86 Subaru GL -- repair?

[Joseph O'Brien]

Hi, folks. I'd like a few opinions on what to do with my beautiful
1986 Subaru GL hatchback. This was my first car, and I've managed to
keep it alive with expected maintenance. It has a "new" timing belt
(1995), "new" carburator (1995), "new" clutch (1990), "new" master
cylinder and clutch master (1997). In my mind, this is practically a
"new" car!

However, it needs some work. For instance, the timing belt just broke.
I think one of the CV boots may be cracked. The A/C is long gone, the
radio is on the fritz, and there's rust down below. And considering
the last clutch change was 16 years ago, I have a feeling it's due for
another.

The cost to repair the timing belt (and all the other stuff that goes
with it) is around $700. My guess is that I could spend double that
and get a few other things taken care of. Throw in a few extras
(tires, brakes, detailing to get rid of the funk) and I figure
$2000-2500 to get it back on the road. It has around 136,000 miles on
it.

At this point, it's starting to sound like time to buy a new car (or a
used one). I really don't want a car payment, although I guess I could
do it if I had to. I live 1 mile from work (I usually walk or ride my
bike) and just use the Subaru for around-town driving when my wife has
our other "new" car (1996 Neon).

Could anyone offer any opinions or advice about this situation? Is
$2500 too much to spend on a 20 year old car? I know this is entirely
subjective, but I'm just hoping to get a variety of opinions. My
family tends to think I'm crazy for keeping it this long, but to me, a
car is just a series of interconnected, replaceable parts. When
something break, you fix it, right?

Thanks!
Joseph

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi, folks. I'd like a few opinions on what to do with my beautiful
1986 Subaru GL hatchback. This was my first car, and I've managed to
keep it alive with expected maintenance. It has a "new" timing belt
(1995), "new" carburator (1995), "new" clutch (1990), "new" master
cylinder and clutch master (1997). In my mind, this is practically a
"new" car!

However, it needs some work. For instance, the timing belt just broke.
I think one of the CV boots may be cracked. The A/C is long gone, the
radio is on the fritz, and there's rust down below. And considering
the last clutch change was 16 years ago, I have a feeling it's due for
another.

The cost to repair the timing belt (and all the other stuff that goes
with it) is around $700. My guess is that I could spend double that
and get a few other things taken care of. Throw in a few extras
(tires, brakes, detailing to get rid of the funk) and I figure
$2000-2500 to get it back on the road. It has around 136,000 miles on
it.

At this point, it's starting to sound like time to buy a new car (or a
used one). I really don't want a car payment, although I guess I could
do it if I had to. I live 1 mile from work (I usually walk or ride my
bike) and just use the Subaru for around-town driving when my wife has
our other "new" car (1996 Neon).

Could anyone offer any opinions or advice about this situation? Is
$2500 too much to spend on a 20 year old car? I know this is entirely
subjective, but I'm just hoping to get a variety of opinions. My
family tends to think I'm crazy for keeping it this long, but to me, a
car is just a series of interconnected, replaceable parts. When
something break, you fix it, right?

Thanks!
Joseph

Sometimes you do have to let things go, though the hatches a very
popular and a lot of folks over at www.ultimatesubaru.org seem to be
able to keep older soobs running for a long time. You might investigate
what it's worth is putting some feelers out on selling it.
One thing I've always asked myself about my old beaters, is the value of
it PLUS the cost of repairing it more or less than the cost of a
similarly reliable vehicle.

good luck on your decision!

Carl

 

[Rick Courtright]

radio is on the fritz, and there's rust down below. And considering ....
do it if I had to. I live 1 mile from work (I usually walk or ride my
bike) and just use the Subaru for around-town driving when my wife has
our other "new" car (1996 Neon).

Hi,

Personal opinion:

Money spent on an "old" car will never "repay" itself in "value added"
to the car. However, many of us JUST LIKE a particular car, and since
we've got to pay for transportation one way or another, prefer keeping
the old one going to buying another one that might just need a ton of
work, too! (And money NOT spent on cars is money that CAN be spent on
nice bicycles! I sure miss MY "almost carless" days when my bicycles
were all I needed about 99% of the time.)

My "personal" rule on old cars has some basis in something I was told
while in college. The fellow I was talking to (a lawyer who did NOT
drive new cars) related an exercise his econ prof had them do when he
was in school concerning vehicle costs. The conclusion of the class was
as long as the frame was straight and the body not rusted (combined w/
most of today's cars but the concept's still good), it was cheaper to
keep fixing the old car. The fact you mentioned rust got my attention.

I have too many cars and too little time to play with all of them, but
to give an example of my "thinking": sitting in the garage is a 914
Porsche, that runs, and my '90 Subie that blew its motor. The Subie is
"solid" and I debate returning it to service. That decision will be
emotional, not economic. The Porsche, though cosmetically nice outside,
suffers from some hidden but potentially serious chassis rust, making
it, in my opinion, unsafe w/o some extensive repairs. It's in line for a
new home as a parts/restoration car. Opposite what folks tell you about
your ol' Subie, people keep encouraging me to fix it "cuz it's a
classic." I see a fine line between "classic" and "money pit." For THAT
car, the decision is devoid of emotion. I'd apply similar thinking to
the rust on your GL before deciding whether to pour money into it:
cosmetic rust? Fix the car if you want. Structural rust that affects
safety? Retirement time--find another one.

Good luck either way!

Rick

 

[pheasant]

Hi, folks. I'd like a few opinions on what to do with my beautiful
1986 Subaru GL hatchback. This was my first car, and I've managed to
keep it alive with expected maintenance. It has a "new" timing belt
(1995), "new" carburator (1995), "new" clutch (1990), "new" master
cylinder and clutch master (1997). In my mind, this is practically a
"new" car!

Hi Joseph

I'm with one of the previous posters, my 86 is "my" baby. Just put new
exhaust on it this year to the tune of 400 bucks, and will get it out of
the hospital today with a new clutch, and totally torn down to true up a
warped head AND no more pesky oil leaks. Figure I bought it new, and it
just goes and goes. If you buy new, then you have payments, if you buy
used, you're most likely buying headaches the previous owner didn't want
to fix. So to me; the 1000 or so is just maintenance. If having a car
is a necessity, and you like it, who cares what it costs to fix. Even if
you have to pay it off over a couple months, still beats 60 EZ payments
of 400 bucks or so.

IMHO.

Mark 86 GL 4x4 wagon.

 

[bgd]

for 136k that is alot of repairs.....
I too am questioning the overall integrity of the car, but if you know what
it needs to keep going, havadit. As replies mentioned, it beats car payments
, priceless to know what you have.
I drove one 1987 until it was 17- replaced the timing belt after going way
beyond the interval and breaking it. That was all it needed aside from cheap
fuel pump. I gave it away after breaking the body .I broke mine in "the
belly". I have yet another 87 that just turned 20, replaced an alternator it
didn't need and some body work, some adjustments. I hope your 86 does good,
but there is indeed a time to let go, all up to you.

 

[Joseph O'Brien]

Thanks to everyone for your opinions. I think I'll have it towed to
the shop and ask them to walk around it with me. If we find that it is
structurally unsafe, I'll junk it.

Thanks again!
Joseph