Does anyone know anything about Subarus?

[Ralph]

Ran across a low mileage 98 Outback with a busted rear U joint for $750. I need a reliable daily driver with better gas mileage. Should I bother with it or am I wasting my time?

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

How much MPG are you looking to get? Friend of mine DD's an 04 Forrester now and is only pulling upper teens/low 20's for economy.

Even for an AWD I figured they'd get better than that.

 

[Ralph]

I thought they got mid 20's in town and around 30 MPG on the highway. If high teens and lower 20's is all it gets, I'd be better off with another XJ.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

I thought they got mid 20's in town and around 30 MPG on the highway. If high teens and lower 20's is all it gets, I'd be better off with another XJ.

Oddly enough, he went from an XJ to the Forrester...

Since you're looking at an Outback it should have the H6 in it if i'm not mistaken? If so it might be a bit better given the weight of the car. My buddy's Forrester I think has the H4 (I hope so anyways if he's getting that kind of MPG's).

 

[FlexdXJ]

Talk to philagonyxj, he works at a Subie dealer here in Indiana! :cheers:

 

[philagony94xj]

Chances are it has a single overhead cam 4 banger. That's the best one to get. Easiest to work on out of the bunch. How many miles is "low miles"?

If head gaskets haven't been done yet, that's something that needs to be addressed very soon. They can leak internally, externally, or both. If you go to look at it and there is No plastic belly pan, you should be able to see the bottom of the motor very easily and can look to see if you have oil and/or coolant wet around the heads.

The only other thing to listen for when test driving it is for front or rear hub bearings.

Take a look at the tires. If they are worn pretty even, then it seems the AWD should be working okay. If the tires are mismatched brands, new in front/old in rear, one new and three old, make sure to get all tires matching. The AWD system on the Subies are VERY finniky. The overall Circumference of each tire cannot have more than 1/2 inch difference between any of them. If there is, the AWD system will start binding up on turns.

Any specific questions just ask.

Overall a good car to own.

 

[karstic]

Overall a good car to own.

Wanna come out to CA and work on ours?

We have a 99 Legacy Outback Wagon. We get mid to upper 20's for mpg

Only major grip is the shitty oil leaks its had.

 

[DrMoab]

Wanna come out to CA and work on ours?

We have a 99 Legacy Outback Wagon. We get mid to upper 20's for mpg

Only major grip is the shitty oil leaks its had.

Ditto. We have a 00 Outback. Mid to upper 20s all the time. Just spent 1100 bucks getting the head gaskets done.

 

[Ralph]

I haven't seen the vehicle yet. I'm still waiting for the seller to contact me.

 

[hxcjohnny]

It should be the 2.5 sohc 4 cylinder. Good motors. They sometimes have headgasket issues. It would be a good car. If he wants 750, and the only issue is a ujoint, then by all means get it. With a tune up, you should be around 30mpg on the interstate, and 22-23 in town. Subarus are GREAT cars. I had a modded WRX for several years and learned a ton about the brand over that time. They're perfect DD's

 

[bigalpha]

Take a look at the tires. If they are worn pretty even, then it seems the AWD should be working okay. If the tires are mismatched brands, new in front/old in rear, one new and three old, make sure to get all tires matching. The AWD system on the Subies are VERY finniky. The overall Circumference of each tire cannot have more than 1/2 inch difference between any of them. If there is, the AWD system will start binding up on turns.

Any specific questions just ask.

Overall a good car to own.

This happened to my 97 Impreza OBS - it started making grinding noises in reverse so I got rid of it. I should have kept it, lol.

 

[rysam]

I've had 3 subaru's and probably wont buy another. first two were an 83 & 84, both of these were awesome growing up in tahoe, the 3rd was an 03 outback and theres where the disappointment showed.

No power at all, not to mention the 1500$ bill for the headgaskets at 70k left a real bitter taste in my mouth and replacing all 4 tires when I got a blowout, that was special too.

I traded it in for a taco. Mucho happier now.


buuut.for 750$ though I would be on that like white on rice, just not the 22k I payed for the last one.

 

[Beezil]

 

[philagony94xj]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care who you are, that's hilarious.

 

[Ralph]

Thanks, Beez. I was waiting for something like that. BTW, is that your sister?

 

[Beezil]

Thanks, Beez. I was waiting for something like that. BTW, is that your sister?

no, that's your high school sweetheart

nice work!

 

[Ralph]

no, that's your high school sweetheart

nice work!

My high school sweetheart was your sister.

 

[Beezil]

My high school sweetheart was your sister.

thanks for turning her into a lesbian!

 

[Ralph]

thanks for turning her into a lesbian!

Funny story. She always had those tendencies. I had the hardest time getting into her pants, but when I told her I was a lesbian in a man's body that won her over. Not the brightest penny, if you know what I mean. (must run in the family) Also, the poor kid, she didn't age well did she? :laugh3:

 

[Beezil]

You know she was always drawn to women