seddomyster

iTrader: (9)

sorry if this in wrong place but how reliable is a scooby exactly compared to other cars. with it being japanese i expect it to be top notch stuff but ready lots about problems with lots of things. i mean in a standard way an compared to every other car eg focus etc. are scoobys bulletproof?
thanks guys

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Nothing is bulletproof ( unless designed with bulletproof material)
I've replaced my gearbox on my 93wrx as an actual repair and various sensors which i don't think is bad for a 16yo car.

seddomyster

iTrader: (9)

that sounds alright. toyotas are reliable an sometimes i think they got somethin to do with subaru as the design looks the same inside the car. yea nothin is bulletproof i wish lol

richie001

iTrader: (3)

Had 3 Impreza's,1 classic and 2 MY05 STi and apart from the battery i've never been let down.

ScottJ

My last Subaru went 2 years without a single problem, except wear and tear stuff like tyres. It was N/A though.

Hopefully my WRX is going to be the same! [fingers crossed]

seddomyster

iTrader: (9)

yea thats wot im looking for. well daft bits like tyres coz they eventually wear but mainly reliable gearboxes, engines, like do cambelts last a long time etc

nick172sport

iTrader: (6)

if you treat them right not thrash them about everywhere you go regular oil changes you shoudnt have any problems

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Bullet-proof, yes. Muppet-proof, no

Mine too is 16 yo and gives me no problems. I have always had 'classic' older cars (mainly German) and the only thing they have cost me is service and maintainance. Like most things, if you look after them correctly then they are generally reliable

Obviously some marques are more reliable/better built than others

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Speaking for the classics 3rd gear seems to be a weak point it seems.
Cambelts are engineered for 45,000 miles (informed by a local subaru specialist) although tbh i changed mine earlier.
Rads seem to crack at the plastic ends (mine did so technically another repair job)

Mine gets an oil change every 6 months (checked every week),has never used any water,never had a problem with the engine.

corradoboy

As said, what kills them is idiots who either mod them badly, or drive them badly. These traits would lead to failures in any car though. A well maintained Scoob, driven with mechanical sympathy shouldn't give you any worries. I owned mine for three years and had a flat battery, two exhaust sensors, and a wheel bearing fail (my fault). Compared to VAG rubbish, Subaru's are as reliable as a Swiss train drivers Austrian pacemaker (© J Clarkson).

Ste RB5138

On the classic you should change the cambelt every 3 years, if you buy a standard car and treat with respect, they are as reliable as any other performance car

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

I have had an 03 wrx for just over 2 years, can't complain at all. I think if maintained properly they are as good as any other car. Main thing is to ensure when you buy one you do your homework and get a good one to start with as any car if abused will be unreliable.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Classic 4.5 years, had front discs under warranty and a minor sensor fault once, and I flattened the battery once.

New-Age 7.5 years, only self-inflicted problems due to mods.... and a flat battery again !

HTH

dunx

axgt_bwaii

iTrader: (6)

had my 93 wrx for 5 years. typical kno8 head me wrote it off after 6 weeks of ownership. not the cars fault. once fixed its been pretty good. bare in mind its now 16yr old ive replaced

radiator (end tank burst), UPGRADED FOR A CHUNKY ALLOY ONE NEW £150
header tank (burst), UPGRADED TO A SPEC-R ONE NEW £100
idle sensor (reverd to whatever it wanted. quite embarrasing), BOUGHT NEW £240
coil packs (missfiring low revs), BOUGHT NEW £250
discs and pads, BOUGHT NEW OMP £200
lambda sensor. BOUGHT NEW £85
clutch/flywheel BOUGHT NEW EXEDY £350

still rather own this car than many other perfornancs cars in its class.

no car is ever trouble free

axgt_bwaii

iTrader: (6)

also like to note that mines coverd at least 50 drag runs, a track day and tuned 100bhp over standard.

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

2 standard MY97, wagon for me and saloon for her. Both daily drivers, not molly coddled weekend toys.
Serviced every 5k miles and owned 35k miles (3 years) each, now both showing 135k miles.

Tally so far

2 engines (both her car, big ends)
2 gearboxes (both my car, 1 whiner, 1 2nd gear failure)
2 clutches (changed as precaution 1st time an engine or gearbox came out)
2 radiators (split plastic)
2 complete sets of shox (knackered at 130k miles)
2 complete sets of brakes (upgraded to 4 pot front, vented rear, steel hoses)
3 sets of tyres (Toyo T1R wear out faster than GY F1 GSD3)
1 belt tensioner
1 power steering cooling pipe (corroded thru)
1 top hose (split)
1 front wheel bearing
2 rear wheel bearings
2 sets wiper blades
2 air con re-gas
1 set of wheels (hers, high speed kerbing)
2 standard peashooter backboxes (replaced with Prodrive ST ST boxes )
Seen smoke in the mirror so suspect my turbo is about to give up.

The above list probably summarises the known weak points commonly discussed on this forum.
Apart from that they are most reliable LOL

So much so we actually have a Ford Festa as a back up car just in case PMSL

They can be reliable if driven like Miss Daisy, but why? If you want a reliable car or are on a serious budget get a diesel as the astronomical fuel bills and the constant fear of major (expensive) failure could well make your life a misery. We drive them hard and accept the consequences without complaint as we love them, can afford them, and treat them more as a hobby than just a mode of transport.

I still shudder tho, when the wife comes in and says "You know the rattling noise it made when the big ends failed? Well...."

corradoboy

You're either unlucky, or drive with the mechanical sympathy of a wrecking ball. I used to know a guy who mysteriously trashed 2 engines, 3 'boxes, 3 clutches and several diffs along with some other bits. The mystery was revealed when I rode along with him on track He drove with the delicacy of a UFC fighter in a bad mood, and could never fathom how I could be faster than even his last 500+ bhp race prepared car, in a Skoda diesel. 'Smooth is fast' was lost on him

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

Wifey was a trained ambulance driver. I am an ex aircraft fitter and now industrial maintenance fitter, working on the side in a local garage. Have lots of mechanical sympathy but don't drive like miss Daisy. Driving styles not disimilar and we have never worn out a clutch between us....

Working times vary but both cars regularly do early morning high speed runs on B roads and some A roads in the fens. Usual commute distance of 30 miles, each way. Not sitting in 30mph traffic. Think this may have more bearing on the wear rates.

Have owned 2 Porsche total 8 years, Audi Coupe (bulletproof) 10 years, 309GTI 3 years, highly modded Orion inj Ghia 2 years, Scorroco 5 years, Clio 16v 5 years, Lancia Monte Carlo 2 years, and none of them gave the problems the Scoobs have given. So they are either better built (Peugeot,Renault,Lancia?) or the Scoobs have some weak points. Somehow I think the latter.

corradoboy

Unlucky then.

Audi currently run at 86% serious warranty claims (in excess of £800 - source: VAG service manager). We have owned 3x VW's and 3x Skoda's, and know only too well that VAG reliability is a myth, and to list all the past faults and failures, along with the current list for our two current cars would take too bloody long ! We've also owned a Honda (bottom end went), a Vauxhaul (actually reliable, but awful), a Ford (pretty good) and an Austin (shudders). Subaru didn't win the JD Power survey for nothing, and my own experience, as well as knowledge from owners in clubs I've run/participated in with a great many members, of whom many are/were personal friends, and others experiences read about on here, substantiates my belief that they are notably stronger and more reliable than the average car.

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

The Audi I had was an 83 car, built at the height of their reputation for reliability (or everyone elses reputation for poor reliability). In those days if your Cortina hit 100,000 miles you wrote to the times in celebration LOL

Have noticed that the reputation of the German giants has suffered recently. Partially I think due to cost cutting to compete and partially down to the owners higher expectations not being fully satisfied. My fathers retirement present to himself, a spanking new E270 Merc, proved to be a very expensive mistake both on reliability and residuals, and a grave dissapointment to him. Somehow I don't think he would have been so dissapointed if it had been a Lexus or Jag as he would not have expected so much.

ginger321

Mine has just passed 142000 miles an got through its mot just needed 2 tyres.
Sitting at 289bhp an copes with the school run, fishing trips an A/ B road blasts
Touch wood all good so far............
Having said that I think the bottom end is the only original bit on it

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

As CB says, mechanical sympathy or lack of it is the key.

BTW having mechanical sympathy doesn't mean you drive like miss daisy..! In fact, driving like Miss Daisy in itself won't guarantee reliability if you then neglect regular maintenance for example. I know plenty of people (esp. women) who drive very sedately, covering less than 2000 miles pa, however their cars have never been serviced, as they've not yet done the requisite 12k, even though the car is 5yrs+ old..! Also, the engine is never fully warmed up as they only drive 1 mile to the supermarket park for an hour then drive home another mile and park it in the garage..!

Some of the many issues they've had: head gasket failure, injector failure damaged cat...

My WRX is mildly (sensibly) modded at ~350bhp, running most of that as soon after it was it was run in at 6000miles. Having now covered 48k, apart from the usual consumables, it's never let me down. Clutch is now starting to show some wear, but given the fact that it's been handling well over 50% more than standard for 40K + isn't bad IMHO..

Warn up, cool down, regular oil and filter, tried and tested sensible mods and stay away from rev limiter. Outside of that you'd have to be very unlucky IMO..

Beardy

Obviously not every engine will be perfect, and some will just go at the most silly of reasons.

Ive changed 1 engine on my impreza. It went doing 80mph on the m3! Bottom end failure.

Other problems i had was cam belt slip at 30mph on new engine! No bent valves or anything Lambada sesnsor, TPS,

But they are preety good for relability, just look at all the ones for sale. Most have coverd well over 80k miles now.

Btw i change my oil every 3k plugs every 5. And constantly check coolent/oil levels.

Keep ya oil good in these things, don't mod stupid without a map. And you should be ok.

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

That's what I said wasn't it?