1998 Subaru Outback review from North America
"Love it love it love it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I had the air compressor replaced at 95k miles.
I had an Oil leak at 100K miles.
At 115K miles, the check engine light has been coming on randomly over the past 1-2 months. Took it in today and the dealer is recommending a completely new engine. Misfire on Cylinder #4 and it only has 60 PSI instead of 170. Estimate: $5500. I'm probably going to sell it or donate it.
General comments?
I drove this car back and forth from Denver to Vail/Beaver Creek every week of the winter for 4 years to teach ski school. It was totally reliable and handled so well. I would not have considered driving another car in those variable & sometimes very hazardous winter conditions.
Love the cargo room. I can fit anything in it except for a box spring! Dog, bike, camping gear, skis loved it too.
I had hoped that I would get 250,000 miles out of it, but these comments don't sound too encouraging as far as the reliability of the rebuilt engines. Also, the check engine, gasket & valve issues seem to be popping up a lot in the comments.
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| 1998 - Outback Limited Edition 4 cylinder We love the car, but not the cost of repairs! |
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| Stay away from Subaru |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 57 miles |
| Most recent distance | 115000 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Blazer |
| Date of Entry | 5th May, 2004 |