I'll Never Own a Subaru Again

[Outback-Commuter]

Can we change this over to a new thread title? All these good thoughts seem to be coming from the original whiney poster.

[grossgary]

Originally Posted by carteach

Grossgary, I thought the 2013 engines were different from the 2012 engines. Is it that any changes would not particularly affect the head gasket situation?.

Correct, Outbacks in 2013 get the new FB engine like the Forester did in 2011.

Originally Posted by carteach

Grossgary, I thought the 2013 engines were different from the 2012 engines. Is it that any changes would not particularly affect the head gasket situation??

time will tell.

Originally Posted by carteach

The mechanic that I've gone to for years with my 1995 Legacy Wagon said that he's seen so many Subaru head gaskets come in for repair that he told me to put money away for that repair. I've also been told that every few years Subaru? or people, say the problem has been resolved, but it hasn't been.

it is engine dependent - EJ25's have significant issues, not Subaru's. (for instance the EJ22 in your 95 legacy was an awesome motor - zero headgasket issues). Subaru turbo's - no issues at all (even the EJ25). Subaru communities have cried wolf too many times, that is true - headgasket redesigns, coolant additives, 100,000 mile extended Headgasket warranty's, etc. so he is right to be wary...of the EJ25 platform.

Originally Posted by carteach

Isn't too early to see whether the 2010 cars have been having problems?

Well - it is an assumption...but a good one. Subaru turbo engines (even the EJ25 turbo) - have never had headgasket issues - even pushing the limits with forced induction engines - and they also have better headgaskets. So the hope is those better headgaskets are a significant reasons those Ej25 turbo's don't have issues.

[DrCloud]

^ Hmm. That suggests that someone with a head gasket issue should insist that it be replaced with one spec'd for an XT, no? I wonder if this is possible. HPH

[tibyABv6]

subaru are not very reliable, need to do alot of maintenance on it if you want it to last
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/...00382142_l.jpg
always been below evarage

[Euchre]

Oh yeah, trust JD Power - ***** to the auto industry - over Consumer Reports. Sure.

NOT!

[cardoc]

Originally Posted by tibyABv6

subaru are not very reliable, need to do alot of maintenance on it if you want it to last
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/...00382142_l.jpg
always been below evarage

Every vehicle needs maintenance. Subaru's schedule is designed to help the car last 100s of thousands of miles. I've had 5 and 4 traveled over 250k without major issues. The 5th is at 182k and I was fortunate enough to be the 2nd owner behind someone that kept everything up to date and didn't use cheesy fluids.

The car is only as good as you allow it. Skimp on maintenance, stretch out the oil changes, keep it dirty and you get problems.

[MindyK]

I bought my Outback brand new in 2007 and I was super excited. But that changed pretty quickly. I can't even list all the repairs that have had to be done to this car. Wheel bearings, axle boots, then axles, bearings again... And now it's leaking oil. I wish I could afford to trade it in, but sadly, I'm stuck with it. And I just recently moved to a very small town with no Subaru dealer or mechanic. It sucks and I'll NEVER buy another Subaru nor will I recommend this car to anyone.

[SubaMann]

Originally Posted by MindyK

I bought my Outback brand new in 2007 and I was super excited. But that changed pretty quickly. I can't even list all the repairs that have had to be done to this car. Wheel bearings, axle boots, then axles, bearings again... And now it's leaking oil. I wish I could afford to trade it in, but sadly, I'm stuck with it. And I just recently moved to a very small town with no Subaru dealer or mechanic. It sucks and I'll NEVER buy another Subaru nor will I recommend this car to anyone.

Wow. And I thought I was the only one on the face of the earth, or at least that's what some people around here made me want to think.

Are you sure you didn't abuse the car, or fail to maintain it, or drove it very hard, or had some incredibly naive view that cars don't need maintenance, or done more of that blah blah blah that this thread is full of accusing me of?

Thank you for stepping up and honestly stating your experience so that prospective buyers will consider it along with all the positives experiences that others here have had.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by MindyK

I bought my Outback brand new in 2007 and I was super excited. But that changed pretty quickly. I can't even list all the repairs that have had to be done to this car. Wheel bearings, axle boots, then axles, bearings again... And now it's leaking oil. I wish I could afford to trade it in, but sadly, I'm stuck with it. And I just recently moved to a very small town with no Subaru dealer or mechanic. It sucks and I'll NEVER buy another Subaru nor will I recommend this car to anyone.

I bought a Toyota 4runner used very clean great shape. HG failed about a year later Toyota rebuilt it took 3 weeks generated 12 printed pages of replaced items and the bill sent to Toyota was $8000

A year later while sitting in stopped traffic the HG failed in a spectacular cloud of steam even resulted in a fire truck arriving only to find out it was just my coolant being run through the engine.

Toyota rebuilt the engine again only this time they spent two weeks on it - 11 pages of printed material generated and $8000 bill sent to toyota

A year later it started leaking again!


I swore off all Toyota products however years later bought a cherry Land Cruiser Fantastic Machine! Designed right all the way down to the same sized bolts used for certain aspects of the vehicle etc. Wiring harness developed a short for the ABS system. I spent nearly $2300 replacing it and all the ABS sensors and brake lines drove it another few years - did some other maint items that all Land Cruisers need - Valve cover $700 - front axle seals $650 etc etc. Fantastic vehicle!

My Subaru even the one that had the leaky HG one time and fixed CORRECTLY never to be an issue again for over 130,000 miles of ownership was the CHEAPEST most Abused and USED vehicle I've ever owned! Our second Subaru bought new to replace the old one so far shows no sign of being any different regarding being cheap and easy to own.

Don't even get me started on my Wifes VW!!!!!!!!!!!! If I felt as strongly about cars as you do - there would be news coverage of a viking funeral car fire run through the local VW dealers front doors.

[armith]

The fact that Mindy took the time and effort just to register an account here and share her bad experience yet not be so kind as to at least list her repairs and mileage really contributes nothing.. The OP at least gave a summary of major issues. A fair list, some I feel a bit trivial, some not.. But I'm grateful for the information.

I don't recall anyone directly accusing anyone of driving wrong, not maintaining the vehicle, and being naïve. Historically speaking though, whether it's a Subaru or a Yugo. Driving it like a rental car or otherwise unnaturally while doing the bare minimum maintenance tends increase the TCO and reliability.

It could very well be that you got a lemon.. It could very well be that your specific driving environment does in fact prematurely wear and tear the car. But for some of us, the curiosity is more of what was your circumstance and less about distaste.

Some people will troll for the attention.. Others really will share their opinion to with intent to inform.

Every brand and model has it's quirks and weakness. The key is to really keep it in perspective and not get too caught up in the sensationalism that makes up these interwebz.