2003 Subaru Forestor question

[suffolksmallholder]

My daughter has a Scooby as her main car. It's used for off-road trips quite often. Not Land Rover type of trails, just dirt roads & these get muddy in the wet season. (Central Australia)
She's asked for my opinion on a major service which is due now; New clutch, one leaking head gasket & several steering/suspension ball joints. Have this work done or sell? There's probably timing belts too.

Now I know the vehicle is completely rust free so there's no issue as in the UK with rotting & unavailable parts or second-hand items shipped in from OZ!

I'm tempted to say keep it & get it repaired/overhauled but is this a British thing? Being an 03 model they are known for head gasket issues whereas the 05 model had this sorted. I haven't said keep it yet so I'm asking for opinions please.
@Farmer Roy OK she's 2500k's from you but you have similar terrain.
SS

 

[Surgery]

If not sure your local travelling types would be interested if you were going to sell it

 

[Farmer Roy]

My daughter has a Scooby as her main car. It's used for off-road trips quite often. Not Land Rover type of trails, just dirt roads & these get muddy in the wet season. (Central Australia)
She's asked for my opinion on a major service which is due now; New clutch, one leaking head gasket & several steering/suspension ball joints. Have this work done or sell? There's probably timing belts too.

Now I know the vehicle is completely rust free so there's no issue as in the UK with rotting & unavailable parts or second-hand items shipped in from OZ!

I'm tempted to say keep it & get it repaired/overhauled but is this a British thing? Being an 03 model they are known for head gasket issues whereas the 05 model had this sorted. I haven't said keep it yet so I'm asking for opinions please.
@Farmer Roy OK she's 2500k's from you but you have similar terrain.
SS

Err, I'm a big fan of Subaru cars. I'm in my second Outback & my sister is on her second Forester

Bit hard to answer to be honest, without knowing the cost of the repairs, how many km it has done & her financial capacity ?
Personally, if it was me, I'd hit up a Subaru dealer & get a quote on trading it in on a new Forester. Making some assumptions & generalisations here, but I'm guessing an 03 model car in Centrsl Australia has a lot of kms on it. Rust obviously isn't an issue, but fatigue could be . . .
Having said that, steering / suspension work is no real biggy. I suppose the biggest factor is her financial state, how expensive the repairs are . . .


Sorry I can't be more help

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

If not sure your local travelling types would be interested if you were going to sell it

None of those in Aussie mate. Thank goodness

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Thanks for the replies.
Yes agree on the fatigue I have a feeling it is a high miler but 100,000k's is only 60,000 miles so even a 200,000k car has only done 120,000 miles. I think she's been quoted $5k for repairs but I'll wait for her next message to confirm this. She's working so $'s are available. It isn't dead yet so perhaps drive to garage & trade-upwards.....
SS

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

There are tons of Subaru’s in Australia, they are very popular and not too expensive. I had a wrx when I lived there. Personally I’d go looking for a good used example in/around one of the cities, which won’t have gone off the beaten track.

 

[Farmer Roy]

Thanks for the replies.
Yes agree on the fatigue I have a feeling it is a high miler but 100,000k's is only 60,000 miles so even a 200,000k car has only done 120,000 miles. I think she's been quoted $5k for repairs but I'll wait for her next message to confirm this. She's working so $'s are available. It isn't dead yet so perhaps drive to garage & trade-upwards.....
SS

A 15 yr old high km car may not be worth 5k

If she is there permanently I'd look into trading it on a new Forester

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I've just sent her this link https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/woo...4-speed-auto-elec-sportshift-wagon/1165903636

In/near Adelaide, but easily accessed by train or plane. Just a taster mind. V high Km's

Agreed on the value Roy, as these vehicles are so popular in OZ I think the balance has swung on the sell-o-meter! They are still a little rare here in the UK & command high prices plus the rot problems.
SS

 

[farmerm]

If not sure your local travelling types would be interested if you were going to sell it

There are festively colour red and green uninsured forresters operating in these parts that need to be caught and crushed...

 

[Surgery]

There are festively colour red and green uninsured forresters operating in these parts that need to be caught and crushed...

Makes you think , go into 4 wheel drive cars as a side line , return trade would be quite good me thinks

 

[farmerm]

Makes you think , go into 4 wheel drive cars as a side line , return trade would be quite good me thinks

Especially if you fitted those not fit for another MOT with trackers so you can tip off plod when they are driving lurchers around whilst uninsured..

 

[joe soapy]

Local young lady had a problem with her tractor, took up with a chap handy with the spanners,
this lasted till the tractor was back in A1 condition, took about 3 weeks

 

[farmerm]

Local young lady had a problem with her tractor, took up with a chap handy with the spanners,
this lasted till the tractor was back in A1 condition, took about 3 weeks

sounds like a win win, though I guess it depends how much he spent on parts...

 

[Surgery]

Spent in her parts hopefully