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High Mileage Outback-Concerns
losthearts
Member Posts: 6
in Subaru
Hi, I'm so glad I stumbled upon this forum. I'm a long time Subaru fan and only strayed once from the brand, to my deep regret. 
Which leads me to asking for some advice. Please excuse any dumb posting errors as this is my first post on this forum.
My previous Subarus were Impreza sedans & were excellent cars. However, we are moving to a more hilly area and are considering buying a Legacy Outback as we need the extra cargo space.
Our budget, however, is not very flexible in that soon we will be applying for a mortgage so a car loan is out for now. This means we must look for Outbacks which have somewhat high mileage; i.e., 120,000 plus. On my Imprezas, this would not be a concern as they just kept going and going....
Right now with our budget at $4000 - $7000 for an Outback, I was wondering if mileage over 100,000 should be a concern if the vehicle appears to have been decently cared for. Most of these miles appear to be highway. There are several prospects (I've checked their CarFax which can at least provide a partial view of the history) but am put off a bit by the higher mileage bracket we are forced into.
I know how well Subarus perform, esp. in snow, mud etc. Really wouldn't consider anything else.
So I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on higher mileage Outbacks. In the price range, we are looking at the years 1997 - 2000, both at dealers and private sellers..
Thanks in advance and enjoy the weekend!
Which leads me to asking for some advice. Please excuse any dumb posting errors as this is my first post on this forum.My previous Subarus were Impreza sedans & were excellent cars. However, we are moving to a more hilly area and are considering buying a Legacy Outback as we need the extra cargo space.
Our budget, however, is not very flexible in that soon we will be applying for a mortgage so a car loan is out for now. This means we must look for Outbacks which have somewhat high mileage; i.e., 120,000 plus. On my Imprezas, this would not be a concern as they just kept going and going....
Right now with our budget at $4000 - $7000 for an Outback, I was wondering if mileage over 100,000 should be a concern if the vehicle appears to have been decently cared for. Most of these miles appear to be highway. There are several prospects (I've checked their CarFax which can at least provide a partial view of the history) but am put off a bit by the higher mileage bracket we are forced into.
I know how well Subarus perform, esp. in snow, mud etc. Really wouldn't consider anything else.
So I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on higher mileage Outbacks. In the price range, we are looking at the years 1997 - 2000, both at dealers and private sellers..
Thanks in advance and enjoy the weekend!
0
Comments
i'm driving my new to me 1991 subaru legacy wagon fwd LS 145,000 miles on her to mexico and everywhere inbetween .my questions are what spare parts should i carry with me ? sensors, starters ,alt, injectors? i love this car it drives awesome but a bit worried about reliability ? preveious owners did a lot of work . any tips or helpful tid bits i should know about 1991 subaru legacy cars in general? thanx ......Shauna
Honestly? To go to deserted parts of Mexico I'm not sure I'd trust any 1991 model with high miles.
Make sure your spare tire is in good order, as the roads are pretty bad.
Bob
-mike
I would carry a few feet of spare hose of various size (fuel line, heater, vacuum), some hose clamps, a spare set of radiator hoses, a couple gallons of coolant, water, spark plugs, plug wires, set of drive belts, a couple wheel bearings, bearing grease, rags, engine oil, ATF (or gear oil, if a manual transmission), gear oil for differential(s), baling wire, complete set of tools, two full size spare tires, penetrating lubricant spray, filters (oil and air), maybe some JB Weld, repair manual (in Spanish if you will not be doing all repairs!).... Are you planning on taking anything else with you on this trip?
Really, you just have to cover the most probable scenarios and have with you a plan "B" and "C" in the event one or more improbable scenarios crop up. The best way to prepare is to be familiar with the vehicle, and I mean intimately familiar.
-Wes-
Bad news first. My concern would be leaky head gaskets. That affects the model year range you mention. If the engine has survived 120k miles, though, it would have happened by now. Just make sure you're not buying one that just leaked and was patched up. Have a mechanic inspect for signs of oil/coolant leaks and conduct pressure tests in the cylinders.
Good news. A problem should be faily obvious. Turn off the radio and open the windows on a test drive and listen for any driveline noise. Wheel bearings will be noisy, same with differentials. It should not be hard to trace a problem.
Good luck. I've seen Subarus for sale with 247k miles, but I'm sure those were cared for properly so buying used makes it tougher.
In addition to the head gasket issue, which is definitely the most critical one to avoid, I have seen quite a few reports of transmission seal problems in, especially, the 1999 model year. The symptom of this is a delay in engagement when trying to put the car from park to a forward gear (D,3,2,L). If this happens, it is an early warning sign that things are going to get worse and a transmission replacement is not long in coming. These engines also have sensitive valve cover gaskets and camshaft gaskets.
Generally, well maintained and replaced gaskets (or no current leaks), and I would trust my family to a used Outback. I had 220,000 on my '96 when it was killed last winter and purchased it at 83K (from, I found, a series of gas-n-go owners).
Oh, and in regard to head gasket leaks, this is an issue for the 2.5L engines. 2.2L was still available on the Outback for model year 1996, in case you look at those as well. The main distinguishing feature between 1996 and 1997 models is the lack of a fake hood scoop on the 1996, making for a less sporty but more elegant look.
There is a 1999 Legacy L Outback at a dealers with under 70,000 miles. Of course it costs more but would still be affordable, but at the upper limit of our budget. I'm going to have someone check it out first before we even go to look at it.
After surviving a 1999 Ford Minivan with (unknown to me) HUGE problems (didn't do my research; that model was junk to begin with and seems to have come off the line with cheap transmissions) I'm going back to Subarus. My little 80 something GL kept going until it literally fell apart around the engine. On the other hand, my minivan developed a sudden transmission failure at 92,000 miles and got so hot the parts literally melted. I later learned that the trans we put in afterward was the 3rd one.
Many thanks for the excellent advice!
Sharon
1999 Legacy L Outback
That's incorrect, it's either a Legacy L or a Legacy Outback.
The Outback will be obvious: hood scoop, two tone, etc. It will have a 2.5l engine and alloy wheels, too.
The Legacy L had a 2.2l back then, I believe they only standardized on the 2.5l for MY2000.
If it's a 2.2l that could be a nice find - the EJ22 had far fewer head gasket issues, and was a very realible engine overall. Go check it out!
Sharon
We are looking to move to the Roanoke VA area and I've no doubt a Subaru is one of the best choices for those hilly curves.
So glad I found this thread!
And stick around, too, if you do have problems that are folks here that are pretty good about narrowing it down, often guessing the exact problem.
I've been offered a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited. One Owner. Well maintained. 77,000 miles which I guess is considered low for the age. The price is 7395.00 from a small 2nd had dealer who is a friend. Says he would have put the car on the lot for 8500.00 and has already had calls on it. I ran a carfax to confirm what is stated above. Car looks brand new inside and out. I am just wondering about reliability. Last Subaru I owned was an 88 GL Sedan which I loved except for the Y pipe and the rust! Otherwise car was good. I had 96,000 on that when I traded it in. I've just never bought a car with this many miles on it but it seems like such a good deal and I don't have a lot of money right now.
So, what say you? Deal or No Deal?
Also check the gaskets, front main seal (o-ring) and heads for oil leaks. If the block is dry after a decade it will probably never leak.
So don't assume that the gaskets would have gone by 120k. These cars are solid, this stuff can happen late in a cars life.
~Emily
Thanks!
Turn off the radio, open the windows, and drive in a figure 8. Listen for any unusual drive line noises, feel for binding, grinding, anything like that.
It's a good model without a known problem area, and any flaws should make themselves fairly obvious.
Inspect the gaskets anyway, the front and rear seals, the wheel bearings, things that are common issues on other Subarus.
You could fix only the priority stuff and from then on follow an "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mantra.
Odds are one of the things you mention will indeed fail each year, but each will likely cost you a car payment, two max.
That's cheaper than a new car.
The time to sell it is when you stop trusting the car to start every day.
My Miata has not reached that point, so I've kept it. I did invest over $1000 on a timing belt, water pump, valve cover gasket, etc this year. But that's still only 2-3 car payments, and it has already lasted long enough to pay itself off.
Just would like some thoughts from any of you.
Thanks.
m
Were it mine, I would probably do the work if it is otherwise in decent shape. That said, if you have done no other work (such as strut replacement, CV joints, wheel bearings, etc), there are likely many other things that need attention now or in the near future.
Aside from the appearance, I would not bet against a new Outback. I, like many others, have some concerns about the wheel shake issue that is not uncommonly reported, but, aside from that, the model has thus far proven to be quite solid.
The 09+ Forester is also a great car. Coming from the '95, I suspect you might find it a nice fit.
He's probably concerned about the head gaskets, but that was 2004 and prior. A newer one should be fine.
Weather band seems to be missing.
A fuel pump at 190...and whatever else the CEL tells me to do...and the darned things seem to go indefinately.
Brakes here, half shafts there, its no big deal to keep these things on the road.
Did you buy that one? LOL
Quarter million mile club is awesome!