Update, a year later, I picked up an '09 outback, details far below.
I'm looking at an 02 Legacy GT Limited, 95k miles, sub $1500. I'm aware of the Subaru rallying cry of "2.5 head gaskets and timing belt" but how big of an issue am I looking at? Any other issues with this era subi? Also, this is an A/T car, if that makes any difference.
At 20 years old and 95k miles you are another 20 years away from piston slap and head gasket oil drool. Those OMG TEH INTERNET things show up MUCH later in life. See, Subarus spend a lot of time driving instead of riding jackstands like other cars, so they get to experience different life issues. Kind of like how stopping people from dying of tuberculosis and childhood diabetes and heart disease means they live long enough to die of cancer.
Biggest issue is rust. Rust and general boring automotive stuff that all cars need.
I disagree with the idea that it's all hype, and the idea that other cars manage to accumulate hundreds of thousands of miles on jack stands seems rather like making excuses for Subaru. Look for sub-$1000 Subarus for sale and you will find plenty of them and most with blown head gaskets. Some people consider it a wear item. The other day while I was working on mine I thought to myself, "it's actually irresponsible for people to buy new Subarus; it encourages their poor manufacturing processes."
It was (is?) a known issue that Subaru didn't address year after year after year, and I call that shoddy workmanship. And the crappy part is that with the boxter engine setup you get to do TWO despite it being a lethargic 4 cylinder.
But finding a suitable substitute is about impossible, too. Despite knowing little about them, I'd try my luck with a little Suzuki SX4 (or whatever it's called) if I were in the market.
I have only seen ONE Subaru with a blown head gasket. It was an STI with an engine built by some mega hyped tunerd00d company whose name I have deliberately forgotten, and over 17psi of boost it was lifting the heads and pressurizing the cooling system. It was fine at anything below that level, which was still something like 500 horsepower.
The normal reason head gaskets on 2.5s need to be replaced is not because they blow, but because they leak oil externally. This eventually can result in an engine fire. It also only really happens after 180k miles or so. I have done so many engines for this that I have the torque sequence burned into my brain. But the gaskets never blew.
This is something that amuses me a lot. Subaru SOHC 2.5s leak oil from the head gasket after 180k miles: "OMG GARBAGE LOL"
Chevy 2.2s leak coolant from the head gasket after 30k miles: "¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Chevys gonna Chevy."
Weird, mine leaking sub 100k must have been an anomaly.
As mentioned head gaskets leaking oil and rust are the major concerns. They rattle like hell, consume wheel bearings every 100k or less and tear the cv boots that are close to the exhaust.
That said they're easy to work on, everthing is well documented and parts are cheap, and you could probably sell it next fall for the price you pay today.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
I guess there's a reason they say YMMV, I'm not saying you haven't seen what you've seen, it's just that that's not the story you get from most folks.
Point being, Brian, I'd look into it a bunch, were I you.
Here's a similar thread from a year ago when I was looking:
Not sure what you get for that money now, but the repair bill could exceed that by a factor if there are problems. If it does have head gasket issues, the bill will run over a grand. If you feel the trans hesitate when putting it in drive for a second or 2, the trans is on its way out. Could go in a week or a year. If it has rust, just walk away.
The low mileage is a good sign you won't have piston slap but the coolant may have started eating the head gasket. Take it to someone who knows what to look for you may have found a keeper.
This forum loves Subarus. Finding reality on the internet isn't an easy thing. The reality is you are buying the previous owner as much as the car. If it was properly maintained, it might last you a really long time. If it has been neglected and uncared for, it could get expensive fast. All flat engines have oiling concerns and it has to do with the design itself. They all also have head assembly issues as well. It's a lot more difficult and particular to assemble a flat engine than a typical V8 as an example. The engine fasteners take far more loading in a flat engine and you don't have a nice rigid iron block to bolt everything onto in most cases.
For that cheap if it runs and drives ok I wouldn't worry too much.
Tk8398 said:For that cheap if it runs and drives ok I wouldn't worry too much.
Oh shoot yes sorry I didn't notice the price. Yes, if it runs and drives then by all means buy the thing! Car-part.com has used parts already pulled for you if it comes to it
Old, running Subarus are old for reason.
I was told one reason they blow even if not abused or overheated is not changing coolant every year. The stock gaskets get eaten by coolant when it gets old where the coolant sits right on the gasket at the head/block junction.
After a year of Subaru ownership (02 or 03 WRX - I forget) the only thing attractive about a $1500 Subaru is the price. They are not great cars but survive on blind loyalty and a rabid fan base. Super duper crappy interior even on a top market car, lotta weird little issues I have never experienced before - and I have owned a lot of cars including Peugeots, diesel Mercedes, and Fiats - drank gas like it was its job, and really not fun to drive, even with a lift, tune, turbo-back, bigger intercooler, etc etc etc. Only good things were the parts were super available even odd stuff like a transmission countershaft was on hand at my local dealer, and the failures were well documented because they happened all the time. But that thing sucked. I was glad to see it gone.
I'm passing for now. Mostly due to rust. The rear arches are bad, and have been filled with spray foam. I already have a rusty but trusty DD and access to backups.
I LOVE Subarus, to the point that I've had 10 of them. I'll take a gamble on FWD GC/GF/GM, which are notoriously fragile, even in manual form, but I RUN the other direction from EJ25s. It's just not a road I'm willing to go down, especially when the EZ30 and EG33 are such solid powerhouses.
That's probably not helpful, but I've seen far too many on the back lot waiting for head gaskets or new engines to take the chance.
The only thing I really hate about Subarus is how bad they leak, if you can get from billowing clouds of smoke to just a little smoke coming in the vents and smell of burning oil that seems to be about all you can hope for. I have lost count of how many times I have fixed leaks on mine and I pretty much just only drive it when I have to now cause I can't stand the smell of burning gear oil.
In reply to RozCougarMorbidcamp :
Welcome back. Have seen you post in forever.
In reply to Appleseed :
Yeah, I had to step away for a bit, but I'm diving into a resto on the motorcycle, so I figured it was time.
Thanks for the welcome! I've missed everyone.
Revive time! My new car is an '09 Outback with an EJ253 and a 5 speed. 185k with 30k on the HG/TB, 5k on the new clutch. Practically rust free by CNY standards. Seller is a subi/Honda guy I've dealt with before and I trust the vehicles he sells.
It has a very "agricultural" feel to it, and I love it. So far it seems to average me 25mpg. It should prove itself a good winter beater with my civic taking summer duty when I'm not on 2 wheels. I've already got snow tires on a second set of rims, with plans to get some A/T tires for the summer. If I should be in a position to do anything to it, I would love to go in an "overland" direction. Wish me luck.
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