How reliable is your Subaru?

How reliable is your Subaru?

Author
Discussion

Smollet

Original Poster:

11,774 posts

197 months

Tuesday 21st September 2021
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I bought my Impreza WRX in 2005. FSH and yesterday it let me down for the first time. Radiator went pop. I mean it’s done 75k. Wtf ? rofl

texaxile

3,395 posts

157 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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Hope I’m not putting the touch of doom by saying this, but mine has been bulletproof in 6 years of ownership and 30k or so miles, now on 106k. I do practice preventative maintenance though, plus service it on time as per the handbook.
A rad is , in some cases , a long term consumeable item. Mines showing signs of age with the metal being very fragile and beginning to drop out, so might need replacement some time soon.


My blob has, to date, been the most reliable car I’ve owned (touch wood) so far. I get it serviced once a year and a winter check done every Oct , it is also by far the best car I’ve ever had. I love the raw, uninterrupted feeling of the drive, they really broke the mould when they made these cars.

Despite saving like billy-o for an M4C which I can’t now afford to buy, the Impreza , I’ve decided,is going nowhere. I know that deep inside it would be a regrettable sale, if ever.

Edited for utterly atrocious spelling.

Smollet

Original Poster:

11,774 posts

197 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
quotequote all
texaxile said:
Hope I’m not putting the touch of doom by saying this, but mine has been bulletproof in 6 years of ownership and 30k or so miles, now on 106k. I do practice preventative maintenance though, plus service it on time as per the handbook.
A rad is , in some cases , a long term consumeable item. Mines showing signs of age with the metal being very fragile and beginning to drop out, so might need replacement some time soon.


My blob has, to date, been the most reliable car I’ve owned (touch wood) so far. I get it serviced once a year and a winter check done every Oct , it is also by far the best car I’ve ever had. I love the raw, uninterrupted feeling of the drive, they really broke the mould when they made these cars.

Despite saving like billy-o for an M4C which I can’t now afford to buy, the Impreza , I’ve decided,is going nowhere. I know that deep inside it would be a regrettable sale, if ever.

Edited for utterly atrocious spelling.
They’re creeping up in value. I’ve been offered £7k for mine but won’t sell and tbh I’m not sure what could replace it

insert coin

1,965 posts

50 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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My brand new 02 STi was the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever owned and when I p/x’ed it for a brand new Legacy Spec B things barely improved.

Never again, unless a 22B or immaculate P1 came up at the right price.

MDMA .

9,214 posts

108 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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My 05 Legacy needed a new alternator 4 years ago. Thats all that has failed in 135k miles. Still used everyday and gets fresh oil and filters twice a year.

vxr2010

2,597 posts

166 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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one engine rebuild which was still running fine at 198,000 k miles , the engine was expected as it was a 2.5 Fsti , re built at 93k or so , one failed window motor 5 £ weld sorted , other than normal service items no other faults

Smint

1,996 posts

42 months

Wednesday 22nd September 2021
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Like Toyotas they are super reliable, assuming some decent preventative maintenance.
The only fly in the ointment is when Subarus do go wrong any genuine parts you need are a scandalous price and good indies are few and far between.

wolfie28

795 posts

151 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
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I’ve owned 3 and probably done more than 200,000 miles in them and some of those miles were driven as intended. One of those cars was highly modded and still never failed me. In overall ownership a battery and a neutral position switch have gone. Maybe I’ve been lucky but I’ve always looked after them. I’m lucky that an excellent independent specialist is local.

Prices are on the up as are most cars these days. Was thinking of selling mine but changed my mind as she’s a keeper.

TEKNOPUG

19,340 posts

212 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
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Prices aren't scandalous and there are plenty of Indies. They are also very easy to work on. You only really need a specialist if you are planning non-OEM mods.

I bought a 120k WRX with 6 owners and took it to 180k. Only failures out of routine servicing was an O2 sensor and the cam cover gaskets. I have another WRX with 110k and it had a wishbone replaced under VOSA recall FoC. That's it.

Look on an US forums and there are loads in 200k+ The 2.0l are very reliable if looked after properly. Badly maintained and modified cars will suffer reliability just like any other make.

Gary C

13,171 posts

186 months

Saturday 25th September 2021
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insert coin said:
My brand new 02 STi was the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever owned and when I p/x’ed it for a brand new Legacy Spec B things barely improved.

Never again, unless a 22B or immaculate P1 came up at the right price.
My brand new 03 STi was great, only let down by the sticking rear dampers when new.

Not a single breakdown.

The front Brembo's would suffer from knockoff under hard cornering giving a long pedal sometimes and the mudflaps would scrape the road even on the highest setting. Needed new front disks after about 10k miles. It would tramline on the OEM Bridgestones but any other tyre would fold over the sidewall and wear out the sidewall faster than the tread wink

Shame it got stolen but it was a great 4 years of ownership.

R12many

182 posts

99 months

Thursday 30th September 2021
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My 05 Wagon has been terrible but then I knew it had issues when I bought it. In my 3 years of ownership it has had new clutch, transfer shaft bearings, rocker cover gaskets, 3 alternators, multiple cv boots, temp sensor, air con repaired, seat repaired, one way valve in washer line replaced, brakes unseized, leak in roof seam resealed and probably more! It also needs a new radiator support welded in but despite all this I still love it smile

FastEdd11e

205 posts

63 months

Monday 29th November 2021
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We've had our 05 WRX Prodrive wagon for 4 years now.
The rad failed but I think that was my fault as it was freezing and I hadn't done any preventative maintenance.

It's at 140k now and climbing. I love it. You'd be surprised what you can can squeeze into the back.
It's due for some paint in Feb and a winter service in two weeks.

I occasionally wash it but the inside looks like a farmers field. This is not a car for the clean freak! They would implode. It flies.

I'm going to get it on a rolling road after Christmas just to see what power I've been enjoying.

Is it the best car I've had? No. My Mk4 R32 wins that. I bought it when it was 3 months old and had for 4 years. Only on comfort.

Would I sell it? Nope. I'm going to get a W204 C63 in the spring. I love a small estate. I intend to run the AMG for the summer and Scooby in the winter.