008 when I needed a larger vehicle due to the addition of kids to the fam, I drove a Rogue first since it comes on the Altima frame. I'm 6'4" and when I got in the Rogue for the test drive, I actually asked the salesman if there was something blocking the seat because it wouldn't move far enough back for my legs to comfortably fit in the driver's seat.

I ended up buying a Forrester because it had much more legroom than the Rogue. I just bought my second Forrester this year and still love the brand. I did upgrade to the turbo, though.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

I had an 03. Wife drove it for 200K and then we gave it to her niece, who drove it through four years of college and then proceeded to take it cross country from MS to Washington without incident. She got sideswiped hard last year and the car did exactly what it is supposed to, which is protect her. The full time 4wd will convince you the first time you drive in the rain to never own anything (or at least in regards to your wife or kids) without it again. Here's some stuff:

1. the auto transmission is pretty tough in that car, simple 4 speed. There's a screw on filter and your guy has probably changed the fluid, if not, I'd do that.
2. The gas lines, where rubber meets steel, eventually loosen up on that car. Known issue. If you smell a little gas, especially in the winter, just follow them to the junctions and tighten them up.
3. There's a sensor that will make you think the catalytic converter is out, but it isn't, it's that 20$ sensor. YouTube will be your friend on that.
4. These cars are slow. You need to be able to live with that, and the fact that it will kick down to 3rd on pretty much every decent size hill.
5. The head gasket issue, if you have 200K on it already, probably isn't an issue. Just take care of the cooling system (use the factory coolant when you change it!) and you'll be fine.
6. The fact that I owned that thing for 10 years and these are all the issues I can remember should tell you something.

 

[jb1020]

I replaced the head gasket on a 2000 a few years ago

WrapIt, I'll definitely look into this & ask before I buy. Thanks for the info.

Its pretty simple with a little knowledge. I wouldn't consider myself a gear head either. Lots of good info online.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1.....0.0..0.0.0.......0......gws-wiz.S_B0TzDJ7Hw

 

[Joe Schmedlap]

So gay, but one of my daughters drives one. It's a safe car that gets good mileage.

 

[Indognito]

I've got a 2011 I bought new and it's been really good. No oil consumption, decent gas mileage, etc. It's a Forester XT so the 2.5 liter with a turbo gives it enough torque to feel peppy.

Your neighbor has had his long enough to work out any bugs if any so you should get a known quantity. The all wheel drive works well in both wet or snow.

 

[patdyeisstilldrunk2]

I have had 4: 1 Forester (2010) and 3 Outbacks (2013, 2016, and 2018). I wouldn’t drive anything else.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

Sorry you were triggered by my post. It’s not something I made up though. Just google lesbian and Subaru. Plenty of articles will show up.

Not triggered, couldn’t let a comment like that go unanswered. One thing about a Subaru owner. They tend to be more educated, more affluent and more cerebral than the average consumer.

 

[RocketDawg]

I've got a 2011 I bought new and it's been really good. No oil consumption, decent gas mileage, etc. It's a Forester XT so the 2.5 liter with a turbo gives it enough torque to feel peppy.

Your neighbor has had his long enough to work out any bugs if any so you should get a known quantity. The all wheel drive works well in both wet or snow.

Since '14, maybe '15, the normally aspirated engine is a 2.5, and the turbo is 2.0. Even with the smaller engine, the turbo is around 260 hp as I recall. My 2.5 is just a little sluggish from a standing start. It's actually peppier if you don't floor it. That might be the fault of the continuously variable transmission.

 

[RocketDawg]

Not triggered, couldn’t let a comment like that go unanswered. One thing about a Subaru owner. They tend to be more educated, more affluent and more cerebral than the average consumer.

Dunno ... I have the Forester, but also have a Corvette.

 

[RocketDawg]

Some of the 2.5 engines now have oil consumption problems. On the Forester forum, there are quite a few reports of having to have the short block replaced after having an oil consumption test done. Of course, on a car forum, you read more about problems people are having rather than the good experiences. Mine doesn't use a noticeable amount between changes.

 

[catvet]

Tested the Ascent a couple of weekends ago and really liked it. They will sell thousands of these. It's a larger version of the Outback with a 260 HP turbo engine with more torque than anything else in the class.

 

[CochiseCowbell]

Update: I bought it this afternoon. I guess I'm now a Lesbian...& I'm ok with that. The only Peter I like is my own. Also, I thought Xena's blonde sidekick was hot (& if I'm being honest I thought Xena was as well).

It's an H6-3.0 L. L. Bean. So, I don't think I'll have to worry about the head gasket problem.

I only mention the L. L. Bean part because I think it's funny. The college vehicle I had for 12+ years, bought shortly after HS graduation, was a '96 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer (I had no idea who EB was). It was also purchased from a personal seller. The colors of both vehicles are also the same: Hunter green with tan trim & interior. It's like I just got my old car's younger, shorter cousin.

This seller highly recommended his mechanic at a reputable local shop. He showed me how the OBDII works with the TORQUE app on his phone to override a non-issue warning light that may occasionally turn on; he hasn't seen it in 8k miles. He's a neighbor, told me to call him should anything come up, & practically begged me to take good care of her.

I just wanted to thank all of y'all for your recommendations, concerns, knowledge, reviews, experience, humor, etc. This thread is why Sixpack stands head & shoulders above all other boards.

Long post. My apologies. I become quite verbose when drinking.

****. Almost forgot. The first 2 things I did when I got home with it were:

1) Slap an M over S magnet on the back under AWD, and

2) Put in an old Jerry Clower cassette to see if the tape deck actually worked; it does.

My 17 yr old vehicle that I've had for a mere 4 hours, is already more "Mississippi Made" than OM's last 5 crootin' classes.

 

[JoMo MoJo]

You will grow to love that boxer engine. Opposing cylinder banks make for very good forward visibility and a quiet, smooth-running engine. Most small aircraft engines are boxers.

Keep us up to date on how well you like it.

 

[Go Budaw]

I’m sorry that you can’t appreciate automotive technology and cutting edge engineering without the douche nozzle Lexus or Infiniti Badge.

So anyone who drives a Lexus or Infiniti is a “douche nozzle”? Kinda BS, both are great brands, Lexus more so based on quality and reliability. And the market for those two is not even close to the same as Subaru. Most in those markets just want a smooth, quiet ride with a lot of creature comforts, whereas the Subaru crowd is looking less for luxury and more for performance. I love Subaru’s BTW, and would have a WRX or BRZ as a weekend joyride if I didn’t have other financial priorities or time constraints.