Purchasing Questions Outback/Forrester

[GBCuser]

Hey All,

 

I am a former Saab 9-3 owner venturing in to the Subaru world. I've found a super awesome mechanic that also dabbles in some sales, needless to say I think they are on the up and up. My questions revolve around two ideas:

 

1) a 2002 Outback Ltd with 133k on it. Car had 3 owners, one for 8k, the next for 90k, the next for like 35k. The mechanics bought it did the following:

 

New Headgaskets, New Brakes, New Clutch, New Timing Belt (including idler pulley's, oil pump, and water pump), New Catalytic Converter, New Sway Bars, New Control Arms, Tie-Rods, & a Tune Up

 

It needs new Tires as well. The question is whether a car like this is worth it (7500 w/ tires) since it has needed so much? I mean on one hand its has most of the big things that could go wrong, fixed...but i don't know about the previous owners maintenance sched.

 

The question really comes down to, if the previous owners (mechanics in this case) fix the car up, is it worth it more than buying a car from a dealer/private party who don't put the cars back together. I mean, the 2002 only needed a new clutch, is that more appealing than all the other things done to it.

 

2) 2003 Forrester X

 

This car basically rolled. So it had body damage, nothing to the underlying frame. It basically had some bondo work, new front panel, hood, and replaced some glass. New Timing belt, New Radiator, it has 87k on it. The Mechanics are going to do some more work, but basically they are trying to get $8500.

 

the car was bought from an insurer (has a clean title too, no accident info).

 

Is it worth buying a car that has been in an accident after a Mechanic bought it to repair and then sell? and if you trust the mechanic?

 

They give a 12/12,000 warranty at 50/50 cost for repairs and a 30 day drive train warranty.

 

What says the Subaru Gurus?

 

Best,

 

Jonathan

[idosubaru]

tread cautiously with wrecks. sounds like a high price for a rolled vehicle. i can not imagine selling a 2003 forester for $8,500 that i bought from insurance. that gives me questions marks about the people selling it...unless i saw before pictures and it was minor. must have been thousands of dollars worth of damage to total it and they should have gotten for chump change

 

i've bought several wrecked Subaru's from insurance - all at 3 digit price tags around the same year relatively speaking. i just looked on autotrader and i didnt' really search but in 10 seconds i found a 2003 forester with 98,000 miles for $8,450, probably lots of deals out there like that and better.

 

i've bought wrecked subaru's and fixed them. i don't think they are a good fit for most folks. if you're mechanically inclined with an eye for this stuff then maybe it's a better fit. accidents cause things to rust later where they normally don't, things to make strange noises at a later date, parts being slightly out of alignment that aren't noticed until later, etc. (i dont' mean tire alignment).

 

i would recommend before pictures and a very thorough inspection. and i'd want a great deal if buying a wreck - he's charging top dollar, that's odd.

 

the OBW sounds like a decent deal. the EJ25 does have a small percentage of issues with blown motors (seized blocks, rod bearings, i just bought one a couple weeks ago, they're not hard to fine) and i'd guess it's because of the number of headgasket/overheating issues - which this one has had. it is a low percentage and not necessarily a reason not to buy, but just letting you know. it has a great chance of making another 100,000 maintenance free miles like Subaru's are known for.

[GBCuser]

Thanks for the reply!

 

I did see some pictures before the repairs, it didn't look like it was in great shape. Left Rear quarter panel smashed, front right quarter panel missing, damage to the roof, doors dented. It didn't look like much going on with the front end, but i only saw two of the side shots.

 

Good to know the price point is high for something like that. hmm.

 

In Denver, CO, Subarus tend to be on the pricier side.

 

Thanks again.

[JT95]

My mom was hit yesterday morning in her Saturn Vue, which will no doubt be totaled by the insurance company, so I'm trying to steer her to looking for a Forester instead of another Vue. (Not a bad little SUV, but it handled like a three legged moose on acid in the rain.) $8500 for a rebulit 2003 model sounds pretty high to me. I've found some 2006 models with less than 150k for sub $10k that had clean titles and looked nice. I would pass on the rollover. Little things not related to collision damage itself -could- pop up later on. Never pay top market price for a rebuilt, even if the title is clear. My OBS is a rebuilt wreck and I have no problem driving a rebuilt because I have had good luck with them, but I bought it crashed for cheap. A very experienced frame guy pulled it and I did all the other stuff, so more "love" and time were put into the repair than if someone were doing it to turn around and sell.

 

 

The Outback sounds like a much better option. I'd still look around, though, and keep your options open for a bit.

[JT95]

 

I did see some pictures before the repairs, it didn't look like it was in great shape...damage to the roof,

 

Roof damage can be a real booger sometimes. Depending on the damage, the sheetmetal of the roof seems to have a "memory" of a big dent and can cave back into that dent if given a little pressure to do so. I've seen people reaching inside their cars and pushing out reoccurring roof dents.

 

 

 

In Denver, CO, Subarus tend to be on the pricier side.

 

I missed that part the first time. Yeah, CO tends to be a little different market for Subarus. Got any family in the south? lol Subie shopping south of the mason dixon line probably allows for more omg deals than in the snow states.

[idosubaru]

while i didn't see the pic's that sounds extensive.