Mom’s car – now Katie’s Subaru Legacy
You never knew when my mom wanted to buy a new car. She never asked for an opinion on what she might consider. She would go quietly and look. It’s likely she test drove before purchasing, but you weren’t aware she was looking until the new car appeared in the driveway. Since we lived in Maryland, we had no idea she’d even bought a new car until one Friday night we arrived for a weekend visit. There, in the driveway, was Mom’s brand new 2012 Subaru Legacy Limited.
When she purchased her new Subaru, Mom traded in her 2007 Chrysler Sebring. It was her second Sebring; she had owned a 2002 Chrysler Sebring that was an absolute lemon. For whatever reason, my mom liked Chryslers. She liked the Cordoba when it came out. I can remember her admiring a 1978 Chrysler New Yorker that was on display at the annual new car show at Western Hills Mall. For Mom, Chrysler, not Cadillac, was the pinnacle of automotive excellence. In my first COAL, I had said that Mom never liked Chevrolets. She had an equal dislike for Cadillacs, as she believed social climbers and gangsters drove them, and we were neither. Also, the tires on Cadillacs were expensive. I can still hear her saying, “Tires for Cadillacs are $100.00 each, and that was too expensive.” If any of you have paid $100.00 a tire, you must tell me what that sensation is like. I always seem to own cars that have more expensive tires.
Mom was loyal to her Chrysler dealer. They treated her well, and she remained with them. Unfortunately, her dealer was one of the dealers that closed after Chrysler’s 2008 bankruptcy. Another dealer was recommended, and she took her car to the dealer for service. They were not as good as her preferred dealer, so when it was time to replace the Sebring, she was open to other brands. When she started looking, she considered the Toyota Camry, the Avalon, and the Hyundai Azera. Not finding them to her liking, she stopped by her local Subaru dealer. There, she was greeted by a Miss Demor whose family had owned Demor’s Northway Lincoln Mercury, where we bought our Mercurys in the 1980s. They clicked, and soon enough, Mom selected her silver Subaru Legacy.
Her Legacy was the top-of-the-line Limited trim. It was a 6-cylinder and had All-Wheel-Drive. It was well-equipped with black leather interior, heated seats, sunroof, power windows, door locks, cruise control, and a Harmon Kardon sound system. It was the most expensive car Mom ever bought, and she loved it. It was her retirement gift to herself. In short order, it became my parents’ only car. They drove it on errands, to church, trips to Maryland to see us, and out to dinner with friends. I drove them to their 50th wedding anniversary party in the Legacy. It was the car in which Dad drove Mom to the doctor’s appointments after she got sick. It took her to her treatments, and it was the car she rode in to the doctor’s office when she decided to stop chemo. That August, she rallied and wanted to go out for ice cream and a ride. They drove through North Park on that nice August day with the sunroof open.
After Mom died, it became Dad’s car. Dad liked it because it had been Mom’s car. He drove it to dinner with friends, to church, and on trips to visit us. However, Dad didn’t like sitting so low to the ground. He wanted a backup camera and something easier to get into. Around that time, Katie was finishing her sophomore year at the College of St Mary’s. In the second half of her junior year, she would study abroad in Ireland. She had planned on living on campus for the first semester, but was having a hard time finding a roommate. That convinced her to become a commuter. Commuting to St Mary’s meant two things: she needed a car, and she had to learn how to drive. While Emily couldn’t wait to get her license, Katie had shown no interest. To be fair, COVID had interfered with the process. The last part of her junior year and all of her senior year of high school were virtual, so she didn’t need to drive anywhere. Once she headed off to college, she lived there, and so she didn’t need a car on campus.
Once she decided she wanted to commute, we told her she had to learn how to drive. We took her out driving. She practiced the required hours, and she finally got her license. We started looking for a car for her, but in 2023, used cars were still expensive. At that time, we decided to ask Dad if he was willing to sell us the Legacy. He was willing and took the car to his local Subaru dealer for inspection. There, he learned he needed a new exhaust system, so he had it replaced. We had helped him shop for his new car, a Mazda CX5, and once the repairs were complete on the Legacy, Katie, Emily, and I went to Pittsburgh to pick up the Legacy. Bobbi couldn’t go that weekend, so I asked Emily to help Katie with the driving, as she had never driven on the PA Turnpike and had limited experience on the Beltway. Unfortunately, Emily came down with a bad cold and was simply too tired to help with the driving. Emily drove a bit on the Turnpike, but Katie drove down I70, I-270, and the DC Beltway at rush hour. Sometimes it’s best to learn by doing.
That fall, Katie made the hour drive from our house to St Mary’s. I’d like to say the Legacy ran flawlessly, but it didn’t. Problems started cropping up with the car. It had spent the last few years being driven at low speeds on short trips, so the 100-mile round trip placed stress on various components. That fall, I had to replace the power steering lines, a bunch of suspension components, and a sensor. It was $4,000 in repairs, and Dad felt horrible. He felt so bad that he gave me my check back so I could put that towards the repair bill. When Katie left for Ireland, I made it a point to drive the Legacy a couple of times a week so it didn’t just sit. Compared to my Accord, it is noisy on the inside, and it sits lower to the ground. I feel it’s like driving a go-kart, as it is fast and fun to drive. I see why my parents liked it.
Once she came home, Katie resumed her commute, and so did the problems. We have kept it going, but it is coming to the end of the road. Most recently, it failed the emissions test. Apparently, the engine needs to be resealed, and the leaking oil destroyed the new catalytic converter. The cost to repair all of this, according to the dealer, is about $14,000. I have until June to make repairs so it can be retested. Finally, just the other day, I took it out to get gas. On my way home, I popped up the sunroof, as I do quite often in the Outback and the Accord. This time, the roof didn’t close, and we were expecting rain. I tried closing it using the method described in the owner’s manual, but that didn’t work, so I simply taped some plastic over the roof and called it a day. You might ask, like Bobbi did, “Why would you open the sunroof when the car has all these other problems?” My only defense was that I pop open the sunroof in our cars all the time. Any sentimentality I might have had towards the car vanished when the dealer handed me that $14,000 estimate, proving you can put a price on one’s feelings. To be fair, the Legacy has served us when we needed it, and it is a part of Mom’s memory.
Many of us select a car based on what our parents drove. My parents weren’t brand loyal; they bought what they liked and could afford. Mom’s parents didn’t drive after they came to the United States. They lived in the city and took the bus or walked. Once we moved back to Pittsburgh, my grandfather, Mom’s dad, often stayed with us before he died. One day, in high school, Mom drove me to the dentist. We parked next to a black two-door Ford Crown Victoria with a black vinyl top, wire wheel covers, and red interior. My Opa looked at that car and said to me, “That’s a nice car. If you work hard enough, you’ll be able to drive a fancy car like that.”
To 17-year-old Kevin, that was a Ford, and I aspired to own an S-Class Mercedes or something like that. Still, I knew what he meant. My grandparents had lost everything in World War Two. They fled their home and started over in a new country. They sacrificed so Mom and her siblings would be able to find success here. They were so proud of Mom’s 1958 Pontiac that my Oma wrote about it in her diary. My dad’s family, his mom, was born here in 1911. Her parents were immigrants from Hungary who built a successful life for themselves here. He owned his own business, built a house for his family, and was a loyal Ford driver from his first Model T to his last Ford LTD. My grandfather, he came over from Czechoslovakia in 1925. He, too, would be a lifelong Ford driver.
Thinking back on all the cars we’ve owned, each one fulfilled a need and met a desire. Many of us drive cars that are perfectly normal: minivans, crossovers, sedans, station wagons. They have taken us on vacations, trips to the store, out to dinner, to the movies, to high school dances, to graduations, to funerals, parties, and anywhere else we needed to go. Bobbi’s and my car choices were first shaped by our parents, and now by who we are and where we are in life. We’ve known each other for close to 40 years, having met in college. Our girls are now launching into adulthood, and their car choices will reflect that as well. Katie has yet to buy her first car, but Emily now drives a Subaru Forester. It meets her needs, and it’s pleasant to drive. I want to thank you for all of your comments. This has been a pleasure to write after reading so many of your COALs. I feel like I’ve gotten to know so many of you through Curbside Classic, and I look forward to reading the next installments.
You might want to find a Subaru independent to take a look at the car and get a second opinion. I don’t understand how a leaking engine that needs to be resealed could affect the catalytic converter which is affected by oil or fuel coming down the inside of the exhaust rather than leaking on the outside of the engine. $14k sounds way too high, it effectively totals the car unless I’m misunderstanding the diagnosis and/or repair.
Subarus of that generation though have had issues with rings and excessive oil usage, as well as catalytic converters at other times. Historically Subaru has often corrected stuff and replaced items even outside of warranty, especially dealer maintained ones and repeat customers. Depending on mileage on the car it may we worth communicating with Subaru corporate.
This has been an enjoyable series, too bad it’s at an end for now. The only upside is that depending on how things work out (or not) with this car, there might be another installment soon! 🙂
Thank you!
My mom always maintained her car at the dealership, so maybe it’s worth a shot. I will say Bobbi is over all of it, and I don’t blame her. We did talk today about what we might do for a new car, so who knows, there might be a new installment at the end of summer.
This picture of your folks is wonderful .
This entire article is great in fact .
Too bad the Subie didn’t make the long haul but it was obviously an cherished companion while it lasted .
-Nate
Thank you!
Thank you for another excellent COAL series; I know it takes a lot of work and dedication. Your family’s story is unique yet reflects the reality of so many that have (and continue) to come to the US to build a new and better life for themselves and most of all for their offspring.
I’m sorry that this Legacy has turned out to be so problematic. Like Jim, I would recommend finding a reputable independent shop for a second (or third) opinion before you pull the trigger. I suspect there may be cheaper alternatives. But perhaps you’re ready to move on.
Subarus seem to be a bit of a mixed bag from a reliability standpoint. I hear lots of stories of issues but also the other side of the coin. I would generally not rank them with the best, especially some years back, but most of the issues do not seem to involve $14k in repairs.
Best of luck, and thanks again.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
We are a three-Subaru family right now, with me being the oddball with an Accord. We did discuss getting a second opinion, so we’ll see what we decide this week. It brings me back to VW days with this car.
Thank you for sharing, Kevin. I’ve also very much enjoyed your series.
I agree that oftentimes our parents’ cars impact what we drive. In my case, it’s my penchant for air-cooled Volkswagens and small hatchbacks. For my wife, it’s her utter hatred of station wagons or anything that looks like one (from her mother).
I do look forward to the post when Katie finally purchases a car. You know you’re going to write it :-).
Thank you!
I really should write up Emily’s car. She purchased it on her own, with me being there for support. It was a good experience for her. We’ll see what Katie does but I suspect she’ll probably take over my car.
Very nice story. I will add, Subaru’s started down the toilet in ’85 when the OHC engines came out. The earlier pushrod engines were bulletproof, and the ’80-84’s were the best,in my opinion. And when they started building them in Indiana, that didn’t help quality matters in the slightest.
I owned an ’84 FWD wagon that was very reliable. And yes, the engine and other drivetrain components were sturdy and low maintenance.
A friend liked mine, and decided to get an ’85 GL wagon. Regrettably he had a completely different experience, it was very problematic and ran lousy. He eventually ditched it and found much better value with a Honda wagon.
Thank you! A friend of mine in high school, his family always drove Subarus. His parents loved them. Both my friend and his brother were skiers, so they would head up to Seven Springs every Friday after school because they could always get through the snow.
Another great COAL series comes to an end, and I am sad. Thank you for sharing your stories.
Thank you!
My late mother had one of those generation Legacys, and it was a decent enough car “on paper”. It had the standard 4 cylinder mill, nicely finished cloth interior, and seemed to handle good enough in day to day life on south Florida’s billiard table flat roads laid out in a grid.
What drove me crazy when I drove it though were…the doors. How could a mid-end Japanese sedan have such tinny doors that closed with a cringey clang? I swear the doors’ sheet metal thickness must have rivaled aluminum foil.
The doors do sound tinny! I’ve noticed it too. I do like the car. With the 6 cylinder, it hustles down the highway. The one thing I thought was that it seemed heavy the first time I drove it when it was new. Now I was driving my 4-cylinder Accord, which felt more nimble.
Thanks for this write-up, though I was sad to get to the end and realize that the car won’t be around for much longer.
My parents have driven nothing but Subarus since about 2000, and like your mom, there were several times when I’d show up at their house and see a new car parked in the garage. They lease their cars, and often somehow got in conversations with salespeople at the dealership where they got their cars serviced, which often ended with them leasing a new car. It happened so often, I lost track. They’re down to one car now, which is a Crosstrek.
I’m glad you and your family were able to use your mom’s old car for a while. Right now, we’re in a similar position, and are driving my wife’s parents’ pickup (they passed away recently). One of my daughters just got her license, and she loves that truck – I can’t help thinking that her grandparents would be happy to know that she’s driving their truck. I’m not usually a sentimental person, but that kind of stuff does get to me.
Thanks for sharing all of your car stories with us!
Thank you. I do not doubt that someone mechanically inclined will repair it and put it back on the road. If we lived one county over, we would not have to do the emissions test.
My mother would take her Chryslers to the dealer for service and see her salesman and the owner there. They bought five Chryslers from that dealer because of a conversation. It also helped that they treated her like royalty when she took her cars in for service. My dad suggested she get a PT Cruiser, but she said it was hideous.
My condolences on the loss of your in-laws. I know Mom would have liked seeing Katie drive her car and the young lady that she has become.
This has been a great series; I really enjoyed it. The Pittsburgh connection (I’m a native, but haven’t lived there since 1975) was a hook.
Interestingly, my wife and I have never owned a Subaru, Honda, or Chrysler (Mopar) product. Ours were (and still are) mostly “end of the alphabet” cars — VW, Volvo, and Toyota, although there were a couple of Chevys, a Mercury, an Opel (!), and currently also a Nissan.
Looking at the front end of the Legacy, I must say I’m glad the era of big, oddly shaped headlights is mostly over. The lenses inevitably turn yellow and cloudy with age and become a maintenance headache. Today’s LED headlights are typically much smaller.
Thank you!
Shortly after we got the car, I paid to have the headlights polished. It was rather pricey, but the dealer gave us a warranty on the work.
I do like Volvos and have toyed with the idea of finding an old 240 to be my car. Working from home would let me do that.
I don’t recall commenting yet, but have read all these. Know this: as I understand it, lots and lots of readers read but you won’t necessarily know it from comment numbers at all.
Thank you for your efforts in doing this COAL. They’ve been really nicely done.
Thank you!
I have enjoyed your series a lot – I am a little older, but your choices for the various times of life reminded me of several of my own.
How true that our parents choices in cars can still have an effect. My wife’s father owned a VW-specific repair shop, and their family was always loaded with elderly VWs. To this day my wife does nothing but roll her eyes if I idly suggest that an old VW bug could be fun.
It is very true that almost all cars have their expiration dates, and your poor Subaru might have hit one. As you say, sentiment can only carry you so far when that big repair bill eventually hits. I hope your father’s CX-5 is working well for him – I still find those mighty attractive at my stage of life and would definitely drive one if the need ever arose for another new car.
Thank you!
Just this morning, Bobbi reminded me she did not want us to be in the market for two cars. Her parents always agreed that when repairs reached a certain number, it was time to trade in. She’s hit that number in her mind. I was hoping for another year, but we are most likely shopping for a car this summer. The nice thing is we can take our time as she’s approaching summer break, so Katie will be able to use the Accord, or one of us can drive her to work if necessary.
Dad likes his CX-5. He is on his second one, now that he leases his cars. The newest one is a 2025 in the same Soul Red but with the white interior. They are attractive and powerful enough.
Enjoyed reading your write up on the Legacy.
For 3 years I drove a 2010 Outback Limited with more or less the same features you listed here. 6 cylinder was very peppy and I enjoyed the increase in space, especially front leg room over the previous model. I had a 2006 Outback as my company car prior to this one. I did property inspections at the time and drove significant distances annually, about 50k a year. I covered the entire southern half of Colorado so it was a lot of driving.
The car was overall reliable. Due to the long distances and long trips, it was on a severe maintenance schedule with fluid changes, etc.. Overall held up well until about 241k, when we realized the control arms, and a few other suspension components we on their last legs. A/C was still ice cold, all the accessories worked generally except for the infernal electronic parking brake which, to date is still. my number one gripe with this car. It would get stuck and had been repaired twice. I just quit using it. There were some minor things I didn’t care for like the tinny doors I have seen other people mention here, the liftgate could be a bit low when opened for a tall person (I’m 6’5″), the gas mileage was nothing to write home about, and I missed the soft touch dash of the previous gen although I must say, this was some of the most convincing fake burlwood I have ever seen in a car, lol. The Harmon/Kardon sound system was pretty good overall. I felt the sound was clear and you could crank it up pretty good.
The quality of the rear headrests could have been better as well. The middle one separated from the support posts and the foam part covered with upholstery just moved around on its own after some time. At one point, I read somewhere this was a common issue.
I did like the car and the increase in space. I think the Outback sat a little higher than the Legacy, even though they were basically the same car. If anything ever happened to my Avalon, I would probably consider another one of these gen only with that powertrain though. Too nervous about CVTs to go down that road….The wagon was a good effort overall and I found the Legacy sedan of this era to be an attractive car.