Ranger83

My 1997 Outback runs well with 120K. when it turned 100K I had all the usual maintenance done, plus a new oil pump seal, water pump, camshaft seals etc. Thanks to this board, btw. I drive a lot - between 25-30,000 miles per year, and extra maintenance or breakdowns won't be convenient. It seems cars with under 100K sell for over $6,000, but that price drops down to something like $3,000 as mileage gets to 150K. For best value, should I: - Sell it now. - Drive it through the Winter, then sell. - Run it into the ground. And if I get a newer OB, should I go for the 6 cylinder, or stay with the 4? I've found it to have adequate performance for my purposes with the 2.5 l 4.

Good question, as I noted earlier I own two '97 Outbacks with 87K and 118K, no problems, and six other friends own '97 or '98's. One has 146K. None have had head gasket problems. So we're all really lucky or the problem isn't as widespread as the sample of users here would make it appear. The fact that these crs receive high reliability ratings from everyone makes me think it is the latter. No consolation if you have had the problem, though.

My point is that it seems most of the people who post here have had problems and go searching for answers, and magnify a problem. No one I know has had head gasket problems, for example, out of 8 cars. I hesitate to say that, because it might jinx me!!!!

A guy I work with has a Ford Explorer with 235,000+ miles on it. He's gone through something like 6 sets of tires, several sets of brakes and front end components, and an alternator and waterpump or two, but the rest of the drivetrain is original. And he uses Mobil 1.

I know 5 other people who have 97 or 98 OB's - and I have two 97's, ONE WITH 117k. All have at least 85K miles. None of them has had anything but routine maintenance on the engine. Am I missing something? None of them post on this forum....

I've lost two of the screws that hold the cross bars on my roof rack. Can I replace them with standard Metric Phillips head or something? Size? They're probably $4.00 each at the dealer or something....lol

GM also owns the plant in Indiana where some Subarus and Isuzus are made. They own 50% of Isuzu. I have a different perspective. IMHO the SAAB was already obselete and had other quality problems. Moving their cars to the well developed Opel chassis was one of the ways to save the marque, while updating the running gear without spending the $1-3 billion it takes to develop a new car model. I admit to a jaundiced view, I think SAAB lost most of their uniqueness with the introduction of the 99. I haven't owned one since my completely rebilt 1969 96 got hit by a Checker cab in 1978.

Check any Honda, Toyota, or any other car forum where people keep them for high mileage and has an alloy block or cylinder heads. Toyota has a recall and replaces them for free on certain vehicles - I think the Land Bruiser or one of their other SUV's. Ford recalled most of their 3.8l engines for failures beginning at 50K miles. If they were failing catastrophically at less than 100K, it would be a big deal: for a high mileage car with alloy components (which have higher thermal coefficients of expansion) it probably has to be considered a maintenance item.

I heard a guy on Click & Clack describe his Subaru with 150K miles as "middle-aged." My '97 OB has 115K miles and runs great. Get from 22-27 mpg regularly and just got one tank of 28.1 mpg. Only repair other than brakes, tires etc. was a front wheel bearing. The replacement Michelin X-One tires have 50K on them and look great. I replace the oil and filter every 5K. I have one friend with 147K but it has a rebult engine. Who has a Legacy Outback with real high miles? Any tips?

I used Dent Wizard in Peabody, they were excellent. Cost about $250 to remove the whole carload of dents, some small, some large.

My OB has 113,700, running great. Also have one with 87,000 that runs well, so you're unlucky.