Thoughts on high mileage Outback?

DoppelRu · Post by **DoppelRu** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:35 am

Hi all,
first-time poster here, but looks like a great forum.

I was hoping to get your collective thoughts on a 2.5l 2006 Outback that I'm thinking of buying. The car drives well, and seems to be in good condition for the price (around AUD $20k), has a full service history too.
But, it also has 141000 km on the clock, which seems a bit high for a 4.5 year old car.

Anything to watch out for on an 'older' Outback, or could this be one to avoid?

Thanks in advance!

-DR

niterida · Post by **niterida** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:51 am

I bought a 91 RS LIberty wagon a few years back with 317,000kms on the clock. Still running the original turbo and motor and it purred like a kitten and everything on the car worked 100%.

Subarus are well known for their superior build quality. They do have their problems - Gen 3 2.5l motors tend to blow head gaskets, RS liberty motors have lifter problems and tick like a terrorist bomb - OK so my aforementioned RS didn't quite purr like a kitten but still went like a scalded cat

I am also considering a high mileage outback - 98 model with 320,000kms.

141,000 is low mileage - go for it as long as everything else is OK.

Plus it works out to 31,333 kms per year which probably means a fair bit of country driving which is far better than city driving. The longer you run a car without stopping and having everything go cold and have to warm up again the better it is for engine life.

I'd say go for it.

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 10:37 am

http://www.subaruhighmileageclub.com/

d_generate · Post by **d_generate** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:12 pm

141k is only just run in.
Though if you'd settle for a newer Forester with half the mileage at the same price check this out.

http://www.pickles.com.au/cars/vehicle/ ... -402109465

Post by **Alex** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 2:57 pm

when i read high mileage i was expecting 300+km...

its the gen TWO 2.5l motors with the issues, 94ish-1999.

gen3 2.5l are fine, same with the gen4.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:26 pm

Thats nothing if it has good service history... mine just rolled over 333,333 kms yesterday and still going strong, overall car is great and i know it'll reach 500,000kms easy.
Cheers
AP

DoppelRu · Post by **DoppelRu** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 11:18 am

Thanks for all of the replies guys. Confirms what I suspected; the overall condition seems consistent with country driving and good maintenance. Might be time to give the dealer a call and lose my Subaru cherry.