I am soon to be a first time Subaru owner. I am purchasing a 2003 Baja with 110,000 miles on it. I know that is high mileage but the price is right and the car has been well maintained. It is at a dealership but I talked with the previous owner. He is a military man who drove the car 150 miles per day and seemed obsessive about the vehicle. He used synthetic oil and a speciual air filter because he found he could get an extra mile or 2 per gallon. He constantly monitored the car's performance....said when the temp was below 40 degrees, gas mileage went down about a mile. Did all the scheduled maintenance on time. So, I want to get a lot more miles out of this car.

 

Now my question is....where can I find the recommended schedule for maintenance? Also, any recommenfdations out there from you other obsessive owners to keep this Baja on the road for years to some?

 

Thanks.

Get a copy of all his maintenance records if you can.

If he doesnt have them, perhaps the dealership where he had it serviced will give them to you.

 

Timing belt is MOST important. At 110,000 miles, it IS due.

 

110,000 on a properly maintained subaru is NOTHING. If he's taken care of it, its practically new.

 

A/T or M/T?

 

EDIT: The dealership where you are buying it will probably give you a booklet that has recommended maintenance schedules in it.

 

WARNING: Some dealers put together their "own" maintenance booklets that include services that arent necessary, and are overpriced. Look carefully at what they give you (and post it in this thread if you can) They want to make $$ AFTER the sale as well.

 

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR SUBIE >>>

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/subaru_maintenance.html

Get a copy of all his maintenance records if you can.

If he doesnt have them, perhaps the dealership where he had it serviced will give them to you.

 

Timing belt is MOST important. At 110,000 miles, it IS due.

 

110,000 on a properly maintained subaru is NOTHING. If he's taken care of it, its practically new.

 

A/T or M/T?

 

EDIT: The dealership where you are buying it will probably give you a booklet that has recommended maintenance schedules in it.

 

WARNING: Some dealers put together their "own" maintenance booklets that include services that arent necessary, and are overpriced. Look carefully at what they give you (and post it in this thread if you can) They want to make $$ AFTER the sale as well.

 

 

It is automatic transmission. The previous owner said that everything that was recommended was done...so timing belt is not an issue for now. when was it first recommended to change...90 or 100? what is the first thing I have to worry about?

 

I have never heard anyone as obsessive as the previous owner. A big reason I am buying this one. It has the hard and soft bed cover, and the bed extender too.

It has the hard and soft bed cover, and the bed extender too.

 

Those are a nice bonus!

 

The timing belt is (was) due at 105,000 miles. From your description, I'll bet he had it done. However, super-obsessive owner or not, make SURE you see documentation that he changed that belt.

Your engine = trashed if the timing belt breaks.

 

Post some pics when you get 'er home!

 

 

*sniff* ...now I miss my old baja.

 

Those are a nice bonus!

 

The timing belt is (was) due at 105,000 miles. From your description, I'll bet he had it done. However, super-obsessive owner or not, make SURE you see documentation that he changed that belt.

Your engine = trashed if the timing belt breaks.

 

Post some pics when you get 'er home!

 

 

*sniff* ...now I miss my old baja.

 

 

Yours looked great. I like those yellow 2 tone. Here in mine (in a few days);

 

Hello and congratulations!

 

Maintenance schedule --> http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedules/schedules.jsp?schedulepage=2003myfed.html

 

Yes as already mentioned you must replace the timing belt now if it has not been done yet. I know you said the previous owner said "everything recommended was done" but I would triple check it to make sure that included the timing belt because if it wasn't done and it breaks wellllll $$$$$$$

 

There are a number of other things that should be done at that same time inlcluding valve clearance check & adjustment and valve cover gasket set, water pump and gasket, thermostat and gasket, replace geared/toothed idler near water pump and at least check the other idlers and tensioner, cam seals, front crank seal, reseal oil pump. It is prudent to do all these when the timing belt is done.

That is beautiful. Ironically, I was always a little jealous of the single-tone bajas.

 

The hard "paint-to-match" bed cover is the best.

Hello and congratulations!

 

Maintenance schedule --> http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedules/schedules.jsp?schedulepage=2003myfed.html

 

Yes as already mentioned you must replace the timing belt now if it has not been done yet. I know you said the previous owner said "everything recommended was done" but I would triple check it to make sure that included the timing belt because if it wasn't done and it breaks wellllll $$$$$$$

 

There are a number of other things that should be done at that same time inlcluding valve clearance check & adjustment and valve cover gasket set, water pump and gasket, thermostat and gasket, replace geared/toothed idler near water pump and at least check the other idlers and tensioner, cam seals, front crank seal, reseal oil pump. It is prudent to do all these when the timing belt is done.

 

 

Thanks for the link!!

Backwoodsboy, what is the 4WD emblem off of that you got in the grill of that Baja? Gen 1 BRAT?

Nice spot.

 

...its actually off of my mom's old 79 wagon (RIP) It was the only non-rusty part that was salvageable.

Nice looking Baja, carolinagal. For a moment I thought something was amiss since the plastic is the same color as the bodywork. That's a hallmark of the '04+. I had forgot that the late '03 blue ones were that way. I know you'll love your Baja; I sure love mine!