Diesel Outback - any good experiences?

[Blackwedge]

I am currently in the market for a new (to me) car and the diesel Outback in theory has everything I need. Plus I really like the look of them.

Having done a little research, there are quite a few horror stories on internet sites about engine failure, unreliability, and very expensive repairs. This has put me off a little but I realise most people only post their experience on some of these sites when they have had problems, and it could be that the vast majority of owners have had no problems. There are plenty for sale with high mileages so presumably people are getting good use out of them without constantly paying out for major repairs?

Does anyone on here own one and have good things to say about it? For my budget I would be looking at a 2008/09 car.

Thanks

[oop north]

Slightly tricky question as I am trading my 2008 outback diesel in against a 3.0 2009 Outback this Saturday! I haven't had any problems with mine though have got rather paranoid about the engine since a friend had to replace the engine in his diesel legacy. And after four years / 62k miles (from 9k at two years to 71k) want a change, fancied petrol auto with six cylinders, a 2009 3.0 came up at a local garage - by getting the same car again I will be able to swap (aftermarket) stereo satnav towbar over. I still like the basic car (4 years is a record for me - normally change within two) but unable to shake off the paranoia over the engine

[Blackwedge]

Thank you for the response. This is exactly my worry - you have had a trouble free 62k but know of another with serious problems. This may be no different to any other model but at the moment it feels a bit like Russian Roulette and is putting me off getting one. Unfortunately I couldn't really live with the 25mpg of the petrol version.

[Lefty]

We've got a 2010 diesel outback as the family car and it's great. I commute in it (80 miles per day of mixed a and B roads) and get 45mpg. It's big, comfy, awesome in the snow (we live in a very rural part of NE Scotland). It's not fast but can be hustled quite well despite the body-roll...

[pistol pete]

I loved mine, it was a great car, but it broke at 91k (spun a Main bearing I think), the dealer took it as a trade in against a 2l petrol forester.

I do keep looking at them in classifieds though, especially since our local dealer is offering a 2 year warrenty I used cars.

[oop north]

The 2.5 petrol might be worth a look - not going to get diesel mpg (though mine is delivering no more than 40 and usually less now - mpg dropping about 2 a year!) but they are cheaper to buy and otherwise the same car, and not bad on mpg. When I bought mine, someone on a forum was praising his 2.5 outback very highly

[oop north]

Just discovered my friend is giving up on his diesel legacy - getting a Yeti instead

[MaxA]

Funnily enough, we did just that, not because of any concerns about the 2.0TD engine, but because my wife got mad at the soft-stall function (she stalled all the time.... ).

We now have a 1.8T Yeti but a Haldex IV AWD system is nothing like as good as the proper Subaru AWD when you need it most ie winter. The Yeti feels like a FWD, the Subaru felt like a train. I still miss the Subaru.

[Ved]

Why diesel? Do you do lots of long trips? I take your point about the MPG of the 3.0 but if you factor in how tough and reliable they are it may end up saving you money in the long term. Consider the value over just the MPG. How many miles would you do a year?

[Mr Taxpayer]

Blackwedge said:

Thank you for the response. This is exactly my worry - you have had a trouble free 62k but know of another with serious problems. This may be no different to any other model but at the moment it feels a bit like Russian Roulette and is putting me off getting one. Unfortunately I couldn't really live with the 25mpg of the petrol version.

LPG 60 pence per litre. Though converting a 6cyl car is £200 more than a 4cyl.

[Mr Taxpayer]

IIRC there were some issues on the very early engines but then no-one ahd designed a flat-4 diesel before.
As has been pointed out to me, the 3.0 engines have chain driven cams and so never need the timing belts replacing. If you get one first registered before 23 Mar 06 then the annual VED is a slightly more acceptable £280 rather than £500.

I'm looking to move to a 3.0 Spec B soon and will be getting an LPG conversion. I've run my WRX Impreza on LPG for the last 40,000 miles and the palce that I had the conversion done has converted many Foresters, Imprezas and Legacys.

[jonesof63]

We run two diesels, an Outback and a Forester, both very well maintained with oil changes every 5-6k miles (i'm fussy) neither car has missed a beat in over 120k collective miles, the Outback has 97k miles on a 10 plate, my daughter in law has a diesel XV and again that has been faultless. I read the odd horror story but have nothing but praise for the boxer diesel.

Edited by jonesof63 on Saturday 18th April 19:18

[Ved]

jonesof63 said:

We run two diesels, an Outback and a Forester, both very well maintained with oil changes every 5-6k miles (i'm fussy) neither car has missed a beat in over 120k collective miles, the Outback has 97k miles on a 10 plate, my daughter in law has a diesel XV and again that has been faultless. I read the odd horror story but have nothing but praise for the boxer diesel.

Edited by jonesof63 on Saturday 18th April 19:18

If they XV had a flat loading boot I'd have one in a second. Awesome little things.

[jonesof63]

Ved said:

If they XV had a flat loading boot I'd have one in a second. Awesome little things.

They are indeed, the relatively low kerb weight compared to the Outback means they're really nippy, she's gets circa 50mpg. 9 inches of ground clearance too.

[tonyb1968]

Early engines are prone to crank failure, normally between 40-60k miles, the engine has since had several developements and is like 3 or 4 phases further on than those early models, unfortunately you will be looking at one of those engines which are more prone to failing, but saying that, David at API engines had one and it did 170k miles before letting go with the crank breaking.
A bit of a mine field but if its done more than 60k it probably will be ok, or you may be better going for the petrol and not have to worry about it

[Paul.H.]

Hi...am new to this forum, having come across from HSV/Monaro...
Last Friday I had a breakdown on the M6 Toll with my '14 Outback 2.0D...a VERY metal-to-metal 'graunch' from the engine as I slowed for the toll booths. To cut a long story short, I (with the AA) got the car back to the dealers who proceeded to investigate. The cars done 11,800 miles & is only 8 months old. I don't thrash it - it was returning 49.8 mpg over 7,000 miles!
The dealer advised me today that is was crank related but exactly WHAT, they have no idea Subaru UK telling them not to dismantle the engine any further, crate it up & send it to them!!! The swervice(pun intended) manager said that, as far as they can see from removing the inspection plates, the crank has snapped!!! I then offered that it could be the bottom end bearing shells??? He has no idea because it's now in a crate. He also said that they don't get paid for taking the engine apart THAT far, so it's now crated up & will be sent to Subaru UK tomorrow!
The car will be ready for me to pick up from Mon onwards after having a new short engine - everything except the cylinder heads & turbo!

It's definately unsettled me with the car - will I/can I trust it again!!!

Hope this helps...sorry for the delay but I've only just seen this post!

[jonesof63]

Paul.H. said:

Hi...am new to this forum, having come across from HSV/Monaro...
Last Friday I had a breakdown on the M6 Toll with my '14 Outback 2.0D...a VERY metal-to-metal 'graunch' from the engine as I slowed for the toll booths. To cut a long story short, I (with the AA) got the car back to the dealers who proceeded to investigate. The cars done 11,800 miles & is only 8 months old. I don't thrash it - it was returning 49.8 mpg over 7,000 miles!
The dealer advised me today that is was crank related but exactly WHAT, they have no idea Subaru UK telling them not to dismantle the engine any further, crate it up & send it to them!!! The swervice(pun intended) manager said that, as far as they can see from removing the inspection plates, the crank has snapped!!! I then offered that it could be the bottom end bearing shells??? He has no idea because it's now in a crate. He also said that they don't get paid for taking the engine apart THAT far, so it's now crated up & will be sent to Subaru UK tomorrow!
The car will be ready for me to pick up from Mon onwards after having a new short engine - everything except the cylinder heads & turbo!

It's definately unsettled me with the car - will I/can I trust it again!!!

Hope this helps...sorry for the delay but I've only just seen this post!

That's unnerving..... the autopsy would be interesting. Personally I would have insisted on a full engine rather than a 'short' motor.

[tonyb1968]

I'm gutted for you the diesel had problems when it first came out, after about 3 major engine updates it should have been sorted, cranks snapping was one of the issues they had and they strengthened them to cope.

I am hoping it will be good news for you, I.M. have a way of avoiding paying for failed engines, as long as you checked the oil on a regular basis you should be ok.

[Paul.H.]

Thanks Tonyb...like I said, the dealer was told NOT to completely strip the engine, so they only had 2(?) inspection plates to look through...it COULD be a snapped crank OR anything to do with the 'bottom' end...at first I thought it might've been the dual mass flywheel (dmf) but was assured by the garage that that was OK!
Have filled in a feedback form online to Subaru UK...I await a response to my statement that I'd prefer a complete new engine & not a short one partic when the rest of the engine hasn't been inspected!