2008 Subaru Boxer Diesel - High Mileage

CodeJACK

Looking for some advice about buying a Subaru with this engine... Legacy, Impreza, Forester...

I need to buy my own car for work purposes, I've always been a motorbike rider.

This would only be used for trips outside of Dublin to Cork, Limerick etc.

I dont have a massive amount of money to spend but want to get something that will put a smile on my face when I'm in it. Engine note and tech from Subaru always does this for me.

DMF and DPF issues aside, what else do I need to worry about if buying a high mileage one of these?
Is high mileage even an issue any more? Yes I know it depends on how the car is treated so lets assume its got service history and has been looked after.

Any other alternatives you might recommend instead?

I'll be officially shopping in January

bazz26

That engine has a reputation for being not very reliable. Google it, there is plenty of information out there. Also not sure what fun engine note your expecting from a diesel engine other than sounding like a tractor.

CodeJACK

Thanks for the response bazz. I have googled it and there is as many good as bad reviews. Big end bearing failure is what you are referring to?

I love the sound of the boxer diesel. Its nothing like a standard diesel.

bazz26

Some more info just from boards.ie here:

https://www.google.ie/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=subaru+legacy+diesel+problems+boards.ie+site:www.boards.ie&safe=off

CodeJACK

Thanks, yes, Ive done the search

bazz26

Once you know the risks up front then it's really up to you whether you want to pull the trigger on buying one.

CodeJACK

Yeah, I know your right and having owned a PSA 1.6d in the past, you think I might have learned my lesson :-)

Is there any diesel that is reliable though? All have issues because of their dirty nature. Find one that's been looked after and your chances of having issues are greatly reduced.

Any recommendation for an alternative to Boxer Diesel?

bazz26

Unfortunately it's the nature of the diesel beast, however if the big end bearing goes on that Boxer engine it's pretty much goodnight to your engine which costs a lot more to rebuild/replace over your standard DPF/DMF/turbo failures.

Probably not the type of cars your looking for but the likes of the Toyota 1.4 d-4d or Hyundai/Kia 1.6 CDR engines are fairly robust, some versions don't have DPFs or DMFs but your talking about a Corolla/Ceed or i30 which are alot more sober than a Legacy.

CodeJACK

Yeah, but if the car only cost 4k, then DPF/DMF/turbo failures would mean scrapping the car. I'd be happy to do that if I got some time out of it.

Corolla is worth looking at but most are out of my price range.

bazz26

This 9-3 might be worth a look if it's genuine and mileage/service history are verified:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/saab-93-2007-saab-93-1-9-tid-vector-sport-sat-nav/14124155

benny_cakes

do not buy a legacy diesel!!

I did and ended up with a spun main bearing and a €6K bill for a new engine.

the 2008 - late 2010 legacy have a euro 4 engine. every single one of these eventually either breaks the crankshaft or spins the bearing and damages the crankshaft.

the euro 5 engine from very late 2010 on is better as it has a redesigned bottom end so less prone to trouble. the trouble with the euro 5 is the DPF gets blocked easily as its a closed loop.....euro 4's have an open loop DPF so don't give this DPF trouble.

Cee-Jay-Cee

If your on a tight budget then I'd avoid a Legacy diesel. I was warned off them by a Subaru main dealer! I personally know 3 people who have owned them and had the engine go pop on them. One of those was a 2010 car with 78k and comprehensive main dealer service history. The others slightly higher mileage but nothing too high. They are basically a time bomb and when they go off you can effectively write them off as repair is too costly. I have an 05 petrol Legacy and would have dearly loved an 09/10 Legacy diesel but wouldn't risk one unless I got it for stupidly small money.

74merc

How many miles a year do you do? Petrol Legacies can be bought for very little money.

CodeJACK

Right, head taking over from heart now and Im ruling out the boxer diesel. I'm kinda thinking that any diesel is a waste of money once they get old.

Petrol Legacy would be good but the tax is totally retarded on them. Poxy tax on cars is just so stupid. Some great and efficient petrol cars are out there but not cost effective to run at all.

My max budget is about 5k and really pushing it at that because insurance is also going to be bonkers as its my first car. Been named on my wife's car for 10 years plus so hoping that helps a little.

AMKC

Maybe look at getting an Alfa Romeo 156 or if they are in your budget a 159 which is a fabulous car to look at and still look great. The Alfa engines are 1.9 and 2.2 jtd I think.

http://www.autotrader.ie/browse-used-cars/alfa-romeo/159/used-2007-alfa-romeo-159-1-9-jts-dublin-fpa-959162767818545561

There is 1.8 petrol ones there from dealers for less.

A Mazda RX8 could be another option but they are very hard on oil. It is a 1.3 petrol rotary engine but taxed as a 1.8 engine in this country.

http://www.autotrader.ie/browse-used-cars/mazda/rx8/used-2009-mazda-rx8-coupe-2003-fermanagh-fpa-200714637946176480

CodeJACK

Wow, an Alfa? Would never have put them on a list of mile muncher cars.

This a Honda 2.2 Diesel is what I'll aim for. Im gutted the Subaru is not in the running though.

CodeJACK

Alfa's seem out of my price range and also high tax

biko

If you only intend to drive long distances, look up the mpg
I had a petrol Forester and it was pretty bad on mpg

selectamatic

biko wrote: »

If you only intend to drive long distances, look up the mpg
I had a petrol Forester and it was pretty bad on mpg

Petrol subaru's and good mpg don't mix, even the 1.6 engines from the noughties were alcoholics.

OP is there any specific criteria other than a slightly fun/interesting drive?
Cheap tax? Or max tax you are willing to spend?
Under 10 years old?
Reliability?
Max budget?

Also I'd rule a 156 out if reliability is a concern and the 2.2 Honda diesel engine has a patchy reliability record especially the early ones, dear tax too for only 140bhp if buying pre 2008

CodeJACK

It will be used for work and traveling all over the country. Not every day but maybe twice a week I would be based outside Dublin. Reliability and fun is what I'm after.

Max tax I would pay is 500 so aiming for 2008+ cars

Budget would be a max of 5k

selectamatic

Diesel vrs octavia it'll have to be a pre 08 one though

CodeJACK

No way on the Octavia. Rattle themselves apart and not a great drive IMO

bazz26

Cheap tax, comfortable cruiser:

Renault Laguna:
http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1635371&r=s.php%3Fm%3D72%26o%3D618%26r%3D2008%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

Citroen C5:
http://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=1640843&r=s.php%3Fm%3D16%26o%3D140%26r%3D2008%26pp%3D50%26g%3D0

CodeJACK

Thanks but ill never go PSA diesel of that generation ever again

CodeJACK

K, i think my original question is well answered. Boxer Diesel 08-09 is to be avoided. I'll probly go Toyota or Honda instead, depending on whats available. Cheers all

bazz26

The Laguna III doesn't have a PSA engine.

selectamatic

To be blunt what you want doesn't exist in cheap tax form for your budget.

The only thing I can think of would be a late reg 08 mk2 t180 avensis but that's slap bang in the problem years of the 2.2 d4d engine the later 150bhp version was much more reliable. They're not great on diesel either. Cheap tax diesel Honda's will be out of budget.

If you're willing to go back in years you open yourself up to cheaper simpler cars that are still reasonably powerful reasonable to tax and yet can be fun-ish.

E46 320d 150bhp
Mk4 golf/bora/Leon 150bhp or 130bhp
Astra, Alfa or Saab 1.9 150bhp
Fabia/Ibiza vrs or octavia vrs
Pug 306
Mondeo tdci 130bhp
Yaris 1.4d4d small light and just enough poke to make it sorta fun.

Lots of tuning avenues open for exploring should fun levels need increasing.

That said if you're only driving it twice a week a petrol could be an option. Its annual mileage you need to be looking at really and tbh if it's not that high you should go petrol just avoid getting an absolute alcoholic and you'll be grand.

ShadowHearth

CodeJACK wrote: »

Wow, an Alfa? Would never have put them on a list of mile muncher cars.

This a Honda 2.2 Diesel is what I'll aim for. Im gutted the Subaru is not in the running though.

I got alfa gt 1.9 jtdm in very late February and to this day I got 14k miles in it. 2 light bulbs, intercooler hose got a hole and topped up brake fluid.
Great engine and great cars. Gt and 159 does not have reliability issues like 156 had. They don't brake anymore more often then other brands, but for 5K you can pick up a very high spec gt or 159 with 150hp diesel engine.

Keep in mind diesel versions, even less powerful ones, will be more expensive to insure and it applies to all cars.

Bazzer007

I own a 09 Legacy for close to 4 years with 210,000km on the clock. I bought her after crankshaft was replaced with new injectors from main Subaru dealer with 105km on the clock. Driving hassle free since just had to replace a wheel bearing, a few discs etc. Will be trading up soon. I love the Legacy, pity the new model looks like a dogs dinner. Tempted to go for an XV but will see. Best of luck with the search op.

CodeJACK

Bazzer007 wrote: »

I own a 09 Legacy for close to 4 years with 210,000km on the clock. I bought her after crankshaft was replaced with new injectors from main Subaru dealer with 105km on the clock. Driving hassle free since just had to replace a wheel bearing, a few discs etc. Will be trading up soon. I love the Legacy, pity the new model looks like a dogs dinner. Tempted to go for an XV but will see. Best of luck with the search op.

Thanks for the feedback. From reading the Subaru forums, this is generally the real experience with these cars.
As other have pointed out though, it is still something that you have to "expect" when buying one. I'll have to rule it out as I simply cant afford that risk.

CodeJACK

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I got alfa gt 1.9 jtdm in very late February and to this day I got 14k miles in it. 2 light bulbs, intercooler hose got a hole and topped up brake fluid.
Great engine and great cars. Gt and 159 does not have reliability issues like 156 had. They don't brake anymore more often then other brands, but for 5K you can pick up a very high spec gt or 159 with 150hp diesel engine.

Keep in mind diesel versions, even less powerful ones, will be more expensive to insure and it applies to all cars.

Not many 159's out there at the mo that are in my price range and the diesel is a lot more on tax that other cars of the same class. I do love the look of them though

hooch-85

My aul fella has a 2010 Impreza diesel from new, never given any trouble yet but there is small mileage on it, i think around 80k kms. That model are going fairly reasonable too but not around 5k

Cee-Jay-Cee

CodeJACK wrote: »

It will be used for work and traveling all over the country. Not every day but maybe twice a week I would be based outside Dublin. Reliability and fun is what I'm after.

Max tax I would pay is 500 so aiming for 2008+ cars

Budget would be a max of 5k

Civic 1.8 saloon. Tax on pre 08 models is €636 (€570 for post 08)

In reality if you want to pay less than €500 tax with a budget of €5000 then your either going to end up with a small engine/poor performance 08+ car and higher mileage or go back to 06/07 and get something with average mileage and bigger engine and pay the extra for the tax.

The 1.8 civic is a cracking car, bags of power, super reliable and very economical for quite a big car (the saloon averages around 38-40mpg on shorter trips and into the mid 40's on longer runs. You should be able to get a good example within budget.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-civic-1-8i-se-v-tec/14193084

JohnBoy26

If you want something that is reliable and easy to live with then a corolla is hard to beat. One can be got within budget these days.

Just an example
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-hatchback-1-4-diesel/14136492


Edit: just seen cee-jay-cee's recommendation above which.is also a very good option if you are willing to.go petrol.

selectamatic

Combine cee-jay-cee's post regarding a 1.8 petrols with johnboy26's post regarding corolla's and Bob's your uncle you have a corolla Tsport.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-t-sport-192-bhp/13440444

Solid mpg figures are achievable if ya keep them out of lift. Definitely plenty of haggling to be done on the price too.