My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
miles common? Thanks for your help.

zero529@yahoo.com wrote:

> My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> miles common? Thanks for your help.
>

In a word, yes.
Of course, the present condition and its past care are much bigger
issues with any used car than its average model record from new.

I believe there is a website devoted to soobs with over 300K and folks
that participate in this forum have over 200K.

Carl


--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

If you're looking at '01 - '04, you should have no trouble no trouble
finding one with under 50k miles that is in your price range. Just a
quick search on autotrader.com turns up a bunch of Outbacks with
30--50k miles for $12-13k.

To answer your original question, a Subaru (if well maintained!!!!)
will last you well over 200k miles. With under 50k miles it's still
basically a brand new car, and you can expect many years of safe (and
fun!) winter driving from it

Good luck in your search!


zero529@yahoo.com wrote:
> My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> miles common? Thanks for your help.

Make sure you drive the car from cold so you can detect any piston slap
or noisy lifter issues. Check the A/T by driving it in all conditions,
under heavy and light acceleration, etc. Also check for wheel bearing
issues.

Good luck

zero529@yahoo.com wrote:

> My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> miles common? Thanks for your help.
>

get the 03 or 04....some of the earlier ones had some problems...

First off I think folks are foolish to pay 15k for a USED car when any
number of makes/models can be had after negotiating for $20k NEW. I
dont doubt I will get over 100k miles on my 04 outback. You will find
that after 50k miles the car will have become sloppier feeling than
when new. On one hand I want to see how long I can keep it before
major problem and on the other I want something new as the car just
doesnt feel as nice at 75k as it did new. The subaru is awesome in
rain snow and ice though.

zero529@yahoo.com wrote:
> My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> miles common? Thanks for your help.

A new Outback starts at $22k... that's for the very base version.
For $15k you can easily get one with 30k miles or less... which is
basically a new car.

Savings of $7k... which should more than take care of servicing the car
for the next 100k miles... even if you manage to blow the engine a
couple times

I'd love to have a brand new car, but IMO, from a financial standpoint,
it's foolish to buy a new car, since the car depreciates the most in
the first 2-3 years of ownership. According to Consumer Reports -
40-60% within the first 4 years.


bigjim@backpacker.com wrote:
> First off I think folks are foolish to pay 15k for a USED car when any
> number of makes/models can be had after negotiating for $20k NEW. I
> dont doubt I will get over 100k miles on my 04 outback. You will find
> that after 50k miles the car will have become sloppier feeling than
> when new. On one hand I want to see how long I can keep it before
> major problem and on the other I want something new as the car just
> doesnt feel as nice at 75k as it did new. The subaru is awesome in
> rain snow and ice though.
>
> zero529@yahoo.com wrote:
> > My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> > first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> > from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> > price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> > Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> > expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> > miles common? Thanks for your help.

Dmitriy wrote:

> A new Outback starts at $22k... that's for the very base version.
> For $15k you can easily get one with 30k miles or less... which is
> basically a new car.
>
> Savings of $7k... which should more than take care of servicing the car
> for the next 100k miles... even if you manage to blow the engine a
> couple times
>
> I'd love to have a brand new car, but IMO, from a financial standpoint,
> it's foolish to buy a new car, since the car depreciates the most in
> the first 2-3 years of ownership. According to Consumer Reports -
> 40-60% within the first 4 years.

Agreed.

I happen to *like* older cars. I like being
able to haul a dozen two-by-fours home without
worrying about scuffing the seats and I like
the general feel of knowing all the little sounds
and vibrations as I drive. I wasn't totally
comfortable in my Outback until it had 70k or
so miles on it. It's got 6 years and nearly
130k miles so far and I'm hoping for another
5 years.

That 22k sticker car can easily be had for $20k . You are free to waste
money on someone else's trouble . I'll stick with a new car that I can
maintain properly and has a warranty to pay for the inevitable
problems. I will always buy new. A used car for $15k is a sucker's
bet.

Dmitriy wrote:
> A new Outback starts at $22k... that's for the very base version.
> For $15k you can easily get one with 30k miles or less... which is
> basically a new car.
>
> Savings of $7k... which should more than take care of servicing the car
> for the next 100k miles... even if you manage to blow the engine a
> couple times
>
> I'd love to have a brand new car, but IMO, from a financial standpoint,
> it's foolish to buy a new car, since the car depreciates the most in
> the first 2-3 years of ownership. According to Consumer Reports -
> 40-60% within the first 4 years.
>
>
> bigjim@backpacker.com wrote:
> > First off I think folks are foolish to pay 15k for a USED car when any
> > number of makes/models can be had after negotiating for $20k NEW. I
> > dont doubt I will get over 100k miles on my 04 outback. You will find
> > that after 50k miles the car will have become sloppier feeling than
> > when new. On one hand I want to see how long I can keep it before
> > major problem and on the other I want something new as the car just
> > doesnt feel as nice at 75k as it did new. The subaru is awesome in
> > rain snow and ice though.
> >
> > zero529@yahoo.com wrote:
> > > My wife wants an AWD wagon for our snowy country roads, and the obvious
> > > first choices are the Legacy and Outback. It sounds like the models
> > > from '01-'04 are probably what we want, although we disagree on our
> > > price range (I'm thinking more $11-13K, she's thinking more $12-15K).
> > > Anyway, I've come to realize that I don't have a good sense of the life
> > > expectancy these cars might have. Anyone have a rough guess? Is >150K
> > > miles common? Thanks for your help.

bigjim@backpacker.com wrote:
> That 22k sticker car can easily be had for $20k . You are free to waste
> money on someone else's trouble . I'll stick with a new car that I can
> maintain properly and has a warranty to pay for the inevitable
> problems. I will always buy new. A used car for $15k is a sucker's
> bet.

One word

Depreciation

I always bought new......... Until I woke up. Found that I lost more in
the first couple of years than what I had been able to save in the
previous 2 years to get to the original sale price.

Never again.