Boring Legacy Outback question........

[FundaMental]

Hi groupsters. I'm new here so please be gentle.

Wife needs a new car after her Accord wagon got one side pealed off by
trees, operated by someone not old enough to drive
legally..............anyway.......

Looked at a '96 Outback. Had 40,000 miles, very good exterior, some
wear on the interior, esp. back seats. Pet hair was noted. The thing
ran like a champ. She enjoyed the feel of the car as well, seating and
what-not. The asking price was $8,995, which didn't seem like too bad a
starting point.

So we gets home and read in Consumer Dig. that that yr. model had poor
marks in the "engine" category. Of course, no explanation given. Can
anyone here enlighten me about what this might be in reference to?


tOm

 

[Dominic Richens]

Looked at a '96 Outback. Had 40,000 miles, very good exterior, some
wear on the interior, esp. back seats. Pet hair was noted. The thing
ran like a champ. She enjoyed the feel of the car as well, seating
and what-not. The asking price was $8,995, which didn't seem like
too bad a starting point.

So we gets home and read in Consumer Dig. that that yr. model had poor
marks in the "engine" category. Of course, no explanation given. Can
anyone here enlighten me about what this might be in reference to?

They're talking about the first EJ25 (2.5L DOHC) engine that came with the
automatic version. It didn't have enough reinforcement in the heads causing
them to blow head gaskets all the time - which leads to overheating which
leads to warping and cracked heads. Design was modified for 1997-1999, then
they switched to a 2.5L SOHC for the EJ25 phase II.

According to http://www.cars101.com/outback_archive95-97.html, the MT
version of the 96 Outback has the same reliable EJ22 SOHC that my 1995
Legacy has (164,000 km, original heads and gaskets).

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Subaru-Tech/ had a couple of threads
about people buying used 96 Legacies or Outbacks with the EJ25 DOHC engine,
only to findout the heads were cracked.

All that being said, if this car was babied and not driven hard, it may be
okay. Just don't pay a cent until you've had a mechanic famillar with this
problem at least check the compression and the look down the radiator filler
for bubbles while reving the engine.

There, was that gentle

 

[FundaMental]

There, was that gentle

Very nice, Dominic. Did some checking and yes, it has the AT with 2.5
DOHC...................tOm

 

[GC]

Probably worth no more than 6k

Gary

 

[Mickey]

Hi groupsters. I'm new here so please be gentle.

Wife needs a new car after her Accord wagon got one side pealed off by
trees, operated by someone not old enough to drive
legally..............anyway.......

Looked at a '96 Outback. Had 40,000 miles, very good exterior, some
wear on the interior, esp. back seats. Pet hair was noted. The thing
ran like a champ. She enjoyed the feel of the car as well, seating and
what-not. The asking price was $8,995, which didn't seem like too bad a
starting point.

So we gets home and read in Consumer Dig. that that yr. model had poor
marks in the "engine" category. Of course, no explanation given. Can
anyone here enlighten me about what this might be in reference to?


tOm

Depending upon where you live the price sounds high.

Just looked at a 98 OB wagon yesterday very clean in and out, little signs of
wear, 77k miles. Had cold weather package, premium sound. New tires last
spring, new clutch last week, professionally detailed a month ago in prep for
sale. Asking $9,9950.

Mickey

 

[Rick Courtright]

spring, new clutch last week, professionally detailed a month ago in prep for
sale. Asking $9,9950.

That's quite a price...

Rick

 

[L. Kreh]

There were a lot of problems with the 96 OBW that were worked out by
the 99 model (last of its generation). If your willing to spend about
$9,000, you can get a higher mileage 99. If you must have the 96,
it's way overpriced. I'd pay about $6500, at most.

 

[FundaMental]

There were a lot of problems with the 96 OBW that were worked out by
the 99 model (last of its generation). If your willing to spend about
$9,000, you can get a higher mileage 99. If you must have the 96,
it's way overpriced. I'd pay about $6500, at most.

Thnx for this and all other replies. I think I'm staying away from 96
after what I've seen here and some yahoo groups, etc.

L. are you saying to go all the way to a '99 before you start to avoid
these problems?


tOm

 

[Dominic Richens]

L. are you saying to go all the way to a '99 before you start to
avoid these problems?

Just with the 2.5L engine. Any year 2.2L model is okay.

 

[L. Kreh]

L. are you saying to go all the way to a '99 before you start to avoid

these problems?

There were a number of design problems, engine and otherwise, with the
96 Outback that were corrected by the time the 99 was produced. I
recommend looking at the repair stats by year that are available at
Consumer Rpts, Edmonds, Cars.com, etc., before buying. Reading
opinions on google is one thing, doing statistical research is wiser.

In my opinion, I'd stick with the 98 or 99 model year OBW if you want
to buy a 96-99 first generation Outback (there was actually an Outback
in 95, but it was nothing more than a regular Legacy with a fancy
paint job; the true Outback first came out in 96). In your price
range, you should be able to choose from several 98s and 99s that will
get you to 200,000 miles w/out anything more than regular maintenance.
One word of caution, regular maintenance on the 2.5L at 105,000 miles
includes timing belt replacement at minimum (about $400). It is
advisable to also replace the belt tensioner, cam seal, and water pump
when you do the timing belt because these components typically fail
around 105K and require removal of the timing belt to replace. All
told, this adds up to roughly $750 (including $400 belt replacement).
This is not unusual maintenance in any engine w/ 105K. You might
inquire about their status when you buy.

 

[L. Kreh]

Just with the 2.5L engine. Any year 2.2L model is okay.

I think all 96-99 Legacy Outbacks were built with the 2.5L.

 

[Dominic Richens]

I think all 96-99 Legacy Outbacks were built with the 2.5L.

Oh, you're right. The only OBW to get an EJ22 was the 96 OBW MT.