Damage report thread

[PAabe]

I had an 07 outback with the 5 speed manual. At 75 mph it was running at over 3200 rpm so the gas mileage sucked for a 4 cylinder. Went thru about a qt of oil every 1500 miles as it got older.

I always wondered why the 5th gear on these is so low. I get that the engine is small, but it seems like 5th could still be geared higher for use as overdrive on the highway. As it is it is hardly higher than 4th. I have heard 5th maybe geared higher in Canadian models?

 

[asnowmobiler]

Some Subarus use oil some don't, there does not seem to be any rime or reason onto why one does and the next one doesn't. The good new is, Subaru will replace your engine up to 100k and sometimes over with almost no questions asked if you or the dealer calls them. I have a tuned16 WRX that I run the shit out of and it hardly uses any.
I'm an assistant Service Manager at a very large Surau dealership, you would not believe how well Subaru takes care of their customers.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

my car nerd friend who drives a wrx said "the subaru boxer engine burns oil. lots of subarus have the boxor style motor". he then offered to explain the technicals of it, and i declined.

 

[RichT]

We have five Subie's in our family all but one are Outback station wagons. 99, 03, 04, and two 15's
Best one 99, bullet proof.
Worst 2015, to much fluff...........all that stupid electronic gezmo shit.
Oil use issue is true, some leak it (head gaskets or seals around camshafts), some burn it. Head gaskets too for the anti-freeze loss.
Our next car will be a Toyota.

 

[RichT]

my car nerd friend who drives a wrx said "the subaru boxer engine burns oil. lots of subarus have the boxor style motor". he then offered to explain the technicals of it, and i declined.

They all have a boxer style motor.

 

[kingslug]

Almost bought a WRX..Then my wife says...and where are you going to put things in it. hmmm...yup..truck it is.

 

[2Planker]

Im surprised all you dentists aren't driving g wagons.

Nah, gave up on the SUV 25's years ago. Been driving Audi sedans since then. It's really her car, since she puts up w/ my addiction problem of 60's muscle and Euro convertibles

 

[Smellytele]

We have five Subie's in our family all but one are Outback station wagons. 99, 03, 04, and two 15's
Best one 99, bullet proof.
Worst 2015, to much fluff...........all that stupid electronic gezmo shit.
Oil use issue is true, some leak it (head gaskets or seals around camshafts), some burn it. Head gaskets too for the anti-freeze loss.
Our next car will be a Toyota.

Test drove a rav 4 and the thing was very “tinny”. Doors seemed thin. Wife Went with a crv but wouldn’t get one of those again either. Thinking of a four runner next time around.

 

[So Inclined]

I bought a 2019 Impreza off the lot with a manual transmission. It is unbelievably under powered, but I really wanted a manual AWD hatchback. Not many offer manual anymore, but there are small amount. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g20734564/manual-transmission-cars/

I'm on my second Ford Fiesta ST, which is a great little hatchback/rally car wannabe which reliably gets 30-32 highway mpg and only comes with a stick. No AWD, but it's such a well-balanced, great handling car that with my winter tires on I don't fret much about moderate snowfall. I'm not taking it out in blizzards like I might with a Subie or Wrangler, though. Sadly I'm pretty sure this will be my last one, with Ford phasing out most anything that isn't a truck. The little monsters never really sold well here and I was really surprised they even released a 2018 model (year of my second) stateside.

 

[ss20]

I'm kinda sitting here chucking...lots of these comments are "My Subaru is a great car...it just burns oil and I had to replace X, Y, and Z". My last car was a 2010 Hyundai Elantra...I replaced consumables like tires, brakes, batteries, plugs, etc...but the only part that failed on me was the alternator at 130k. Unless you count O2 sensors as well...debatable is those are "consumables" or not. I had the car from 75k to 151k and that was the only failed part.

I've got a 2010 Rav4 now, since August. Bought it at 80k, up to 101k already...nothing but oil changes. My mom has a Prius she bought new in 2015. She hasn't had a single part fail. You just can't beat what's coming out of Asia, and not just Toyota/Honda anymore...Kia and Hyundai have really stepped it up in the past 20 years.

 

[kingslug]

Factoid: Subaru was the first car to come here from Japan. Started by 6 corps that merged after the war. Since they couldn't build weapons anymore..they built cars. First ones flopped..they got better at it.
I used to race 2 stroke motorcycles..burning oil is natural for me.

 

[PAabe]

I am not claiming Subarus are as reliable as Toyotas or Hondas, that is not true, and the myth that Subarus are some of the most reliable cars is untrue, but I do really like the car for other reasons.

Truck definitely way to go in terms of space though, my dad has the F-150 with the super cab and cap, you can really haul a lot of stuff with that, and the cab really is massive too. You can very easily boot up in the back seat of the cab or throw a lot of bags there, or even almost stand up and change pants. The cab seats 6 but you could easily fit 4 in the front and 5 in the back if you really wanted to, and still have leg room, that's how big it is. Despite that, it is very easy to drive because it has excellent visibility and huge windows and mirrors, and it rides and handles very smooth. The base model with the vinyl interior is nice because you can literally hose the inside clean. And it gets better gas mileage than my Subaru which kind of annoys me, considering how huge the thing is. So if I were to buy myself a truck, that vehicle really blows away the competition in my opinion.

 

[kingslug]

I like the Raptor...horrible mileage though..twin turbo 6. In the day of 3 bucks a gallon you have to think of these things now. I think my Vette gets the best milage of anything I own..if you don't romp it all the time..

 

[tnt1234]

Hope the weather is wrong for this weekend.

 

[Edd]

Hope the weather is wrong for this weekend.

MWV is in a freeze thaw situation conditions wise. Fantastic snow at Attitash on Wednesday and worst conditions of the year Thursday at BW due to a brief overnight rain event. 100% open but pretty scratchy. Heard similar for Cranmore.

 

[machski]

MWV is in a freeze thaw situation conditions wise. Fantastic snow at Attitash on Wednesday and worst conditions of the year Thursday at BW due to a brief overnight rain event. 100% open but pretty scratchy. Heard similar for Cranmore.

No rain at SR, but the warmth on Wednesday flipped the switch to spring conditions. Thursday it froze solid and while the sun was out, late Feb sun still isn't that strong or high to overcome subfreezing temps all day. Unless mother nature brings in a significant snowstorm, we are into the spring rollercoaster of timing. Hit it on a spring warmth day, skiing will be great. Hit it when winter switch back on temps wise, it will suck.

 

[tnt1234]

Rain both days in the cats.

Hopefully it won't be too hard and we can get a few runs in each day.

 

[Smellytele]

Black was great on Tuesday but then the heat came Wednesday and Thursday at Mt Abram was great on the groomers and the top 3rd of the mountain glades and bumps were okay. Lower 3rd was frozen up all day. No real rain just a few sprinkles late in the day Wednesday when the wife and I XC in Jackson after doing some ice climbing with my son in the morning in bright sunshine.

 

[tnt1234]

Saturday was fun at Bell - rain was light and stopped mid day. Then nice and soft - extra slushy spring skiing.

But today was horrible. Frozen solid. Two runs and left. First bad day of the year for us.

 

[Harvey]

lots of subarus have the boxor style motor"

I thought they all did?

The boxer is great in theory. In reality it's just pretty good.