Topic: Used Subaru??????

[barryk]

Looking at buying a used 2001 Subaru Outback with 159000km.  Km's seem a bit high for the year although the body seems to be in mint condition, took it for a test drive (dealership) and it seemed to drive perfectly.  The price seems quite reasonable at $13,000 loaded, couple thousand less than others out there.  Now here's my question, I found out (after phoning the dealership back) that the car is from Ontario, I'm in Alberta, and I have heard a lot of horror stories of eastern cars with all the salt corrosion on the undercarriage.  Any truth to it? I did notice some corrosion when I stuck my head under the car, nothing to scare me at the time however.  The engine block also appeared somewhat corroded but I have noticed this on other Subaru's as well.  Also, anybody know what is involved in registering a out of province vehicle when purchused from a dealership, or do they take care of the paperwork?  
Thanks for any and all help.

[ovr50]

This car sounds very familiar - wait for the comments of Johngenx. You say Alberta, Edmonton I'll bet. This car is known to some of our regular posters on here.  

Personally, I wouldn't touch it but that's just me.  

BTW, welcome to the Forum, Barryk.  

(Message edited by ovr50 on November 21, 2004)

[Sterling]

If the car was originally from Ontario but has since been registered in Alberta you don't have to do anything. If it has never been registered in Alberta the dealer will have done an Out of Province Inspection and submitted the inspection certificate to Alberta registries. If done, you won't have to do anything special to register it. If the inspection has not been done, you won't be able to register the car.

[johngenx]

Hey!  It's that car on the St. Albert trail, right?  I know that car.  The price is right, but man, those km's are high, high, high.  We looked at the car, and it does seem okay.  Drives good, looks good.  Personally, I might offer $10K and not budge, and walk away if the price wasn't spectacular.

The above comments about registering the car are true, and be careful.

[barryk]

St. Albert trail, thats the one!  Still thinking about it, might go back and look at it again, what kind of lifespan do Subaru's have? Not too concerned about resale, plan on keeping it for a number of years if I do buy the car. As I said it does have higher km's but its in better shape then ones I've look at with 60,000 less km's.  If the dealership had the provincial inspection done, would it tell me anything substancial about the mechanical condition of the Subaru or possible salt corrosion....So what is the story with salt from Ontario, I could understand on the coast, but why Ontario?

[barrie1]

The reason for Ontario is the fact that we use a lot of salt on our roads here depending on where you live. With the Temperatures and moisture levels here in the winter the Highways Dept has no choice but to use salt on our roads. A 2001 Sub should still be in very good shape no matter where it came from in Ontario. Its not like we have it inchs deep so on a quality car like that it hasen't hurt it at all.  I would suspect most of the miles on this vehicle were highway as to the high amount of them.

[Mdxtasy]

The inspection is not a thorough mechanical inspection.  I'd get one done at the garage of your choosing.

[wing]

The salt should not be an issue on an '01 I hope.

At $10k that car would be a steal IMO.

[Mdxtasy]

Now I'm thinking about it.  Searching the ads and there's nothing in that price range.  If you buy it at 10K....you are still so far ahead that a couple K in repairs and the car's mint.  It would not have been a great choice for Johngen's friend...but if you had more cash to throw at it....and it's in excellent shape like you say it is....it might not be bad.  I think I'll call my brother tomorrow.  

[jamie1]

I would stay AWAY as far as possiable from any car from the east. Working at a dealer,it does not matter if the car 1 year old or 10 years old, the rust bug has set in. We get cars bought at the auction from Ont. Most are just over a year at best, some maybe 2 years old. Everyone usually needs drums and rotors,the bolts on anything under the vehicle will usually all be rusted bad enough most break when a wrench touches them. Also 160,000km is an awful lot of k's for a 3-4 year old car. BTW. Alberta's Out of Province inspections were pretty much brought in so alberta would not be Ont dumping ground any more for their rust buckets

(Message edited by jamie1 on November 22, 2004)

[johngenx]

If you look hard, it's possible to find a 00-01 Outback with 80K for asking $18K, probably taking $15-16K.  Would the extra $3K be worth half the miles?  I think so!  Calgary has a better supply of cars, so if possible, consider looking there too.

But, at closer to $10K, that car might be a great buy, IF it passes a real PPI.  Don't buy that car without investing $100-$200 in a real PPI.  Not!

The other concern I have is THAT particular dealer.  I know NOTHING about them, nothing.  If the car turns out to be stolen or other major thing, will it be a problem?  I had a friend that bought a car from a good new car dealer that turned out to be stolen, and they paid him out on his car.

Keep us posted...

[articsteve]

I second what Jamie 1 said.  Salt enters all the cracks and crevices from day one.

[barryk]

Good advice on the rust awareness; brakes, exhaust, suspension, it all could add up pretty quickly if the rust bug has set in.  Will definetly go for a good inspection if I  make a offer(still undecided).  So why doesn't Ontario use sand like we do here in Alberta if it creates such as problem on the vehicles, imagine it can't be too good for the roads either.  

In reagrds to THAT particular dealership, their claim seems to be wholesale pricing, mass volume movement by having prices generally quite a bit lower then the competition.  Which they seem too on a consistent basis. THEY say since their prices are so low there is very little room to move on (BS?? I don't know)
Has anybody else dealt with dealership claims like this before? They do seem to have really good asking prices, so I am curious on that regard.

I do know of one friend that has bought a car from them with no problems for what its worth.

[ghost]

at 159,000km, the subaru engine is just waking up. <yawn>.
Buying any used car is a gamble. You can never know what it went through. Even from sunny state Florida.

[johngenx]

I do know of one friend that has bought a car from them with no problems for what its worth.

I'm not saying they're bad, I just don't know.  Glad to hear someone has a positive experience with them, 'cause they often have interesting cars at low prices.  $29K for a Boxster?  Not bad.  But, some of their prices are not low at all, and actually high.  Be careful to shop.

BTW, the Subaru dealer in Calgary has a 2000 Outback with 169K and they're asking something like $19K.  Good luck to them.  They probably paid $9,000 wholesale for it.