1 Lucky Texan

exhaust leaks can be a problem too.

if you clean that stuff off the bottom of the sensor, I bet it will stck to a magnet. I have 2 bits that says it is particulates from a failing bearing. Most likely the cogged idler's bearing. you may have dodged a bullet.

I don't know much about adding a hitch other than reading that sometimes there is some trimming of the plastic bumper cover I think? have you tried searching youtube ?

are you topping-off the coolant in the radiator or in the overflow bottle?

average age of cars on the road at present is approaching 13 years I think. Average so, to perhaps keep the parents happy, I'd aim for something no older if possible. Maybe 15 years? many new drivers inherit their first car from a parent, if that seems unlikely, I'd think you could 'guilt' them into helping you get a decent car. Authority comes with Responsibility.

yeah, the minimum thickness is probably stameped on the rotor's edge or near the middle. Rule of thumb, if that 'lip'/'ridge' at the edge is 1 mm (think CD, 18ga wire, .040", or maybe dime thickness), on inside and outside, you are at the minimum.

my 03 had those 'double platinums' from the factory, easy 80K or more unless abused somehow (some say regular fuel is bad in that engine, I always ran premium) iridiums probably fine - w'ever NGK or the manual says should be fine. You might consider new valve cover gaskets. Don't overtorque the bolts.

take a look at Centric brand.

weird, Brat jump seats, - dunno if they could be salvaged off those bases, fyi https://albany.craigslist.org/art/d/albany-funky-seats/7381909946.html

risky.....schedule is 105 Months or 105K miles, w'ever is first. You may be getting close to a disaster.

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hmmmm......how old is the timing belt's system's parts? Maybe some metal debris from a failing idler has collected on the crank sensor. Rare, but read of that happening once.

Yeah, I get the HUMVEE reasoning, just prefer my cars have actual visibility, other than 'virtual' visibility (yes, my wife's car has a backup camera that I like,..... BECAUSE there is very poor rear visibility!) I think CA and Norway are Tesla's biggest markets so, that's why I mentioned them. They say 'never say never' but at my age, it is quite likely I will not own a full EV over-the-road vehicle. A little electric golf cart or similar I could maybe see owning, depending on my neighborhood's ordinances, but not a real car. And I really don't care for supporting subsidies.

all the rollers/cogs should ideally be of Japanese make. The toothed idler is often the weakest link. A weak tensioner or, a slipped/badly placed guide (on MT models) could also cause problems. none of the idlers should 'spin like a roller skate wheel' or wobble AT ALL.

if we 'assume' (dangerous I know, but a starting place....) EITHER; 1. the cat is not 'lighting off', or, the sensor is unable to report correctly (bad, cut wiring, etc.); I have never needed to to try it, but if the cat is NOT working, the temp at its output will be the same or lower than the inlet side. If it IS working, the temp at the outlet will be HIGHER (by maybe 100*F) than the inlet. Try some measurements at the pipes with an infrared therm. Or, get live data and look at the sensor's voltage. One sometimes overlooked cause of P0420 is exhaust leaks.

bank 1 ? Not sure ifa 2005 is using post cat data for a:f adjustment or not. If it doesn't, you might be able to use a 'spark plug extender' - to fool the rear sensor.

no guess from me, but, just mentioning, if you own a smartphone, you can get a very reasonably priced ELM327 Bluetooth device, plus an app like Piston or Torque Lite, and read your own codes.

Tell us about your tires. What brand/model and size are they? wheel sensor issue???

Look at the window height! I guess we're being groomed for a future where you only see a video screen with an image of your surroundings - no windows at all? Probably feels like sitting in a HUMVEE, or a bathtub when you were 5 years old. But, I see no reason an auto maker shouldn’t chase the E vehicle market. They will probably sell well in Norway and California. wasn't there an E Subaru in Japan in the past? like a Kei car or an electric Rex (not WRX)

Oil can definitely cause a misfire. Not certain qualitatively where/how much/how severe etc.

possible rusted-thru filler neck?

do you have an Outback Sport ?

maybe a pin is pushed back and it is intermittent? Maybe try pushing or slightly 'bending' the scanner's plug up or down.

yeah, my concern would be where the next weakest rusted-thru spot is....!?

yep, glass smooth