feedback on a used subaru?

[rumandjo]

hey, i'm a student and first-time car buyer, looking into a used subaru impreza at a dealership; it's in a different state so i've been talking to the dealership over the phone to try to figure out whether it's worth my while arranging transportation to go see it. so i'm wondering if anybody might have an opinion on the car... it's a 1997 outback sport, with under 30,000 miles on the odometer (amazingly low).

the dealer was asking about $9000 which is waaay above even the kelley blue book suggested price ($7635). he said he would be willing to consider a number closer to kbb's (considering NADA and Edmunds value the car at $6300 and $5800, respectively, for a car in outstanding condition). i'm a little nervous because of the age of the car and no warranty... but the miles are so low, that should be a good sign, right? the dealership seems to be a pretty big/reputable one, so i'm assuming there shouldn't be shadiness regarding mileage rollback, etc....

any advice you could give would be much appreciated!

[sickcallawayc12]

Check with the Better Business Bureau regarding the dealer's history if you're worried. Subarus resell pretty well. They can last for quite a long time, kinda like honda. It really hasn't been broken in yet with miles that low, so that's probably why he's selling it for so high. You should be able to request a free Carfax report from that dealer also, that will help ensure miles haven't been rolled back fraudulently plus you can see the history of the car. Might even be able to get service history from Subaru also (whatever Carfax doesn't list) if you give them the vin. Something that old with low miles could mean some grandma owned it, was a 2nd or 3rd car not used often, or maybe was towed by an RV on trips. You "should" take it for a test drive before you consider it, so if its really far away, it might not be worth the trouble. May want to try to find something closer in your area. How far apart are you?

[rumandjo]

thanks for your advice! the dealership is just under an hour away from me, not too bad. good idea on the better business bureau, i checked them out and they've had a number of complaints, but it looks like most were resolved.... i will contact the dealer to see about getting a VIN history report.

do you think the mileage is suspiciously low? i've heard that extremely low mileage on older cars (beyond being potentially fraudulent) can be a bad sign because it suggests the car needs a certain amount of driving just to keep the parts running smoothly (?)

[sickcallawayc12]

Wow, that isn't that far at all. I probably wouldn't buy from that dealer though. Just fits the "too good to be true" scenario. Maybe see what those issues were in detail.

Yes, that is really low miles for a 10 year old car. Can be good or bad. You have a point on the "keep parts running" idea. Possible that fluids haven't been changed in a while and such if its been sitting for a while. Those do indeed break down after a certain time (oil for example). A test drive is key, though. Same with a Carfax report. It may not give all information, but important things like if it was a lease, rental, or company vehicle (also a good possibility of why it has low miles) as well as clean title, been wrecked or reall info will pop up. See if the dealer knows anything about the previous owner. Because of the low miles for age as well as being at a used car dealer, another really good idea is to have it checked out by a mechanic or at a Subaru dealership. They can tell you the kind of condition its in.

Buying a car, let alone for the first time, isn't easy. Especially from a used car dealership. There is a lot of stuff you have to watch out for so you don't get screwed and the dealer will do anything he can to squeeze out the most cash out of you. It helps to get some knowledge of the Subaru car so you can possibly look for things yourself on the test drive and when you look it over, whether they're problems or normal stuff. Make a checklist of things to check BEFORE you drive and check everything. Then drive making note of any noises from suspension, brakes, steering, how it runs, and test accessories and such. Then check everything AGAIN, especially underneath and around the engine to see if there are any leaks and such after driving it. Don't be afraid to negotiate the price either. If its in excellent condition/no problems, then i'd pay its retail value and no more. The dealer will usually give in if he really wants your business. I also recommend you head to the Subaru forum and get their opinions on a low mile 10 year old Subaru. Freakray will probably give you good advice.

[rumandjo]

thanks for all the great tips!! in the end, i am going w/an even older subaru.... a 12 year old wagon w/almost 90K miles. but i got a much better feeling from the dealer. hopefully it'll work out!