Subaru Problems

The Brumby would have been a good choice 10 years ago, but finding one now that hasn’t been driven into the ground, beaten to death, or rusted away is nigh on impossible. Instead of buying a dodgy old your son a favour and buy him a decent car, one that doesn’t belong in a scrap yard, and will serve him well for some time into the future. I would go for a Hilux, Triton, or Bravo 2600.

More could come on to the market as owners upgrade to the new model, but I wouldn't expect any significant shift in the price of older models.

It’s a difficult one for the dealership to fix, as it seems like it only happens after being driven for some time at high speed. It’s hard to do that at the dealership. But it would seem like the steering is losing assistance. Check the pump.

The difference between 4WD and AWD has become blurred as some AWD cars have become more capable of use offroad. It used to be that a 4WD were part-time four-wheel drives with high and low range, which could be locked in for off-road use. An AWD was really an on-demand system, which was front-wheel drive for most of the time, and drive as sent to the rear wheels when needed for traction. A lot of AWD SUVS now have quite sophisticated electronic systems that give them greater ability to go down bush tracks. One of the big issues for AWDs vehicles off-road is usually their ground clearance, so you have to assess the roads you want to use and drive accordingly.

The shudder on take-off suggests a transmission problem, but the other issues are unlikely to be related to the gearbox. Get it to a Subaru dealer or specialist and have it checked out.

The Michelins would probably give you a more comfortable ride, and the road noise should be better. Before ditching your Bridgestones you could try lowering the inflation pressure to 32 psi and see if that makes your life more pleasant.

We contacted Subaru to see if there was anything further to add, and they told us that if you were willing to provide your rego and/or VIN number, they would check with customer relations. They added that normally, the first letter alerts the customer that the recall is pending and advises that they would be in touch when the parts are available, but without knowing what phase your car car is at, they couldn’t offer a definitive answer without investigating. I would suggest you contact the Customer Relations Team (1800 22 66 43) and give them the requested information they need to take it further.

The diesel will do your towing easier, and will be more economical as well.