Major Moves: 98 Outback to AZ from MI

[jeffx]

Just made a major move from our home in West Michigan to the Valley of the Sun (Apache Junction, AZ, actually). We packed ourselves and our animals (2+2) into Ruby and made the trip in five days. We had a cartop cargo carrier loaded, too and still managed around 22 MPG. I took some pics with my phone on the way out and will append this post. This particular OBW is my fifth Sub and had the dreaded HG problems when I bought it. The repairs were done correctly, and I'm happy to report that the car had NO problems whatsoever (the temp gauge never budged over nom. and the coolant still smells like coolant).

 

Haven't seen too many Subaru's here, but I did tap the horn for another Ruby Red OBW in Apache Junction yesterday. Anyone on the board from the area?

 

I just want to thank this board and its members for helping me sort my newest Subaru out before the trip. I couldn't have done it without you.

[aircraft engineer]

have fun finding a dealer for parts - my sister is there and there seem to be 3 in the area. AJ is a bit east - there's one in Scottsdale and another in Avondale (far west side) - she didn't say where #3 is

 

Her opinion is that there aren't enough to have anyone knowledgeable about the vehicle

[desertsubaru]

have fun finding a dealer for parts - my sister is there and there seem to be 3 in the area. AJ is a bit east - there's one in Scottsdale and another in Avondale (far west side) - she didn't say where #3 is

 

Her opinion is that there aren't enough to have anyone knowledgeable about the vehicle

Phoenix is full of junkyards though and you should have no problem finding parts at one of them. I think there is a JY in Phoenix that has nothing but subes. I drove my 86 wagon from AZ to PA with about 800 pounds of stuff in it and still got about 25 mpg.

[four-fleet-feet]

Phoenix is full of junkyards though and you should have no problem finding parts at one of them. I think there is a JY in Phoenix that has nothing but subes.

I gotta find this place, if it's still there, since I've called down the book and had no joy.

 

Jeffx, if you head out to the West Valley you'll see a red, silver, or black Imp on the 101 most afternoons. Mine is the black one and both of the other Imps honk when they see me, and I just wave - after all, most Washingtonians would die rather than honk our horns. If I honk at you, it's the end of the world as you know it, or you're about to get a Darwin Award.

 

Dealers: there's a good one around 20th Street and Bell Road, but out in your area I really don't know. I think there's one in the Mesa area, but I haven't been to it. I've not heard anything good about the one in the Phoenix downtown area. Scottsdale's supposed to be good, but I haven't personally used them.

 

Avondale doesn't stock diddly, you have to order everything, no matter what it is, and they don't take American Express. Imagine a Subaru dealer which doesn't stock knock sensors, or o-rings for oil pumps, or PCV valves, or even radiator caps for Imprezas! Puh-leeze. Hold it, wait... you people don't even stock the plug wires for my car? Outta here! Bell Road has a much better parts selection. Who wants to wait a week to get your car running again?

 

If you break down you'd better just get towed to a dealer if you're not going to DIY. Most shops have no clue how to work on them, and you don't want to donate the learner car.

 

Don't do your own maintenance, either? Just get used to going to PepBoys for Purolator oil filters before you pull into your shop of choice, because most oil change places don't even have Subarus on the shelf. If you don't want a Fram filter, PepBoys seems to be the only place which stocks the Subaru Purolators. And you may even have to get them ordered. Same for air filters, but here I just use the Frams. You won't find them at Wal-Mart, so prepare to pony up more money.

 

If you haven't already guessed, Arizona isn't Subaru Land.

 

Counting down the days until I can get out of here......

[jeffx]

I appreciate the gloomy feedback folks, but, jeez, you'd think I'd driven a Maserati to the moon! At last count, there were six Subaru dealerships in the valley. Compared to the ONE Porsche/Audi/Mars Rover Dealership in Grand Rapids, I'd say the odds are favorable that I could get a proper oil change here. Hey, I appreciate the wonky oddness of our Subarus as much as the next swinging D, but they aren't Candu reactors that run on heavy water isotopes, right? I just wanted to say that the board's guidance paved the way for a smooth trip out west and that I got the proper service done due to the board's diligence in documenting facts about this particular model car.

[aircraft engineer]

you could always move to western washington ...OOPS - gotta RUN - the natives are chasing me with scythes and pitchforks...

 

there are MANY Subs here - more than Mercedes and less than SUVs

[johnceggleston]

given the dealer / mechanic limitations you apparently face, i'd be pro active. do all the maintenance when due or earlier. do it your self if you can. read here for tips on things to avoid or 'must do things' and must do methods.

 

almost any mechanic can change a spark plug, flush a trans and replace brake pads, you just want to avoid being in the situation where your trans is broken or your head gaskets are blown and you have to get it fixed right away. timing belts may be a challenge, but if you give them a very specific list of what you want done and not rely on their knowledge or lack of it regarding subarus, you may be ok.

[four-fleet-feet]

I appreciate the gloomy feedback folks, but, jeez, you'd think I'd driven a Maserati to the moon!

Not being gloomy, just being honest. See, I'm from the Northwest, where Subarus are as common as the rain. I live on a street of 7 houses and five have at least one Subaru in the driveway. Every Wallyworld and Target and even the corner food mart has Subaru filters, fluid which will go into an older Subie, and other things you need on a daily basis. In Arizona these things just aren't on the shelves.

 

Since you have a 98, call around and order a few parts if you haven't changed them in the last year or two: a thermostat, PCV, and rad cap at the least. If you need one you'll have it, but chances are a dealer may not have them. Waiting a week to get a thermostat sent in is silly if you don't have to. Most of the stock in Arizona leans towards the newer cars, since it's only recently that Subaru sales have taken off in the Phoenix area. A lot of out-of-staters have moved here for the low real estate prices, and they brought their Subies along.

 

I knew I'd have trouble finding things when I drove down to visit Mom, but I never expected it would be as bad as I've discovered. Just keep up with your maintenance, keep a spare part or two (and I'd think about getting a pair of good belts in your house; keeping them inside the car down here is a good way to destroy them, but unless you're hauling around a set of tools, you'll be visiting a shop. Better by far to say 'honey, bring me...' than have to say 'order this, please, how long to get it?' IMHO).

 

You can save a lot of money by ordering online and having it sent to your house. The $50-75 worth of parts would be worth the lower hassle, I think. If you plan on keeping your car you'll end up needing them anyway, since the heat really accelerates the lifecycle of many parts. You'll find wiper blades will die in about 2 months.

 

If you haven't been out in a monsoon storm yet, you might think about swapping all 3 of your blades; rain here doesn't come down in polite sprinkles, it comes down in buckets so thick you can't see ten feet.

 

(and if you haven't done your brakes, the way others drive in the rain down here will make you run to the nearest shop or store for the parts! Valium for when you get home on a rainy day in Arizona is highly suggested. - seriously.)

[desertsubaru]

I lived in Sedona and theres not a sube dealer for 60 miles around but Autozone and Checkers could get me parts overnight.

[jeffx]

Bump to add--got the car smogged (it passed!) and new plates--ironically, it was a typically hot day in Apache Junction, AZ at the DMV and I was fanning myself cool with my soon to be obsolete Michigan plates! Its odd to note taht I lived in Michigan for 22 years (nearly my entire adult life) and never had to have my car inspected. In fact, the last time I was required to get car inspection was when I was a young driver in my home state of Indiana!

 

There are plenty of excellent drives both on and off the road within shouting distance of my new place here in AZ...I had business at Canyon Lake last week, and drove a bit more of the Apache Trail past Tortilla Flat. Fish Creek Canyon is my next trip up there! Holy Switchbacks! The pavement ends on Arizona 88 about three miles past Tortilla Flat and then it's b$$lls out caution, watching the roadway go into bizzaro mode (next time Mrs. X drives so that I can see at least SOME of the scenery).

 

Folks here assure me that Flagstaff sees some snow in season, so we can go play in the powder.

 

Again, I've always trusted Subaru's reliability, but considering the heartache I went through to get this current ride, I was cautious, indeed. But Ruby G has proven herself worthy of her Subaru name and her Indiana heritage!

[ryan05key]

you could always move to western washington ...

 

there are MANY Subs here - more than Mercedes and less than SUVs

 

Agree with western washington.