It's a Subaru thing, you wouldn't understand

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
09/21/2018 at 10:43 • Filed to: None

CEL intermittently coming on and turning off , low oil light (checked about 2,000 miles ago and oil was fine), 55,000 miles on the odometer, 5 years old, and it’s on the second engine. I can’t think of anything that could replace it at a comparable price.

DISCUSSION (20)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/21/2018 at 10:56

it’s what makes a Subaru a Subaru

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/21/2018 at 10:59

...55k miles, second engine, and only five years old? Christ. I didn’t realize Subarus could do that. Were these things made by German engineers or something?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/21/2018 at 11:04

No they are made in Indiana.

Ash78, voting early and often > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/21/2018 at 11:05

Ouch...even my worst German car experiences can’t come close to this.

I’m starting to wonder if Subaru’s highly -touted repeat buyer statistics are based on owners with Alzheimer’s. I believed it until I started hearing all the horror stories on Oppo...

TheRealBicycleBuck > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/21/2018 at 11:07

My WRX is on its second engine, but that’s due to a Subaru tech over-filling it with oil.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheRealBicycleBuck
09/21/2018 at 11:21

I think the WRX is the only car they make that I would consider buying at this point, or a Baja XT.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Ash78, voting early and often
09/21/2018 at 11:22

When you seriously start considering a Jeep Renegade you know that your tastes have soured.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Ash78, voting early and often
09/21/2018 at 11:29

stockholm syndrome...

vicali > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/21/2018 at 11:36

Kinja'd!!!

10 years old, 100K km, no CEL ever, doesn’t use oil, notorious EJ25 is fine, 2nd set of tires. Can’t replace it with anything either..

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/21/2018 at 11:37

Volvo XC70?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > vicali
09/21/2018 at 11:43

I question under which circumstances a 2000s Subaru will throw a CEL. I once had my 2001 Outback running on about 1.5 cylinders and it didn’t throw a CEL. It only threw a CEL when the problem came back several years later and it would stall.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > vicali
09/21/2018 at 11:45

It is my opinion that despite what people say about head gaskets, the Mid-2000's subarus were some of the highest quality subarus made.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion
09/21/2018 at 11:47

I live in montana so it is important to get a car that some one locally can work on if anything goes wrong. I’m moving more towards Toyota, Honda, or Mazda. Ni ssan or Hyundai if I get desperate. A rogue would actually work well for us.

vicali > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/21/2018 at 11:48

Lol, maybe the CEL is broken?

Kinja'd!!!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > vicali
09/21/2018 at 12:01

That’s what I thought until it came on when it started stalling.

functionoverfashion > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
09/21/2018 at 12:46

I’m not close to a dealer either, but my local independent shop does fine with our 2012 Volvo. I also have a laptop loaded with Volvo software to connect to the car, which helps, but isn’t strictly necessary (at least so far).

BobintheMtns > Ash78, voting early and often
09/21/2018 at 13:43

I worked at a subaru dealership for a while. How they got a reputation for being quality is totally beyond me. They are garbage.

I don’t know how many people I saw get stuck with a $4k bill to fix engines with less then 70K miles..

“ But, but, but, we bought it here new, and did every service, on time, here... how can the motor be totally fuct with that few of miles???? ”

It was interesting- I worked at the subi store and out of 75ish employees, only two drove subarus. I worked at a vw store and maybe 2 people there DIDN’T drive vw’s.........

RickSanchez:Fury Road Edition aka Junkrat > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
09/21/2018 at 14:06

I had a WRX with a seized turbo and massive wrist pin wear. Never once threw a CEL in the 2000 miles I drove it in that state. Another WRX got water in the fuel and it never threw a CEL.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > BobintheMtns
09/22/2018 at 00:43

Wow. That's absolutely brutal.

BobintheMtns > BaconSandwich is tasty.
09/22/2018 at 18:07

It was eye opening/shocking. It’s kind of expected that japanese cars are the epitome of “ never-gonna-break” ... But subaru’s? Not so much....