Faults:

Emissions related sensor went around 100,000 and cost $350 to replace.

Axel-shafts, Subaru's all inclusive CV-joint and front axel combo's went at around 120,000.

Alternator went at 130,000.

Front seats lack support and are difficult to sit upright in.

General Comments:

Interior design could've used a bit more thought. The cup-holders are located where they block the AC and heating controls and the radio. It's OK at night since the illumination for the heating and cooling hasn't worked since I got the car so I can't see the controls anyway. The rearview mirror falls down a little bit with each bump you hit or each thump of the stereo's bass. Since the speakers are original this isn't too much noise I'm talking about. You have to reposition the rear-view about 10 times crossing the cross-bronx expressway unless you want to look at the back seat. Also since Subaru windows don't fit into the door frame there's an annoying whistle at highway speeds. The headlights, especially the low beams, are also pretty dim for my taste.

As a winter car this Subaru was superb. I have the 2WD model, which was discontinued in 96. Still, with good snow tires I drove around upstate NY and VT for three years and never got stuck in snow. It can plow through several inches of snow or sloppy slush with no problems. Furthermore, with a low center of balance you feel very in control of this car, much more-so than my friend's Explorers.

The car is an excellent highway car. I occasionally cruise over 90 MPH and the subaru is composed, though it is definitely doesn't have much accelerating power at those speeds. Now I've moved to Atlanta where I rarely get to break 9 MPH. The Subaru is fine, but the 1st gear in the automatic isn't low enough for when you want to do quick starts for merging into traffic. Also, there's a lot of space in the wagon to cool and the A/C is a little underpowered for hot summer days.

My biggest gripe with the car now is its abysmal city mileage, which is usually around 18 MPG with my lead foot. (I feel like that's AWD mileage in the 2WD car) Gentle driving doesn't help much, you might hit 20. On the highway I get about 26 averaging 80 MPH.

I'm frankly amazed with this car. I bought it used when I was a sophomore in college expecting to make it 2 years out of school without any serious trouble. I've given this car all kinds of abuse. I drive it to the red line all the time in city driving in August in Atlanta. I filled the entire passenger area to the ceiling with newspapers and done stop-and-go delivery in upstate NY winters for two years. When it wasn't loaded I'd do reverse power slides for recreation and hand brake turns in the snow. I've loaded the cargo area full of rocks for landscaping into the trunk. I've schlepped it around, dragging the undercarriage while off-road. I've used it to push disabled vehicles off the highway. I've given it no love other than maintenance. I'm religious about changing fluids and have always used full synthetic since I got my hands on the car. Despite my abusive driving it doesn't burn any oil. I've also changed the belts and hoses as needed. The only thing I'm irked about at this point is the EVAP pressure sensor ($350) that went at 100,000 miles. Everything else I had coming and would've expected even if I didn't abuse the car.

Right now I'm bored stiff with this car and want a new car. But being in grad school, without a full-time job, I really can't justify a new car I'd like, especially reading the reliability reviews of the used european cars I'm looking at, so I guess I should just consider myself lucky to have a reliable one.

Faults:

Started with burning oil way to quickly. Repair people stated that this was common in Subaru's.

Seats are very uncomfortable, lose their support quickly if they had any.

Airbags blow out defectively, drivers side came out fine, passengers side only partly. This was after taping someone at a stop light. 5-10 MPR at most. Dealership was a major problem to work with.

Rust is a problem underneath, making it hard to fix and expensive.

Exhaust was replaced a few times.

Engine was replaced a year after a got it.

Struts, rotors, and usual brake stuff all replaced and not cheap.

General Comments:

This may be a lemon, but other Subaru owners seem to have similar problems. I have spent at least a $1,000 a year (more in the first couple of years).

Dealership people were very unhelpful. When the airbags came out they said it was a defect and past warranty so they would not do any thing about it. When my insurance call them they said the there was no proof that I hit anyone and so it should not be covered. This went on for months until the American Roadside Safety people call Subaru and then Subaru magically found where I must have tapped the other car.

The car cost me so much money in the beginning (the rebuilt engine) that I could imagine getting rid of it, I would never make the money back. My friends with Subaru's (at least 3 others) say the same thing about theirs.

Gas mileage is not good and the new ones are even worse.

They are tough solid cars, good in the winter.

Faults:

I have only had minor problems with the car.

The master cylinder went out at around 200,000 miles.

I have had two axles replaced at a cost of about $200 each total.

General Comments:

I am a stickler for simple USER FRIENDLY design and Subaru does it right!

I have only had normal wear and tear issues with this car and it continues to run very well!

I am currently shopping for a new one as my car has 237K miles already!