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No, I will not hold the car for you.
Yes, I know this ad is long. I’m trying to be upfront about the car and I tend to drone like Tolkien, just with less Hobbits. I’ve learned hard lessons on craigslist and the long ad helps us both be on the same page.
I’ve got a 2000 Subaru outback for sale. It’s red. It has a manual transmission. Let me say that again in a different way: this car has a clutch pedal. If you do not know what that is or are inexperienced with one, this car is not for you. The car is pretty clean for a 24 year old car. It is rusty. I’m not kidding, it is rusty. VERY very very rusty.
I used the car in a sales position traveling all over Minnesota for a few years. That was a few years ago. It was perfectly reliable. Since then, it’s been a second backup car. I recently got a car with less miles to fill the role of backup. That’s why it’s for sale. The new car kinda landed in my lap. I wasn’t looking, but a deal came up that I couldn’t pass on. I literally planned on driving this til the wheels came off, but paying insurance on two rust-buckets is dumb. I would like to get down to one.
The good:
1. Drives well. I’d jump in it today and drive it to Des Moines without worrying if it would make it. Last weekend I put about 100 miles on it driving to maple grove, shopping, and driving home.
2. It’s NEVER failed to start. Even when it’s 30 below it fires right up.
3. Nice Kenwood deck with Bluetooth. Speakers are meh, but get the job done.
3. The a/c is cold.
3. I have the title. It’s clean. No stories.
4. Good tires. They’re 3 peak rated so it’s a tank in the winter. Probably less than 3000 miles on them. (Remember, I was planning on keeping the car).
5. Pretty clean. I don’t smoke so it doesn’t wreak of smoke.
6. It’s got a block heater for those cold winter mornings. (though I never used it)
7. I don’t think it’s ever been in a serious accident. My buddy crossed a cloverleaf the short way and jumped a snowbank when he owned the car, but I think that’s the extent of abuse it’s taken. I think the rear bumper cover came loose in the deal and my buddy jerry rigged it on. It’s been fine in the decade since. (some guy in a Nissan maxima pulled a gun on him in traffic and my buddy was trying to get away. The maxima apparently didn’t make it over the snowbank.)
8. As of right now there is about $25 worth of gas in the tank. Hey, on an $800 car, that’s not nothing.
I am more than happy to send you the vin if you want to run a carfax, but I don’t have a carfax nor plan on getting one.
The bad:
1. It’s rusty. Did I say that? I just don’t want anyone saying I misrepresented the car. It’s freakin rusty.
2. Something is wrong with the evap system. It’s throwing a cel (check engine light) for it. I’ve replaced the solenoid twice. Each time it fixed the issue for about a year, then the problem comes back. If I were to dig into it again, id replace the charcoal canister. Normally, this can just be ignored (and I do/did). The evap system doesn’t do anything important to the running of the car, but unfortunately it makes it so the car won’t allow itself to be fueled if the temperature is above about 72 degrees. Let me say that again so it’s clear. If it’s over 72 degrees, you cannot put gas in the car. I’ve got an obd2 reader and I can show you the codes if you want, or you can bring your own. The purpose of the evap system is to limit evaporated gasoline from getting into the atmosphere. It’s got literally nothing to do with the running of the car. It’s complete government nanny equipment.
3. The car has rust.
4. It will need front brakes soonish. They aren’t going out. They aren’t making any noises. You can’t feel it while driving, but it’s almost time. Rear pads were just replaced, it didn’t get rotors, but it could probably have used them. The car stops fine and is safe to drive. I just want to be upfront.
5. It’s on its original head gasket. I don’t think it’s about to blow, however, it is a 2.5 liter ej engine so you never really know.
6. It’s got some rust. Did I mention that?
7. It’s an old car. It’s got a few rattles. It’s got imperfections. The rear view mirror is wonky, but works. The shift boot is sunk in funny because the clips that hold it up broke. Paint is peeling. Fourth gear syncro sometimes phones in the shift. It’s not SUPER clean. It’s missing part of the “outback” badge. Little things. If I listed every little thing, imagine how much longer this ad would be…
8. The clutch is old, but works fine. I have no doubt that I could get 10-15 thousand more miles on it. Maybe 20. My nephew that just got his license could probably blow through it in 50 miles. This would NOT make a good car to learn to drive a manual transmission in. I don’t think it’s the original clutch, but it’s at least 100k miles old. Honestly, I have no idea how old it is. But it isn’t new.
9. I’ve been good about changing the oil every 3-5000 miles, but it is about due right now. It needs an oil change.
I really want $1500 for it. But you can talk me down to $800, and that’s the lowest I will go. I won’t take $799.
The last guy I sold a car to on Craigslist texted me a week later and said I misled him and that he wanted his money back. He didn’t get it. That was a $1500 car from the 90s and much less rusty. I will answer any question you have. I will tell you anything I know about the car. I will be open and honest about it. But if you give me money, it’s your car. I’ve tried to be up front with all the issues. At some points this ad reads like a “why you shouldn’t buy this car” essay. I just don’t want to have the same issue I did last time. You absolutely should buy it, but understand what it is. This is an old rusty used car for $800. Please keep that in mind. And please keep it in mind when you come to look at it. You are welcome to list its faults, however, I have taken them into account and priced it accordingly at $800. And for $800, it’s a good deal. It is not a $5000 car. It’s got issues. If you want an issue free car, this isn’t it. And neither is any other $800 car.
If you want to look at the car, we will meet in the Richfield police station parking lot. If you buy it, that’s close enough to where I can walk home, and although I realize that isn’t your concern, it is mine, haha. If we meet when the police station is open, you can also transfer the title there too. Two birds, one stone. Also, I don’t need some kid ruining the clutch before he gets out of the parking lot. If you can drive a clutch, great! But please be honest. This isn’t the time to learn. Please have someone with you that is experienced.
I will upload a driving video to YouTube in a bit and link it here.
Also, it’s rusty.
Nathan
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Text only. I don’t answer unknown numbers.
If you don’t have a Minnesota area code phone number, I simply won’t respond. That’s 612, 651, 320, 952, 218, 763, and 507. If your number doesn’t start with one of those, don’t bother. (Maybe 715 too, if you’re a Vikings fan, though the car probably wouldn’t pass Wisconsin emissions testing due to the cel).
