Any love for an Outback?
Discussion
Posted in the Subaru forum but it's a ghost town in there...
Still dribbling about looking for something and a local 2004 Outback 3.0Rn has popped up for sale for less than a grand with 150k miles on it.
Loads of history and cleanish Mot history but having never owned a Subaru, have no knowledge if it s a good idea or not!
Current owner has had it for nearly 15 years
Anything to look out for or just avoid?
Still dribbling about looking for something and a local 2004 Outback 3.0Rn has popped up for sale for less than a grand with 150k miles on it.
Loads of history and cleanish Mot history but having never owned a Subaru, have no knowledge if it s a good idea or not!
Current owner has had it for nearly 15 years
Anything to look out for or just avoid?
I think that car has an AT rather than a CVT? Both gearboxes are strong units.
The 3.0R is not particularly fast, they were developed more for the US and Australian markets I believe. where cruising was a priroty over sportyness.
As long as it's not too rusty underneath the rear, and it has a good service history with gearbox oil changes (AT?) then you should be fine.
EDITED: just seen, it's less than a grand? As long as it drives ok just buy it.
The 3.0R is not particularly fast, they were developed more for the US and Australian markets I believe. where cruising was a priroty over sportyness.
As long as it's not too rusty underneath the rear, and it has a good service history with gearbox oil changes (AT?) then you should be fine.
EDITED: just seen, it's less than a grand? As long as it drives ok just buy it.
Edited by Matt_T on Monday 2nd March 11:09
Owned both an outback and legacy of this vintage.
Sounds like a steal at less than £1k, especially if it's been in the same ownership that long.
Long term average Mpg for me was 23 no matter how I drove it.
Check coolant hoses as they get brittle quite quickly.
Rust both underneath and particularly suspension is the killer - what's the MOT history saying?
Edit: If its the one for sale on AT <£1k then there's nothing standing out in the MOT history. Suspension parts can be seen as consumables on these.
Sounds like a steal at less than £1k, especially if it's been in the same ownership that long.
Long term average Mpg for me was 23 no matter how I drove it.
Check coolant hoses as they get brittle quite quickly.
Rust both underneath and particularly suspension is the killer - what's the MOT history saying?
Edit: If its the one for sale on AT <£1k then there's nothing standing out in the MOT history. Suspension parts can be seen as consumables on these.
Edited by Sargeant Orange on Monday 2nd March 12:34
Edited by Sargeant Orange on Monday 2nd March 12:35
Cheers guys.
The Mot history has never mentioned any form of corrosion surface or otherwise.
Last advisories were tyres, drive shaft boot, leaking centre exhaust and loose tow at electrics.
Last mot was clean and has averaged around 2-3k miles a year since 2019
Trouble is, I can’t get hold of the seller!
The Mot history has never mentioned any form of corrosion surface or otherwise.
Last advisories were tyres, drive shaft boot, leaking centre exhaust and loose tow at electrics.
Last mot was clean and has averaged around 2-3k miles a year since 2019
Trouble is, I can’t get hold of the seller!
Very good cars, I think the best overall of every outback generation.
Some odd bits are tricky to get hold of - exhausts for example - but the OEM ones last forever and can be repaired. Check for rust, but if it's anything like ours was it might have escaped. I'm not sure why but some are rotten, some are absolutely fine.
4-speed auto is quite slow, but a nice thing to waft about in.
Some odd bits are tricky to get hold of - exhausts for example - but the OEM ones last forever and can be repaired. Check for rust, but if it's anything like ours was it might have escaped. I'm not sure why but some are rotten, some are absolutely fine.
4-speed auto is quite slow, but a nice thing to waft about in.
Sargeant Orange said:
Owned both an outback and legacy of this vintage.
Sounds like a steal at less than £1k, especially if it's been in the same ownership that long.
Long term average Mpg for me was 23 no matter how I drove it.
Check coolant hoses as they get brittle quite quickly.
Rust both underneath and particularly suspension is the killer - what's the MOT history saying?
Edit: If its the one for sale on AT <£1k then there's nothing standing out in the MOT history. Suspension parts can be seen as consumables on these.
Yep thats the one!Sounds like a steal at less than £1k, especially if it's been in the same ownership that long.
Long term average Mpg for me was 23 no matter how I drove it.
Check coolant hoses as they get brittle quite quickly.
Rust both underneath and particularly suspension is the killer - what's the MOT history saying?
Edit: If its the one for sale on AT <£1k then there's nothing standing out in the MOT history. Suspension parts can be seen as consumables on these.
Matt_T said:
If that car was in USA or Canada it would be $6000
Cheers again.Lets hope the seller responds
Krikkit said:
Very good cars, I think the best overall of every outback generation.
Some odd bits are tricky to get hold of - exhausts for example - but the OEM ones last forever and can be repaired. Check for rust, but if it's anything like ours was it might have escaped. I'm not sure why but some are rotten, some are absolutely fine.
4-speed auto is quite slow, but a nice thing to waft about in.
Aren't OEM exhausts on these crazy expensive?Some odd bits are tricky to get hold of - exhausts for example - but the OEM ones last forever and can be repaired. Check for rust, but if it's anything like ours was it might have escaped. I'm not sure why but some are rotten, some are absolutely fine.
4-speed auto is quite slow, but a nice thing to waft about in.
Owners tend to have an aftermarket one built to spec as it's cheaper.
Can go though wheel bearings for fun but the engine is as solid as can be and for a grand you can't go wrong (just get a petrol station loyalty card. You'll be making friends with them!)
Enjoy it if you get it, they're great cars.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Great cars but mine was a good 10yrs ago. Even then rust around the rear/underneath into the sills was starting to become a concern.
Would I buy one now? No.
I know what you mean - I passed my 2004 3.0 Outback on to a family member six years ago and it was not a pretty sight underneath - but I'd still jump at one for under a grand. I always say with these that if you're after a winter hack to do circa 5k miles p.a. in they're great. If you want something to do 15k miles per year in (as I did), they're far less good as the problems come round a bit too quickly. As previously mentioned they can get through wheel bearings and suspension bits rather too quickly, the brakes on mine were never quite right, and any more obscure parts can be pricey. I tended to see high 20s mpg which was OK but they are not particularly fast largely thanks to the energy-sapping dull-witted autobox. Very comfortable, very impressive off-road if that matters, and the engine was about as smooth as it's possible for an ICE to get. The XC70 that replaced it was better in every way bar being a diesel, but then it should have been as it was 10 years newer and a lot more expensive. Would I buy one now? No.
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