I just bought a car: 2001 Subaru Outback wagon

**eofelis** · 09-30-2007, 06:04 PM

Here's my story:

I have been driving a 1991 Legacy wagon for 8 years. It's been a great car. It got hit while parked last fall and has cosmetic damage to the front passenger door. And more recently it seems to be burning oil. It's not smoking and I have had all the leaks fixed, so it must be burning it. So I figured I'd have to keep an eye out for a newer car. I wasn't in a rush, I can keep driving this one for a year or more and keep to oil topped up.

I knew exactly what car I wanted to replace this car with: a 2000 or newer Outback wagon. I wanted one with 100K miles or fewer, and I didn't want to pay more than $5000. A girl can dream, huh? I also wanted to buy from an original owner with all the maintenance records.

Yesterday morning in the paper I see a 2001 OB wagon in there for $4600. So I give the folks a call. It has 109K on it. The man starts out with why it's so cheap: the factory paint job (dark blue) has spiderwebbing, it may have a catalytlic converter issue (per CEL code) and it has a torn CV boot. So I go to look at it. It's about 1 mile away from my house.

My SO has worked on cars before and I've owned Subies since 1993. We drove it and checked it out as best as we could. It was in really nice shape. These folks bought at the local Suby dealer and always had it serviced there. They had a stack of receipts.

My SO and I quickly decided that at this price we'd better move fast. At $4600, even if it did need a bunch of work it would still be worth it. So we made arrangements to pay the next day.

I went home and ran kbb on it. One of these cars in fair cond is valued at $7400! I guess these folks decided the paint and cat conv issues were serious enough to ask so little. They said they were selling to get an FJ40 and weren't going to get much for the Outback in trade-in. I was so nervous all night that they'd realize they were asking half of what it was worth and they'd change their minds.

Finally went and payed up. These folks were very nice and seemed happy that they were selling it to someone who will really like it.

So it's sitting in the garage and I have to get it registered and insured tomorrow. I still can't believe that I found exactly what I was looking for, as improbable as it seemed. There was another 2001 OB in the paper yesterday for $10,000.

They just had the timing belt and valve cover gaskets done. I looked through all the records and nothing about them screams lemon. I don't care about the paint issues as we camp and haul bikes around a lot, so it's gonna get dinged up.

**Droppedonmyhead** · 09-30-2007, 06:24 PM

Congratulations!! Sounds like the car was meant for you!!

**Darlene** · 09-30-2007, 07:33 PM

You really brought a smile to my face with the hopping smilies and knowing you got just what you wanted. Oh man, life is good! woohoo!

**eofelis** · 09-30-2007, 08:03 PM

I guess I have good car-ma

I still can't believe how little I paid for this car. It should go another 10 years easily. I paid in full, no loans, of course. The money has been sitting there, waiting for the right deal.

**PrairieRose** · 09-30-2007, 08:11 PM

Wtg! I believe that if we take time to ponder what we want, what we're willing to pay, plan for it, expect to find it we almost always do

So glad to hear that you did and you're thrilled with it.

**eofelis** · 09-30-2007, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

Wtg! I believe that if we take time to ponder what we want, what we're willing to pay, plan for it, expect to find it we almost always do

So glad to hear that you did and you're thrilled with it.

Yes, that is exactly how I see it. This is not the first time this process has worked for me. I've found that it doesn't have to make sense to work either.