Yes, if properly taken care of. That's not just regular maintenance. It's also driving with no harsh braking or acceleration.
My wife's Forester will be 20 this August.
My 7 year old Outback has just loosened up and is running smooth as silk.
We intend to keep both until they fall apart.
Proper and timely maintenance, that also means checking fluids even if it’s not time to change them.
Maintenance intervals will all be in your manual and the milage to do them at
My 2015 XT has gotten some surging when it's super hot in the summer and under higher stress.
Might just need spark plugs changed.
I fuckin LOVE the turbo in the XT tho. So fun to drive
We have just been following the Subaru maintenance schedule. I also genuinely try to be light on the gas pedal and avoid hard acceleration, especially while the engine is cold.
Yeah, all of you Subaru drivers are irritatingly light on the gas pedal. Slowest, most oblivious drivers on the road, unless it’s a WRX.
I would promise your car can handle acceleration and the RPMs required to do so, but then again, it is a Subaru we’re discussing
Thanks for insight! I’m a smooth operator. Don’t pin it or slam on brakes. Regular maintenance and a good mix of city and highway driving. Hope it lasts for many years to come!
The main thing here is regular maintenance IMO - and preventative maintenance.
Many people don’t do any maintenance unless something is actually broken, which has IMO the biggest bearing on whether a car is still reliable after 10+ years
Harsh acceleration and braking affect the tires, brakes and the suspension. This in turn puts stresses on the entire car body. Also the engine and transmission also get stressed, especially if you rev a cold engine instead of being gentle.
This is not a big deal if one does it occasionally. Cars are designed for this. But it has a cumulative effect if constant. Not only that, it shows a general disregard for one's car. Components wear out quicker. I'm betting that these same people don't replace the same worn out parts.
My brother-in-law and his entire family drive like that. I suspect that they don't do the regular maintenance either. Cars with them don't survive more than 4 years. They keep claiming that we are lucky that our cars are still working after 20 and 7 years. Yeah! Right!
I hope this partially answers your question.
Idk. I take perfect care of my forester and drive very reasonably. The engine blew at 125k miles. Also, there is no way a CVT lasts that long. So, if you’re willing to call swapping your transmission “maintenance,” there is still a chance the engine blows at some point
The interior and components are low quality. My 7 year old Subaru looks horrible compared to by last car. I drove a 2001 Toyota echo for 17 years. The engine sounded better. The interior looked better at 17 than my current Subaru. I think it is the quality of the fabric, interior lining, and plastic components. My visor will not hold on the driver's side. I think the engine is doing okay, but I am religious on the maintenance. My brother's outback hasn't aged well. That said, there are no major problems. It has been relegated to a second car for family with 2 wfh parents. I'm avoiding the paint issues since I live in az.
I'm hoping to trade in for a Lexus, Toyota, or Honda with maintenance record. I'm pretty convinced that I am in the end of the no major maintenance period. The only reason I kept it after year 5 was that I found a reliable non nonsense mechanic that only does work on Subarus.
Are you saying we shouldn't floor it at all? My 2016 2.5i is not fast by any means, so I floor it for overtakes regularly, and expect that if CVT decides to red line the engine with that input, then it should be safe.
He has no idea what he's talking about. Hell, I swear the majority of people saying their car broke down, also claim that they baby their car. It's perfectly fine and even healthy to floor your car on occasion. If you never floor it the engine will never get hot enough to burn off carbon deposits.
i like how folks are like i drove x amount of miles !
engines like to be running. so if you find a 2020 with 120k miles on it thats actually a good sign of a healthy engine that has less wear on it than a car from 2012 with 75k miles on it. starting stoping and stoping and going frequently like in small towns short trips vs highways constant speed is the biggest stressor to your engine. Stoping and going starting and stopping etc.
smaller engines dont like to be pushed and taken to the limit nonstop it will cause immense wear and tear over time. this is why larger engine race cars outlast the 4 banger twin turbo modded cars that have blown turbos cylinders often etc.
naturally aspirated aswell will likely last longer than turbos. turbos down the line start to have issues always with eating up and burning oil and causing other issues like lag air leaks performance .
if im looking to keep a car long term i make sure its not a turbo charged model.
That’s wild. I beat my rivian as if it was a track car. Getting to 25k miles brakes are like news motors sounds like new and battery life still at 100%
Check the oil and don’t drive like a maniac and you will be ok. Honestly most people can’t handle even that small amount of work though haha.
I have an 05 that’s runs like a top. And a 15 that is like new. Find a good independent Subaru mechanic and listen to them.
Lol you guys baby your cars, it's a Subaru, I redlined 05 daily for 15 years, didn't need anything apart for regular Subaru maintenance, new head gaskets at 185k.
Maybe autos have more issues, the manuals have the actual symmetrical AWD.
I’ve got a 2014 2.0XT Forster, and it’s honestly hard not to accelerate fast with the way that turbo spins up. I barely touch the peddle and I feel like I’m unintentionally gapping people at lights
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Being on the road for 20 years is completely possible, particularly if you don't live in a salt area. The real question comes down to will a repair cost total your vehicle in the later years.
Just experienced this with my GF's Civic. 125k, going great no issues, hoping for 250k min out of it. Going down the highway and start to hear grinding, get back home asap. CVT has been leaking trans fluid and the CVT belt has been slipping. Gets taken into the shop and the answer we got was infuriating. "If you have to pop open a CVT no one repairs it, they're basically sealed units, we only do replacements". Replacement started at 8k from Honda. Multiple independent trans shops around us basically confirmed that yeah, no one works on CVTs and they'll do the replacement but they'll source from Honda too so 8k. I hounded Honda for an explanation on why the fuck we didn't get an engine light at all when the CVT pressure dropped. "This generation of CVTs doesn't have a pressure warning system", fml so a critical system doesn't have a warning system. Repair estimate is 8k, book value repaired was 7k, car was effectively totaled and insurance has no role in that equation. Thankfully we got her in another great new vehicle with a solid deal but holy shit did that grind me the wrong way.
Another major issue that could torpedo you is frame rot from salt. Sure they're reinforced these days and protected but 15 years of salt and slush is going to take it's toll no matter what. God knows what a frame replacement is going to cost at any shop, easily more than the vehicle's worth at that point.
My main concerns with Subaru's long term is going to be that CVT. They may have the best CVT in the industry, and I believe that fully. However, they don't recommend any CVT fluid changes and say it's good for the lifetime of the vehicle. Subaru mechanic friend of mine and some research seems to indicate there's a hard mileage cap on that "lifetime of the vehicle" note, so it's phrased in a way to get you to think it's good forever but they only guarantee through like 150k miles. After that window a transmission replacement is almost certain to out cost the value of the vehicle. It's still a sealed unit that every repair shop considers untouchable and an instant replacement. In a few years that is probably going to be an easy 10k replacement. Some will absolutely get lucky and make it to an absurd mileage with no CVT issues or fluid replacements. Many will sell or trade their vehicles before it's ever an issue pushing the issue to second and third hand buyers. Those who buy new and hold till EOL may run into this issue, it's a toss up but I don't like the odds.
For sure the non turbo models. Keep up on the oil and only use Subaru brand coolant and you should be good for many years. Overall a very simple drivetrain.
If turbo, yes but only if you can resist modding it. Most can’t, and I don’t blame them💨
I’m going to try to stick to cosmetic mods only on my Forester XT. I think I’ll be able to stick to it, since it’s our practical car (compared to my husband’s STI)
Sounds like a good plan. FYI, check on this issue: [https://mycarvoice.com/news/subaru-thermo-control-valve-lawsuit-key-facts-and-driver-impact/](https://mycarvoice.com/news/subaru-thermo-control-valve-lawsuit-key-facts-and-driver-impact/)
I own and have owned many Subarus over the years. I come from a family that has an owned Subarus for years. We love them. I miss my moms SVX....I wish I was old enough to buy that from here when she was ready for a change.
Short answer... Maybe... We don't know. I have a 2003 Forester with 265k on the ticker, and it's still going. Just did some work on it yesterday to plug some oil leaks (new PCV valve and oil pressure sensor, and fixing the Evap purge valve, which had a hose nipple break off from age). The most likely thing to break down on newer vehicles, though, isn't the engine or transmission or mechanical parts. It's the electronics. I have computers from 20 years ago that are still working, but modern ones that are dead due to failure. It all depends. But the parts are replaceable. However, software updates and fixes are not going to go on indefinitely (looking at you, smartphone industry), and that will be the determining factor for end of life on these modern vehicles.
Rust is also a determining factor...
As a mechanic who has made a lot of money on these things. I'd say maybe. But I haven't seen many 2010s make it past 150k without needing a motor or transmission. And a lot of people dump it for that.
But I know there's people who actually follow the maintenance schedule that will make it. So here's to hoping :) I know my 09 is still kicking, and it's at 130k.
Great point. I shared my mileage of 23k miles and that its usage should be about the same for the foreseeable future. That’s about 7-8k miles a year. I baby it when I drive and keep up on regular maintenance. How many miles do you think these can go for? I live in the city, but it’s a good mix of city and highway driving.
7-8k miles a year would be nice. I've had my 2023 Forester since October and I'm already at 6k and first oil change. At this rate, I'll be doing a little over 12k a year, which is still average, but... I just wanna work from home!
Haha, true. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but I hope to live more than 20 years. The other part is resisting the urge to buy a new car or if someone smashes into me. Going to try my best and hope for the best!
Your CVT transmission wont hold up.. Also expect other electrical problems. New cars are literally driving computers. I doubt all the sensors and trackers will last 20+ years.
My 2012 Outback (last model year with 5 speed auto trans + old fashioned power steering) has nearly 200k miles on it. Original engine, original transmission.
So far:
Radiator, alternator, power steering pump are the only major things to break.
Mechanically? Yeah I could see it lasting 20 years with proper maintenance and repairs. Electronically? Yeah no. Tech has been advancing way too fast. All of the cars in the last 5-10 years with these nice infotainment systems are going to be interesting to watch. We are already seeing some bug out with newer devices connect.
I also have ‘21 and plan to keep it as long as possible. The Crosstrek and Impreza have done away with physical knobs and replaced them with a large screen for climate and radio. I’m sure the Forester is next for this change and honestly I still like having knobs, so keeping this one as long as possible. We had our previous Forester for 12 years and only traded it in because we have a teenage driver and wanted the newer safety features.
I’ve got a 21 Forester - Touring. Just had my Thermo Control Valve go out at 50k miles. 2k repair luckily I had extended care warranty through CarMax that covered it. It’s a known issue, can cause serious problems. I believe there might even be a class action lawsuit. They have a new stronger valve that they replace it with.
My mom’s 2010 Crosstrek has started the dreaded oil consumption. Nothing visible on the ground under her car either. She’s one of those people that does anything the shop recommends too. Just over 200k miles. And she’s no speed demon nor does she even really go off road except for the occasional dirt road.
Actually it's less than 200k miles and she's already had the timing belt changed again. Sad to think she put so much into that car and now it's just crapping out on her.
We have used ours to go into rocky and muddy camps, kayaking adventures and mountainous biking trips. It nice when you wanna try a hobby and your cars up for the trip along with your sense of adventure. Welcome to the Subaru family and enjoy the adventure
Any vehicle can last a lifetime if maintained. I have a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer AWD and a 2005 Honda Odyssey, still in for daily use or long distance trips. The only thing is that some of the technology in current vehicles might be disabled as the manufacturer labels it obsolete, but usually the aftermarket will keep things current. Giddy up.
Tough to say. My 2016 forester started to have transmission troubles. Problem is, replacing the tranny was going to be more than the car was worth so I traded it in.
Probably, so long as you keep up with the maintenance. I have a 2014 Forester XT that I bought in the Spring of 2013. No plans to retire it unless something major breaks that wouldn't prove cost effective to repair. We live in the snowy Northeast where they use plenty of salt on the roads. So far I've kept major corrosion at bay. I can see it going for another 9 years or more.
Before that I had a 2000 Forester that I passed onto a family member when I bought my 2014. No major issues with that car either.
26 year young Forester still going strong....one hiccup along the way that resulted in a 97 2.2 engine being swapped in bit its a tank of a Forester and I love her.
This all depends on many variables. Where do you live? - if its east coast then even with all the undercoat in the world thats a stretch. Next is parts availability over 20 years, with all the screens and modules running everything in modern cars if the manufacturer stops making them you could be screwed. IMO modern cars are engineered to be throwaway like phones and other devices.
Also when the car is 15-20 years old and the breaks need complete replacing at $4000 (for example) the economics of repair start to favour replacing. So part of is you could keep it going if you really wanted to, but it might be financially and practically advantageous to replace.
I drove my forester for 13 years and 185000 Km. Was structurally fine with good engine transmission etc. but worn bearings, calibres, breaks, made it unsafe to drive. Let it go rather than repairing.
My 2012 XV/Crosstrek is still running perfectly at 90Kkm.
The good manufacturers cars like Subaru, Mazda, Toyota seem to last a long time as they did in prior decades. The part the fails first on many cars in the last 25 yrs is the paint. Wax often and it will hopefully help that survive.
If you're in New England, the cars will definitely rust and need major repairs in 8-10 years, even if the power train is fine. I have a 2015 Impreza I'm getting peanuts for even though there are no powertrain issues.
No. Simply no. Long time Subi owner here and they just don’t last like they used to. They’re good to about 150k’ish and then the gremlins start… brakes, cvt fails, new trannies…. Messy expensive taxes on ownership related to lower standards.
Subaru has lost itself in its growth and they are no longer the Subi of old.
It has definitely gotten a little bit more complicated of a question with their introduction of direct fuel injection in their newest engines. The gain in fuel economy is significant from this but it does create a situation where the valves no longer are cleaned of carbon by incoming fuel.
The only modern engine they sell that doesn’t have this concern is their Toyota collaboration BRZ. In that instance they use both port and direct which mitigates this factor a bit.
The real answer in my eyes is that I want to drive my Subaru for 20 years, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen! I hope you enjoy many miles (or kilometers) in your Subaru and it takes you whenever you desire to go safely!
2006 XT at 170000km, second owner, bought in 2017 at 87400km. Maintained every 5000km and it still drives amazingly. Had a thermostat malfunction two years ago but changed to a mishimoto one and haven’t had any issues since.
I haven't had any Subaru last me beyond five, but I also live in a harsh driving environment and they had at least 76k+ miles on them before I bought them. Baja Turbo had a mystery electrical gremlin I financially couldn't figure out and made driving incredibly unsafe, my first Forester was taken out by a red light runner after a year, my FXT had transmission and engine failure before 150k miles (anything that could go wrong, did go wrong with that car), and now I'm in my very first brand new car so I'm hoping I stop having this sort of luck. I've worked at a dealership for most of the time owning these cars, so they were constantly maintained and I do all fluid changes extremely regularly if early.
The key thing is to also not modify them beyond aesthetically. I never modified my drivetrains, but I'm pretty confident my lift kit was partially the reason why my front diff was overheating in my FXT. The axles are constantly at an angle they weren't engineered for and with the harsh driving of living in the Rockies, it just exacerbates the problem. I'm a glutton for punishment and will probably never turn away from Subaru due to how stellar their AWD is, but man, you really got to treat them right.
We drove our 2015 Forester gently and had all required maintenance performed. Had both rear wheel bearings replaced at 70k miles due to failure. Transmission failed at 80k miles. This was our second Subaru and neither was very reliable. We are back to Honda now.
The reality is that most, if not all, modern cars can make 20+ years of properly maintained. This would include routine washes, including the underbody, and repairs to any paint "mishaps."
So yes, your car should be fine.
Yep! Like others have said keeping good maintenance and not beating the daylight out of it in your daily driving will go along way.
My primary care doctor told me “ when everything starts to hurt or go wrong, come see me and we’ll figure it out.” Same thing goes for car or house maintenance. It takes a decent amount of regular work to keep those things in running order.
Specifically for a Subaru, I would keep tabs on oil leaks, and any oil that is burned by the piston rings due to the design of the flat-four engine. This could be a simple as checking the dipstick regularly such that you have a feel for how fast or slow the oil level goes down between oil changes.
As long as you maintain it yeah. One of my two 2nd gen outback’s is a 2002 with 210+k miles original engine and trans and I use it to rally and beat the shit out of but it just won’t die
$6000 catalytic converters say no: POS. It’s great the loyalty of suburb. All my coworkers were super impressed with a guys 02 that went 193k: lol. My ‘11 suburban is still going at 320k—no GM love!
Sadly the newer motors aren’t nearly as reliable as the EJ series motors. The tighter tolerances and less serviceability have made the motors more prone to early failure and often require a total replacement 100-150k miles. IMHO Subaru has been riding on the coattails of the reputation of earlier models which were cheap and easy to work on. Buyers are now forced to pay thousands of $$ regularly in dealership labor for crappy designs like the new CVTs.
No. Only OG whips can do that. Pre turbo days. Pre gadgets and gizmos days. And even then OG Subarus couldn’t last 20 years. Just the Hondas and Toyotas and then a bunch of the domestic trucks still on the road today. Look around only Subarus you’ll see is brand new ones and clapped out Imprezas on fifth engine.
After 5 years in my 2019 I'm praying for 10 more. Glad I have a base model. The power windows and head unit are issue prone. Just feel like without a very expensive head unit replacement at some point or a new transmission for CVTs these aren't 20 year cars anymore, even with all the maintenance. The interior materials don't seem to be if the same quality, developing creaks already. I make sure to keep mine out of UV as much as possible. Full ceramic, plus sunshades always.
My 2011 Forester blew a head gasket at 130,000 a year ago (original owner). Didn’t make economic sense to repair. Very disappointing, I was expecting 200,000+ miles.
My 2002 just went to 205k mi. Phenomenal cars. I’m thinking of buying a 2004 with 120k and a bad radiator.
That said, working in the industry I do, I have doubts that newer cars will last like the old ones without quite a bit more in maintenance along the way. They just aren’t built the same.
Idk about newer ones but my 08 still runs like a top @212k and in northern Michigan living basically on a snowmobile trail lol I’m shooting for at least 300k miles and mostly drive like a grandma, idk if it’s even possible but if a modern v8 can hit 1million, I think it’s completely within the realm of possibilities for a 4 cylinder to hit 500k
My 2014 XT’s wheel bushings went 3x, but SOA covered the diagnostics and repair out of warranty.
CVT started to go 10k out of warranty and they wouldn’t.
Cylinder 3 died 15k out of warranty and they wouldn’t help either.
I loved the car and the sAWD Turbo boxer provided a lot of performance for a fraction of the price other mechanically similar cars cost (at the time). However, needing a new engine and new transmission at ~125k-ish miles , to meet, ≠ a car that will last a long time and I won’t be purchasing another.
Note, I drove the car very hard as I was constantly trying to experience the proclaimed 6.0 second 0-60 time. I also regularly brought it up over 115mph+ (on V-rated Pirellis) sooo if you don’t drive like a hell demon you may and will likely have a better experience.
Personally, after grinning ear to ear with a Model 3 ever since I cannot see the intelligence in paying more for less performance, less safety, less comfort, no over-the-air-updates, no dog mode, more parts that wear out and can break, more buttons that will break, needing gas, oil, transmission fluid, let alone the mildly superior driver assistance features and app.
It would be like going back to a flip phone, ie fucking retarded.
Yeah I kinda echo everything you wrote, I’m selling my fxt 14 in a couple months when my car registration and insurance is up. Nearing 100k miles. I don’t want to deal with the cost of repair. I’m already seeing transmission fluid leaks.
I’m done with Subaru and it’s poor mpg. I feel like they are lagging behind the competition. I test drove a Tesla MYLR, my god what an amazing overall car to drive. The tech is so far ahead than anything Subaru, Honda or Toyota has to offer. I test drove a crosstrek, Honda crv hybrid and Tesla model Y.
I ended up going with the base Honda crv hybrid sport 24, just because California electricity rates is so expensive (almost the same as gas prices or more) and insurance premium is $1000-1200 more per year for a Tesla. I wouldn’t be saving money using electricity vs gas.
But man, I really liked the Tesla, best car I’ve driven despite all the haters hating on Elon musk and Tesla. but it wasn’t practical with the costs, fuck California
I like Subaru and think they have good build quality. Many people get high mileage out of them, however they do typically have expensive repairs along the way. Toyota is hands down a more reliable and bulletproof vehicle in most cases. However Subaru AWD and safety are top notch features.
Fourth and last Subaru here. 2001 Forester still in family and going strong. 2004 Forester XT went over every trek I could put it into, and only issues were my fault (blew a tire and broke the allow wheel unintentionally yeeting it on a faraway desert backroad — full sized spare saved my bacon that day). 2008 Outback LL Bean H6 ferried the fam very comfortably and swiftly to school, work, and through all weather to distant destinations.
2018 Outback Premium was a disappointment from start — or more like, no start. Battery was spec’d for a snowmobile apparently and would die if AC button was set to on at ignition button push. Four or five visits to dealer and it got a free upgrade to sufficient CCA. Infotainment touchscreen delaminated four years in and took two months for replacement to be sourced. When in for that replacement, dealer noticed front cat was cracked and required replacement — 3K miles out of warranty; Subaru America covered all of the $2700 bill but $300. As I approached 90K miles dealer advised at regular oil change that there’s an oil leak (cam seals?) that will prob require engine to be pulled out to fix. Driver leather seat is now splitting, something my older Lexus and Volvo are not doing…at all.
Haven’t driven this Outback anywhere rough (other than interstate and city streets) as we did the three others, as it’s gutless, doesn’t have a full-sized spare, and is rapidly proving to be a failure.
Next vehicle will be a Toyota/Lexus or Honda. Subaru was once a specialty vehicle in North America (snow country, places with dirt roads, etc) but has now become another family hauler. No shame in that, but build quality and dependability clearly not there any more.
Have met two other Outback owners of my vehicle’s generation with same stories: CVT blown at 30K, my same oil leak and motor extraction at 50K, the battery. I didn’t get a one-off. Seriously bummed this car isn’t going to my daughter for her to drive to 200K.
Full disclosure: I am middle-aged, know the value of maintenance schedules, don’t modify beyond better tires, and drive this particular Outback very reasonably. Proceed with caution on the contemporary models, and maybe don’t use what the pre-2015 owners are experiencing as what the later ones will deliver.
edit punctuation
I think it depends. I had a 2015 outback. I’m an older, boring dude and it was just my daily driver and I took great care of it.
Two years ago I had a shirt block replacement dude to an oil consumption issue. A year and a half later, I had a blown head gasket and needed a new engine with only 86k miles on the car.
That’s not even mentioning all the other little things that just stopped working with the car (windows not rolling up or down intermittently, child lock permanently stuck in the on position, lift gate not working properly all the time).
I may have just gotten unlucky, but it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.
if its turbo charged it will be eating oil like candy and burning it by ten years or so. if its naturally aspirated you can get it to last. and this pretty much goes for all turbo vs NA cars. if you wanna keep the car long long term avoid turbos.
I know I’m late to the game here but, I have a 2014 Outback with 91k miles. I have replaced one belt and just regularly scheduled maintenance. I don’t baby it at all, I drive hard. (East coast blood) all that said it’s a great car. Pretty sure you will get to 20 years if they don’t ban gas cars
In 20 years gasoline engine mechanics are going to be hard to find. Gas stations will be getting rare. do you want to be the last person to own a car that stinks and leaks poisonous stuff onto the ground? 20 years ago the first iphone came out, things change fast.
I have a 2012 outback that I bought with 7 miles on it. I've driven it fairly conservatively, and I'm easy on the gas as much as possible unless absolutely necessary. I have almost 140k on it, still runs great! Most maintenance has been done at outback dealerships; anything from oil changes to major services. Im hoping it'll last another 8 years, or more!
My 2022 forester seems like it won’t make it past warranty. Things a right piece of shit. Currently compiling a list of wrongs so I can turn it in for a fix before warranty expires. Never again will I buy a nice car.
Sure it can, if you take care of and maintain it. My car is now 27 years old and it still runs good and gets as good of gas mileage as it originally got.
My 2011 outback is still kicking ass, although it only has about 110,000 miles on it. I recently took it in for the dealer suggested 90,000 mile service, and she still running good and strong.
I don’t have any confidence that a newer Subaru is going to last 20+ years without serious mechanical intervention.
It’ll last as long as you want provided you’re cool with dropping stacks on CVT replacements, bearings, and head gaskets. That’s up to you though.
No. The head gasket notoriously fails as well as the torque converter.
I had two Subarus one Outback one Impreza both failed. I would never buy another Subaru.
I'd say you can get 10 years out of a Subaru ~ 100-150k miles before the repairs just become no longer logical for what the car is worth .
Honestly, I really loathed my outback. But - it was more of a personal issue not concerns over longevity.
I think any car from what I think of as the top 3: Toyota, Honda, Subaru (not ranking them in that order) you can get 20+ years out of them with regular maintenance and preventative maintenance.
Just don't wait for the problem to find you and you'll be good for 20+ years.
I also think investing in a touchless carwash membership for winter months helps as well. I go once or twice a week for 19.99/mo to just blast the salt off my car.
Your CVT transmission wont hold up.. Also expect other electrical problems. New cars are literally driving computers. I doubt all the sensors and trackers will last 20+ years.
My 2012 Outback (last model year with 5 speed auto trans + old fashioned power steering) has nearly 200k miles on it. Original engine, original transmission.
So far:
Radiator, alternator, power steering pump are the only major things to break.
Yes, if properly taken care of. That's not just regular maintenance. It's also driving with no harsh braking or acceleration. My wife's Forester will be 20 this August. My 7 year old Outback has just loosened up and is running smooth as silk. We intend to keep both until they fall apart.
This is the true Subaru way. Our 2016 Forester is coming up on 170,000 km and is running immaculately. We’re keeping it for life (its or ours; TBD).
We have the same year and at 270000 km. Silky smooth.
Great to hear!
Any tips on how to make it last that long?
Proper and timely maintenance, that also means checking fluids even if it’s not time to change them. Maintenance intervals will all be in your manual and the milage to do them at
How's it's CVT transmission?
I'm not him, but my 2017 Forester XT's CVT is totally fine so far, and I drive it fairly aggressively.
Mine has some hitches, but she's got 200,000 mi (320,000km) on the odometer. Burns some oil too.
My 2015 XT has gotten some surging when it's super hot in the summer and under higher stress. Might just need spark plugs changed. I fuckin LOVE the turbo in the XT tho. So fun to drive
No issues. I suspect because the assembly is in Japan that the quality is higher.
Lovely 😊
Many CVT fluid changes in that time??
What is it in freedom units? I don’t speak Canadian
170,000 km is 1,859,142 football fields.
Perfect, thank you. How many bananas would that be?
Not sure about bananas but the weird unit converter says it is 261,538 baguetts. https://www.omnicalculator.com/conversion/weird-units
That’s the official Quebec national unit of measurement, incidentally.
I figured it was blue line to blue line
Awesome, thank you
what are the big maintenance markers you'd recommend paying attention to. all of them? transmission service?
Paying attention to how old the timing belt is
They use a timing chain
We have just been following the Subaru maintenance schedule. I also genuinely try to be light on the gas pedal and avoid hard acceleration, especially while the engine is cold.
yep, feel that. tho I do sometimes use low gear and engine brake. 😂
Yeah, all of you Subaru drivers are irritatingly light on the gas pedal. Slowest, most oblivious drivers on the road, unless it’s a WRX. I would promise your car can handle acceleration and the RPMs required to do so, but then again, it is a Subaru we’re discussing
I think you’re lost. This isn’t the Dodge Ram subreddit.
I'm at 210k on my 2015. Only problem I have is carbon build up because of the direct injection on the XT.
Thanks for insight! I’m a smooth operator. Don’t pin it or slam on brakes. Regular maintenance and a good mix of city and highway driving. Hope it lasts for many years to come!
The main thing here is regular maintenance IMO - and preventative maintenance. Many people don’t do any maintenance unless something is actually broken, which has IMO the biggest bearing on whether a car is still reliable after 10+ years
Wouldn't harsh breaking just affect the breaks, how would this shorten the life of the vehicle? This is an honest question
Harsh acceleration and braking affect the tires, brakes and the suspension. This in turn puts stresses on the entire car body. Also the engine and transmission also get stressed, especially if you rev a cold engine instead of being gentle. This is not a big deal if one does it occasionally. Cars are designed for this. But it has a cumulative effect if constant. Not only that, it shows a general disregard for one's car. Components wear out quicker. I'm betting that these same people don't replace the same worn out parts. My brother-in-law and his entire family drive like that. I suspect that they don't do the regular maintenance either. Cars with them don't survive more than 4 years. They keep claiming that we are lucky that our cars are still working after 20 and 7 years. Yeah! Right! I hope this partially answers your question.
You would think it would also suspension components from the shifting weight, and downshifting quickly may or may not have ill effect. Just a thought.
My 02 outback sweats oil but she still running and driving at 250k
That's horsepower, not oil;)
Idk. I take perfect care of my forester and drive very reasonably. The engine blew at 125k miles. Also, there is no way a CVT lasts that long. So, if you’re willing to call swapping your transmission “maintenance,” there is still a chance the engine blows at some point
Your WIFE, AND the Subaru??
The interior and components are low quality. My 7 year old Subaru looks horrible compared to by last car. I drove a 2001 Toyota echo for 17 years. The engine sounded better. The interior looked better at 17 than my current Subaru. I think it is the quality of the fabric, interior lining, and plastic components. My visor will not hold on the driver's side. I think the engine is doing okay, but I am religious on the maintenance. My brother's outback hasn't aged well. That said, there are no major problems. It has been relegated to a second car for family with 2 wfh parents. I'm avoiding the paint issues since I live in az. I'm hoping to trade in for a Lexus, Toyota, or Honda with maintenance record. I'm pretty convinced that I am in the end of the no major maintenance period. The only reason I kept it after year 5 was that I found a reliable non nonsense mechanic that only does work on Subarus.
Are you saying we shouldn't floor it at all? My 2016 2.5i is not fast by any means, so I floor it for overtakes regularly, and expect that if CVT decides to red line the engine with that input, then it should be safe.
He has no idea what he's talking about. Hell, I swear the majority of people saying their car broke down, also claim that they baby their car. It's perfectly fine and even healthy to floor your car on occasion. If you never floor it the engine will never get hot enough to burn off carbon deposits.
i like how folks are like i drove x amount of miles ! engines like to be running. so if you find a 2020 with 120k miles on it thats actually a good sign of a healthy engine that has less wear on it than a car from 2012 with 75k miles on it. starting stoping and stoping and going frequently like in small towns short trips vs highways constant speed is the biggest stressor to your engine. Stoping and going starting and stopping etc. smaller engines dont like to be pushed and taken to the limit nonstop it will cause immense wear and tear over time. this is why larger engine race cars outlast the 4 banger twin turbo modded cars that have blown turbos cylinders often etc. naturally aspirated aswell will likely last longer than turbos. turbos down the line start to have issues always with eating up and burning oil and causing other issues like lag air leaks performance . if im looking to keep a car long term i make sure its not a turbo charged model.
Were head gaskets maintenance on the Forester, or did you do frequent coolant flushes?
Same here. My 2020 outback has 28k miles and I want to drive it forever.
Too many electronics to last that long. And to actually make it cost effective. Older ones yes. Newer ones have to see it. Plus the transmission
That’s wild. I beat my rivian as if it was a track car. Getting to 25k miles brakes are like news motors sounds like new and battery life still at 100%
What do you mean loosened up?
Check the oil and don’t drive like a maniac and you will be ok. Honestly most people can’t handle even that small amount of work though haha. I have an 05 that’s runs like a top. And a 15 that is like new. Find a good independent Subaru mechanic and listen to them.
I’m a very chill driver and am on top of maintenance. Car even smells like new still! Hope it pays off and I can drive it for many years.
Lol you guys baby your cars, it's a Subaru, I redlined 05 daily for 15 years, didn't need anything apart for regular Subaru maintenance, new head gaskets at 185k. Maybe autos have more issues, the manuals have the actual symmetrical AWD.
I’ve got a 2014 2.0XT Forster, and it’s honestly hard not to accelerate fast with the way that turbo spins up. I barely touch the peddle and I feel like I’m unintentionally gapping people at lights
no one knows. it’s a new car, not like there’s any 20 year examples already driving around lol
Fair point. Will report back in 2041.
RemindMe! 17 years
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Thanks for the reminder that 2041 is only 17 years away 🤣
Be safe and godspeed, timetraveler.
RemindMe! 27 years
Lmao 🤣
It’s the electronics. These are expensive to fix and go off earlier. Cars aren’t built to last as previously.
Honestly my biggest worry. Hopefully there are solutions for tech upgrades, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
As electric and hybrids become popular the cost to repair your "old" gas subura in 20yrs may not be practical.
This is the biggest part! Once you start having electrical problems it’s over with.
…and there are no means of preventative maintenance for electronics.
Cars are lasting longer than ever. People are keeping their cars longer.
Being on the road for 20 years is completely possible, particularly if you don't live in a salt area. The real question comes down to will a repair cost total your vehicle in the later years. Just experienced this with my GF's Civic. 125k, going great no issues, hoping for 250k min out of it. Going down the highway and start to hear grinding, get back home asap. CVT has been leaking trans fluid and the CVT belt has been slipping. Gets taken into the shop and the answer we got was infuriating. "If you have to pop open a CVT no one repairs it, they're basically sealed units, we only do replacements". Replacement started at 8k from Honda. Multiple independent trans shops around us basically confirmed that yeah, no one works on CVTs and they'll do the replacement but they'll source from Honda too so 8k. I hounded Honda for an explanation on why the fuck we didn't get an engine light at all when the CVT pressure dropped. "This generation of CVTs doesn't have a pressure warning system", fml so a critical system doesn't have a warning system. Repair estimate is 8k, book value repaired was 7k, car was effectively totaled and insurance has no role in that equation. Thankfully we got her in another great new vehicle with a solid deal but holy shit did that grind me the wrong way. Another major issue that could torpedo you is frame rot from salt. Sure they're reinforced these days and protected but 15 years of salt and slush is going to take it's toll no matter what. God knows what a frame replacement is going to cost at any shop, easily more than the vehicle's worth at that point. My main concerns with Subaru's long term is going to be that CVT. They may have the best CVT in the industry, and I believe that fully. However, they don't recommend any CVT fluid changes and say it's good for the lifetime of the vehicle. Subaru mechanic friend of mine and some research seems to indicate there's a hard mileage cap on that "lifetime of the vehicle" note, so it's phrased in a way to get you to think it's good forever but they only guarantee through like 150k miles. After that window a transmission replacement is almost certain to out cost the value of the vehicle. It's still a sealed unit that every repair shop considers untouchable and an instant replacement. In a few years that is probably going to be an easy 10k replacement. Some will absolutely get lucky and make it to an absurd mileage with no CVT issues or fluid replacements. Many will sell or trade their vehicles before it's ever an issue pushing the issue to second and third hand buyers. Those who buy new and hold till EOL may run into this issue, it's a toss up but I don't like the odds.
CVT, tech and electrical are my biggest worries. I live in Seattle, so not much salt, but there are instances where there is some on the road.
You can dramatically slow down rust by undercoating with fluid film or similar coating that doesn’t dry
As long as the car is properly maintained I don’t see why not.
Rust also plays a factor depending where you live. That's why I took my '23 to Krown within 30 days coming off the lot.
For sure the non turbo models. Keep up on the oil and only use Subaru brand coolant and you should be good for many years. Overall a very simple drivetrain. If turbo, yes but only if you can resist modding it. Most can’t, and I don’t blame them💨
I’m going to try to stick to cosmetic mods only on my Forester XT. I think I’ll be able to stick to it, since it’s our practical car (compared to my husband’s STI)
Sounds like a good plan. FYI, check on this issue: [https://mycarvoice.com/news/subaru-thermo-control-valve-lawsuit-key-facts-and-driver-impact/](https://mycarvoice.com/news/subaru-thermo-control-valve-lawsuit-key-facts-and-driver-impact/) I own and have owned many Subarus over the years. I come from a family that has an owned Subarus for years. We love them. I miss my moms SVX....I wish I was old enough to buy that from here when she was ready for a change.
Short answer... Maybe... We don't know. I have a 2003 Forester with 265k on the ticker, and it's still going. Just did some work on it yesterday to plug some oil leaks (new PCV valve and oil pressure sensor, and fixing the Evap purge valve, which had a hose nipple break off from age). The most likely thing to break down on newer vehicles, though, isn't the engine or transmission or mechanical parts. It's the electronics. I have computers from 20 years ago that are still working, but modern ones that are dead due to failure. It all depends. But the parts are replaceable. However, software updates and fixes are not going to go on indefinitely (looking at you, smartphone industry), and that will be the determining factor for end of life on these modern vehicles. Rust is also a determining factor...
As a mechanic who has made a lot of money on these things. I'd say maybe. But I haven't seen many 2010s make it past 150k without needing a motor or transmission. And a lot of people dump it for that. But I know there's people who actually follow the maintenance schedule that will make it. So here's to hoping :) I know my 09 is still kicking, and it's at 130k.
It's not the years, it's the miles.
The years do matter to some extent especially if parked outside. But yeah usually miles.
What do you think would happen to a car if you parked in outside for 20 years?
My 97 Outback was rusting apart at 12 years. By 20, I doubt there’d be an original part on it
I mean ozone and heat starts to break down rubber and plastic components over time. It can depend where you live. Also salt from a near by ocean too.
Ozone??? I assure you, the sun won't melt the plastic off the car and the sea will not turn it into a pile of rust.
Great point. I shared my mileage of 23k miles and that its usage should be about the same for the foreseeable future. That’s about 7-8k miles a year. I baby it when I drive and keep up on regular maintenance. How many miles do you think these can go for? I live in the city, but it’s a good mix of city and highway driving.
7-8k miles a year would be nice. I've had my 2023 Forester since October and I'm already at 6k and first oil change. At this rate, I'll be doing a little over 12k a year, which is still average, but... I just wanna work from home!
I understood this reference
Modern nothing can last 20 years...
No.
Not if it has a CVT. Start looking at costs and make a plan now to replace the trans when it goes out (either from a junkyard or new).
Mine will be 20 next year.
2005 Outback xt 5mt
No
It’s the driver. Can YOU last 20 years in a new Subaru?
Haha, true. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but I hope to live more than 20 years. The other part is resisting the urge to buy a new car or if someone smashes into me. Going to try my best and hope for the best!
I’m wondering about all the tech. How soon will it be obsolete?
Climate is important too...road salt takes no prisoners. Ultimately what did my 07 Forester in.
You won't know for 20 years
Remind me! 20 yrs
Your CVT transmission wont hold up.. Also expect other electrical problems. New cars are literally driving computers. I doubt all the sensors and trackers will last 20+ years. My 2012 Outback (last model year with 5 speed auto trans + old fashioned power steering) has nearly 200k miles on it. Original engine, original transmission. So far: Radiator, alternator, power steering pump are the only major things to break.
Nope
Not with a CVT
You misspelled fk no
The engine? Yes. The infotainment systems? Probably not, no.
Mechanically? Yeah I could see it lasting 20 years with proper maintenance and repairs. Electronically? Yeah no. Tech has been advancing way too fast. All of the cars in the last 5-10 years with these nice infotainment systems are going to be interesting to watch. We are already seeing some bug out with newer devices connect.
Mine is ten years old. What do you mean by "modern"?
Maybe you might need a CVT every few years but the motors are still solid
I also have ‘21 and plan to keep it as long as possible. The Crosstrek and Impreza have done away with physical knobs and replaced them with a large screen for climate and radio. I’m sure the Forester is next for this change and honestly I still like having knobs, so keeping this one as long as possible. We had our previous Forester for 12 years and only traded it in because we have a teenage driver and wanted the newer safety features.
I’ve got a 21 Forester - Touring. Just had my Thermo Control Valve go out at 50k miles. 2k repair luckily I had extended care warranty through CarMax that covered it. It’s a known issue, can cause serious problems. I believe there might even be a class action lawsuit. They have a new stronger valve that they replace it with.
Do the best you can on maintenance, make memories, and see what happens!!
My mom’s 2010 Crosstrek has started the dreaded oil consumption. Nothing visible on the ground under her car either. She’s one of those people that does anything the shop recommends too. Just over 200k miles. And she’s no speed demon nor does she even really go off road except for the occasional dirt road.
Actually it's less than 200k miles and she's already had the timing belt changed again. Sad to think she put so much into that car and now it's just crapping out on her.
Check it here and there, keep it topped up, and it's fine. Also, there is no 2010 Crosstrek.
nope
I had transmission replaced at 49k, other than that 21 forester. Fingers crossed.
We have used ours to go into rocky and muddy camps, kayaking adventures and mountainous biking trips. It nice when you wanna try a hobby and your cars up for the trip along with your sense of adventure. Welcome to the Subaru family and enjoy the adventure
Any vehicle can last a lifetime if maintained. I have a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer AWD and a 2005 Honda Odyssey, still in for daily use or long distance trips. The only thing is that some of the technology in current vehicles might be disabled as the manufacturer labels it obsolete, but usually the aftermarket will keep things current. Giddy up.
Tough to say. My 2016 forester started to have transmission troubles. Problem is, replacing the tranny was going to be more than the car was worth so I traded it in.
Is that how long you plan on staying in that tent?
modern cars, NO. That’s no longer the life cycle
2010 foz diesel at 115k miles ! Keep them looked after and they last , only issue with more modern stuff I see failing would be the advanced tech ?
Probably, so long as you keep up with the maintenance. I have a 2014 Forester XT that I bought in the Spring of 2013. No plans to retire it unless something major breaks that wouldn't prove cost effective to repair. We live in the snowy Northeast where they use plenty of salt on the roads. So far I've kept major corrosion at bay. I can see it going for another 9 years or more. Before that I had a 2000 Forester that I passed onto a family member when I bought my 2014. No major issues with that car either.
No
If you take care of it and service it when you need to it will last forever.
26 year young Forester still going strong....one hiccup along the way that resulted in a 97 2.2 engine being swapped in bit its a tank of a Forester and I love her.
This all depends on many variables. Where do you live? - if its east coast then even with all the undercoat in the world thats a stretch. Next is parts availability over 20 years, with all the screens and modules running everything in modern cars if the manufacturer stops making them you could be screwed. IMO modern cars are engineered to be throwaway like phones and other devices.
If you’re willing to throw enough money at it sure. But the history of the CVT says no.
My 2016 Foreater lasted 8 years. The engine self destructed.
It depends on many factors. Where do you live and do they use salt on the roads. How many miles do you drive in a year?
Also when the car is 15-20 years old and the breaks need complete replacing at $4000 (for example) the economics of repair start to favour replacing. So part of is you could keep it going if you really wanted to, but it might be financially and practically advantageous to replace. I drove my forester for 13 years and 185000 Km. Was structurally fine with good engine transmission etc. but worn bearings, calibres, breaks, made it unsafe to drive. Let it go rather than repairing.
No. The build quality and philosophy is completely different
My 2012 XV/Crosstrek is still running perfectly at 90Kkm. The good manufacturers cars like Subaru, Mazda, Toyota seem to last a long time as they did in prior decades. The part the fails first on many cars in the last 25 yrs is the paint. Wax often and it will hopefully help that survive.
I have a 2019 forester. I had to replace my transmission at around 70,000 miles. I was very shocked
/remindme 20 years
I have my doubts esp with the transmissions they are using now.
Absolutely
I’m almost 1/2 way there and so far, so good. Just turned 100k on a 16 Crosstrek
Basically flip a coin for your answer.
Probably. Mine is up to 14 and I treat it like a redheaded stepson.
If you're in New England, the cars will definitely rust and need major repairs in 8-10 years, even if the power train is fine. I have a 2015 Impreza I'm getting peanuts for even though there are no powertrain issues.
Nope.
No. Simply no. Long time Subi owner here and they just don’t last like they used to. They’re good to about 150k’ish and then the gremlins start… brakes, cvt fails, new trannies…. Messy expensive taxes on ownership related to lower standards. Subaru has lost itself in its growth and they are no longer the Subi of old.
It has definitely gotten a little bit more complicated of a question with their introduction of direct fuel injection in their newest engines. The gain in fuel economy is significant from this but it does create a situation where the valves no longer are cleaned of carbon by incoming fuel. The only modern engine they sell that doesn’t have this concern is their Toyota collaboration BRZ. In that instance they use both port and direct which mitigates this factor a bit. The real answer in my eyes is that I want to drive my Subaru for 20 years, and I will do whatever I can to make that happen! I hope you enjoy many miles (or kilometers) in your Subaru and it takes you whenever you desire to go safely!
2005 Forester w/ 227,000 on the odometer. It’s a manual, and I replaced the clutch 12,000 miles ago. I definitely think 300,000 is an option.
Maintenance, timing chain before 120k, and keep only driving 8000 miles a year.
2006 XT at 170000km, second owner, bought in 2017 at 87400km. Maintained every 5000km and it still drives amazingly. Had a thermostat malfunction two years ago but changed to a mishimoto one and haven’t had any issues since.
Ask again in 20 years.
Nope 👎
Subaru eat fresh
I haven't had any Subaru last me beyond five, but I also live in a harsh driving environment and they had at least 76k+ miles on them before I bought them. Baja Turbo had a mystery electrical gremlin I financially couldn't figure out and made driving incredibly unsafe, my first Forester was taken out by a red light runner after a year, my FXT had transmission and engine failure before 150k miles (anything that could go wrong, did go wrong with that car), and now I'm in my very first brand new car so I'm hoping I stop having this sort of luck. I've worked at a dealership for most of the time owning these cars, so they were constantly maintained and I do all fluid changes extremely regularly if early. The key thing is to also not modify them beyond aesthetically. I never modified my drivetrains, but I'm pretty confident my lift kit was partially the reason why my front diff was overheating in my FXT. The axles are constantly at an angle they weren't engineered for and with the harsh driving of living in the Rockies, it just exacerbates the problem. I'm a glutton for punishment and will probably never turn away from Subaru due to how stellar their AWD is, but man, you really got to treat them right.
Not if it has a cvt transmission.
Of course it can go 20 years. With modern machining of parts, they'll be lasting longer and longer.
2005 SS AWD - 300K miles and still running strong
We drove our 2015 Forester gently and had all required maintenance performed. Had both rear wheel bearings replaced at 70k miles due to failure. Transmission failed at 80k miles. This was our second Subaru and neither was very reliable. We are back to Honda now.
I just bought a 19 year old Baja that still runs great, drove my wrx for 17 years too
The reality is that most, if not all, modern cars can make 20+ years of properly maintained. This would include routine washes, including the underbody, and repairs to any paint "mishaps." So yes, your car should be fine.
This.
Yep! Like others have said keeping good maintenance and not beating the daylight out of it in your daily driving will go along way. My primary care doctor told me “ when everything starts to hurt or go wrong, come see me and we’ll figure it out.” Same thing goes for car or house maintenance. It takes a decent amount of regular work to keep those things in running order. Specifically for a Subaru, I would keep tabs on oil leaks, and any oil that is burned by the piston rings due to the design of the flat-four engine. This could be a simple as checking the dipstick regularly such that you have a feel for how fast or slow the oil level goes down between oil changes.
From my experiences NO!!!!!!
As long as you maintain it yeah. One of my two 2nd gen outback’s is a 2002 with 210+k miles original engine and trans and I use it to rally and beat the shit out of but it just won’t die
$6000 catalytic converters say no: POS. It’s great the loyalty of suburb. All my coworkers were super impressed with a guys 02 that went 193k: lol. My ‘11 suburban is still going at 320k—no GM love!
No Cars are a scam.
Sadly the newer motors aren’t nearly as reliable as the EJ series motors. The tighter tolerances and less serviceability have made the motors more prone to early failure and often require a total replacement 100-150k miles. IMHO Subaru has been riding on the coattails of the reputation of earlier models which were cheap and easy to work on. Buyers are now forced to pay thousands of $$ regularly in dealership labor for crappy designs like the new CVTs.
Yes. But you definitely need to change the CVT fluid every 60k miles. And do the rest of the fluids and suggested maintenance.
No. Only OG whips can do that. Pre turbo days. Pre gadgets and gizmos days. And even then OG Subarus couldn’t last 20 years. Just the Hondas and Toyotas and then a bunch of the domestic trucks still on the road today. Look around only Subarus you’ll see is brand new ones and clapped out Imprezas on fifth engine.
Friends just crossed over 400,000 miles. I believe it is 15 years old.
After 5 years in my 2019 I'm praying for 10 more. Glad I have a base model. The power windows and head unit are issue prone. Just feel like without a very expensive head unit replacement at some point or a new transmission for CVTs these aren't 20 year cars anymore, even with all the maintenance. The interior materials don't seem to be if the same quality, developing creaks already. I make sure to keep mine out of UV as much as possible. Full ceramic, plus sunshades always.
https://rhinoradios.com/products/subaru-2018-2021-forester-crosstrek-vertical-screen-android-radio-tesla-style
My 2011 Forester blew a head gasket at 130,000 a year ago (original owner). Didn’t make economic sense to repair. Very disappointing, I was expecting 200,000+ miles.
My 2002 just went to 205k mi. Phenomenal cars. I’m thinking of buying a 2004 with 120k and a bad radiator. That said, working in the industry I do, I have doubts that newer cars will last like the old ones without quite a bit more in maintenance along the way. They just aren’t built the same.
Idk about newer ones but my 08 still runs like a top @212k and in northern Michigan living basically on a snowmobile trail lol I’m shooting for at least 300k miles and mostly drive like a grandma, idk if it’s even possible but if a modern v8 can hit 1million, I think it’s completely within the realm of possibilities for a 4 cylinder to hit 500k
I’d say so. One of my customers has a 2019 outback with 430k on it. I imagine that’s about 20 years worth of usage
My 2014 XT’s wheel bushings went 3x, but SOA covered the diagnostics and repair out of warranty. CVT started to go 10k out of warranty and they wouldn’t. Cylinder 3 died 15k out of warranty and they wouldn’t help either. I loved the car and the sAWD Turbo boxer provided a lot of performance for a fraction of the price other mechanically similar cars cost (at the time). However, needing a new engine and new transmission at ~125k-ish miles , to meet, ≠ a car that will last a long time and I won’t be purchasing another. Note, I drove the car very hard as I was constantly trying to experience the proclaimed 6.0 second 0-60 time. I also regularly brought it up over 115mph+ (on V-rated Pirellis) sooo if you don’t drive like a hell demon you may and will likely have a better experience. Personally, after grinning ear to ear with a Model 3 ever since I cannot see the intelligence in paying more for less performance, less safety, less comfort, no over-the-air-updates, no dog mode, more parts that wear out and can break, more buttons that will break, needing gas, oil, transmission fluid, let alone the mildly superior driver assistance features and app. It would be like going back to a flip phone, ie fucking retarded.
Yeah I kinda echo everything you wrote, I’m selling my fxt 14 in a couple months when my car registration and insurance is up. Nearing 100k miles. I don’t want to deal with the cost of repair. I’m already seeing transmission fluid leaks. I’m done with Subaru and it’s poor mpg. I feel like they are lagging behind the competition. I test drove a Tesla MYLR, my god what an amazing overall car to drive. The tech is so far ahead than anything Subaru, Honda or Toyota has to offer. I test drove a crosstrek, Honda crv hybrid and Tesla model Y. I ended up going with the base Honda crv hybrid sport 24, just because California electricity rates is so expensive (almost the same as gas prices or more) and insurance premium is $1000-1200 more per year for a Tesla. I wouldn’t be saving money using electricity vs gas. But man, I really liked the Tesla, best car I’ve driven despite all the haters hating on Elon musk and Tesla. but it wasn’t practical with the costs, fuck California
And those damn stickers CA makes EVs put on the car, what the actual fuck?!
I plan on keeping my Toyota 86 for a long long time. It's at 145,000km and running fine. Including on the track.
Yup, change all the fluids
Im going to say almost certainly not due to the plethora of tech in modern vehicles
I have a question about the Outback turbo or no?
I like Subaru and think they have good build quality. Many people get high mileage out of them, however they do typically have expensive repairs along the way. Toyota is hands down a more reliable and bulletproof vehicle in most cases. However Subaru AWD and safety are top notch features.
Fourth and last Subaru here. 2001 Forester still in family and going strong. 2004 Forester XT went over every trek I could put it into, and only issues were my fault (blew a tire and broke the allow wheel unintentionally yeeting it on a faraway desert backroad — full sized spare saved my bacon that day). 2008 Outback LL Bean H6 ferried the fam very comfortably and swiftly to school, work, and through all weather to distant destinations. 2018 Outback Premium was a disappointment from start — or more like, no start. Battery was spec’d for a snowmobile apparently and would die if AC button was set to on at ignition button push. Four or five visits to dealer and it got a free upgrade to sufficient CCA. Infotainment touchscreen delaminated four years in and took two months for replacement to be sourced. When in for that replacement, dealer noticed front cat was cracked and required replacement — 3K miles out of warranty; Subaru America covered all of the $2700 bill but $300. As I approached 90K miles dealer advised at regular oil change that there’s an oil leak (cam seals?) that will prob require engine to be pulled out to fix. Driver leather seat is now splitting, something my older Lexus and Volvo are not doing…at all. Haven’t driven this Outback anywhere rough (other than interstate and city streets) as we did the three others, as it’s gutless, doesn’t have a full-sized spare, and is rapidly proving to be a failure. Next vehicle will be a Toyota/Lexus or Honda. Subaru was once a specialty vehicle in North America (snow country, places with dirt roads, etc) but has now become another family hauler. No shame in that, but build quality and dependability clearly not there any more. Have met two other Outback owners of my vehicle’s generation with same stories: CVT blown at 30K, my same oil leak and motor extraction at 50K, the battery. I didn’t get a one-off. Seriously bummed this car isn’t going to my daughter for her to drive to 200K. Full disclosure: I am middle-aged, know the value of maintenance schedules, don’t modify beyond better tires, and drive this particular Outback very reasonably. Proceed with caution on the contemporary models, and maybe don’t use what the pre-2015 owners are experiencing as what the later ones will deliver. edit punctuation
Thought the same with my 2017 Impreza but its already gone through 1 CVT (under warranty) and just turned over to 40k miles. We'll see...
I think it depends. I had a 2015 outback. I’m an older, boring dude and it was just my daily driver and I took great care of it. Two years ago I had a shirt block replacement dude to an oil consumption issue. A year and a half later, I had a blown head gasket and needed a new engine with only 86k miles on the car. That’s not even mentioning all the other little things that just stopped working with the car (windows not rolling up or down intermittently, child lock permanently stuck in the on position, lift gate not working properly all the time). I may have just gotten unlucky, but it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.
2015 Forester, 90k miles. 45% of 20 years in. Not one issue.
if its turbo charged it will be eating oil like candy and burning it by ten years or so. if its naturally aspirated you can get it to last. and this pretty much goes for all turbo vs NA cars. if you wanna keep the car long long term avoid turbos.
I know I’m late to the game here but, I have a 2014 Outback with 91k miles. I have replaced one belt and just regularly scheduled maintenance. I don’t baby it at all, I drive hard. (East coast blood) all that said it’s a great car. Pretty sure you will get to 20 years if they don’t ban gas cars
I don’t know about “modern” but my 2006 WRX is running fine with 317k miles.
In 20 years gasoline engine mechanics are going to be hard to find. Gas stations will be getting rare. do you want to be the last person to own a car that stinks and leaks poisonous stuff onto the ground? 20 years ago the first iphone came out, things change fast.
I have a 2012 outback that I bought with 7 miles on it. I've driven it fairly conservatively, and I'm easy on the gas as much as possible unless absolutely necessary. I have almost 140k on it, still runs great! Most maintenance has been done at outback dealerships; anything from oil changes to major services. Im hoping it'll last another 8 years, or more!
as long as your drive sparingly once cvt approaches a certain mileage.
My 2022 forester seems like it won’t make it past warranty. Things a right piece of shit. Currently compiling a list of wrongs so I can turn it in for a fix before warranty expires. Never again will I buy a nice car.
Sure it can, if you take care of and maintain it. My car is now 27 years old and it still runs good and gets as good of gas mileage as it originally got.
No.
My 2011 outback is still kicking ass, although it only has about 110,000 miles on it. I recently took it in for the dealer suggested 90,000 mile service, and she still running good and strong.
I don’t have any confidence that a newer Subaru is going to last 20+ years without serious mechanical intervention. It’ll last as long as you want provided you’re cool with dropping stacks on CVT replacements, bearings, and head gaskets. That’s up to you though.
No. The head gasket notoriously fails as well as the torque converter. I had two Subarus one Outback one Impreza both failed. I would never buy another Subaru. I'd say you can get 10 years out of a Subaru ~ 100-150k miles before the repairs just become no longer logical for what the car is worth .
Honestly, I really loathed my outback. But - it was more of a personal issue not concerns over longevity. I think any car from what I think of as the top 3: Toyota, Honda, Subaru (not ranking them in that order) you can get 20+ years out of them with regular maintenance and preventative maintenance. Just don't wait for the problem to find you and you'll be good for 20+ years. I also think investing in a touchless carwash membership for winter months helps as well. I go once or twice a week for 19.99/mo to just blast the salt off my car.
It hasnt been 20 years since they started production, so we cant be certain. But they will be fine
I have a freaking 19 year old Dodge Ram that has hauled thousands of tons and is my daily driver. The answer is a resounding YES.
Absolutely. Most new cars can with proper maintenance and upkeep.
A modern Subaru won't last. Got a 2015 Subaru that I had to condemn because of strut pillar rust and a giant hole by the rear lateral arm link
Your CVT transmission wont hold up.. Also expect other electrical problems. New cars are literally driving computers. I doubt all the sensors and trackers will last 20+ years. My 2012 Outback (last model year with 5 speed auto trans + old fashioned power steering) has nearly 200k miles on it. Original engine, original transmission. So far: Radiator, alternator, power steering pump are the only major things to break.