Subaru Impreza - mechanically reliable?

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sasilverbullet

sasilverbullet

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Aug 22, 2004
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San Antonio, Texas
I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a brand new 2013 Impreza four door. Haven't driven it yet. I've owned two other Subaru's, a 79 coupe and a 83 wagon. Loved them both.

How do these new Subaru's hold up now?
How's the engine, sound?
Does it require a timing belt change? (belt/chain)
Will I be able to do a lot of the minor maintenance?
Hard to work on?

What say you guys?
coffee2.gif
 
This new FB engine went to a chain, where the old EJ engine had the belt. I wish we would've held off a year on the Legacy so we'd have the FB. (then I could stock up even more 0W-20
grin.gif
)

FB has only been out for a few years but is relatively similar to the old design which was plenty reliable.

Haven't really heard anything bad about the CVT yet. Ours behaves just fine.

Go drive it. If you like the way it feels, I wouldn't hesistant to get it.
 
Originally Posted By: mount
This new FB engine went to a chain, where the old EJ engine had the belt. I wish we would've held off a year on the Legacy so we'd have the FB. (then I could stock up even more 0W-20
grin.gif
)

FB has only been out for a few years but is relatively similar to the old design which was plenty reliable.

Haven't really heard anything bad about the CVT yet. Ours behaves just fine.

Go drive it. If you like the way it feels, I wouldn't hesistant to get it.


Yeah, a chain!
 
+1
The only problem with timing belts is when owners neglect to have them replaced as required.
An expensive failure in any interference engine.
 
I'd have to disagree the FB has the most changes of any engine they put out for probably 25 years.'
different everything. nothing internally is interchangeable.


Originally Posted By: mount
This new FB engine went to a chain, where the old EJ engine had the belt. I wish we would've held off a year on the Legacy so we'd have the FB. (then I could stock up even more 0W-20
grin.gif
)

FB has only been out for a few years but is relatively similar to the old design which was plenty reliable.

Haven't really heard anything bad about the CVT yet. Ours behaves just fine.

Go drive it. If you like the way it feels, I wouldn't hesistant to get it.
 
You should look at this car. It has a chain. It is as reliable as they come. Awd is standard. I am not sure what you mean by minor maintenance, but if you have changed oil, brakes, filters and plugs in your other subarus, you should be good. Very little maintenance is required and little will go wrong. Lastly, the new Subarus are as good as they ever were and will hold up long after you are tired. If you like the test drive, it is a no brainer.
 
Originally Posted By: Mark_Walk
Have I seen some info about this new engine burning oil?

I do like the oil filter placement....a snap to change.

The new ones? Even the old ones used a little but its because of the design not any sort of failure.
Great engines and great cars, i would personally go with a stick. Slide and drive CVT transmissions are nothing i want, they are a real deal breaker.
 
I have a Subaru with a new FB engine in it.

1. There is an oil consumption issue with the new FB engines. I know.

2. Look in the owners manual, Subaru lists a quart every 1200 miles is NORMAL. They'll smile and tell you it's normal to add 4 quarts every OCI, almost as much as the engine takes. Just ask to see the owners manual and find what 'normal oil consumption is'.

I wish I had known this before I bought one of these new oil eating Subaru's

Learn from other peopoles mistakes
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Mark_Walk
Have I seen some info about this new engine burning oil?

I do like the oil filter placement....a snap to change.

The new ones? Even the old ones used a little but its because of the design not any sort of failure.
Great engines and great cars, i would personally go with a stick. Slide and drive CVT transmissions are nothing i want, they are a real deal breaker.


Our '09 Forester uses almost no oil, little enough that adds aren't required out to around 6K, at which point I'll drain out a little over four quarts.
So, no, not every Subie uses oil.
There are also numerous examples in the UOA forum of Subaru engines that required no adds in the OCIs run.
These may be flat fours, but they aren't old VWs.
 
Originally Posted By: Trav
Well good for you but what about the ones that do? A lot of engines have piston slap but mine doesn't, so what.


No need to be rude to another member for simply sharing his experience and pointing out that there are examples of Subarus not burning oil.
 
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: Trav
Well good for you but what about the ones that do? A lot of engines have piston slap but mine doesn't, so what.


No need to be unnecessarily rude to another member for simply sharing his experience and pointing out that there are examples of Subarus not burning oil.


How was i rude? He had to throw it they are not old VW engines like that has anything to do with the post. Get over it.
 
Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: Trav
Well good for you but what about the ones that do? A lot of engines have piston slap but mine doesn't, so what.


No need to be unnecessarily rude to another member for simply sharing his experience and pointing out that there are examples of Subarus not burning oil.


How was i rude? He had to throw it they are not old VW engines like that has anything to do with the post. Get over it.


You're doing it again...

Relax. If the forum causes you to get ornery perhaps you should take some time off.

laugh.gif
 
I drove a 2013 Impreza for a few weeks. The CVT makes the engine rev to much and the noise is very annoying. The worst part of the 2013 Impreza I drove was the electronic steering. I found it almost impossible to hold the car in a straight line with out having to constantly make little corrections with the steering wheel. The electronic steering makes the car very tiring to drive and it feels down right unsafe on the highway. I urge you to take a long test drive and pay attention to how much correction is needed to keep the car straight. I let several people drive the car and everyone agreed the imprecise steering ruins the car.
 
I can't speak for the Impreza but I like my Legacy. It has the FB25 engine and so far it hasn't burned any oil. There isn't anything about the car that makes me think it will be any less reliable than any other Subaru except maybe the CVT(just not a whole lot of high mile ones out there yet). I'm not too worried though with a 7 year, 100,000 mile warranty.

I don't have any issues with the steering requiring corrections. The car holds a line pretty well on the highway and in the corners. I will say the FB25 can be pretty loud if you wind it up past 3,500rpm but with the CVT that doesn't really happen in everyday driving.

I wouldn't worry too much about reliability as long as you do the required maintenance. At it's heart it's still a Subaru, buy it and enjoy your relatively high mpg AWD car.
 
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