We are so confused. We needed a used car (had driven a Ford Escort '99 Station Wagon until it rusted past inspection in 09/19) so we bought a Subaru Outback 2011(153,000 miles) 18 months ago. Six months ago, Mom (aged 92) decided she could not drive anymore so she gave us her Subaru Forester 2006 LLBean edition (118,000 miles.)
We were not sure which car to keep and since the Forester had not been driven much (Mom drove to church on Sundays and kept it in the garage) it needed new tires, a new battery and a new oil sensor. The Outback has more rust (even though a newer car) and the Forester has no rust. The Forester had had the two head gaskets replaced right before Mom bought it at 87,000 miles. We also were advised to put a new timing belt and water pump on the Forester, which we did.
In the last six months we have struggled to get one or other car to the point where we could sell one but all hell has broken loose. The Outback needed a new torque converter (Subaru America gave us a $750 voucher toward this purpose), sway bars, and muffler. Three mechanics told us that although older, the Forester is the better car to keep since the Outback by now had 164,000 and the Forester 122,000, the Forester had no rust and had had both head gaskets replaced.
So we advertised the Outback on Facebook marketplace. One man, a mechanic, came to look at the Outback but when he saw the Forester, he asked expressed interest in that car instead. Meanwhile another person came and bought the Outback for $5,700. We had told the mechanic that if we could not sell the Outback, we might sell the Forester to him for $4,700. He still really wants to buy it.
Three days after selling the Outback, the Forester check engine soon light came on steady and Cruise light flashing. We took it to our local garage and was told it needs a new catalytic converter. There also appears to be a tiny oil leak by the Cam Shaft seal. The young mechanic says it is not worth fixing.
We had thought that if we sold both older cars, we could take the money from both($10,400) and get a halfway decent car that would not cost us so much in repairs. Over the last 8 months, these cars have cost us on average $625 per month in repair costs and we can't go on like this.
So should we still try to sell the Forester to the mechanic and if so, what do we tell him about the cat code, or do we get the repairs done to the Forester and try to keep that one? We have really looked in earnest at new used cars but are truly shocked how expensive they are. It seems there is nothing below about $16,000 with lower mileage and higher year of manufacture.
Up to now, we have spent about $2,300 on the Forester for: oil sensor, door repair, tires, exhaust repair, battery, timing belt, water pump, new transmission line, new brakes, 02 sensor, headlight, taillight.
The car runs great, gets good mileage and does not use much oil, but the cat convertor replacement and Cam Shaft Seal replacement will set us back even more and we are not sure what to do. Thanks so much for any advice you can give us. And best to Subie owners out there are we hope you are not facing as many repairs as we are.
We were not sure which car to keep and since the Forester had not been driven much (Mom drove to church on Sundays and kept it in the garage) it needed new tires, a new battery and a new oil sensor. The Outback has more rust (even though a newer car) and the Forester has no rust. The Forester had had the two head gaskets replaced right before Mom bought it at 87,000 miles. We also were advised to put a new timing belt and water pump on the Forester, which we did.
In the last six months we have struggled to get one or other car to the point where we could sell one but all hell has broken loose. The Outback needed a new torque converter (Subaru America gave us a $750 voucher toward this purpose), sway bars, and muffler. Three mechanics told us that although older, the Forester is the better car to keep since the Outback by now had 164,000 and the Forester 122,000, the Forester had no rust and had had both head gaskets replaced.
So we advertised the Outback on Facebook marketplace. One man, a mechanic, came to look at the Outback but when he saw the Forester, he asked expressed interest in that car instead. Meanwhile another person came and bought the Outback for $5,700. We had told the mechanic that if we could not sell the Outback, we might sell the Forester to him for $4,700. He still really wants to buy it.
Three days after selling the Outback, the Forester check engine soon light came on steady and Cruise light flashing. We took it to our local garage and was told it needs a new catalytic converter. There also appears to be a tiny oil leak by the Cam Shaft seal. The young mechanic says it is not worth fixing.
We had thought that if we sold both older cars, we could take the money from both($10,400) and get a halfway decent car that would not cost us so much in repairs. Over the last 8 months, these cars have cost us on average $625 per month in repair costs and we can't go on like this.
So should we still try to sell the Forester to the mechanic and if so, what do we tell him about the cat code, or do we get the repairs done to the Forester and try to keep that one? We have really looked in earnest at new used cars but are truly shocked how expensive they are. It seems there is nothing below about $16,000 with lower mileage and higher year of manufacture.
Up to now, we have spent about $2,300 on the Forester for: oil sensor, door repair, tires, exhaust repair, battery, timing belt, water pump, new transmission line, new brakes, 02 sensor, headlight, taillight.
The car runs great, gets good mileage and does not use much oil, but the cat convertor replacement and Cam Shaft Seal replacement will set us back even more and we are not sure what to do. Thanks so much for any advice you can give us. And best to Subie owners out there are we hope you are not facing as many repairs as we are.
