Hi Adam!

On Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:42:44 -0500, Adam Aulick
<usenet-filter (AT) aulick (DOT) net> wrote:

IMO, the EJ22 motor and a 5spd tranny will probably offer the best
combination of performance and long term reliability, regardless of
vintage. Mid '90s and onwards Legacy/Impreza will also have airbags
and, frequently ABS (if you like that sorta thing . . .). Subaru DOHC
motors and ATs seem to have less stellar reputations, as well as
offering poorer fuel economy.
That said, any recent Subaru will be needing a fairly major service at
around the 100K mark; timing belt and associated hardware, water pump,
possibly brakes, etc. Probably $500-$600 or more depending. A car with
125-150K will, presumably have already had this done. Always check
before putting money on the table.
FWIW, plenty of '90s vintage (and older) Soobies still goin' strong at
300K plus miles. Sign of TLC. If you are incapable of providing
reasonable care (as some respondents to this thread would seem to be),
nothing is gonna last far past the manufacturers warranty . . .
As always, YMMV.

ByeBye! S.


Steve Jernigan KG0MB
Laboratory Manager
Microelectronics Research
University of Colorado
(719) 262-3101

CompUser wrote:
He *is* an axe, and a dull one at that.

I think you face a significant chance of head gasket failure with the
entire first gen Legacy/Outback and the first couple years of the
second gen car. You're looking at roughly a $2000 repair if the HG
goes. You should also be aware that the timing belt *must* be
replaced by 105,000 miles. With first gen cars that make it 7,8 9
years before reaching 105,000 miles, you typically also need to
replace the belt tensioner. While the belt's off, it's smart money to
also do some seals and water pump, maybe the oil pump. All in all,
that's roughly $750.

Unless you can negotiate down the price to account for these repairs
or get some limited warranty on the head gasket issue, I'd look at a
different car. Honda CRV maybe.

On Mar 8, 8:42 am, Adam Aulick <usenet-fil... (AT) aulick (DOT) net> wrote:
Yep, just ask the seller and get his service records. If the seller
says yes, but doesn't have service records, ask where the work was
done and contact the repair shop for a record.

If all else fails, sometimes a mechanic can tell if the bolts on the
timing belt cover were ever off b/c a wrench will leave marks. If it
doesn't look like it's ever been off, it probably hasn't been.

If your's has an interference engine, believe me, you don't want to
let that service interval come and go without replacing the timing
belt. I had a timing belt prematurely break on an interference
engine. Luckily, Mitsu picked up the $3,000+ bill (timing belt, bent
valves, nicked pistons, etc., etc.)