I just bought a car: 2001 Subaru Outback wagon

[eofelis]

Here's my story:

I have been driving a 1991 Legacy wagon for 8 years. It's been a great car. It got hit while parked last fall and has cosmetic damage to the front passenger door. And more recently it seems to be burning oil. It's not smoking and I have had all the leaks fixed, so it must be burning it. So I figured I'd have to keep an eye out for a newer car. I wasn't in a rush, I can keep driving this one for a year or more and keep to oil topped up.

I knew exactly what car I wanted to replace this car with: a 2000 or newer Outback wagon. I wanted one with 100K miles or fewer, and I didn't want to pay more than $5000. A girl can dream, huh? I also wanted to buy from an original owner with all the maintenance records.

Yesterday morning in the paper I see a 2001 OB wagon in there for $4600. So I give the folks a call. It has 109K on it. The man starts out with why it's so cheap: the factory paint job (dark blue) has spiderwebbing, it may have a catalytlic converter issue (per CEL code) and it has a torn CV boot. So I go to look at it. It's about 1 mile away from my house.

My SO has worked on cars before and I've owned Subies since 1993. We drove it and checked it out as best as we could. It was in really nice shape. These folks bought at the local Suby dealer and always had it serviced there. They had a stack of receipts.

My SO and I quickly decided that at this price we'd better move fast. At $4600, even if it did need a bunch of work it would still be worth it. So we made arrangements to pay the next day.

I went home and ran kbb on it. One of these cars in fair cond is valued at $7400! I guess these folks decided the paint and cat conv issues were serious enough to ask so little. They said they were selling to get an FJ and weren't going to get much for the Outback in trade-in. I was so nervous all night that they'd realize they were asking half of what it was worth and they'd change their minds.

Finally went and payed up. These folks were very nice and seemed happy that they were selling it to someone who will really like it.

So it's sitting in the garage and I have to get it registered and insured tomorrow. I still can't believe that I found exactly what I was looking for, as improbable as it seemed. There was another 2001 OB in the paper yesterday for $10,000.

They just had the timing belt and valve cover gaskets done. I looked through all the records and nothing about them screams lemon. I don't care about the paint issues as we camp and haul bikes around a lot, so it's gonna get dinged up.

Oh, and did I mention that it came with a Yakima roof rack system with fork mount racks?

When we went to look at the car, the man there recognized my SO from when my SO worked in bike shops, he even remembered his name, and remarked to his wife that we'd want the bike racks.

[KnottedYet]

Niiiiiiice!!!

[Zen]

I hope you can do your repairs for a reasonable amount. Remember, those blue book values are based on condition. You probly did OK. Those are nice cars.

[OakLeaf]

Just traded my second 'Ru for a Prius this spring. Which has as much cargo space length/width-wise as the Outback/Legacy (although not as deep) - one bicycle goes in the back without taking the wheel off or anything. Although the Prius's gas mileage is disappointing based on the advertising, it's double what the Outback used to get.

I loved the Subarus (my sister still drives my old '98), but now that we aren't in snow country navigating our steep gravel driveway in the winter any more, there was no way I could justify the s*cky gas mileage they get. A Subaru rep told me in spring '06 they were supposed to have a hybrid for '07... that model year has come and gone, and there's been no announcement for an '08 hybrid, either. I really wanted another 'Ru.

[KnottedYet]

I like the 32 mpg my Impreza gets, but when the Subaru diesel finally gets to the US I will certainly consider getting a diesel Imp. (I want to run biodiesel.)

I'm such a Subi-geek, I even have a picture of the diesel boxer on my desk at work!

Congrats again, Surlypacer!

[spokewench]

Gotta love those subarus. I had legacy ls wagon for 11 years and now I have a 2002 legacy sedan - that I bought used. They are really reliable - and handle good. YOu will love the wagon - you can just stick your bike in the back when you are in a hurry and it fits wheels and all! I used to camp in mine and travel all over the place - sometimes I wish I had bought a wagon instead of a sedan the last time, but the sedan is a great car too.

Congrats.