2009 Subaru Forester automatic for sale. 86,200 miles. 1 Owner and is a Subaru mechanic. Last 4 years he only used as a second car because he bought a truck but now he doesn’t drive it and doesn’t want to keep it. He’s asking $9,500. $3,000 of work was done which include driver side knuckle, front ball joints, sway bar bushings, valve cover gaskets, exhaust gaskets, timing belt, water pump, drive belts, radiator, washer fluid pump and container, heavy duty front axles, Spark plugs, front and rear brakes with painter rotors and platinum pads, battery, transfer case, transmission fluid, and differential fluid. Also another $2,200 was put in to brand new wheels and tires Plus $800 of winter tires with original factory rims. That all said nothing was mentioned of the head gasket being replaced so should I just avoid?
Why would he charge you the $3000 he spent to fix the car??? Ask him if he'd like to add up the oil change money he spent over the years, too.
I guess Subaru isn’t paying him enough as a mechanic and needs the extra money. Should I offer another extra $3,000 to replace the head gasket? LOL. He’s done millions of them on other Subarus already I’m sure.
I wouldn't offer him more, that car is overpriced to begin with for a 12-13 year-old Subaru albeit one that's had a lot of problem area already taken care of. The guy's desire to get back what he put into it is understandable but when selling a used car that's just not always possible. Maybe if he'll include installation of new head gaskets at the stated price to sweeten the deal. (Don't forget, the automatic transmissions on those are weak as well so that's another potential problem area down the road.) If the guy specializes in Subarus he can probably replace head gaskets in his sleep.
If head gaskets have not been replaced stay away, it's due for a $4000 repair job around the 100,000 mile mark.
I would avoid it since he didn’t replace the head gaskets.
I agree with Chuck. The primary appeal of buying from a mechanic is if the head gasket has been replaced (properly). The rest of that stuff is small potatoes by comparison. With low miles like that, it might go another 100k… but if the head gasket goes, then the whole deal goes pear shaped. The asking price is too high for the risk.
