mileage question

[K-dog]

I am buying a Legacy OBW 2000 which has 123K miles on it. That's an
average of 28,000 miles per year. Is such a high mileage (for a 5 year
old subaru) considered bad?

 

[Mickey]

I am buying a Legacy OBW 2000 which has 123K miles on it. That's an
average of 28,000 miles per year. Is such a high mileage (for a 5 year
old subaru) considered bad?

My 2000 has a few more miles than that. Basically 123k mi should be
no concern but there are a few things that need checking, repaired by
that time. Timing belt should have been replaced by 105k miles. The
water pump and front oil seal should also be replaced a same time.
The bad new is if we're talking the 2.5L engine, there is a good
likelihood you will experience a head gasket failure somewhat soon.
Subaru had HG problems with both 2.5L engines until about 02. For the
2000 model the typ failure is a small leak, weeping, at left rear
lower cyl. When it starts you're most likely going to see it by
looking for coolant drops on bolts and such on the bottom of the engine.

If none of this has been taken care of yet, you can expect to shell
out $2k (U.S.) for the repair.

After these repairs are taken of you should have a reliable car for
many miles.

Mickey

 

[Frank Logullo]

I am buying a Legacy OBW 2000 which has 123K miles on it. That's an
average of 28,000 miles per year. Is such a high mileage (for a 5 year
old subaru) considered bad?

You should appreciate that it is over 2X what is considered normal for any
car for a year and blue book value would be discounted.
Frank

 

[Edward Hayes]

Highway miles are the best. If local miles mostly then a pig in a poke

 

[K-dog]

Mickey:

Thanks very much for the pointers. So I had it taken to a mechanic for
a safety check and here's what I got. It looks like the timing belt has
not been changed and the current owner (who got the car at 100k) has no
recollection (or receipts) that she changed it. So I take it that it
was NOT changed. Besides that the front brakes are at 5% (I dont know
what that means).

Also, it says that the radiator and heater hoses are original
equipment. Does that mean that they were never replaced?

The mechanics also said that the tires all have side wall cracks but
its ok to turn.

I would appreciate any input.

 

[K-dog]

These are all highway miles

 

[K-dog]

Thanks to Mickey and others for helping out.
I got the owner to replace the timing belt, fix the brakes and pretty
much take care of everything that showed up on the safety check. she
also deducted part of the cost from offer price.

Thanks again!