Greetings to all and thanks in advance for any constructive advice on these two related questions

 

Next January my fairly low mileage 09 Forester base model will be 105 months, but only about 91K miles.

I read a lot of horror stories about the head gaskets issues cropping up and costing well over $2000

So I am faced with a decision

Invest $1000 roughly in the 105 service, do the water pump at the same time (maybe $600) and will probably need new tires as well ($500-$700)

Its a fairly expensive years worth of things with the potential head gasket concerns in the back of my mind..

Only putting on about 4-5k miles per year and the next vehicle will be my cliched last car- you buy when retiring..

 

If there was a good independent mechanic in the SE PA area who would not rock my wallet quite as much as a dealership, I would be inclined to do that and drive this one to its end.

 

So looking for other folks suggestions and experience with the head gasket issue and a good independent mechanic/shop locally

 

 

all cars need tires occasionally

 

many cars need timing belts

 

if you take care of the car, it will last you just fine. many of the horror stories are cars that have passed thru 2-3 owners and/or been neglected or abused. The odds of a caring owner with their 1-owner vehicle experiencing catastrophic failure are low. It CAN happen of course. Just the risk of car ownership in general.

 

find a good independent mechanic and you should be fine - likely way under the prices you quoted.

Trade-in is for chumps.

 

They will low-ball your trade, then resell it for 3x as much.

 

And you'll end up spending a lot more on a new car, just to have it depreciate the minute you drive it off the lot.  Way more expensive in the long run.

 

The cheapest car is almost always the one you already own.  If the car is meeting your needs, then give it the love it needs and keep it.

I have a 99 Subaru with over 475k on it.  Yes I have replaced the engine and transmission but all costs in way less than buying a new car.  Assume a $500/mo car payment and the maintenance costs you stated is about 4 months of car payments.

The average newer car depreciates about 1000 to 1500 $ per year If you have a paid off car and you spend less that this per year you are way ahead. I am in the same position but my wife wants newer

Thanks to all, I am inclined to keep it and put the service items in, just paranoid about the potential  need for  head gasket replacement.....

Have the headgaskets checked carefully now. That specific engines (not all engines) starts with a light seeping before it turns into a symptomatic leak.

 

Post pictures here if you want and we'll tell you.

 

You need to check the lower seam where the head meets the engine block from front to back on both sides. It's either dry or wet.

 

If it's just a little wet it won't be a problem for some time so you've got lots of time to plan and prepare your next move. They can be driven -0's of thousands of miles before they worsen.

 

If it's dry you know you can keep it with relatively little concern.

 

That engine isn't typically subject to the random failures that are unpredictable which is true of some EJ25s, just not that one.

If you do want to trade in - let me know and I can come buy it from you for $500-$1000 more than what a dealer offers.

You didn't mention how the body was, if the sheet metal and all the underpinnings (suspension and such) are in good shape and not an issue then you should keep the car. If your body is starting to go because of the winter salts, it's eventually a loosing battle.