Maybe getting a wagon for my work car - a 2000 Subaru Outback Limited

Since I sold my '95 Town Car that got pretty good highway gas mileage, then selling it in February and driving my '12 Civic that I recently sold (early June), I have been driving my S-Class Mercedes and I am tired of paying tons of money out for gas (uses premium fuel as well), I have decided to get something like a Subaru Outback wagon.

I found a local 2000 Subaru Outback Limited AWD wagon that belongs to a nurse. She is selling it because she purchased a new one. It is 100% rust free and nice inside and out. All service up to date. She is going to ask her mechanic if the head gaskets have been replaced or not, as I have heard some of those have head gasket issues, but someone told me it was more of an issue on the '99 and older models, but I am not sure. I have heard they are good cars though. Dad has a friend in West Virginia that put 470,000 miles on his '02 Outback and all he had to do was a new transmission around 300K.

Hoping it turns out to be a good one and I get it. We are going to meet this weekend and I told her if it checked out ok with her mechanic and by me, I would take it. If I do, I will post pics.

 

Those are like the 'Chevys of the Pacific Northwest'.....
- There's that many of them around. And even used ones ain't cheap. If I wanted one, I'd drive down to So Cal to get it.

 

Yep, they are popular here as well, especially just to our east in the mountains. The one I am getting is from the mountains, but apparently never driven in the snow, as there isn't a speck of rust anywhere, but it isn't from the really high mountains, so probably an area that gets 14 inches of snow per season at the most. It looks like I will be getting it, I have to meet the owner one day this weekend or next week. I talked them down from $3500 to $2500 which is a deal on these, as like you said, they still bring high prices. I found one like it with 60K more miles, had rust and ragged out for $3500!! Also a '98 for $3900. I am not sure when the timing belt was done, so I will need to get that done asap and they are not sure about the headgasket. I have heard it can be an issue on these, but after replacement with a good one, they are fine for life of the car. I will set some $ aside for that when it happens.

I am really excited to be getting a daily driver wagon that will not cost me a fortune in gas.

 

This sounds exciting keep us posted.

 

After having one and now looking for another one I will say it is hard to go wrong with a Subaru. They are great in snow and tough to kill. Only thing better is an Audi. They will out drive a Subaru in the snow and are even harder to kill. BUT Audi's are more expensive to repair and tend to leak like a sieve. And I am not talking just from one type of system. It leaks from most if not all things holding fluid. BTW if you doubt the claims of Audi's being hard to kill watch this. It is our old car after first selling it to the wifes coworker who beat it bad and then was sold to this guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=JS3yzhsBHPA&NR=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDoja2NfJKk&list=UU19lW6KMPNbnhN-crfpDfnA

 

I am not talking just from one type of system. It leaks from most if not all things holding fluid.

We know some old people like that!:banghead3:

 

Thanks! Yeah, I have talked to a lot of people that have these and all rave about them. Head gaskets can be issues, this one is ok for now. I am hoping it has already been changed, but if not, I will deal with it. If all goes well picking it up tomorrow or Tuesday. Here is on pic of it. This one makes the lower cladding on the door look off-color, but it isn't.

Her mechanic gave it a clean bill of health and it has zero rust, zero leaks.

 

Sounds like a sweet deal; congrats!

 

Thanks!

Well I got it! I picked it up this evening and love it. Needs to be gone over and a good cleaning, but all service up to date. Timing belt/water pump done 16K miles ago. I am going to wax her tomorrow and post some pics.

I just realized, I have two wagons again.

 

YIPPY ! Seems like a good deal.

 

Thanks! Yeah it is a great car. Glad to have got it. Needs some TLC, but that is expected for a 14 year old car.

 

Keep an eye on your head gaskets. I have friends with a white version of yours that quit on them on the highway this past week. They asked me to come over to take a look at it. It took a minute to figure out what was wrong until I started pulling parts of the block out from under the intake manifold. I suspect the head gaskets were leaking or blown and coolant was getting into the oil and the bottom (well middle end?) grenaded and punched a hole through the block.

Is that an automatic or 5 speed?

 

Very nice Subie, '72. Best of luck with it. Sounds and looks like you got a heck of a deal. It cleaned up very nicely.

 

It is an automatic. Yeah, I did a lot of research on these and learned about the head gaskets. Apparently the 99-older models were the worst, but the 00+ models had exterior oil leaks from the head gaskets. Apparently the ones on this car have already been replaced... no records of it, but I hope so anyway. lol.

Thanks! Yeah, still have to clean the interior. She was messy lady. lol.

Yes, thanks!

 

Update - now the wagon is gone. I sold it tonight and it is heading to middle Tennessee. I already miss it. lol.

It was a good car (and yes, the head gaskets had been replaced already), but sure had to replace a lot of parts (some of which was general maintenance). Front brakes, alternator, battery, ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar bushings, sway bar links, wheel bearings, power steering O-rings, thermostat, rear brake caliper, etc.

At least I still have one wagon.