shifted1 Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I have been driving a Mazda 3 since I bought it new in 05. The other day I totalled it. I live in MN and for the past 9 years have regretted not buying an AWD vehicle. So, I am looking to replace my Mazda 3 with a Subaru. My financial situation is a little different now. (Married, 3 kids, wife stays home) so I am looking at a used vehicle rather than new this time. After reading up on AWD vehicles it seems like Subaru is the obvious choice. I don't care for Ford(Fusion). However, I am scared to death of the head gasket issues I have read about so I am paranoid about any H4 2.5 Subaru. The other issue I have is that pretty much every dealer I have looked at is pricing them really high. Is this normal? Maybe because I live in a winter climate? One dealer in particular, Walser, has a no haggle policy so they will not budge on any price. Their prices seem way higher than the fair market value prices even. Anyway, I was hoping I could get some advice about a vehicle I have looked at and what you think about the price they are asking. Does anything of interest stand out about this vehicle? It has 112,000 miles on it which is a lot but I have read that the 6 cylinder is very reliable and doesn't have the head gasket issues. I love that it seems to have a very nice interior and trim. But, then I look at that price and it kills me. I would have thought maybe in the $9000-$10,000 range but this is $12,000 for a 10 year old car. Is that really high? This particular vehicle has a fair market value of $11,700 and I know this dealer will negotiate a little. http://www.whitebearsubaru.com/used/Subaru/2005-Subaru-Outback-0d5da01a0a0a006548537e4fbadc7bc0.htm The next vehicle has fewer miles on it and is newer(2009) but the trim level is lower and it has the 2.5 motor. With 82,000 miles am I just asking for trouble with the engine on this? And what about price? $12,500 still seems high. http://www.walsersubaru.com/used/Subaru/2009-Subaru-Legacy-Burnsville-Minneapolis-050a29010a0a00643ca1f0c2e95fdc28.htm Finally, we have a 2010 Legacy. This is way beyond what I had budgeted originally but I can make it work. I like that it is a newer body style and seems nicer overall inside. Does the 2010 model have any issues I need to worry about. I see it still uses a 2.5 H4 which I assume will be just as prone to head gasket issues? Nothing has changed other than some sort of leak stop additive added to the coolant has it? Have they actually modified the gaskets at all? This car also has 80k miles on it. I worry about the first year of a CVT transmission and how reliable that will be overtime as well. The price is also way higher than any book value I can find at almost $14,000. http://www.walsersubaru.com/used/Subaru/2010-Subaru-Legacy-Burnsville-Minneapolis-40aa6cab0a0a0064586f68383467725e.htm Any advice on any of these cars? Am I wasting my money and time with these? Thanks for the advice.
aigochamaloh Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 Head gaskets were issues in the older 2.5's, not the newer ones, post 2005 really. My 2009 is rock solid. I have done absolutely nothing but oil/filter and transmission fluid changes. 12,000 is ridiculous. Come buy one in california for 7-8 and drive it home. Really nothing major to go wrong with the NA Subarus.
Redslaya Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 on pretty much anything past 2004 the headgaskets wont be an issue, subaru fixed that long ago. the h6 engine is pretty bulletproof and has very good power. the 2.5i is still a great car and shouldnt give you any issues as long as you remember to change the oil and all that. those prices do look a bit high though. my dad drives a 2010 legacy with the CVT; he has had it since new. the CVT has never given any issues and he is around 65k miles. unlike other companies (nissan comes to mind) subaru builds their CVTs to be bulletproof, they are one of the, if not the, best CVTs on the market. So basically any 4 cylinder after 2004 should be free from the headgasket issue. the 09-10 will definitely not pop their headgaskets unless there is something majorly wrong with the car. the 6 cylinder is a good engine with a good amount of power. i would look around more though, those prices are a bit steep for what you are looking at.
MrTris Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 Get the H6, it looks like it's in pretty decent condition. More torque, stock, than an STi.
shifted1 Posted March 19, 2015 Author Posted March 19, 2015 Head gaskets were issues in the older 2.5's, not the newer ones, post 2005 really. My 2009 is rock solid. I have done absolutely nothing but oil/filter and transmission fluid changes. 12,000 is ridiculous. Come buy one in california for 7-8 and drive it home. Really nothing major to go wrong with the NA Subarus. on pretty much anything past 2004 the headgaskets wont be an issue, subaru fixed that long ago. the h6 engine is pretty bulletproof and has very good power. the 2.5i is still a great car and shouldnt give you any issues as long as you remember to change the oil and all that. those prices do look a bit high though. my dad drives a 2010 legacy with the CVT; he has had it since new. the CVT has never given any issues and he is around 65k miles. unlike other companies (nissan comes to mind) subaru builds their CVTs to be bulletproof, they are one of the, if not the, best CVTs on the market. So basically any 4 cylinder after 2004 should be free from the headgasket issue. the 09-10 will definitely not pop their headgaskets unless there is something majorly wrong with the car. the 6 cylinder is a good engine with a good amount of power. i would look around more though, those prices are a bit steep for what you are looking at. Get the H6, it looks like it's in pretty decent condition. More torque, stock, than an STi. Yeah, I had the dealer (my dad and brother in law has used the same guy) walk around it and send me some more pictures of the Outback. He said he cannot see a spec of rust on it and that the maintenance is up to date. (Rust is a worry of mine as the Mazda 3 has a very well known rear quarter rust issue that really irritated me for how new the car was). I still have that 100,000 mile barrier in my head as a very high mileage number that is hard to get past... I think I am going to take that one for a test drive and see what kind of deal he can give me. The other dealer won't "deal" at all so I am going to pass on those two for now. The Mazda 3 I totalled only had 65k miles on it so I put an average of a little more than 8k a year. It would take quite awhile to break 150k or more.
digger47 Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 Here's a low mileage outback . http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/cto/4938460169.html
MrTris Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 Yeah, I had the dealer (my dad and brother in law has used the same guy) walk around it and send me some more pictures of the Outback. He said he cannot see a spec of rust on it and that the maintenance is up to date. (Rust is a worry of mine as the Mazda 3 has a very well known rear quarter rust issue that really irritated me for how new the car was). I still have that 100,000 mile barrier in my head as a very high mileage number that is hard to get past... I think I am going to take that one for a test drive and see what kind of deal he can give me. The other dealer won't "deal" at all so I am going to pass on those two for now. The Mazda 3 I totalled only had 65k miles on it so I put an average of a little more than 8k a year. It would take quite awhile to break 150k or more. Rust really isn't an issue unless you live in a salt state and the car was dinged and neglected. Aside from that, it should be just fine. Rust isn't typically a big issue on these cars. The 4th gen, especially in 30R trim, is a nice, stout car. 112k isn't anything to be particularly wary of, in terms of repairs. Again, unless neglected, it shouldn't need too much more than the usual filters and fluids changed upon delivery, and then of course, any other maintenance it might be in need of, like brakes or wheel bearings.
aigochamaloh Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 100,000 miles is NOTHING on a Subaru. If the body is sound and everything checks out, I wouldn't worry about the mileage. It's just like Honda and Toyota, I would have no problems trusting them to get me across the country with over 200K miles.
MrTris Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 100,000 miles is NOTHING on a Subaru. If the body is sound and everything checks out, I wouldn't worry about the mileage. It's just like Honda and Toyota, I would have no problems trusting them to get me across the country with over 200K miles. On an NA -- sure. Turbo -- all bets are off. Look to unload it before 100k and let it become SEP.
aigochamaloh Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 On an NA -- sure. Turbo -- all bets are off. Look to unload it before 100k and let it become SEP. Yup, I meant NA lol
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.