Buying a high mileage used outback

The 3.6R is a very durable, smooth, but thirsty motor, so not the best for lots of driving on a limited budget. Outside of the simple, normal stuff like brakes, wheel bearings, this can be a really solid chariot. Winters of use is much more important than mileage. Change the transmission fluid, use 5w30 synth and iridium plugs, keep tires at 36F/33R psi, and keep the fluids up. Before purchasing get it up on a lift to check for any leaks (unusual), as well loose heat shields, suspension minor knocks (sway bar bushings), etc. If all good the price is quite attractive. At only 8 years old I don't have the same reservations as at 12+ winters, so maybe ignore Ed's global warnings. Good luck. Note that because of poor eco I never personally bought the 3.6r to resell, but my pro Subie wrenches swear by them if fuel cost is unimportant.

What's so interesting about this? Well, I have a 2010 Subaru Outback 2.5 and the CVT transmission and over 103,000 miles, and a friend of mine's daughter has the 2010 Subaru Outback 3.6..... Guess what? My friend told me his daughter's 3.6 SIX CYLINDER has been an oil burner and generally a lousy car for fuel economy and everything else, costs more to service, so, my answer to you is "your mileage may vary" on any used car you purchase. I agree with this above that 160,000 miles is a lot of miles on any engine, and condition is the "name of the game". Good luck.

"160,000 miles is a lot" is true only over a long period of time, i.e., hours of operation. It's practically only half-way on a young motor driven at higher speeds over fewer total hours. There is no "game" here that stays mysterious the more data and intelligence you bring to the table....