HuskiesGo Posted May 7, 2015 Posted May 7, 2015 Due to reasons beyond by control, I have to make lifestyle changes. I am looking to buy a 2000 or newer Subaru wagon of some sort for the wife so I can get the Legacy back. What I need to know are things like timing belt intervals and which years/models don't require 100K replacements (if any) and any other mileage related maintenance and how it varies year/model. There are a number of them for sale up here at a premium price. I just want to avoid paying that premium then have to spend another grand or so for maintenance.
HuskiesGo Posted May 14, 2015 Author Posted May 14, 2015 No one knows anything about when to replace timing belts, etc base on year and model?
oaklandmiLGT Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 As far as i know subarus a supposed to change their timing belt at 105k. Atleast thats what it is for the 4th gen legacy
HuskiesGo Posted May 15, 2015 Author Posted May 15, 2015 Thanks So same as the 3rd gen then. Anything different with the H6? A couple of them available in my price range.
BadTrainDriver Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 No timing belt on a Subaru H6, except for the 3.3 liter SVX engine. The 3.0 and 3.6 both have timing chains.
Dispatch20 Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 Definitely get an H6 if you find one you like. Minimal head gasket issues and smooth engine.
Okayer2570 Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 The biggest thing to note is anything pretty 05 look for head gasket issues. Make sure if they were rebuilt that it was by a shop that has done Subaru heads before. And double check the type of gasket they replaced the HG with. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
HuskiesGo Posted May 16, 2015 Author Posted May 16, 2015 Thanks everyone, just the information I was hoping for. I am looking at 2000 to 07 model Outbacks and Foresters. Up here their mileage and condition vary as wildly as their price, so I want to make sure I'm getting the right deal for the money. Parts and labor are high here, so the H6 sounds more inviting from a maintenance point of view. I know the issues with the 3rd gen automatics, anything different with the 4th gens?
ehsnils Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 It's the same automatic gearbox on the 4th gen if it's the 4-speed. The 5-speed is different, and considered to be better than the 4-speed.
FLlegacy Posted May 16, 2015 Posted May 16, 2015 The forester was not available with an H6, so if that is your goal nix the forester straight away. The 4eat was probably the most widely used trans in subaru's lineups and has been a very good transmission for the most part, keep it properly cooled and it will last and doesn't require special fluid. Although I have heard subaru hp does wonders for it. The 5eat was only available after 05, but due to design changes you may want to look for a 07 or later. As for the 5eat being better...that is subjective, I seem to recall belly-aching when it came out. But historically the 4eat will not handle as much power as the 5eat or 6 spd. Since you are looking into the H6 you may want to keep this in mind. If you find a good example that fits your needs with the 4eat then add a cooler and keep the fluid clean and I don't see why you would have problems. You may also consider that the 2.5 has enough mid range power to move decently, it isn't fast but it isn't slow either. The forester seems to me to have the perfect combo of gearing and torque for everyday use, and changing the tbelt every 5 to 6 years is really not a lot to ask, especially since it can be done with basic hand tools and half a days labor. Also consider the H6 will get worse gas mileage, but thats not to say the H4 gets good mileage so pick your poisons carefully. The H4/4eat combo should last a very long time and is the easiest to find on any of the models, and will be the easiest/cheapest to fix when the time comes.
HuskiesGo Posted May 17, 2015 Author Posted May 17, 2015 With a 500 mile + commute each week, 100K miles can come and go quickly. That's why the H6 has such an appeal to me. The only problem I've had with the 4EAT in my Y2K was that pesky o-ring. I lucked out and found a freelance transmission guy that didn't see dollar signs in front of his eyes like the regular shops did. Less than a thousand for a complete overhaul. That was 100K mile ago. Had a Y2K Outback, sold it because of piston slap.
FLlegacy Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Another consideration is the h6 requires premium fuel and burns more of it than the h4 does. If you factor that in yoy can probably pay for the timing belt every 4 years on fuel saving alone.
Dujo Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 In this situation, avoid the turbo cars like the plague. They are not worth the risks unless you are really looking for the upsides to the turbo cars, which usually has to do with modification and ability to tune in a huge power increase via aftermarket. Assuming this is not where you want to go with this car, you don't need a turbo. For your edification, the turbo cars do have much better head gaskets, so those are less likely to fail, but that's far outweighed by the danger of the turbo failing. At some point, I think they started using better head gaskets even on the the n/a 2.5L, but I'm not sure when that would be, so might require more research. Good luck!
HuskiesGo Posted May 17, 2015 Author Posted May 17, 2015 I didn't know the H6 required premium. That can be a problem because it isn't always available in this state. Turbos also require premium. I had a Mitsubishi for a while and it was a money pit. Too bad the US won't allow the diesels in.
Dispatch20 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I didn't know the H6 required premium. That can be a problem because it isn't always available in this state. Turbos also require premium. I had a Mitsubishi for a while and it was a money pit. Too bad the US won't allow the diesels in. The 3.0 h6 requires premium but the 3.6 can use regular.
FLlegacy Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Apparently subaru diesels had issues all their own that's more likely why they aren't being brought to the US.
FLlegacy Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Have you checked out cars101.com lots of great info there so you can decide which model year range you want to go with. The 3.6 didn't start until 2010 in the outback. The Tribeca had it since 2008 iirc.
ehsnils Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Apparently subaru diesels had issues all their own that's more likely why they aren't being brought to the US. The main part is more related to differences in emissions regulations compared to Europe and the fact that the market for diesels in the US is limited. The early diesels had some problems but recent ones don't have them.
FLlegacy Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 The main part is more related to differences in emissions regulations compared to Europe and the fact that the market for diesels in the US is limited. The early diesels had some problems but recent ones don't have them. I hope the issues are behind them, then at least some day we can hold out hope for a US diesel subaru.
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