1989 Subaru Legacy L review from North America

165,000 miles the front axles decided to randomly break so a $600 fix there.

190,000 miles the alternator went on the road so that was about a $150 fix.

199,000 miles the rear diff. decided to give up and seize (it did have oil in it) which was $300 to fix.

201,000 miles the water pump blew.

A/C never worked past 165,000.

Threw out the life that we had it its been pretty much nothing, but problems (there are other problems, but were smaller so I didn't mention them). the oil burned, leaked and everything else, valves sticking constantly. The automatic was a piece of crap. it would always down shift twice under hard acceleration up to the red line and then up shift to where it should of shifted to. also when we would first put it into gear and hit the gas it would start off really really slow like nothing was really happening and then like 30 seconds later it would finally catch and shoot off.

I know what you guys are thinking... well you bought the car with high mileage to begin and regular maintance is required and all that. and yes we did buy the car with 160,000 miles, but after reading reviews about these Subaru's going well past 200,000 we went ahead and bought it. we got it from a friend that kept the car in good running condition and all so it was well kept before we got it. and I know what your thinking 40,000 miles in one year? that's messed up. well we took a lot of trips from North Carolina to Ohio and down to Florida so that's how all the miles got racked up. and we did change the oil about every month so the maintance shouldn't be a problem.

Overall this will be our last Japanese car that we will ever buy. we had a Toyota and it died young and we got it from a friend that was in the military and also kept it good running condition. So I think we're gonna keep with our American Chrysler's, Cause they've never let us down like these imports.