- Seller: Matt L (Contact)
- Location: Corona, California
- Mileage: 133,067 Shown
- Chassis #: 4S3BH675147626383
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder
- Transmission: Automatic
While not a classic and some would argue that 2004 isn’t even considered “vintage” in the car world, this 2004 Subaru Outback is over two decades old now. It could be argued that Subaru was one of the pioneers of the AWD raised-wagon trend that is still with us, despite SUVs leading the way. For most of us, especially those in climates where AWD is useful in the winter months, it’s hard to beat the utility of an Outback. Although this a “regular” left-hand-drive car, this Outback was used as a mail delivery vehicle in a small Northern California town and it is now listed here exclusively as a Barn Finds Auction!
How small of a town was it? 154 people, to be exact! The seller tells us how they bought this Outback for their daughter, a rural mail carrier, for use in that small Northern California town, but her family is growing and a bigger vehicle was needed. I think an AWD station wagon is almost the perfect vehicle and it’s hard to go wrong with a Subaru. This example has a few nicks and scratches as you can see in the photos, but it’s said to be mechanically spot-on and has had all kinds of maintenance during their ownership.
The second-generation Subaru Outback was a bit more luxurious than the more spartan first-gen cars were. This example is almost loaded without being a top-trim level, and they were made for the 2000 through 2004 model years. My wife and I bought a 1997 Legacy Outback new and finally donated it about six years ago with 365,000 miles due to our upper Midwest salt and snow causing it to literally rust to death. That isn’t a problem with this car as shown in the underside photos the seller has included! This car appears in excellent condition other than a few nicks in the front bumper and that should be a relatively easy fix.
The second-generation Outback was the first to lose the Legacy portion of its name, as it became its own model in 2000, now known as the Subaru Outback. Subaru redesigned the rear suspension, allowing more cargo space, and this example appears to be in outstanding condition inside.
The second-generation Outback was much fancier than the previous cars were, with more legroom and a standard power driver’s seat. This car also has heated front seats, which we didn’t have in our ’97 Outback, even though we lived in the tundra (Minnesota). This Outback has 133,000 miles, and the driver’s seat shows appropriate wear, but I don’t see anything alarming inside. The seller mentions some burns from the previous owner, but I don’t see them, and there is a crack in the bottom of the windshield below the wipers. As expected, the back seat looks almost like new. The seller says everything works as it should, except for the air-conditioning.
The engine is Subaru’s famous 2.5-liter SOHC boxer-four with 165 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque when new. This one looks great and has a new timing belt and idlers, a new water pump, and a new thermostat. It also has new front axles and new tires, and they say it runs and drives perfectly, and there are no leaks, drips, or other issues. It sends power through a four-speed automatic to all four wheels as needed. If you need what appears to be a well-maintained year-round car with AWD, get your bids in on this 2004 Subaru Outback here on Barn Finds Auctions!
Bid On This Auction
- James Pierce bid $2,000.00 2025-01-17 10:49:28
- Stu Preston bid $1,750.00 2025-01-17 10:45:59
- James Pierce bid $1,500.00 2025-01-17 09:39:59
- Rod bid $1,000.00 2025-01-16 11:56:59
- Stu Preston bid $750.00 2025-01-15 09:11:13
- Scratch Gravel bid $500.00 2025-01-11 11:19:55
It looks in nice condition! after reading the fax it survived a pep boys and jiffy lube I believe! they should state what price they are looking to get!
Hey Nick, it’s an auction, but the reserve is very reasonable!
Ok! glad you said that! i’m sure you know a lot of reserves are very high! Nothing personal!
These cars have such a reputation for being bullet proof but the newer ones use oil somehow. My daughter’s Forester developed a rod knock shortly after she bought it used. At least this one had the timing belt and tensioners replaced, a common issue I heard.
In a fit of anger on the way to the office one morning, I traded in my absolutely awful 96 Cherokee (70,000 miles, check engine light on) on a new 2003 outback in this color (but the next model up, the “L.L. Bean edition“). After 70,000 miles I gave it to my daughter who put another 40,000 miles on it, and we only let it go because it was going to take 6-8 months to get a replacement for the Takata air bag. I’ve had 5 more Subarus since, but none handled as well as this one – I could take an exit ramp at 40 mph and there wasn’t even any body lean. (Tried that once without thinking in a rental Dodge Caliber and nearly saw god.) This one would be even better with a 5-speed, but still a great one.
May I ask what was awful about the Cherokee, which has one of the most reliable engines ever made in the 4.0 and now a highly sought after SUV? Granted, things can go wrong around the engine and any car can have issues if not properly maintained. Meanwhile, Subaru’s are known to have many common faults, yet some have zero issues and swear by them.
I had the 5.2l V8. The Cherokee kept stalling in traffic, and each time a $500 computer module was replaced, it got no better. Then, the memory seat developed dementia – I’d be driving along and it would suddenly retract away from the wheel and I would be belted in, unable to reach the pedals. Another $500 module and – repeat performance. The check engine light was the last straw. I already had a bad taste in my mouth because before its predecessor – a ’94 Cherokee with the 4.0 – had 12,000 miles it dropped a valve and the engine had to be rebuilt. That one was totaled 3 weeks after the rebuild.
Oh, and I forgot to mention – the ’96 was delivered with a leaking transfer case.
“… has had all kinds of maintenance during their ownership.”
That sounds about like my wife’s Outback Legacy wagon. It seemed like it cost at least $1000 every time we drove past the dealer. Oil leaks and all of the drive shaft joints and more oil leaks and blown hoses and timing belt and more oil leaks.
Where is the car located?
Hey Nick, it’s an auction, but the reserve is very reasonable!
Is it in Corona CA? Can’t get the maps function to work.
Yes, near the 91 and the 15 freeways.
Can it be shipped, I’m in CO.
Comes with a smog certificate?
Yes
This is your buyer. Why does Barn Finds keep rejecting my payment for their buyers fee? Josh, from Barn Finds, originally told me that as soon as I sent the payment that he would send me your info so we could get together and finish our transaction, Do you know what is happening?
Thanks
Looks like a good deal, if you’re in California
500.00 is the current bid, although I believe it has a very reasonable reserve.
I’d be glad to help you set up shipping, do you have a carrier in mind?
Checking on pricing now
Sounds good, please keep me posted!
Matt,
Just a couple questions:
1) Any idea why the last couple owners kept the car such a short time?
2) Have the head gaskets been replaced yet?
Thanks.
Stu
The owner of the car before us was given a newer car according to her. I don’t know about the head gaskets, sorry.
Trying to understand why there is a registration form for a 2010 Toyota Highlander Limited included in the pictures; what is that about?
Also, surely the timing belt replacement in 2017 at 68,000 does not qualify as new, so where is the repair order for the recent replacement?
The write up states that there are no leaks, drips or other issues, yet the photos seem to indicate leaks and drips all around the vehicle.
There is an Open Recall for the Takata airbag from 2016, which should be assessed.
Good morning DA, I must have inadvertently included the Highlander registration which is the new car we got for our daughter. At the time the ad was published I didn’t have a copy on the receipt for the timing belt ( o e.m. Subaru parts ) . The leaks and drips are water from me washing it off, there are absolutely no fluids leaking from this car. I don’t know anything about the air bag recall other than we’ve never addressed it. I hope this helps. I can provide you with the timing belt receipt.
And why exactly is this run of the mill, 20yo Subaru on “Barn Finds” ? Are we not lowering the bar of antique, exotic, rare, low production vehicles? Are we running out of them and now Barn Finds is just another on-line used car lot?
A reader sent it in, so we featured it. We will see how it does.
Pretty sure who wrote this up. Our own Scotty G had an Ooootback, and put an astonishing 350K plus on it. You won’t find a low mileage Subie. Incredible vehicles and should be noted, the AWD Legacy took the place of many aging mail AMC Eagle wagons at the time.
Ah, but there is a slight downside. When I spent the summer of 2017 in upstate NY, the guy I stayed with had a car just like this. Most of the time I was there, consisted of finding someone to repair the “check engine light”. In NY, you can’t register a car with a check engine light on, and usually throws an errant code, in his case,, it said “neutral safety switch”, which it wasn’t. He never did find out the cause, and paid a waiver fee, but I noticed at all these shops he went to, all the used Subarus against the fence, all can’t pass the test.
Rod again,
Josh at Barn Finds says that you sold my car without hearing from me? He never sent me your info so I could make the arrangements! I hope that you will make it right with me and correct the mistake and get my car back for me, the rightful buyer!!! Thanks
@Rod – You never paid the buyer’s fee and wouldn’t respond to our emails so you forfeited the sale. And in the meantime the seller sold it someone else.
This is your buyer. Why does Barn Finds keep rejecting my payment for their buyers fee? Josh, from Barn Finds, originally told me that as soon as I sent the payment that he would send me your info so we could get together and finish our transaction, Do you know what is happening?
Thanks
This is your buyer. Why does Barn Finds keep rejecting my payment for their buyers fee? Josh, from Barn Finds, originally told me that as soon as I sent the payment that he would send me your info so we could get together and finish our transaction, Do you know what is happening? I found out what happened! You agreed to sell me your car for $2500.00 but someone locally must have walked onto your lot and offered you more so you said the hell with this guy and took more money instead of being HONEST!! How can you look yourself in the mirror when you do crooked business like that? I feel sorry for you!
Thanks
This is your buyer. Why does Barn Finds keep rejecting my payment for their buyers fee? Josh, from Barn Finds, originally told me that as soon as I sent the payment that he would send me your info so we could get together and finish our transaction, Do you know what is happening? I found out what happened! You agreed to sell me your car for $2500.00 but someone locally must have walked onto your lot and offered you more so you said the hell with this guy and took more money instead of being HONEST!! How can you look yourself in the mirror when you do crooked business like that? I feel sorry for you!
Is someone going to be banned from future Barn Finds participation? Yikes.