Experience with Subaru's

[worzacct]

Here is our experience with Subaru's

Wife drives a 2000 Outback wagon 4-cyl automatic trans. awd (made in
Indiana). It has almost 60,000 miles -- no problems since day 1
other than a single bad spark plug at around 39,000 miles. Car has
had no other repairs other than normal maintenance.

Our son drives a 1995 Legacy wagon 4 cyl- automatic trans. awd (made
in Japan). It has over 130,000 miles -- did have some problems with
lights for heater control panel and radio display, but engine and
trasmission totally without problems. I replaced front CV joints
around 125,000 miles before I gave the car to my son.

I currently am driving a 1992 Subaru SVX 6-cyl (230 hp) automatic
trans. (made in Japan). Bought it used last summer with 135,000
miles. It is a fun car and engine and transmission are great. I have
replaced wheel bearings and CV's joints, but previous owner was young
guy who put on almost 60,000 miles in a little over two years, so I
think the car was driven hard.

Also owned an 85 Subaru GL wagon 4-cyl FWD manual trans. that I put
over 100,000 miles on over 9 years with no real problems other than
the clutch needed to be replaced twice.

I drove the 95 Legacy wagon for first 125,000 miles and it handled
slighty better than my wife's Outback (even with new Dunlop
performance tires on the Outback). The Outback has higher ground
clearance compared to Legacy and thus I would definitely recommend a
Legacy over an Outback to anyone who enjoys taking the twisties at
higher speeds.

I am sold on Subaru's -- like any car they will need some repairs, but
for the money, you can't match the security of AWD, safety, good fuel
economy (compared to other 4-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles),
reliability (check Consumer Reports -- almost all Subaru's built in
the last 5 to 10 years are on their lists of recommended used cars)
and they feel solid and are fun to drive.

An Indiana Subie fan.

 

[Dominic Richens]

Here is our experience with Subaru's [...]
Our son drives a 1995 Legacy wagon 4 cyl- automatic trans. awd (made
in Japan). It has over 130,000 miles -- did have some problems with
lights for heater control panel and radio display, but engine and
trasmission totally without problems. I replaced front CV joints
around 125,000 miles before I gave the car to my son.

Ditto. How have you delt with the heater/radio light problem? The light
behind the heater buttons lights up sporatically - sometimes pushing a
button brings it back on, sometimes not.

 

[worzacct]

Luckily I has paid for the 100,000 miles (or 6 years) bumper to bumper
warranty when I bought the 95 Legacy, so the dealer took care of these
light problems at no cost under the extended warranty.

When I puchased the car new back in fall of '94, I had narrowed my
choices to the Legacy wagon or a Honda Accord wagon (Honda was still
selling Accord wagons back then). The Honda dealer wanted $1000 more
for the Accord wagon and it had consideralbly less cargo space behind
the rear seat and no AWD of course. So I decided to buy the Legacy
and pay an extra $600 back then for the no-deductible 100,000 mile
warranty. (I had no previous experience with AWD and kenw that
repairs on the AWD could be expensive.) Thus I got the Legacy wagon
with AWD and more room and still saved about $400. By the way the
last time I checked re-sale values the 95 Legacy was worth about $1000
more than a 95 Accord wagon with the same mileage. So I definitely
came out ahead with the Subaru and now I have a hard time considering
a vehicle without AWD.

Here is our experience with Subaru's [...]
Our son drives a 1995 Legacy wagon 4 cyl- automatic trans. awd (made
in Japan). It has over 130,000 miles -- did have some problems with
lights for heater control panel and radio display, but engine and
trasmission totally without problems. I replaced front CV joints
around 125,000 miles before I gave the car to my son.

Ditto. How have you delt with the heater/radio light problem? The light
behind the heater buttons lights up sporatically - sometimes pushing a
button brings it back on, sometimes not.

 

[Conrad Fox]

How are repairs on AWD compared to other autos. I am currently looking at
the Subaru Outback and have been wondering about repair costs?

Conrad