The Subaru has maintained its reputation as a long-lasting vehicle. The Subaru high mileage clubs have clubs for over 50, miles, over , miles, all the way up to over , miles. Kelley Blue Book named Subaru of America as the most trusted automotive brand for 5years and running.
Many are less inclined to keep their vehicles for long periods of time. Other makes and models are exceeding the Subaru Forester and Subaru Outback in the ability to make it past that k mark.
So what happened? This change in expected longevity probably has to do with the string of recalls we have seen over the last few years, as well.
According to this market report , as of more people are leasing their cars than ever before. As people continue to weigh their options, both millennials and senior buyers are choosing to lease in increasing numbers. Leasing is quickly becoming a norm in the car buying industry. As most lease deals limit mileage, this certainly has an impact on the amount of vehicles reaching k miles and beyond. Due to this influx in the popularity of leasing your vehicle, we are seeing a much higher number of people —whether they lease or buy— trade their cars in for an upgraded version every few years.
The Subaru Forester and the Subaru Outback are being outdistanced by full-size family road trippers. My good friend is willing to sell me his 97 Subaru with , for a very good price. Her Camry has been great but I worry about her not having the AWD but she is only mainly doing city driving.
Would I be a fool to give up on the Camry? I really want her to have a reliable car and wonder if some repairs will loom a bit quicker with the Subaru. Any imput would be greatly appreciated. Its really about the car, I have no problem generally speaking suggesting a Subaru Legacy GT, even with that mileage, but the car it self must check out ok. Justin, what about a Outback with I believe the head gaskets were replaced a couple of years ago. It needs struts now but other than that seems clean.
How long could we expect it to last if we bought it? In your experience, do you see well maintained Subaru priced above their fair market value? Market value based on what else is available and supply and demand drive car sales more than the perceived value for Credit Unions trying to make loans they wont be burned on which is what KBB really is. I see all to often customers gravitating to price rather than value and just not understanding a car priced less might actually be worthless in a couple of months if it ends up needing serous repairs.
Used crs can be tricky to navigate. M advice is never based on price its always based on Value. Make sure it has solid service history Have a pre purchase inspection done by someone who knows the make Dont expect it to not need anything, but go into it knowing what those needs may be Dont gravitate to the lowest price Dont buy cars that were purchased at Auction Only buy local trade ins once you buy it, have the next service done immediately do you have a new base to maintain from.
What used Subaru would you recommend? Some models, or years better than others? Its always about the Car, not the theory. Meaning in theory any Subaru should treat you well, but in reality an abused Subaru will let you down within days of buying it. I like the Turbo models if they have been taken care of, as they are less likely to have HG issues, but more likely to have engine failure if you buy the wrong one.
I like the Non Turbo 4 cylinder models as long as its been taken care of, they will most likely develop an oil leak form the Head gaskets at some point in time.
So really what I am telling you is you need to have a prepurchase inspection done by a Independent Subaru Expert, not just take a dealers word for it. And prepare your self to look at a few.
I have read on your blog a couple of times about problems associated with poor quality gas. I have done so much research trying to find something concrete about fuel quality. Some say they are all the same, some say that the top companies, ie. Shell, Chevron, etc. What is your opinion about this? What gas do you recommend or use on your own cars. You can spend your life researching this very thing and never come up with a consensus, this is a very complex issue with no answer.
You can go to an Arco station and not be buying Arco, you could be going to a Chevron station and be buying Arco. Technically speaking the additives in some fuel may be better for your car in some cases, but who watches the additives go in? Who is making sure that the Fuel delivery truck picked up gas at the right place at the refiner? What should I watch for with this many miles? We need to start out with a prepurchase inspection so you dont buy a car that your un prepared for first of all.
From there we need to make sure its up to date on service, and come up with service intervals for you based on how you use the car if it checks out and if you buy it. Greetings Justin, A local Southern CA Subaru mechanic took a 06 Outback in because the owner does not want to pay for a engine over , miles.
There are no records with the car, apparently the fellow had a long everyday freeway commute. My questions are, is there another area i should be concerned about with that mileage, like the drive train or transmission?
Other known issues for the year are the rear wheel bearings, thats about it for the typical every one might need it kind of a thing. So far I really like it. I was wondering what you thought of the new engine? I drive a 99 subaru impreza L 2. I can happily say I just hit the k mark and everyything is runing fine. Only issue I have with vermont, the body is starting to rust out.
Going too patch it the best I can and hope too reach k miles. I will only buy subaru, when the time comes. Which in turn makes me stressed about it. You dont want to inspect ten cars you want to narrow the field a bit and inspect the one you like the best.
The to Forester is so similar Id look for the best value and not get hung up on buying the latest model. Service records Clean Auto check or Car fax reports Explainable reason for selling Some reconditioning. I have a Subaru Outback with k miles.
I have had the heads repaired twice. Has anyone else experianced this? Should I cut my losses and send it sailing? I have a Legacy GT with K. Does anyone have any historical data on this model year and longevity predictions? Thanks in advance. I have a Subaru baja 2. As long as you take good care of it most Turbo short blocks will go into the k to k range before the rings or bearings have worn out enough to cause problems. If you have enhanced the performance with any aftermarket chips or larger Turbo the numbers above will will not be accurate as performance and longevity do not go hand and hand.
I have a subaru impreza sportswagon. It is not really in my budget to buy a new car. I have had repeated problems with the engine over the years. My car was overheating quite a bit and I did have work done but it continues to have a problem. My mechanic says that it is probably the head gasket. I guess I am trying to figure out if this is a decent way to keep this car on the road.
I am planning to buy a Subaru forester 2. What is your opinion on this purchase? Please let me know if you know any issues exists with the Subaru forester 2. I have owned subaru before and I will be a customer for life. However, now that I have a family I am really interested in getting a tribeca. I found a for a great price at k miles. The Tribeca has been a great car, its really the same drive train as the H6 Outback, just a larger vehicle with a few more creature comforts..
Typically speaking any Outback should make it to k and beyond, each may have a different journey however. A couple questions for ya this morning. First off, do you happen to have some type of directory of reputable Subaru mechanics across the US? Secondly, what are your thoughts on rebuilt titles? And lastly you have talked a lot about leaky head gaskets. I am fairly technically inclined.
Is a leaky head gasket a repair that is best left to a good mechanic, or is it something that I could do at home? And what kind of costs should I expect with this repair, both doing it myself and having a shop do it. Head gaskets can be done at home if you take your time, buy parts form us and as a result get a guide and tech support.
I am glad I stumbled onto this site. I am currently looking at buying a Subaru Legacy 3. It is chain driven and looks and sounds in pretty good nick but as most people I am still nervous that it has done so many kms. Any advice would be appreciated? Any vehicle you are considering should have an inspection. He has been the only owner of it, and keeps up with services and maintenance. I think it falls into that category.
Thank You. Hope to hear from. The can be somewhat known for internal head gaskets failures, and at that mileage most likely they have been done, but that would be a good thing to verify.
I m wondering if it can handle 1, miles journey without any issues on the road. The performance is not the same as first. Ordinarily yes, but I am not sure what you mean by performance not the same? If you think something is wrong you should contact the shop that made the repairs and at least discuss it with them, it could be something simple, it could be something major, it could be that your a little sensitive after putting some serious money into the car and all is well.
I have a Outback with , miles. The body and under is in great shape and we have gone through with some of the brakes and suspension elements. We are diligent with regular maintenance.
We just found out we have to do the right head gasket. We are on the fence about doing it or getting another Subaru, thinking about Foresters. I am wondering what kind of a lifespan we should expect if we go with it. I commend you on the wanting to disclose the information to a buyer. I would use KBB.
The to Forester are great cars, but you might think long and hard about just repairing what you already own, unless there is some sort of a compelling reason to buy a used Forester you are really buying something very similar to which you already own. Just a thought. Hello justin, my husband and I are looking at a subarus wax Wagon with k on it. It runs smooth. What is your thought on buying the car?
Do you think the miles are to high and the engine will go? I have a suburu forester With k miles never had any major issues replaced the alternator at k.
I would love this car to see k miles or beyond!! The miles are a little on the high side for a Turbo car, the integrity of the Turbo and shortblock start to come into Question at that kind of mileage. I guess buying the car at a low price might make sense but just know repairs could be in the future. Dear Justin, Firstly, thanks for the great info on your site. My daughter is going to school near Erie, PA the snowbelt and I am concerned that she have reliable, relatively trouble free transportation.
Trolling on autotrader. What do you think about the model, year and,of course, the mileage? She needs this car to last for at least two years and probably would log another , mi. Thanks, Ann. But having said that its always about the car not the idea of that car. The only way you will know if its okay for your daughter is to have a pre purchase inspection done by someone who really knows Subaru so you can avoid any potential pitfalls. My biggest concerns are Rust on a car of that vintage given your guys climate, and the potential for Head gaskets if they have never been done as the would be prone to internal failures and typically pre k.
I sure hope that helps and wish you the best luck in finding your Daughter a good car for here to use. I had never heard about the gasket issue; however, I had until yesterday a Outback. Unfortunately, when it blew it totally blew. All the seals were leaking and the head gaskets went.
It was not fixable at , miles. I think it is a total crap shoot as to how long a car will last. I would buy another Subaru, however. So in a it would most likely leak oil and coolant externally and only fail internally if it over heated as a result of something else such as low fluid levels. I am confused by the not fixable statement? Did it throw a rod? Has a Subaru shop looked at it or just a generalist? Hi PJ, Just for your information we owned a Subaru Outback Ltd and we drove it until it had , miles and it was still running very well at that time.
Driving better than a friends new Chevy Cavalier I noticed at the time. I did have an engine light issue after about , miles that kept suggesting our catalytic converter needed replacement although we took it in multiple times and were told things were working fine with the converter so we never did replace that.
The sensor starts reporting once levels reach a certain percentage. We are both currently driving newer Subarus. Myself I am back in another Subaru Outback Ltd and have racked up 98, miles already. I love it for my work and the snow I must drive through months a year. My hubby just purchased a Subaru Forrester with the eyesight feature San is happy with it save for sluggish gear shifting he feels.
It starts, runs and drives like brand new. My father bought the car brand new, and I know for a fact that it has had nothing but basic maintenance done to it. The biggest repair it has had was a new catalytic converter, installed at k. This car is absolutely phenomenal. We have had a lot of snow this year, and this car still powers through it like a champ. I like the Tribeca, its not for everyone but you should always buy what you like and always have a prepurchas inspection performed.
What a great resource, thank you! I am looking at a Subaru Forester with k miles. The gaskets were done two summers ago, along with some other repairs. Other than that, it was given a clean bill of health. It looks new! Thank you much.
Many people are experiencing oil burn on there brand new Subaru Outback. It means bad compression, bad compression — oil is being burned and thats how it disappears.
I have bought a brand new outback with manual transmission and by now I drove 11, miles and never! Never experienced that problem. But after reading this thread it makes me worried that subaru will accept and allow something like this to happen. Again it is not okay. Its a serious problem for a brand new car. And should be addressed right the way. What should I do? Is it just a sabotage to stop people on buying new Subaru cars or what?
I honestly do not think it is okay for a brand new car to consume quarter of oil every miles. You will agree with me. Is it just a sabotage to stop people from buying new Subaru cars or what? So I realize you are upset but here is where things seems to get confusing for many. So the statement about it being related to compression is inaccurate. The oil being burned is because more oil is entering the combustion chamber than normal, the reasons this can be occurring is vast and with out a diagnoses which would include removing the engine and tearing it down and taking measurements against specs no one knows the cause, no one.
What I have tried to convey and no one listens to, is the industry standard is about 1 quart every miles as being an acceptable amount of consumption. There is a mechanical defect The engine is not broken in yet The way you use this car will result in higher oil use than the guy sitting next to you, in much the same way that fuel use varies. You own a Subaru and I write about Subaru Repair so here we are talking about Subaru, but here is the other point no one listens to, this is not just a Subaru thing.
In our Quest to make the Dirty little internal combustion engine cleaner and more efficient it has now become less reliable, I finally read an article about this in response to the number of problems in new cars being on the rise in a recent survey. So again you and I are here talking about Subaru but please use caution, as in your quest to find the perfect new car you may end up with something worse. I cant advise you to get rid of a car because it uses some oil, I would not give that advise to someone with a 20 year old car I would say keep up on it, I cannot give that advice to someone with a new car that uses some oil I will say keep up on it with the caveat in hopes a situation presents itself.
Hello, I am thinking about purchasing a outback 2. Would this be a good purchase? What should I look out for upon inspection of this car. Any input would help thanks! If you want to know what you need to look at however, you need to raise the car up, remove the splash pan and look at the underside of the engine for signs of fluids, now you need to also be a detective, because if the engine was cleaned there may not be any obvious signs of leakage and only a skilled Subaru tech will be able to really figure out if there is a leak pending because he or she knows just where to look and what they are looking for.
And that is just to look for a possible external fluid leak from the HG, there are many more systems on the car that need to be inspected. No stains on the interior, but little rust on the outside… what do you think of this? What are things that I should consider before going through with this? So generally speaking a Subaru Impreza with k still has a lot of life left. We own a Subaru Forester that is overheating. It has , miles on it. My husband wants to get rid of it and get a Forester.
Since they are newly redesigned, do you think they are going to be a good, reliable choice? I believe that no car produced currently will be trouble free, there are many news stories including recent surveys show on average problems per cars.
The new fuel economy standards coupled with stricter emissions laws are the causes for this. I am looking into buying a subaru impreza 2. I was just wondering if the 2. The head gaskets cant be seen, and I am not sure how the untrained eye identifies new vs old? It really takes a while for a tech to get good at looking for signs of replacement or cover up.
Other than HG, generally speaking the Impreza is pretty solid, but its always about that car not the general expectation the car should be solid. Why not pay for a professional pre purchase inspection? I am looking at a legacy wagon being sold by a mechanic. He has put in a used engine, new timing belt, brakes, water pump, and new tires. Should I have hesitation?
Interior and paint look good. We have been looking at the Outback, Imprezia Hatchback and the Forrester from to We need cargo space, would love better mpg and cheaper to insure, the Outback is all of that but the CVT is worrisome to my husband. Kind of on the fence about the Forrester, I like the style but I thought it would have more cargo space than the Outback.
Any suggestion on which model would be best? We live in Ohio, smack in the middle of Cleveland and Columbus so we have a great number of dealerships to choose from. I read the previous comments and see you keep telling people to have someone inspect the car that knows a Subaru, if it is a certified Subaru is it safer to assume that it is the better choice to buy?
I always suggest what you enjoy the most, what fits you best as its going to be you that needs to enjoy it for years to come.
I ended up moving to the Subaru line. The used car manager was eventually fired as the reputation for selling junk caught up and he moved on. This is a cycle at every Dealership, always has been always will be. I just bought a Tribeca with 80K miles.
So far I love the car. My questions is, does the Tribeca have the head gasket problems the 2. Also, does this vehicle have a timing chaing or belt? Your 3. The only 6 cylinders Subaru ever made that used a belt was the 2. Its got k miles, but recently developed an oil leak. Turns out that leak is from bad crank shaft seals according to our mechanic. So my question, if you would not mind me asking, is it worth fixing? Will the Outback last to k miles, or more?
I recently purchased a 2. It appears to have a clean service record per carfax with 32 service records with oil changes and basic maintenance. Just before sale they replaced the water pump, Timing belt, thermostat, and rear wheel bearing. I was told the head gasket problem was fixed by Is this true? I just need to get more miles out of it to get the kid through college! Hi im looking in buying Subaru Forester. Replacing a timing belt and waterpump on a Subaru is not any more or any less difficult than most Japanese imports.
The owner has meticulous records and changes the oil frequently. He installed a new radiator recently as well but had the AC go out last week and the car needs a new steering rack boot and a alignment.
Does anything stick out to you that would make you not purchase it? Is it a good buy for a college student? Hey, Justin. I know I should still get a pre-purchase inspection but wonder how to find someone good in this area southern Utah. I would ask other Subaru owners in your area where they go for service. This could be done either online through one of many Subaru owners Forums or locally by striking up a conversation with someone at a gas station, store etc.
Good Morning! I was wondering about your opinion on the Tribeca. My Honda van is slowly sucking my bank account dry it has , miles on it There is a local deal with a Tribeca with 89, miles on it available. They are asking 16, Thanks for your input. I really like the Tribeca with the 3. Any car you consider needs to be inspected before you buy it however. Justin, A few months ago I visited a dealership to buy a new Subaru.
I had decided on the Impreza Hatchback. The salesman kept showing me used cars and then finally when I got him to show me a new car he talked me out of it. Subaru — handles well in north Idaho, they are dependable, under warranty and hold their value — all appeal to this single mom trying to make a wise purchase, but knows nothing about buying a new car.
I read that the CVT is very costly after warranty and if by chance something goes wrong with it prior to the end of the warranty then it has to be sent off to be worked on. Here is the truth, a salesman makes almost no money selling you a new car. This is what the internet did to the new car sales division of a franchised Auto Dealership. Instead the Salesmen who is paid on commission makes much more money when he sells you a used car they stole form someone else on trade.
I would say that based on what you have posted that car is worth considering. I still caution you need to have a prepurchase inspection performed however. I think the price for a that has had the HG repairs done is fair provided the car checks out. This can sometimes be tough to do with a private party sale but I think it is really important. Hi Justin I am close to buying a Subaru Forester and has thousand miles.
Single owner and he has changed the engine at thousand miles. Will it run for another thousand miles if i get it repaired and take care of it regularly. I love the car. No frills but as I petite it has perfect view from all sides. Look forward to your reply. I would like to think so but without seeing the car its tough to say. I am also not sure what repairs it needs? I have a Outback Base, 5-speed manual with , miles.
All maintenance have been done accordingly including a recent timing belt, water pump, tensioner, idlers and seals at , I am the only driver and very gentle with the car. And I love this car for its simplicity and reliablity. I am anticipating next big ticket item may be the clutch.
In general I understand clutches last about K miles. Clutches are all over the map in terms of longevity, we have customers replace them at , and others at 30, The average is around , but again its going to be different for each driver based on use. Prices are best left to who is performing the service.
I am looking into getting a new car as I travel an hour to school everyday. I would start by telling you that the Impreza was one of the best cars Subaru ever built, so you will be hard pressed to replace it. Next any Used Subaru you consider needs to be inspected prior to you buying it, that way you know where you stand with it and have a general idea of what to expect. Make sure this inspection is done by a Subaru shop as well.
Does it have a bad gasket? How many more miles it could have? It is from a dealership, its 1 owner certified but its sold as is-no warranty. Hi Justin My Subaru forrester has done , km I bought it brand new and it has been great My mechanic said from , it will start costing me money And I should consider getting rid of it I have had it serviced every 10, km since purchased What do you think?
Thanks Jennie. Hi Justin- I am thinking about purchasing a suburu outback with miles. Hi there — I just bought a Outback with K. My son totalled his Honda Civic and he was communting to college everyday and we made the mistake of being in a hurry and not having a pre-purchase inspection.
Anything we should have checked or be looking out for at this point? It needs to have a complete inspection done by someone familiar with Subaru prior to really trusting it to take care of your son in his commute. The common things for that model would be wheel bearings, and a possible oil leak from the head gaskets.
I would def talk them down. I am leaning toward the subaru so I can just pay it off and call it a day! Do you think it would still be worth it to buy the if it was in great shape?
Usually good advice is to buy the latest model with the lowest miles you can find when looking for used. There is an enormous difference in fuel economy between the and models I would be hard pressed to not suggest you strongly consider the , but really you should drive both and for longer then 10 minutes and buy which ever suits you the best. What maintenance issues should I look out for. Just skeptical to purchase a vehicle with that high of miles and expect to put another 90, miles in the next 5 years.
How many miles should I expect outbacks to last? Hey there Justin, I cant tell you how helpful your expertise has been in my search for my first car. Looks like a pretty GD impressive machine and it seems like it has been well maintained, and its being sold by an authorized Toyota dealership not a independent dealer.
Any wisdom you could send me on this car? How do these tend to hold up? I love my 3. The key here is to have it inspected by a Subaru shop prior to buying it. Love the honesty of your answers. The black and white opinions you find online is utterly astounding. Exploder that is like a beloved family member fighting off their second round of terminal cancer — I keep fighting for her to live, but she just wants to die.
However, in the almost two years I drove the thing I became addicted. I am now looking at purchasing my second Outback, but am hesitant. At one point she was put up in an auction. Her body is fit, though — let me tell you! Dark black skin with curves like an angel; and those dual moon-roofs give her that sexy librarian look, you know? The 4th owner did the same thing. My concern is with the turbo and the head gaskets as per usual. The current owner just buys and flips cars and has no idea.
The report indicates nothing that would allude to so much as a timing belt replacement, which also tells me that the HGs may not have been inspected. But could an inspection come up negative and then 6 months down the road she could have another episode?
Is this a car I can bring home to meet the parents? They use a MLS gasket from the factory and they do hold up well to the lower compression found in he turbo engines.
I of course changed the oil every miles, and inspected the oil feed line filters, also known as union screws every 60k. If you have purchased the car, I would have the feed line filter the turbo inspected and or replaced, as well as someone removing the down pipe and inspecting the turbo shaft play. If there is no record of the timing belt being done, thats a priority as well. I have as a company provided vehicle a Outback 3. I change the oil every 5k miles and opt for a major service every 50k miles.
I tow on occasion a trailer with quads or a Rzr and quad at the limits of the Outback without a problem, and that includes some steep grades to Flagstaff. This car has never had one mechanical issue and does not use more than 1 quart in between changes, which it has done since new and is within Subarus specs.
I will be fitting my 5th the pair of tires soon and do not rotate in between changes. I always experience even wear and use the car off road probably more than average. There is no cupping or uneven wear. I will be getting my Outback early next year and hope that it serves me as well as this one. It now has , miles on it. My husband and I had new struts and clutch installed during those 5 years. My husband passed away about 8 months ago and during that time I did accidentally let the oil go down.
You may also be interested in our article: Subaru Impreza in snow and winter driving. On top of good fuel economy and an affordable entry price, the Impreza also caters to those looking for an engaging driving experience. Similar to the Impreza, the Honda Civic also comes in both sedan and hatchback form.
However, the Civic has been well-known for boasting an average lifespan of , miles, or 20 years of service. The Civic ranks 3rd in the compact car category with a reliability score of 4. The Subaru Impreza falls behind on the Repair Pal reliability rating scorecard with 3. The Toyota Corolla boasts an average lifespan of , miles across all generations. This means that the Corolla will last almost an entire decade longer than the Impreza which has a life expectancy of , — , miles.
With a reliability rating of 4. Both compact cars have a long lifetime, the Mazda 3 is on par with the Impreza with an estimated lifespan of , — , miles.
The Mazda 3 ranks within the top 10 in the compact car category in terms of reliability, with a Repair Pal rating of 4. On the other hand, the Subaru Impreza falls behind, ranking 33rd out of 36, with a rating of 3.
You may also be interested in our article: Mazda 3 in snow and winter driving and how long do Mazda3 last?
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