OT - Subaru question Options

[r_towle]

Trying to be a nice uncle and buy my niece a car....she just had her first baby.

So, what might be wrong with this car?

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/2692681186.html

Rich

[DBCooper]

It was the 2.5 twincam motors, 96-99 in the Legacy, with the headgasket problem. It isn't difficult to fix, R&R the engine, have the heads gone through and replace the timing belt and water pump, with parts cost (a few years ago) under $1000. The Subaru valve grind set has the upgraded replacement head gaskets, so you're good there. That car is getting up in miles, but with reasonable maintenance those Subaru engines go forever, so doing the gaskets will probably get you another 100K.

Alternatively replace the engine. Craig's List is usually cheapest but is hit and miss, so look on www.car-part.com (choose the "non-interchange search" on the first page to search for a range of years) for auto recycler engines near your zip code, and it lists miles for a lot of them. It's a good way to see probable cost for the engine alternative, even if you're just going to do the gaskets, to compare. Those engines are $1000 or less now, so sometimes you can run across a low mileage alternative to doing the gaskets yourself.

[benalishhero]

It was the 2.5 twincam motors, 96-99 in the Legacy, with the headgasket problem. It isn't difficult to fix, R&R the engine, have the heads gone through and replace the timing belt and water pump, with parts cost (a few years ago) under $1000. The Subaru valve grind set has the upgraded replacement head gaskets, so you're good there. That car is getting up in miles, but with reasonable maintenance those Subaru engines go forever, so doing the gaskets will probably get you another 100K.

Alternatively replace the engine. Craig's List is usually cheapest but is hit and miss, so look on www.car-part.com (choose the "non-interchange search" on the first page to search for a range of years) for auto recycler engines near your zip code, and it lists miles for a lot of them. It's a good way to see probable cost for the engine alternative, even if you're just going to do the gaskets, to compare. Those engines are $1000 or less now, so sometimes you can run across a low mileage alternative to doing the gaskets yourself.

FWIW, The DOHC motors were not and are not the only motors with HG issues. I'm seeing 00-05 with the same issues. Some at very low miles. I'd search out an early to mid '90s with a SOHC 1.8........