Looking at possibly buying an early 90s Subaru for my son to drive. It would have to be an AWD version. I have no personal experience with Subarus. Is there any models or engines to aviod or try to find? Can these cars do a 200k miles with proper maintance or do they enventually become a money pit? Thanks.
subaru Experience
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There are many who swear by Subarus, my experience has been mixed. I bought a 98 Legacy GT new, had the clutch go out right outside of warrenty due to an oil leak, which I consider a design flaw. Mechanic said it was a plastic vent(?)(memory problem) which warped and caused the oil to leak. He said the part used to be made of metal. Subaru paid for the parts. Gas mileage was disappointing due to the AWD. (22-25 mpg) My daughter has a 92, which overheated due to what I call a bypass hose leak. I think this engine has several hoses due to the opposed cylinder design. The boxer engine requires the entire intake section + to be removed to get to these hoses....$700, mostly labor. It has 122k on it. My car handled very well and was a joy to drive but I was soured by the dealer, and others I have talked to have echoed the dealer complaint. Dealer also usually has to order parts, rarely have what you need in stock. Independant mechanics have also told me they don't like to work on them due to the difficulty getting parts. (Even though it is made in Indiana!)
John
John
go on over to forums.nasioc.com/forums (the largest online subaru forum IIRC) and post your question.
I own an 02 Impreza TS... can't speak to the 90's versions, but my A/C conked out this summer, but was fixed under warranty (failed expansion valve and some o-rings replaced).
Otherwise, yeah, you'll never get the fuel efficiency of a front wheel drive Toyota or Honda, but then again, you'll never get the all wheel drive traction, handling performance and low body roll of the boxer engine Subaru
It's your call on what the trade off is worth to you. I live in snowy Boston
I own an 02 Impreza TS... can't speak to the 90's versions, but my A/C conked out this summer, but was fixed under warranty (failed expansion valve and some o-rings replaced).
Otherwise, yeah, you'll never get the fuel efficiency of a front wheel drive Toyota or Honda, but then again, you'll never get the all wheel drive traction, handling performance and low body roll of the boxer engine Subaru
Something else I forgot to mention - my 98 legacy suffered a collision with a tree when my daughter did not set the emergency brake or put it in gear (!) and it rolled down a hill. 10 weeks in the shop, $8000. Biggest delay was getting a new trunk floor.
John
John
My Outback is I think my 25th vehicle and so much better than any of the others it's not funny. They included GM, Ford, Mitsubishi, Austin (yes Austin), Mazda (2nd best) etc. It's a Japanese built Sube which from what I read on the Sube forums has nowhere nere the problems US built Subes appear to have. Dealer service is extraordinary (free clutch and slave cylinder 6mths after the 3yr warranty expired). I'd rather sell my house before losing my Outback!!
I had a '87 Justy, 3 cylinder, 9 valve engine. One of the best cars I've ever owned. I was on Guam at that time and didn't have long trips or lots of interstate driving, basically all city. But boy, would that thing run like a scolded chicken.
Looking at possibly buying an early 90s Subaru for my son to drive. It would have to be an AWD version. I have no personal experience with Subarus. Is there any models or engines to aviod or try to find? Can these cars do a 200k miles with proper maintance or do they enventually become a money pit? Thanks.
I can share my experiences with 1992 Loyale, which is I think what you want.
Problem areas:
3-speed transmission went out at about 140K miles. Transmission problems are rather common even on bigger and nicer Legacies.
At 180K miles:
Wore out the engine by 180K miles. One cylinder was not working, running on 3 only.
Tends to burn/leak oil.
Had to replace timing belts because the tensioner went bad.
Computer went bad, stranding in the middle of nowhere.
All in all, they are great deal with something like 100k on them. The engine has aluminum heads which are prone to cracking if overheated. Doesn't really impact anything but lowers compression.
I had both the transmission and the 1.8L engine replaced and the newer bone yard engine with 95K still burns or leaks oil. But gets really good MPG at 29, and has decent power.
The resale value is very low. Should be able to find one for $500 and drive it until it falls apart, probably for at least 50K miles. Some report excessive mileage such as 200K , or 250K but IMO with that kind of miles, lots of things will have to be replaced. Like entire axles, and more.
They are also prone to rust.
I hear that Legacy is a much nicer car, twice the car than Loyale. Loyale is in all honesty cheaply built. No cruise control, windows don't have frames like more expensive cars. But I like Loyale. It is compact, simplistic, cheap and you don't care if you wreck it. Neat thing about Subarus, they come with tach by default. And they handle great in snow.
I can share my experiences with 1992 Loyale, which is I think what you want.
Problem areas:
3-speed transmission went out at about 140K miles. Transmission problems are rather common even on bigger and nicer Legacies.
At 180K miles:
Wore out the engine by 180K miles. One cylinder was not working, running on 3 only.
Tends to burn/leak oil.
Had to replace timing belts because the tensioner went bad.
Computer went bad, stranding in the middle of nowhere.
All in all, they are great deal with something like 100k on them. The engine has aluminum heads which are prone to cracking if overheated. Doesn't really impact anything but lowers compression.
I had both the transmission and the 1.8L engine replaced and the newer bone yard engine with 95K still burns or leaks oil. But gets really good MPG at 29, and has decent power.
The resale value is very low. Should be able to find one for $500 and drive it until it falls apart, probably for at least 50K miles. Some report excessive mileage such as 200K , or 250K but IMO with that kind of miles, lots of things will have to be replaced. Like entire axles, and more.
They are also prone to rust.
I hear that Legacy is a much nicer car, twice the car than Loyale. Loyale is in all honesty cheaply built. No cruise control, windows don't have frames like more expensive cars. But I like Loyale. It is compact, simplistic, cheap and you don't care if you wreck it. Neat thing about Subarus, they come with tach by default. And they handle great in snow.
the only problem i've had with my more modern subies is the maf dying on the last one.
try alt.autos.subaru
www.rs25.com
http://www.cars101.com/subaru_links.html
http://j.webring.com/hub?ring=subie1
http://hometown.aol.com/nv1z/subaruhighmileage.html?f=fs
http://usmb.ultimatesubaru.net/
plenty of information, tips and tricks.
i love my subie!
try alt.autos.subaru
www.rs25.com
http://www.cars101.com/subaru_links.html
http://j.webring.com/hub?ring=subie1
http://hometown.aol.com/nv1z/subaruhighmileage.html?f=fs
http://usmb.ultimatesubaru.net/
plenty of information, tips and tricks.
i love my subie!
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Have had a 1989 justy 4WD and a 1993 impreza AWD in the family. These subaru's served us well with minimal maintenance. Extremely good build quality & bullet proof engines/drivetrains. I loved the 4x4 push-button built into the 5spd shift knob of the 3 cylinder justy! IMHO, a better setup than the AWD's of today. Our only complaint of the subarus was they rusted to pieces way too quickly in the salt covered roads of the north east.
G/luck
Joel
G/luck
Joel
Well if you live where you have to deal with snow you really can't beat the traction of a sube.
My family is really into them, I know of at least 5 that we have right now(always changing).
If your looking for a legacy go for a 91-94 5spd awd. These are some of the most reliable cars on the road if you ask me. They run forever with minimal maintenance. The 2.2 motor is bullet proof and we have had 2 or 3 go over 250K and one over 300K.
The downsides of these cars are:
Awd doesn't get quite as good of gas mileage as a 2wd.
They like to leak oil. Cam gaskets, oil pump, valve covers you name it.
Suseptable to rust though not as bad as my 84.
Like to go through rear wheel bearings.
Not really fast, but a racecar compared to the 84!
The 89-90 legacy 5spd transmission has bearings that like to crap out at around 100K so I would try to stay away from those years.
Do not buy one with air suspension! I've never personally owned one but I've heard many horror stories.
I really like the legacys but I've personally never owned one, just helped work on my brothers, parents, and uncles. I prefer the simplicity of the ea-81 motor but they are getting a little harder to come by without rust.
My family is really into them, I know of at least 5 that we have right now(always changing).
If your looking for a legacy go for a 91-94 5spd awd. These are some of the most reliable cars on the road if you ask me. They run forever with minimal maintenance. The 2.2 motor is bullet proof and we have had 2 or 3 go over 250K and one over 300K.
The downsides of these cars are:
Awd doesn't get quite as good of gas mileage as a 2wd.
They like to leak oil. Cam gaskets, oil pump, valve covers you name it.
Suseptable to rust though not as bad as my 84.
Like to go through rear wheel bearings.
Not really fast, but a racecar compared to the 84!
The 89-90 legacy 5spd transmission has bearings that like to crap out at around 100K so I would try to stay away from those years.
Do not buy one with air suspension! I've never personally owned one but I've heard many horror stories.
I really like the legacys but I've personally never owned one, just helped work on my brothers, parents, and uncles. I prefer the simplicity of the ea-81 motor but they are getting a little harder to come by without rust.
My aunt had a 90's Loyale with manual trans and AWD.The clutch shuddered from day one. The only real problem she had with it is the timing belts would break at 56k or so. They were a rec. change at 60k. It is for sale in mid South Carolina. Mileage at less than 120k.
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