My car is a 2001 Subaru Forester I've had since 2003, when I bought it as a certified pre-owned with some 40,000 miles on it. It now has about 144,000 miles, a used engine (cost $2000 including all labor, with a one year guarantee, installed two years ago), and while I skimped superficial maintenance (minor dings need bodywork, bumper a bit loose, etc.), I have gotten regular oil changes and had repairs done on anything impacting safety or performance consistently. It may look like a complete beater, but it generally runs pretty well for a two-decade old car that has spent a decade and a half with me through northeast winters. I don't expect miracles from it, but I do expect it to keep me alive while driving it, and if there is a serious risk that it can no longer do that, I don't want to drive it on anything but extremely local roads at low speeds until I can get a replacement.
For the last few months, I have been hearing a rattling from the rear of my car. I assumed it was the plastic bumper which is a bit loose or one of the rear windows, but brought the car last week to the mechanic (someone I largely trust and have worked with for years), who told me one of the trailing arms is busted near the frame, and that the frame is so rusted there that it can't be re-attached. Basically, he told me the car is on the way out, rather than trying to sell me on repairs, and that it may last a week or a few months, but the next step will be for the strut to break, which will result in loud banging. After that, he said no more highways and I could use it in town until I get a replacement, and ideally that I shouldn't take it on the highway much now, either.
My main questions are as follows: How dangerous is it to drive with one busted trailing arm? I know the handling will be different than if it were working, but is there any risk of catastrophic failure while on the highway? If the strut breaks next, will I lose complete control of my car? Or will it just get really loud and I'll pull off the highway and take back roads home? Is it sheer lunacy to drive this car on a three-hour trip by highway this coming weekend? Basically, what do you Forester experts think? My car knowledge is pretty limited. I'd like to justify using it for some medium-distance trips in the coming weeks, but don't want to delude myself into doing something that's extremely unsafe. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
For the last few months, I have been hearing a rattling from the rear of my car. I assumed it was the plastic bumper which is a bit loose or one of the rear windows, but brought the car last week to the mechanic (someone I largely trust and have worked with for years), who told me one of the trailing arms is busted near the frame, and that the frame is so rusted there that it can't be re-attached. Basically, he told me the car is on the way out, rather than trying to sell me on repairs, and that it may last a week or a few months, but the next step will be for the strut to break, which will result in loud banging. After that, he said no more highways and I could use it in town until I get a replacement, and ideally that I shouldn't take it on the highway much now, either.
My main questions are as follows: How dangerous is it to drive with one busted trailing arm? I know the handling will be different than if it were working, but is there any risk of catastrophic failure while on the highway? If the strut breaks next, will I lose complete control of my car? Or will it just get really loud and I'll pull off the highway and take back roads home? Is it sheer lunacy to drive this car on a three-hour trip by highway this coming weekend? Basically, what do you Forester experts think? My car knowledge is pretty limited. I'd like to justify using it for some medium-distance trips in the coming weeks, but don't want to delude myself into doing something that's extremely unsafe. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
