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Subarus are very popular in Seattle, though there are two distinct groups that own them, those that want to get over the mountain passes without chains (skiers
by StudentStuff 8y ago
Subarus are very popular in Seattle, though there are two distinct groups that own them, those that want to get over the mountain passes without chains (skiers and the like), and less clued in people that just like the style. Most of the latter group wish they'd never bought a Subaru after a few years, as the repairs can be eyewatering when your head gasket go, followed by a shoddy repair at your local stealership that wrecks your engine.
Even when a head gasket replacement goes well, the gasket will degrade again in due time and your right back where you started. 300k miles in a newer Subaru without major work just isn't common.
- Gibbon1 8y agoSubaru answers a question. Q: Can people be happy with a car that requires a $2500 repair at 100,000 miles. A: Yes As on I know multiple people that bought a Subaru, had to replace the head gaskets. And then later bought another Subaru. And they're happy.
- bruceb 8y ago$2500 is on the low end, some shops in the Seattle area with everything you are looking at near $4k.
- Gibbon1 8y agoHead gaskets are a 8-10 hour job, my mechanics shop rate is $120/hr in SF. A friend had her Subaru engine replaced for $4 in north bay. I'm never going to take my car into get fixed in Seattle.
- StudentStuff 8y agoIts $4k minimum here on the outer fringes of the greater Seattle area to get your head gasket done if you go to a stealership (eg: using a dealership in Kent). In town you'd be up at $5k, though an independent shop will do it for $3500. Most of the latter category I outlined will never set foot in an independent shop though, due to their own shitty preconceptions. Additionally, the oil consumption and leakage seems to start a bit after 70k miles. I don't know anyone who made it to 100k before needing the head gasket done, my aunt generally parts with Subarus right before they hit 65k due to this. Its an expensive addiction if your a skier. Comparatively, a serpentine belt (rated to 100k, can easily do 120k) on a Lexus engine will run you $1200, and is one of the few things you'd need to change besides oil as you get up there in mileage.
- opencl 8y agoWho in the hell is charging $1200 to install a serpentine belt? In every car I've seen it's a $20 part and maybe 1-2 hours of labor depending on how annoying the engine design is.
- bhandziuk 8y ago1200 is a lot but it might include other things like water pump. And definitely some engines (my Honda Civic) are very difficult to access the belt path. Still 1200...
- chiefalchemist 8y agoI had a WRX and was at 125k and seeming fine (no head gasget / oil issues) but it was hit while parked and totalled.
- cafard 8y ago300K miles in much of anything isn't that common, is it? I don't know that I've managed more than 140K in Honda, though that was largely city driving.