'Starting 2026 With 309,366 Miles': Woman’s Subaru Is a Workhorse. How Much Longer Can It Go?

'Funny what can happen when you actually take care of your car.'

Woman’s Subaru is a workhorse

Photo by: YouTube

Mustafa Gatollari

By: Mustafa Gatollari

Jan 8, at 8:00pm ET

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A Subaru driver is celebrating the fact that her 2019 Outback has passed the 300,000-mile mark.

TikTok user @driverthoughts0, a self-proclaimed nomad, recently posted about her car’s stalwartness. Is her vehicle a testament to proper and conscientious motor care? Or was she just lucky enough to get a good car off the assembly line?

"Starting 2026 with 309,366 miles," she says at the top of the video. To prove she isn’t telling tales about her car’s longevity, she films the Subaru’s dashboard. The odometer indeed shows that the Subaru has joined the 300K-mile club.

Commenters had varied responses. One person guessed that the Outback still going strong with such high mileage is a testament to the importance of timely maintenance. "Funny what can happen when you actually take care of your car. That’s amazing," they wrote.

This was a sentiment the creator echoed in a separate conversation thread. Another user asked her about the Subaru, to which @driverthoughts0 replied, "She’s left me stranded one time when an axle was installed incorrectly. Extremely reliable," she said. She then followed up with, "If you care for it, it’ll care for you."

Meanwhile, someone else shared a "fun fact" that puts into perspective just how much she was able to travel in her Outback. "Did you know the distance from Earth to the moon is anywhere between 225,623 - 252,088 miles? You’ve driven past the moon!" they told her.

Subaru Service Lights

In a separate video, the TikTok user responded to criticisms from other users about the various warnings on her car’s dashboard. She pointed out that in this particular clip, her car’s engine wasn’t running; it was just in the on position. Like many cars, this half-key turn gives drivers a chance to ensure all of their ride’s warning lights are functioning normally. This way, if something happens while they’re driving, car owners will be able to assess any issues with their vehicle.

And in another clip, she shows that her car’s warning lights turn off when it's running, save for a tire pressure indicator.

She uploaded an additional video in which she theorizes another reason her car passed the 300,000-mile mark is because she uses premium gasoline.

While some drivers swear by it, Kelley Blue Book writes that fuel with higher octane won’t necessarily extend the life of a car’s engine or yield better mileage. Conventional wisdom is that you should really only use it if the manufacturer recommends higher octane fuel.

However, there are differing opinions on whether there are benefits to using higher octane fuel than the manufacturer recommends. For instance, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo’s manual says that it’s rated for 87-octane fuel. But some drivers have reported rougher driving and engine issues after putting 87-grade fuel in their cars, and say that it runs best on premium fuel. A Redditor who posted to the site’s r/cx50 sub argued that their Mazda crossover performs better in the summertime when they use higher-octane fuel.

As per a digital upload of the 2019 Subaru Outback owner’s manual, drivers are instructed to utilize "regular octane gasoline with an octane rating of 87…or higher."

Subaru Reliability: 500,000-Mile Car?

Consumer Reports has high praise for Subaru as a brand. In fact, the JDM auto manufacturer bested Lexus and Toyota in recent studies when it came to road tests, dependability, safety, and owner satisfaction. This culminated in Subaru earning the title of best overall car brand.

What do you think?

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Subarus are venerated for being able to "reach high mileage with ease." Reportedly, "some of the highest vehicle miles ever recorded were by Subarus."

Motor1 has reached out to Subaru via email and @driverthoughts0 via TikTok direct message for further comment.

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