Advise me on 2004 Subaru outback

A local is selling a 2004 Subaru Outback 5 speed with 41k miles for $4800. Are these reliable? What's the hive think?

They can be very reliable. Have they been letting it sit, of have them been putting limited miles on it and keeping after them maintenance?

In my area (PNW) Usually these are run into the ground by college kids and scrapped after it pops a timing belt or head gasket.

I have not looked at it yet or queried the owner about its history, other than that the mileage is correct. I guess leaking head gaskets is the biggest issue? It looks very clean in the pictures, so it hasn't been trashed by kids. Do these have automatic AWD?

All time awd. We had an 02 for 200k. It needed head gaskeys and an alternator in that time, along with struts and a few bushings. Normal stuff except the head gaskets.

Seems cheap. Wonder why?

They are a good appliance. The wagon swallowed a shocking amount of crap.

I have a 2004 that I bought last year for $400. It had 160k miles on it and needed some immediate attention to get it on the road. Tires, 1 front wheel bearing, brakes, and it was my new DD. I've put 20k miles on it since then and besides oil changes all it has needed was a radiator. I've also done some maintainifying in form of a 2" lift with kyb struts and Baja springs. The car has been great. I drive it 70 miles a day commuting and it gets about 20-23mpg with the 28" all terrain tires.

When I first got it the passenger side head gasket was leaking coolant on the ground. I poured a bottle of Subaru coolant conditioner (stop leak) and it did its job.

I'll also add the cargo capacity of these wagons is huge! I'm 6' tall and can sleep comfortably in back with the rear seat folded flat.

I have an 05 Outback wagon. I'd never buy another one. On icy roads the rear of the car likes to "ghostwalk", the car basically tries to put you in the ditch or over the centerline. Maintenance hasn't been cheap either, mines the 3.0 six cylinder witch has steel lines to the heater core. $600.00 repair plus new radiator, hoses, ball joints, driveshaft ..... All on a two owner car with regular maintenance.

My mom had an 04 for a couple years.

Bought it with 125k for 2500.

Mechanically it was fine the couple years she had it, but we got rid of it due to rust. Fenders, rocker panels, the back where the struts to hold the hatch open mount to the body, all of it Swiss cheese. Around 145k the transmission staying slipping occasionally, but we got rid of it by 150k.

I love Subaru's - nothing can touch them in winter weather, NOTHING. That being said, from your profile I see you are in South Carolina, so I am expecting that winter for you vs. me, is a very different issue.

Issues:
- Wheel bearings are a pretty regular maintenance item.
- My mom has an 04 Legacy - the car is on it's 3rd engine due to issues with piston slap. Both of the previous engines were replaced by Subaru and both were done outside of the warranty period. My understanding is that the 04 engine was changed to very short piston skirts to try to reduce internal friction. I am very suspicious of 04's, as a result. Please note that Subaru's follow-up on my mom's car has been wonderful.
- Subaru's Achilles Heal? - Fuel mileage - they suck. My old WRX and our Ford Explorer get pretty much the same mileage. Turbo or not, they don't get great mileage.
- Almost all 2.5L NA engines will need HG's around the 100k mile mark. However if they are fixed properly with good quality HG's this problem is unlikely to occur again. Best bet is a mls HG.

You need to decide if the AWD is worth it for you and in your climate. The AWD in a manual trans Subaru is a purely mechanical system using 3 diffs. 50/50 split all the time and very predictable. The system used in auto trans Subaru's is completely different.

Just did my 97 Legacy's 240K maintenance.

pulled the engine, its easy (2 hours),

New timing belt ($45) New sparks ($15) new Valve cover gasket set ($55) Oil and coolant ($35). (anther 2 hours)

Reinstall engine (3 hours, tired by then)

Looks good for almost a quarter million miles. Everything on this car is original parts except the radiator, and one right wheel bearing. No oil leaks except for the valve cover which is now fixed. at 120K there was a similar maintenance and I repaired CV boots. So even the axles are original. If you fix the minor stuff and dont let it go these things are loooong lasting. I would repair a HG in a heartbeat if one ever failed. the rest of the car is that good. Ive heard that if a MLS gaskets is used and the head surface is straight and clean and torqued correctly, it will no fail.

If I have to do the clutch on a manual forester, and don't have a lift is pulling the engine the easier way to do it? I don't have an immediate need at the moment, just want to mentally file it away for the future when I do.

I say, if you dont have a car lift available, then pulling the engine is easier.