My scoob wants to live forever!
 

UK MY99 turbo hatchback. 163,000 miles.

I have had this car since it was a year old with 17k on the clock and have used it to commute 100 miles a day for nearly six years now.

I keep telling myself it doesn't make sense keeping it as it's only a matter of time now before it starts costing me serious wedge to keep on the road (it hasn't exactly ever been a cheap car to run this far!).

The trouble is every time I look at changing it for something else it has a habit of suddenly becoming just as much fun as the day I bought it. I can't warrant buying another scoob and don't really want to be stuck with a compromise.

Therefore I am still using it and will continue to do so as long as I can.

__________________________________________________ __________

The reason for my post is to ask to ask for advice on what I should expect to have to change at some point to keep the car in tip top condition?

In 163k of driving I have so far changed the following (in addition to the normal service items):

50k - Oxygen sensor = (£40)
80k - Clutch (not flywheel) = (£400)
145k - Radiator = (£110)
155k - Exhaust = (£150)

I have just bought a replacement turbo with 30k on it for £80, as mine was lagging more than I could cope with.
Other than that (and an annoying knocking from front end), it is running very well and I am hoping I won't have to try and change the engine as that is likely to mean the end of the car as recon units appear to be rare and expensive.

Could anyone make some suggestions as to other items that will possibly need looking at in the near future?

Shock absorbers?
CV Boots?
Gearbox?
Power steering pump?
etc etc etc

I'm surprised you haven't noticed it saggy and wallowing with the original dampers/springs. Mine were completely sh@gged after 94K (probably could have done with going in the bin at 60K).

CV boots should be replaced during regular servicing if req'd and the gearbox shouldn't need replacing unless you break it. Defo leave some money in an account just in case.

Stefan

Nice to hear of one with plenty of miles on and no major problems for once.
Just out of interest, how aggresive is your driving?

Most of the mileage is purely motorway journeys but at the end of the day I didn't buy the car for fuel economy. I have driven it pretty aggressively regularly since having it!

In fact I honestly think it is the most amazing car I have ever owned as I have driven it extremely hard at times and as you can see have had absolutely no problems with it whatsoever.

In fact a few years ago I worked some distance from home and would use an empty motorway as part of my commute. At risk of upsetting peeps on the forum I must admit to driving at full speed on this stretch in both directions every day for months. Fingers crossed but this doesn't appear to have had any negative affect on the car as it is still extremely quick and will still keep up with virtually anything else.

Regarding the suspension, perhaps I should have changed this by now but the car still handles excellently probably down to all the miles spent cruising along gently at 80 on the motorway (as opposed to the odd sideways manouvers!)

Thanks for your posts.

mines done 147k but has had new short engine at 70k with turbo.

Have you not been through at least 3 MAF sensors? ;)

Sounds like a great advert for keeping a Scoob standard :D

I know of quite a few Subarus doing high milage that are still going strong.
If you look after them they last.
If you abuse it it'll break. Same as most cars :)

True, but I would like to again make the point that even though most of the mileage is motorway commuting I have also driven the car very hard and very fast and am amazed not to have had any problems.

Like you say, an excellent advert for Subaru.

I have always had it serviced at a main dealer until the last two services which I carried out myself, but I am thinking of taking it into a dealer next time round for the equivalent of a 30k service just for peace of mind. I have also always used OEM parts with the exception of brakes. I ran group N disks and DS2500 pads for a couple of years before switching back to standard when I first thought about selling it.


...and I've never changed a MAF sensor!!!

Original maf :eek2: ;)

188k on my 96UK but I changed the engine and turbo 2weeks ago at 187k as I wanted more power.. it was running fine still..

still on original gearbox..

Simon

It would be interesting to open the block up and see how it has faired? i.e. could you make an assessment and say it would have still been good for another X,XXX miles.

I will be stripping it.. put it on the engine stand ready yesterday.

Who knows how long.. it was running fine..

Simon

Nice to find one that goes against the grain :thumb: