I have an 06 Subaru outback with 98,000 miles. The catalytic converter is shot and our emissions test is coming up soon. The car is valued between 9 and 10 grand. The cat converter fix will cost about 1500. I love my Subaru, but I’m wondering if I should get a new used car. The catch is I can’t aff…

I agree with cigroller. Let’s face it, you are just trading cars, both of which have been problems. Few people sell good cars, they sell or trade the cars they are having problems with. You choice is to buy new (can be expensive) or check out what you are buying carefully and plan on making some …

I’ve always been of the opinion that late model used cars are back on the market for a reason. In many cases that reason is that they need some expensive work, have an insolvable problem, or have been in a wreck. $11,000 is one heck of a lot more money than $1,500. If the car has otherwise been goo…

“As extremely unusual as this is, I can’t totally agree with Cig” Well, mountainbike, I’m just willing to admit that you have more wisdom & experience than I do so I’d say your counterpoint is well taken & I give on it, except that one must still entertain the possibility (but not necessity, as you…

“I’m just willing to admit that you have more wisdom & experience than I do” Naw. Just a slightly different perspective on this one issue. I agree wholeheartedly, however, that if there’s any question as to whether it’s normal “wear & tear” of has some other root cause, any signs of an anomolie hat…

I agree that you need a second opinion to make sure this converter is bad. If it really is, you need to find out why so that you don’t kill the new one for the same reason. I assume the check-engine light is on now. Was it on for a long time before you had this checked, by any chance? Even if yo…

“Even if you need a new one, there’s no way I’d dump a 2006 car because of a $1,500 repair.” My sentiments exactly.

Well, mountainbike - you’ve been crawling around machinery for longer than I’ve been alive. I was just trying to, you know, respect that that without seeming like I was calling you an old fossil! (Oops, too late :wink:

Your Subaru may be covered by this recall/campaign. Check with your dealer. NUMBER: WVM-23 DATE: October 2009 (Revised 03/23/11) SERVICE PROGRAM BULLETIN APPLICABILITY: 2006-2009MY CA PZEV Spec. Subaru Legacy / Outback and 2008-2010MY CA PZEV Spec. Forester SUBJECT: Engine Control Module (E…

Cig, I’ve grown old enough that it no longer matters. And I’m proud to have made it this far with MOST of my sanity intact.

I will check with Subaru on the engine control module issue and get a second opinion on the cat converter. I do love my car. Note: The car is paid off. If I were to get a new one I would sell this one for around 10 grand and use that to go toward a new car. It’s a good point that I might be tradi…

Fix or buy another car

General Discussion

Nevada_545 February 11, 2012, 12:38am 16

Your welcome. The campaign instructions state that they will replace the catalytic convertor(s) if fault P0420 is in the computer so don’t clear the codes before you take the car to the dealer.

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Fix or buy another car

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