Maintenance Costs

You'd have been wiser to put the 5k down on a new OBW

Maybe you could 'splain that one?

Let me play devil's advocate a bit: way back in the dark ages when I was in college and we still had to chip our figures into those abominable stone tablets, a lawyer acquaintance was telling me about one of his econ profs who showed 'em a demo problem of cost of ownership of a car, and pretty well proved that, barring serious body damage, it's almost always less costly to bite the bullet and fix an existing car (let's forget all the intangible and emotional reasons attached to a new car) than to buy a new.

Over the years, I've faced the OP's situation a time or two, and am doing so again in the debate of what to do about my trusty ol' Subie's blown engine. I've penciled things out each time, and I have yet to prove the good professor wrong. So why's it wiser to get a new one?

Sounds to me like 5 grand most likely gets the OP another 100k miles on his old car (with regular maintenance that must be done on any car), or it gets him into another five years of payments and who knows if the new car will be THAT much better than the previous one? The bean counter in me says fix the old one...

Rick

Yeah, even though 5K is a lot, if a new car is outta the question, the problem becomes, could you replace what you have for 5K plus hwat you can get for the car in it's present condition? Usually, I'm a 'fix it and drive it til the wheels fall off' guy. 5K would be tough to spend, but, another way to think about it, that's like - what - maybe 10-12 car payments? After that period of time you're probably home free for a while. Not so with a 4-5 year loan.

Carl

Rick Courtright wrote:

If the 5k gets he poster 50-100k more miles thens its worth it. I've noticed that once a car really starta going downhill its time to stop. Just like a person. Once an oldie starts slipping they pass soon. I too keep cars for a long time but after a point its time for something new.

If the 5k gets he poster 50-100k more miles thens its worth it. I've noticed that once a car really starta going downhill its time to stop. Just like a person. Once an oldie starts slipping they pass soon. I too keep cars for a long time but after a point its time for something new.

True, but my experience is that some parts need fixing and some go on forever and on any car those parts are well known. I'll bet that a post asking about problems at a certain mileage will arrive at agreement about what they are. If you've replaced them with your $5k then wonderful. Enjoy your many more miles of happy motoring. Phil Brown

Thank you for the responses. Like I said. Part of the repairs I reluctantly paid for. Specifically the transmission. I've been told that Subaru transmissions are rock solid and 4 mechanics, 2 being from Subaru shops, have said that my transmission problem was very rare. I decided to drop the 2 grand for an overhauled transmission plus I got a

2 year warranty on it. The is in near pristine conditional. I've even touched up the paint myself over the years. People often think it's much newer than it is. The repairs it needed have mostly been normal maintenance. I was wondering how anyone else has faired if they owned on OB for 100k+ miles. I can afford a new car but I have other expensive toys on my wish list right now. I certainly hope the car doesn't become a money pit.

'''''top post

My neighbor just traded her 98 OBW. She bought it "new" as a demonstrator with low miles.

Having 113,000+ on it, she said it was binding going around corners. Not really sure wha that meant. She bot a new Dakota Laramie, nice truck.

She said the Dodge dealer test drove her trade with her, and when he commented on the 'pulling' on the curves, she said: well, its all wheel drive, you know!. He proceeded to give her top value for it. Wow.

What the real problems were with the car, who knows. She was told it was the transmission, and that it required a rebuild.

I do know she was anal about maintenance, never took the rig off road, and always drove it kindly.

Is there a transmission failure pattern here?

Not so much a pattern as a peculiar and often overlooked aspect of AWD (at least, on subes - probably others) in which, driving around with a 'donut' spare or any unmatched size tires will destroy the 'clutch pack' in the tailshaft of the tranny (actually the center diff.) Also, there were some year models that ahd an aluminum wear piece that has subsequently been changed to steel and steel is used in all rebuilds IIRC. Of course, there is an electrical item that could fail also, the 'duty C solenoid' or possibly the wiring to it.

It is quite possible she failed to use the 'FWD only' fuse under the hood once when she had a flat. That might do it.

Carl

Bob H wrote:

Very expensive on parts and you will have parts fail that you have not even thought about before. Try an air conditioning hose about 18" long. Cost $374 with labor, and this on a car under 36 months, and no, not covered by warranty. Clutches need frequent replacement but aftermarket aprts are available. On the plus side, I've never had brake pad last so long on any car. Downside is that the rotors need replacement along with the pads and they are another proprietary and expensive item. Don't be fooled because it is small and looks like an econobox!

I also have a 99 Outback. I did the timing belt/ oil seals/water pump/belt tensioner at 84k. That and front brake pads every 40k and rears at every

80k is the only work I've ever done. The car currently has 108k miles. I do all my own work and I've spent about $700 total since I bought it.

I have a 99 OBW, too. Mine now has about 118,000 miles on it. All maintenance to date (not including tires and oil), with rough cost estimates follows. All maintenance was done by dealer between 97,000 miles and 110,000 miles:

- All drive belts replaced and general tuneup - about $300

- replaced all four brake disks and pads - about $900

- Timing belt and timing belt tensioner replaced; also replaced head gasket and water pump while belt was off - $950

That's it! I sincerely couldn't be happier with my Subaru.

-LK