| Author | Message | ||
     Court |
SITUATION: 2006 Subaru ...bought a couple years ago for $15k......has 80,000 miles .....out on a 6 week lap of the USA. Motor goes kapoot in Erie, PA. I'm looking at a rebuilt CCR, as opposed to one from the junk yard. I like knowing its rebuilt and not 10 miles from its own implosion. Figure $3,500 for the motor and $1,500 for install. Thoughts? Surely we have some folks who speak Subareese. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Sorry to hear that, probably makes you miss the Ford. It stinks, but $5k for a solved problem is probably the way to go, if you have the time to wait. Otherwise sell the broken car as is for a an even bigger loss, and start over from scratch. I personally would want to know why the motor died so young before I put in another (rebuilt or not). But stuff happens, if it looks like a freak isolated event, well, stuff happens. | ||
| 86129squids |
My $.02, certainly not worth much- Spend a fair amount of time researching some Subaru forums. Seems they're known more for their reliability, this does sound odd for the motor to crap on you that soon. Good luck! | ||
| Bob_thompson |
Court, I agree with Bill, rebuilt has one very good thing going for it; when torn down a knowledgeable mechanic will be able to tell fairly accurately what went wrong. Part failure, lack of lubrication, etc. That would help tremendously helping you avoid it in the future. Did you get any dash light indicator or warning light? Did motor quit suddenly or just start slowing? Any obvious noises? 80K on a Subaru is really not high mileage. Good luck my friend and stay safe. Bob | ||
| Thumper74 |
What model Subaru? What went kaput? We don't see many issues outside of head gaskets leaking oil (not blown) or other issues not directly related to lack of maintenance. | ||
| Ourdee |
Did it have modifications? | ||
| Court |
IT's the car of a friend . . .a young Ph.D. student at Harvard who was on the road for 6 weeks doing research. I suggested going with the CCR rebuilt motor . . . not one from a junk yard that could be as bad, or worse, than the one that went. I do not know but it sounds like a rod through the block. Seems very odd for a Subaru with 80,000 and I am suggesting that, when this is done, he approach Subaru about a goodwill adjustment. I'm confident they'll do that/ The good news is that he jumped in a rental and got back to Cambridge . . and doesn't really need a car that often. I REALLY appreciate your guys' help. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Or he just forgot to put oil in it. It can happen, particularly when you are on the road for a long time. Pay the stupid tax, learn your lesson and move on (been there, done that). | ||
| Etennuly |
A friend of mine did a similar turn about with a Honda several years ago. During his time in the Airforce he and his wife cris-crossed the country running back home when they could on his leaves. At about 80,000 miles he was cruising at a long sustained 85 mph when it suddenly quit. Blew it up. Rare for a Honda car. He made the mistake of driving a well engineered - nearly no maintenance car. Three high speed, nearly non stop, trips of over 2,500 miles in a short period. He was running 10,000 mile synthetic oil changes, but in all his high speed hustle, he never thought to check the oil. When the rods stick through the side of the block there should be oil everywhere. His had little to none. He got lucky in that a family friend with a salvage yard had a low mileage car come in with a great newer engine. Five family members and friends got it towed in and running in time to make it back to his base on time. | ||
| 86129squids |
My experience with junkyards has allowed me to learn to look for WHY that car was junked. If Gramma or Papaw's Subaru got totaled from a rear end hit, surely that motor would be a safe bet. But, then you'd have to have a competent wrench able to extract/swap things right. The costs of a remanufactured motor installed, with the warranties and such, might still be justified. I'm still driving a 1992 Nissan Hardbody pickup, made in Murfreesboro TN, it'll probably outlast me- what I really appreciate about it is the relative lack of electronic nanny-ness and BS that most autos have now... a black box under the passenger seat, fuse panel, pretty basic otherwise. No airbags, even. I'd really not want anything much newer- for 2 wheelers, it's VERY rare that I like anything newer than 1990- my '02 Sprint is a rare exception.  | ||
| Robertl |
2006 subi legacy with 80k miles is worth about $5k trade in and $6-7k private party, per kbb.com (wasn't sure on model so I guessed). Put $5k into a car worth only slightly more with no guarantee something else won't go out? Car value won't increase much even with the new/rebuilt engine. Seems too risky. I would be concerned about any extra parts needed for the swap: water pump, hoses, etc. Are these included in the price? If I was a grad student I would want whatever option is the least amount of stress and provides reliable transportation. Would look for a push/pull/drag sale and get what I could towards something else. I rebuilt my Olds v8 in college instead of buying a short/long block. I ended up spending more in the long run. I should have bought a used or rebuilt 403 instead and regretted that for many years. There are also so many additional parts I lost track of how much I actually spent. I eventually replaced that car with a used grand cherokee and the road trips began, with cold a/c. I put an additional 120k miles on that jeep. Hope that helps. | ||
| Ourdee |
My suggestion? Glad you asked for it. =] Sell the thing and don't replace it till after college. If he just has to have a car, get a $1000 hoopty. Develop a habit of driving cheep hoopties and you are on your way to financial freedom. If I had done this instead of all the new cars I have "rented" I'd already be retired. One can try to make enough money to chase happiness, or reduce spending so as to find that happiness is not a commodity to be bought. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Timing belt? Valves bent? Belts need to be changed before that. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've owned two Subarus in my lifetime. The first was a 1988 Turbo GL that I had for thirteen years. I still have the second; an Outback L.L. Bean Edition I bought after trading in the Turbo GL. That one will be sixteen years old in January. Both have been absolutely bulletproof despite heroic attempts at being neglectful. Sorry to hear about your issues but there are always going to be "some" issues in assembly and quality control. You just got the bad roll of the die this time.  | ||
| Ljm |
Kids have had a total of 6 subarus over the years growing up and adults. It is odd that it blew so young. Had one run over 300K and then sold it someone who is still driving it. If he wants dependability, no substitute for a reputable shop rebuilding it, because they can look at every aspect of its internals when doing the work. For me, would just do the junkyard engine and do the swap myself, or I would look at one of the companies that sell long blocks. Bought one that was imported from Japan with 40,000 miles and it was both perfectly maintained and looked new. Cheap too: $1595 about 3 years ago. Subarus have high compatibility. Lots of then engines and transmissions swap out. For some that fit mechanically, though, you have to change the ECU and that is a pain as some of the harness swaps too. | ||
| Finedaddy1 |
I would consider the condition of the body first, if there's no rot I would pony up for a remanufactured long block. I have been a subaru man most of my life and they are by far the most reliable and simple cars to work on that I've ever owned. The last subaru I owned had over 300,000 miles on it and my buddy has been driving it every day for the last 3 years. My daily driver is an 06 Impreza with about 170,000 on it...I love it. |
