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View Full Version : I need your knowledge- Car buying questions



The Korean
08-27-2006, 12:14 AM
Ok all, here is my situation: What should I buy? I've never bought any Legacy newer than a 94 and I'm now looking at only 95 -99 models... so I need your imput. The models I'm looking at are: 96 Outback Wagon with 2.2 motor or 97-99 Legacy GT Wagon either of being a manual (I'm finally tired of driving an auto).

I looked at a 96 Outback Wagon with a manual tranny today. It has 174K on it and has the EJ22 motor... not the EJ25 motor. She recently had new OEM parts installed like clutch, all oil leaks fixed, new water pump (I believe), new brakes, and new tires. She had all the work done by a Subaru dealer here in Colorado (Super Rupair). It's in near perfect condition and is running strong. The car itself has a darkish colored, cloth interior, middle red two tone exterior, alloy wheels, no sunroof... and I think that's all I can remember. Her asking price is $4950

That's about the only car so far that I have looked at. Any advice? I want performance, but it also needs to be reliable. I'm thinking if I go with the 2.2 motor that I will eventually swap in a 2.2T and run the stock boOst. If I go with a 2.5 motor then I'll either do light mods or a turbo kit build eventually. What are your guys experiences? Advice? I know with the 2.5 you have to make sure the head gaskets are good/been replaced if the car has over 100k, but anything else? Opinions on performance?

Thanx
Jon

Manarius
08-27-2006, 12:56 AM
EJ22T's only came with OBDI systems. All 95+ cars have OBDII, so you'd have to go crazy with the wiring on an EJ22T.

The older EJ25's aren't usually known for running boost, but there's always mod room.

4950 seems pretty high for a car with 174k on. 3500 seems much more like a deal.

The Korean
08-27-2006, 11:13 PM
I think I'm waiting for awhile and going to save for a 97-99 Black Legacy GT Wagon 5-speed.

Wiscon_Mark
08-27-2006, 11:50 PM
I think I'm waiting for awhile and going to save for a 97-99 Black Legacy GT Wagon 5-speed.

A good idea.

and you know to look for HG issues.

Plays_with_Toys
08-27-2006, 11:54 PM
dude, I bought my 96 L with a 2.2 for 3,900 and it had 123k miles on it and all the paperwork to go with it. Way too high for a pre-lifted generation outback. The lifted ones with the 2.5 go for a little more money, but the first outbacks didn't really have that many more options than the base legacy. I believe it was two tone paint, fog lights, and a sunroof? Electric windows were standard too I think, but my L came with electric locks/windows, so it was available in other models.

As for a GT with a 5speed, keep in mind the outback is almost an identical vehicle. The difference is in their struts. But any other legacy suspension will swap in and even 02+ WRX suspension will go in. I just scored a set of 4 springs/struts off of a legacy GT wagon for $80. I think the only other difference is the paint and the front bumper. Some of the outbacks also have a raised roof (chassis code BG), non raised roof wagons are BK's.

I looked long and hard for a GT wagon in manual and they are hard to find for a decent price. I found two, one had sold by the time I called and the other was at a dealer and they wanted $8k for it with 130K miles.

Wiscon_Mark
08-27-2006, 11:58 PM
Actually, the first outbacks were an L with extra features, including:

Cruise
2 tone paint
foglights
roof rack
trailer hitch
power everything (I believe the L was lacking some power features)
rear 12v outlet
antilock brakes
Standard AWD (wasn't standard on the L)