Originally Posted By: fenixguy
I'm totally not trying to argue because I know people love them, but I live in an area infested with Subarus and I've owned them myself. I recommend buying a new one if you like it and get rid of it before the warranty runs out. Axles, axle boots, wheel bearings, head gaskets (that may be getting better, only time will tell), transmissions... seem to start giving out around 80,000 miles. A coworker of mine who has owned a 2007 Impreza since new has replaced all 4 axles, wheel bearings, and the engine. Car has 100,000 miles and was well maintained. A friend of mine just sold a 2009 Outback because the head gaskets were leaking at 80,000 and has replaced the rear wheel bearings every 20,000 miles under warranty. My aunt just traded in her 2015 Forester because it spent more time in the shop than on the road. Guess what? They all either want to buy or have bought another Subaru... I don't get it.
Some are okay: I had a 2002 WRX. Other than replacing 2 radiators and a wheel bearing, the car was great when I sold it and I beat on it every day I had it. Sold it with 150,000 miles. It was around this time that their quality seemed to go down. The old "tanks" with 300,000 miles of the 90's were no more.
My cousin worked for the Subaru dealer for years. He now owns his own shop that specializes in Subarus. He drives Chevrolets.
Subarus are a wonderful car to drive and they're very practical, but I've seen too many people spend way too much money just keeping them going when they get some miles on them. Maybe the newer models are going to fare some better.
Edit: It looks like we live in relatively the same area if you're in the NC mountains. If so, you know what I mean by "infested" with Subies. Their AWD is hard to beat for sure. But I've never had any problems with a FWD or the AWD CR-V.
I had an '99 Subie until it was at 212K miles sold it, and I see it frequently. I think it is up to 240K ish now.
Subies can be a bit of a "miss" for some folks. Mostly because they can be maintenance queens. Unlike Toyota and some other brands, if you fall behind on some items or ignore small warning signs, Subies will bite HARD. They are not gas-and-go, ignore the rubbing sound vehicles. So I get the "constantly broken" complains for a lot of folks.
If axles and bearings keep going, that tells me something else is bad (although Subie is developing a bad bearing rap but that is not terrible). The owner is either opting for the cheaper replacement CVs, not capturing ruptured boots in time, or even it is mis-matched tires diameters on the car. Even bad alignments can put stress on those drive trains. The HG issues were a completely different item/issue. They could be bullet-proof or bad ones.
FYI, I have domestics in my fleet... you tend not to want to drive your "work" as your personal vehicles.
. Then a "slightly used" Nismo 370Z instead 
