1-3-2-4's looking for another legacy thread

[1-3-2-4]

So out of all of these years what would you pick for a wagon?

my range is from 1995-2001

3rd gen is nice but looks a bit chunky.. given what I got my car for everything seems overpriced.. I got my 1995 at 195,065 for $400 cash..

[mike-tracy]

I think the 3rd gens are much better cars in a variety of ways - better chassis, better suspension design (IMO), more modern engine, better interior, etc.

You won't find one for $400, not one that you'd want anyways.

So for me, as a poor, married college student, the 2nd gen is perfect since it's cheap, parts are plentiful and still is safe and relatively modern.

[Huffer]

01 is the same as 04 so you might as well include that.

Parts wise the 95-99 range is better in terms of bolt-on-bility but the 00-04 is a very nice ride with a smooth engine albeit youre pulling a heavier car with the same engine power.

I like both, but my preference is to get a newer car with higher miles rather than an older car with less miles.

[Navi271]

If you find a 95-99 legacy, I'd go with a 2.2L because the 2.5L had the faulty headgasket problem. If you want a 2.5L, go with a 3rd gen! Just my 2cents. Just looking at whats local for me on craigslist, theres 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen legacy wagons for sale. So it seems like your options should be pretty open.

[Reason]

Get a GT wagon or outback slap on cometic gaskets and call it a day.

[anothernord]

The 99' BD's with the Phase II 2.2 are awesome. A relative of mine has one, and it easily gets 30+ MPG in town, and even better on the highway.

[Grafton]

I'll vote for a 99 as well, less physical years *normally* means less rust

[1-3-2-4]

'99 engines are interference right?

[Grafton]

97 up are interference

[Huffer]

99's are a crapshoot of parts though - some people got MAP, some got a 2.2L some got BrightonLGT trim bits.

[Reason]

Subaru used all their left over parts before switching models lol jk

[1996Battlewagon]

Get a GT wagon or outback slap on cometic gaskets and call it a day.

+1 You could probably get one that already has its headgaskets blown but without warped heads for dirt cheap and do the repair yourself.

Believe in the Phase I EJ25D. BELIEVE!

[1-3-2-4]

GT wagons are hard enough to find and if you find one someone wants some over priced amount.. I'm not going to hold my breath..

[Huffer]

Subaru used all their left over parts before switching models lol jk

Thats exactly what they did.

[1-3-2-4]

Get a GT wagon or outback slap on cometic gaskets and call it a day.

+1 You could probably get one that already has its headgaskets blown but without warped heads for dirt cheap and do the repair yourself.

Believe in the Phase I EJ25D. BELIEVE!


I was asking around on USMB and they are like it's iffy.. a lot thing the bottom ends on the 98's suck big time and any overheating is going to lead to something else down the road.

[1-3-2-4]

winter is a crappy time to look for a car... not very many manuals to pick from if so they want like $6K for a car with 250K and a 2002.

[peter]

The 99' BD's with the Phase II 2.2 are awesome. A relative of mine has one, and it easily gets 30+ MPG in town, and even better on the highway.
30+ in town? seems like a bit of a stretch to me, best Iv ever got in my '98 was about 32 hwy

[httrdd]

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.p ... 55865.html (http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/fs-1997-legacy-gt-wagon-2000-155865.html)

Edit: Oops it is an auto.

[1-3-2-4]

Yea hard to find 5mt

[Reason]

How many times have you heard anyone here blown there bottom end? I think once and I can't remember who it was so long ago. USMB has some good info but I wouldn't take what people say to serious. EJ25D main problem HG, and the occasional crank, cam or rear main seal and knock sensor. That is what you will mostly hear. And if you find a car with blown HG I've seen outbacks and GTs go for 1000. What is your budget anyway? If you are looking for another 400 Legacy well then that's not hard to find but we are talking about the wrong models. And forget about 3rd gene too if that's the case.

[Reason]

Yea hard to find 5mt

You aren't kidding are you? Seems like every outback I find is a manual. I want a 4eat outback for towing purposes.

[1-3-2-4]

My budget is $4900 and who knows if the blown head gaskets were replace the right way or the heads are not warped.. As far as finding a maual ive looked on cars and autotrader and CL and CL had the best pick for a 5MT on the Uto sites a 250 search range only gave me 6 cars..

[jey]

How many times have you heard anyone here blown there bottom end?

I snapped a rod on my EJ22. But then again that was after hydrolocking it :)

With a budget of $4900 I'd be looking for a 3rd gen. For a 2nd gen I'd definitely want some cash left over - there is no way a 12+ year old car is worth that much.

I actually like my 95 better than my 98 for a few reasons - it's exempt from emissions (in most areas that have it), it's lighter (less sound deadening in the trunk) and the dual port heads (even after 185k miles) sounded and performed way better than any EJ22 I've driven. I really don't view the progression of years through 2nd gen as "improvements" - but the 3rd gen Legacy definitely seems nicer.

[dodik]

for that money you can even find h6 now although they are not mt, broaden your search i would easily go 500 miles for the right car

[1-3-2-4]

How many times have you heard anyone here blown there bottom end?

I snapped a rod on my EJ22. But then again that was after hydrolocking it :)

With a budget of $4900 I'd be looking for a 3rd gen. For a 2nd gen I'd definitely want some cash left over - there is no way a 12+ year old car is worth that much.

I actually like my 95 better than my 98 for a few reasons - it's exempt from emissions (in most areas that have it), it's lighter (less sound deadening in the trunk) and the dual port heads (even after 185k miles) sounded and performed way better than any EJ22 I've driven. I really don't view the progression of years through 2nd gen as "improvements" - but the 3rd gen Legacy definitely seems nicer.

My emissions for my 95 was due in April which is $20 and $85 for registration the dual port heads is what i'm looking for but from what it seems they went back and forth with them..

the 3rd gen does seem nicer and more solid but I think it's some place around 2000 that all the legacies got the ej25?

[1-3-2-4]

for that money you can even find h6 now although they are not mt, broaden your search i would easily go 500 miles for the right car

for fun I did 500 mile search for both autotrader and cars.com

I somehow don't think this is true..

for cars.com 500 mile search range for a max price of $5000 only gave me only 20 legacies with a 5 MT and only 4 Outbacks with a MT.

I'd get a sedan if I did not need to carry 400 lbs of audio equipment every year.


autotrader gave me about 47 listings for 500 miles.

my only concern is driving that far would it be more of a hassle doing the paperwork and all.. who's job is it to provide the temp plates? my sate or the state the car is sold in?

When I got my car in brooklyn i had to get temp plates from my DMV here.

[StatGSR]

winter is a crappy time to look for a car... not very many manuals to pick from if so they want like $6K for a car with 250K and a 2002.

actually winter is a great time to look for a car, so long as that car isn't a subaru.

[StatGSR]

my only concern is driving that far would it be more of a hassle doing the paperwork and all.. who's job is it to provide the temp plates? my sate or the state the car is sold in?

When I got my car in brooklyn i had to get temp plates from my DMV here.

It would depend on the state, in some states the car keeps the plates (unless they are vanity), other states the person keeps the plate. If the car kept the plate, idk why you would need to get temp plates at all. Also would depend if it came from private seller or dealer.

IDK, i would a couple phone calls or some internet searching would be able to solve that question for you.

[Reason]

Just around here

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2224386617.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2218157625.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2209661649.html

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/2208438951.html

This last guy said bulletproof 2.5L engine I lol and had to add the link. Im going to email him and call him a moron.

[1-3-2-4]

don't they have a craigslist search tool that searches all the areas you pick?

[Reason]

I don't think so, they should though.

[mike-tracy]

crazedlist.org

[1-3-2-4]

that's the site! could not remember it before.

[httrdd]

don't they have a craigslist search tool that searches all the areas you pick?

I use the Craigslist search searchtempest.com

[1-3-2-4]

damn all the goodies are all in the northern states :P more MT's in Vermont then I checked in all of CT and NY CL.

[DarkPhoenix]

damn all the goodies are all in the northern states :P more MT's in Vermont then I checked in all of CT and NY CL.

Unfortunately, most NYers are lazy when it comes to shifting, so finding a 5 speed Leggy is tough.

[1-3-2-4]

yeah I noticed that.. i've never been bothered by that really... I've been stuck in traffic for 2 hours in a few large cities.

I was looking at some cars in VT but one guy was like don't buy like a 2nd gen here because they salt too much and I might end with a rust bucket..maybe if it's like a 3rd gen I might be ok.

[nomad666666]

might be to far
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/2154003697.html

[1-3-2-4]

damn that's sweet I wont be able to make any moves until like late April at least looking now i forgot how I did a private sale.. I think I signed the title and all but I don't remember how I got the temp plates.. I just ask because if I go out of the tristate area I don't want to find out I have to make two trips.

I would think the state you are buying it in will give you temp plates? I'm about to turn in my plates tomorrow so I wont have to pay for registration which is $85 and emissions if I don't have a car now.

[nomad666666]

some states like KY the plate stays with the car not the owner
you just sign the title and get a notarized and you own it.

[1-3-2-4]

oh that sounds simple

[98outbackpdx]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-SUBARU-LEGACY-GT-5SP-SMOKE-FREE-CLEAN-NO-RESERVE-/150569042941?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item230e9d43fd#ht_23497wt_958
have you checked ebay motors? the above legacy gt is going for US $5,101.00 as of 3-1-11 at 12:45 PST, but it does have 6 days till the end of auction. might be worth a shot, and i do know that legacy is out of your budget, i am just saying you can find good deals. also it is in Philadelphia PA.

[1-3-2-4]

well so far looks like I will be getting this 97 outback on Wed. has anyone used lamin-x? I know it does not protect for headlights that yellow but with the car sitting in 6 hrs of sun a day it slowly happens.. but I will be getting some film for it but just wondering.

Going to do a proper hid retrofit this time around but I think Im just going to go clear film over the headlights with the lights blacked out inside.

[1-3-2-4]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/IMAG0001-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/IMAG0002-1.jpg


only things wrong.. sorry copy and paste..

I went to see the car (paid for)

No HG leak.. only thing is the tranny was like bone dry so I went out and put in 2 qt of diff fluid..

Anyways while I did not drive the car more then 2 Ft forward and backwards I had no problems with 1st, 2nd or getting into reverse.. HOWEVER in neutral or any gear the tranny makes this sound I'm so sorry I did not do a video on my phone I forgot all about it..

the closest sound I can describe it as being a rotating sound from what sounds like from inside the tranny.. I'm not sure if it would be the TOB I felt the tranny case and I did not feel that much vibration so it could be the TOB?

Anyways 2 Qt got me up to the middle of the diff dipstick.



Also no HG issues that I can see of but I did not let it fully warm up since the gas was very low and the light was on but good thing I brought my HF jump pack with me since the battery was flat.

other then that above it looked good.

[1-3-2-4]

dropped in and ready to install.. took me a few hours to fit it very very bright for map lights...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/DSC_2107-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/04/DSC_2099-1.jpg

fixture came from an 02 wrx

[Reason]

That's a trick people do so you don't want to run or test drive the car, leave the gas tank to empty. How much did you pay for this if you don't mind me asking...

[1-3-2-4]

I paid $1,100 and I don't think it was a trick at all.. I was wondering why she was turning away when I went under the car... turns out her uncle died when this car fell off the jack.

[Reason]

So you purchased a car that killed someone? Awesome...wow

[1-3-2-4]

If you are not smart and don't use jack stands that's what happens... I almost got caught under my other legacy I just used the stock jack and the car rolled right off of it as soon as I got from under it.

My fault for not using jack stands for just taking off a single wheel.