RDB85 Posted October 19, 2022 Share Posted October 19, 2022 I’m looking to buy a Subaru. I’ve always liked the Outback. I’ve a budget of £2500. I’m based in Liverpool, so I’m also after a specialist. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204071279205?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=L2VeRXefTay&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-hh-nLs6TQy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206972189 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 A brief look at the MOT history confirms why its had a coating of goo to the undersides, not to mention the repeated MOT advisories. Rear subframe is the first thing to check on these, wouldn't surprise me to find it spent its early years in Scotland exposed to the road oversalting fetish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share Posted October 20, 2022 37 minutes ago, Judd said: A brief look at the MOT history confirms why its had a coating of goo to the undersides, not to mention the repeated MOT advisories. Rear subframe is the first thing to check on these, wouldn't surprise me to find it spent its early years in Scotland exposed to the road oversalting fetish. Thanks. The MOT History isn’t the best. I’ve asked the dealer for some more information on the car. What works it had done etc. I will wait and see if they respond. Anything on the MOT History that’s a worry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 20, 2022 Share Posted October 20, 2022 The repeated advisories speak to me of a possibly generally neglected car quite apart from the many failures from early in the cars life, personally i'd look elsewhere but you must make up your own mind whether a trip to view is worth it even if for comparison purposes only. Little point in even looking underneath now its had a coating of whatever, Waxoyl? so it will look the dogs danglers if you shove your head under as all you will see is shiny black 'underseal', it probably had a plate or three welded in where the rear subrame rotted through, they all rot there if no one bothers to look after them, anyone's guess what the rest of the subframe or inner sills will be like...if you do go and look open the back doors and look for bubbling appearing where the sills meets the C pillars. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share Posted October 20, 2022 47 minutes ago, Judd said: The repeated advisories speak to me of a possibly generally neglected car quite apart from the many failures from early in the cars life, personally i'd look elsewhere but you must make up your own mind whether a trip to view is worth it even if for comparison purposes only. Little point in even looking underneath now its had a coating of whatever, Waxoyl? so it will look the dogs danglers if you shove your head under as all you will see is shiny black 'underseal', it probably had a plate or three welded in where the rear subrame rotted through, they all rot there if no one bothers to look after them, anyone's guess what the rest of the subframe or inner sills will be like...if you do go and look open the back doors and look for bubbling appearing where the sills meets the C pillars. I think I will go and have a look as the car is not too far for me. I think finding a decent one in my price range is hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 20, 2022 Author Share Posted October 20, 2022 I will have to keep an eye out for any that are for sale. A members one would be ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 Corrosion is number one thing look out for on these, surface rust is going be the norm and that can be surface treated, heavy corrosion can get quite expensive and if it not localised rust you be chasing you tail for no long term benefit . Also don't think newer means better, late 90's to 2002 era about some of best made . Do good checks using MOT history and good visual inspection and that means a real good long look and poke around underneath, rust doesn't always show itself but steel can be rotted and collapse under physical inspection . Is fairly easy find these pretty clean and not many keen on larger engines so prices can be low/easy haggle . I would be more sceptical of dealer sales than private and that comes from 30 years trade experience lol, 99% of the good stuff comes private sales, biggest ballache and pork pies always dealers . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 The dealer has sent me some pictures of the stamp book. It seems to be an okay car. They have said they will MOT it and a Full Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 Yup, spent its life in Scotland. Agree with MrB, the previous model up to 2003 was a high quality car, think brick outhouse solid, often wish we'd not sold ours but it did another family member a favour who needed a dependable tank for school etc duties. It isn't as pretty as this model arguably but i wouldn't discard the earlier one from your searches. My time would be spent inspecting this one. later shape, eBay 285009551035 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 13 minutes ago, Judd said: Yup, spent its life in Scotland. Agree with MrB, the previous model up to 2003 was a high quality car, think brick outhouse solid, often wish we'd not sold ours but it did another family member a favour who needed a dependable tank for school etc duties. It isn't as pretty as this model arguably but i wouldn't discard the earlier one from your searches. I can’t seem to find any around my budget. Not locally anyway. I don’t really want to travel for hours and hours and find out the car is no good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 see my above edited post, as for travelling that is usually the case with rare cars, if you wanted an Insignia there's one on every forecourt in the land, our last 2 Subarus involved a 150 miles train trip for me (bought and driven back) the other a 70 mile drive each way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 Only other two are: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185354830674?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1qedDvMMR-y&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-hh-nLs6TQy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304668815334?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=LfpPdA6WRLG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-hh-nLs6TQy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 yes i saw those, the older car has a not great MOT history, the newer one is a sold as seen vehicle with known faults and will cost you £630 to tax this year. The one i linked to has a good mot history albeit with a short current test and few owners who kept the car a long time (always a good sign), one would hope the owner would put a new ticket on it to aid the sale, failing that some negotiation should be possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 I’ve found one a grand over budget: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210030365521 Or this which is rather a lot: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210030365521 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 both links for same car, no info on service history, mentions suspension/brake corrosion from 2020 mot history, top rate VED because regd after Match 06 cut off date, but what really puts me off is someone put cheap Sunny tyres on the thing and one odd Debica, do a close up of the wheels have you clocked the state of them, check out the corroded scored rear disc/drums visible through those wheels, fronts also look corroded but not scored, calipers very rusty, suspect you'll find some more rust under that car, however it cleaned up very well. Don't worry about the inner CV boots that needed replacement, they all perish out sooner or later on these and are a doddle to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 This was the other: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208158811925 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 Very expensive but looks a good car, again high VED band, bit surprised how often fluctuating front brake readings crops up in the MOT history, might only need new discs and pads but calipers could be past their best, none of which are terribly expensive or difficult fixes. look like Khumo all season tyres all round but can't be certain, i'd be happy with those. 7 owners isn't good to see, but might be explained by private reg plates going on and off a couple of times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 This is the list from Autotrader: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=l190ny&model=Outback&sort=price-asc&page=1&make=Subaru&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&flrfc=1#202210060466880 Is the R the top spec? As I would like to go for the highest spec possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Share Posted October 21, 2022 Gumtree: https://www.gumtree.com/p/subaru/2004-subaru-outback-3.0-rn-outback-5dr-seq-auto-sat-nav-estate-petrol-automati/1428631431 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDB85 Posted October 23, 2022 Author Share Posted October 23, 2022 This appeared on eBay. Slightly over my budget: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285010888129?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Zy7N6-oySCC&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=-hh-nLs6TQy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 23, 2022 Share Posted October 23, 2022 Gumtree car is a shed, welding needed to subframe/mounts and the interior is filthy, chinese cheap tyres, wouldn't cross the street to look at it. The latest eBay car looks like the real deal, the only pity is it was regd in August and not before March 23rd 06, but if you're prepared to pay £630 VED then that is the one i'd be looking at. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judd Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 How's it going, did you view any of these cars, be interested to know if the one with no mentions of corrosion in its mot history was appreciably better underneath than the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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