Subaru questions?

[PNW_Steve]

Definitely not bus related unless I tow it behind my bus :biggrin:

I am poking around looking for an affordable car and found the Subaru in the linked ad.

I know we have some Subaru folks on here and wonder what you think of that year and model and what you think of the price?

https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/west-richland-2005-subaru-legacy/6991991192.html

Thanks.

 

[somewhereinusa]

Salvage title, is that a problem where you are? Some states don't ever allow a title it it ever had a salvage title. I would also wonder why it has a salvage title.

 

[gastone]

5k for a 15yo salvaged Subie... Way too high, even if it wasn't a salvage title. Head gasket issues is always the biggest problem with a Subaru.

https://www.licmotorsports.com/blog/the-dreaded-subaru-head-gasket-issue

 

[PNW_Steve]

Here is another one...

https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/hermiston-2005-subaru-outback-25i/6981483426.html

 

[EastCoastCB]

Definitely not bus related unless I tow it behind my bus :biggrin:

I am poking around looking for an affordable car and found the Subaru in the linked ad.

I know we have some Subaru folks on here and wonder what you think of that year and model and what you think of the price?

https://kpr.craigslist.org/cto/d/west-richland-2005-subaru-legacy/6991991192.html

Thanks.

Head gaskets every so often are the main reason to avoid EJ Subarus.

 

[o1marc]

I'm surprised ECCB hasn't been here yet to tell you what a POS they are. He just unloaded one with issues.

 

[peteg59]

Head gaskets on Scooby-Do's are an issue on the north east coast as well.
Honda makes a fairly dependable drivetrain, but their bodies don't last here in the rust belt.

Any car 10 years and older with a salvage title is worth half of book value around here, for what its worth. Sometimes the best deals are newer vehicles with salvage titles.
It helps bigtime to know why a particular vehicle has had a salvage title assigned.
If it was a Texas flood car, I'd turn and run, but if it was a recovered theft or sideswiped in accident, it might be worth considering.
Good luck in your search...

 

[PNW_Steve]

Salvage title is not a problem here in WA. The title is "branded" so that any future purchasers are aware of its history..

If I can inspect and test drive it I am OK. It will always be worth less and harder to sell than a comperable car with clear title.

I am OK with that.

I have heard some negative here about Subaru. That is why I am ask here. I have family with Subaru's and they have apparently drank the Subi coolaid. "Subaru is the best car you can buy"

I need a little reality.

If I can negotiate a reasonable price my question becomes: what can I expect as far as reliability. Are timing belts and head gaskets a problem? If so, can it be remedied reasonably?

Thanks Everyone.

 

[EastCoastCB]

Salvage title is not a problem here in WA. The title is "branded" so that any future purchasers are aware of its history..

If I can inspect and test drive it I am OK. It will always be worth less and harder to sell than a comperable car with clear title.

I am OK with that.

I have heard some negative here about Subaru. That is why I am ask here. I have family with Subaru's and they have apparently drank the Subi coolaid. "Subaru is the best car you can buy"

I need a little reality.

If I can negotiate a reasonable price my question becomes: what can I expect as far as reliability. Are timing belts and head gaskets a problem? If so, can it be remedied reasonably?

Thanks Everyone.

HEad gaskets are a very common failure on all EJ subarus. If you own one you WILL end up doing them at some point and they're not fun. Plan on head gaskets every 100k. Sometimes less sometimes more.
Its a $2500 job if you aren't doing the work.

I'd go for a Toyota or Honda product.

 

[PNW_Steve]

HEad gaskets are a very common failure on all EJ subarus. If you own one you WILL end up doing them at some point and they're not fun. Plan on head gaskets every 100k. Sometimes less sometimes more.
Its a $2500 job if you aren't doing the work.

I'd go for a Toyota or Honda product.

That is the kind of real straight up info I needed. Subaru is off the list.

Thanks again.

PS: I missed a bargain on a 2009 Camry that went at auction in Walla Walla. Now I am really kicking myself for not bidding in time. IIRC: it had a bit under 100k miles. Looked really clean. Went for under $2000.

 

[Drew Bru]

HEad gaskets are a very common failure on all EJ subarus. If you own one you WILL end up doing them at some point and they're not fun. Plan on head gaskets every 100k. Sometimes less sometimes more.
Its a $2500 job if you aren't doing the work.

I'd go for a Toyota or Honda product.

100% agree. I drank the Subi koolaid once. Once.

 

[o1marc]

HEad gaskets are a very common failure on all EJ subarus. If you own one you WILL end up doing them at some point and they're not fun. Plan on head gaskets every 100k. Sometimes less sometimes more.
Its a $2500 job if you aren't doing the work.

I'd go for a Toyota or Honda product.

Wow, no recommendation for Mazda?

 

[EastCoastCB]

Wow, no recommendation for Mazda?

The only Mazda I've ever liked is the miata and I don't think he's looking for a 2000lb mini roadster type car.
But the miata is an amazing lil sports car for us regular folks who don't want to drive something expensive or exotic.
Ordering a really sweet hand fabricated aluminum radiator for ours tonight. I beef up the cooling systems of anything I plan to keep!

I drove our cousin's 14 impreza last night and man I don't miss ours at all. The seats, the steering, just nothing feels good. Especially compared to the lil miata we got.

 

[o1marc]

The only Mazda I've ever liked is the miata and I don't think he's looking for a 2000lb mini roadster type car.
But the miata is an amazing lil sports car for us regular folks who don't want to drive something expensive or exotic.
Ordering a really sweet hand fabricated aluminum radiator for ours tonight. I beef up the cooling systems of anything I plan to keep!

I drove our cousin's 14 impreza last night and man I don't miss ours at all. The seats, the steering, just nothing feels good. Especially compared to the lil miata we got.

Mazda makes the same cars as everyine else.

 

[trentet]

2003 and newer EJ's don't have the same head gasket prob

I have a 2003 Legacy outback with 350K miles and no head gasket issues.. they switched to the WRX head gasket by 03 and that alleviated the problem.. They aren't for everyone though so if you are looking for a bargain car look elsewhere..

 

[EastCoastCB]

Mazda makes the same cars as everyine else.

IDK, I'm not a fan. I've driven my buddy's 09 mazda 3 and hate it.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I have a 2003 Legacy outback with 350K miles and no head gasket issues.. they switched to the WRX head gasket by 03 and that alleviated the problem.. They aren't for everyone though so if you are looking for a bargain car look elsewhere..

350k on the original HG is a miracle, not the norm.
03 may have lessened the HG issue but it persisted up till they changed to the FB in 2010/11. I think they changed the HG to a metal sandwich type in 1999, not 2003.
The FB has HG's that hold but the engines are cheaply built with poor castings and they DRINK oil.

 

[trentet]

I said they switched "by" 03 not "in" 03.. either way they have quirks and are an oddity that aren't for everyone.. I can't say what other folks experiences are but I grew up on Subi's and know how to maintain them and keep them running. I've heard the HB has been eating oil but I've heard lots of new cars are eating oil due to the low friction requirements for fuel economy. 0W20 synthetic oil tends leak past seals.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I said they switched "by" 03 not "in" 03.. either way they have quirks and are an oddity that aren't for everyone.. I can't say what other folks experiences are but I grew up on Subi's and know how to maintain them and keep them running. I've heard the HB has been eating oil but I've heard lots of new cars are eating oil due to the low friction requirements for fuel economy. 0W20 synthetic oil tends leak past seals.

We had an 80's GL. Nothing I've driven built by fuji in the last 2 decades is built quite that rugged. That GL DID go 300k+ before we sold it.
Sadly my 2012 and 2013 were the biggest piles of junk I've ever owned and that's saying something- I own two stroke machines made in the former Soviet Bloc that are better built.
I know guys running 0w oil in toyota and chevy trucks with v-8s that don't have oil consumption issues.
Subaru are relying on nostalgia for the good old days and puppy dogs to sell cars now.

 

[o1marc]

Ad talks about a beautiful car with absolutely no issues. Makes you wonder why it has a salvage title with no metion of why. Glitch in the reply, no phone number.

Where I live, if you have a slavage title, in order to get it registered again, it must be repaired. All parts used to repair it have to have a BOS and the VIN # of the vehicle it came off of. This avoids the stripping of vehicles and buying the shell back from auction and putting the $300K Ferrari back together for $3k. Once repaired and inspected by a state agency, they will issue you a good title.