Hello, looking at buying a 2008 Impreza AWD, 130k miles, manual transmission. $6000.
I understand the timing belt needs replacing at approx 100k miles. I don't know if the belt has been replaced. The seller thinks it would trigger a check engine light if it hasn't been replaced. Is this true ?
I'm also curious about opinions on this car.
You didn't say whether it's at a dealer or a private sale. Stay away from dealers. (If it is at a dealer the thing is so old it's bound to be at a bottom-feeding used car lot, maybe a BHPH joint, where they picked it up at auction and don't know a thing about its history.)
Aside from the price being too high unless there is proof that the head gaskets have already been replaced run away from that deal. Timing belt absolutely needs to be changed on schedule. If it's original it's been on borrowed time for quite a while now. You'd probably get a check engine light from the timing belt when it breaks and the engine locks up from the valves crashing into the pistons.
If the head gaskets have been replaced and it's from a private seller - and you can get a couple of thousand knocked off the price - it might be OK, but it should be checked out thoroughly by a mechanic BEFORE buying.
The seller thinks it would trigger a check engine light if it hasn't been replaced. Is this true ?
Not true.
Besides that, you might need a head gasket work.
I would look for another car.
The belt is supposed to be replaced at around 100,000 miles. If it stretches significantly, it will throw off the valve timing and throw a code. I would never pay $6k for a 14 year old car. The manual trans is a definite plus.
I dont think it'll get a CEL telling you it needs to be replaced specifically, but if its running poorly & misfiring due to a stretched belt it could trip a CEL. If you get the car absolutely have the belt done (try to knock the price down assuming it needs it). Subarus weak point is the auto transmission, so a manual is more reliable. I'd do a headgasket test as well as a compression check to health of the engine. They make great awd systems so if you dont hear any noises form the drivetrain its probably alright too. Try to knock that price down considering the timing belt.
Thanks, you guys have been very helpful! I did a bit of reading on the head gaskets.... Wow, good to know.
The 2nd to last owner had the vehicle serviced 4 times at the same shop, within a few months in 2021 and all within 1000 odometer miles, must have been dealing with some problems, not specified though.
Another frequent trouble spot on those cars is the front drive axles because the inner joints are near the exhaust, but that is not nearly as big a problem as the head gaskets and can be a DIY project if one is handy with tools.
Given all the factors (stealership, bought at auction, multiple owners, dicey service history, price too high) it is definitely time to run away from this deal.
The only way I'd buy a Subaru of that vintage would be from a private owner who had receipts for head gasket replacement, and it would still need to pass being examined by a mechanic.
I called the shop who did those 4 services... They said they installed an intoxalock and calibrated it on those visits.
I'm assuming therefore neither service has been done, and to me it means 3k of deduct off the asking price.
Sounds like it's time to run, not walk, away from this deal.
Dealer sold it today. I didn't get a chance to make an offer, is ok though. I just hope other buyer got it cheap! Crazy market these days...
It is a Chrysler dealer. They bought at auction a month ago, per Carfax. The Carfax report has no mention of head gasket replacement or timing belt, so I'm assuming they've not been done.
Head gaskets must've been problems on these cars?
Dealer sold it today. I didn't get a chance to make an offer, is ok though. I just hope other buyer got it cheap! Crazy market these days...