NewbieQs part Deux: '02 sedan specs

[JBearSVT]

Well, the '90 wagon did it's job keeping my Cobra off the road for winter, but now the weather is nice and the roads are clear and the wife needs a nicer car to be drive for work and I really like the Cobra not being a daily driver. Looking for another Subaru. I was initially hunting for an '07 WRX, but ended up at a Subaru dealer with an outstanding reputation with a salesman showing me an '02 Legacy GT sedan. This isn't a car I've looked into at all, so I don't know if it's as good as it sounds to me or not.

It's a one owner premium loaded, black with black leather, in fantastic shape except for a *cough* blown engine. Evidently there's some 100,000mi head gasket problem to look out for and the woman who was otherwise pretty good on the maintenance wasn't paying attention to the temp gauge until it died on her. She towed it to the dealer and handed them the keys, and bought a new one. Must be nice. Anyway, they're putting a new 2.5 in it from Subaru, which should be here and installed in two weeks. They're asking $6500. The body isn't perfect, but the car is in damn good shape for over 100K, and with a brand new engine I'm thinking it sounds like a fair bargain. Any opinions? Suggestions? Anything I should ask about this year/model/etc specifically, or be on the lookout for?

How easy is it to retrofit the dual exhaust off the newer ones onto this one?

[Airgne]

hell yeah get it. i paied 9000 for my 01 leg gt with 108000miles.

[Huffer]

$6500 is a good deal. A clean, proper detail and it'll look like $15k.

Buy it with cash if you have it lying around.
And don't bother trying to retro fit a new exhaust to the BE model... you'd spend less getting a custom single-exit made up.

[BE-Fresh]

Go for it!

[henryq89]

do it bro!!!!! i paid $850 for my 97' Leacyt GT w/ 198XXX miles on it nd i luv it! lol :grin:

[JBearSVT]

Thanks for the encouragement folks. I'm pretty stoked about this car, I can't wait for them to finish it. This may be a bit premature, but just how different is the 2.5 in this and the one in the STi's? I haven't even driven it yet, but I'm pretty sure a turbo will be in order. With a brand new engine, it seems safe enough right? Big deal or not so much? Anyway, here's some mediocre camera phone pics I took today. Got out before anyone pounced on me, so none of the inside or engine, but trust me when I say the body is the worst looking part of this car:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/041908_09131-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/041908_09132-1.jpg

I also feel the need to point out my little red Cobra parked up around two o'clock :grin:

[rougeben83]

Thanks for the encouragement folks. I'm pretty stoked about this car, I can't wait for them to finish it. This may be a bit premature, but just how different is the 2.5 in this and the one in the STi's? I haven't even driven it yet, but I'm pretty sure a turbo will be in order. With a brand new engine, it seems safe enough right? Big deal or not so much? Anyway, here's some mediocre camera phone pics I took today. Got out before anyone pounced on me, so none of the inside or engine, but trust me when I say the body is the worst looking part of this car:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/041908_09131-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/041908_09132-1.jpg

I also feel the need to point out my little red Cobra parked up around two o'clock :grin:

The EJ257 engine in the sti and the ej251/3 in the BE are very different - one's been designed for turbocharging in mind (stronger block construction namely) and the other is just for economical N/A use.

There are turbokits available, but that's a hotly contested issue about kits vs. swapping the engine for a turbo one completely. I'd keep the legacy as a DD and that Cobra for fun, if you know what I mean :)

Looks like a good ride. Are they going to warranty the new motor? As if you still fall under the HG TSB, since the engine itself isn't 100k on mileage yet, and get the coolant additive Subaru makes you use so you can be considered for the HG warranty too.

Are those Tbird rims on the Cobra? I used to have those rims on my Taurus :grin:

[JBearSVT]

Thanks for the info! I'm really not sure on most of the details yet, but for the price I'm not going to worry too much. I will find them out before I take it home however, that's for sure.

No, the rims are specific to the '93 Cobra, and don't work on any other Fords that I know of. They are similar to the T-bird rims except that they're 17's and the T-birds had 15's and 16's, and a completely different offset. However, the entire rear end from disc to disc is right out of the Turbocoupe parts bin. Evidently, SVT didn't feel like trying to engineer a rear disc assembly for the Fox, so they used the T-birds instead, which is 1&3/4" wider so required tooling up a completely new wheel, which meant they now didn't fit in front requiring tooling up a completely new front rotor to fix the offset. What can I say? Retards. I love my Mustangs, but Ford is just stupid.

[BE-Fresh]

IIIIIIIIII want that cobra...soooo clean, want to touch the hiney

[JBearSVT]

:grin:
Thanks, that's my baby. Looking forward to getting this new Leggy so it can go back under the cover and only come out when the sun is out! Speaking of which...

talked to the salesman again today. It's not getting a new engine, just a junkyard one. The tech says he's going to try to get the lowest mileage one he can find. He said he'd put a brand new one in if I want, but it'll be another $1700. I'm not sure it's worth it. My main concern is the head gaskets, and he said if I want he'll replace them before he puts it in for another $200.
Anyway, after tax and registration, and replacing the head gaskets, it'll total out more like $7300. Everyone still think it's a good deal? I kinda think that since he isn't putting a brand new engine in he shouldn't charge me more to change the head gaskets, since he was raving about how super easy it is with the engine out and it's really just cheap insurance for us both, but I'm not the type to fuss about it.

[Huffer]

Still a good price with the preventative stuff done. Ask them to do compression test and all new fluids on the engine, along with the timing belt and t-stat.

[Bdubs]

I just saw this car sitting off to the side last week! haha. Makes sense now.
Shoulda bought her that new STi that was sitting in the front though. :grin:

I get my 07 serviced there, and purchased it brand new almost 2 years ago now from Holmgren's. They have been pretty good to me, I buy most of my parts from them.

[JBearSVT]

I mentioned the new STi too. Know what she said? "We'd have to get rid of the gold wheels". At that point, I knew she just shouldn't have it. Never mind that I'm trying to buy a house right now too...

[JBearSVT]

Welp, the engine came in yesterday, and it's got 70K on it. I had them do the head gaskets anyway. They're putting in a new windshield too, no extra charge. Should be rolling middle of next week sometime.

It's missing one bit of plastic trim, just ahead of the rear passenger wheel. It's like a sort of chip guard or something, runs from about the middle of the wheel well down to the side skirts. Are these easy to get, should I bitch at them to dig one up somewhere, or what? I'm thinking it really should have it, and not just for looks. I don't even know what it's called to track one down myself. Tips?

[Huffer]

Point at the driver's side, and say "it's missing this on the other side.". Stand back and be silent.

[JBearSVT]

LOL... ok.

[JBearSVT]

Drove it tonight. Runs good, smooth as silk deep into redline. Signed papers, should be ready by next Wednesday. They still have to do the windshield, and they're doing the brakes as well for that price. Pretty stoked.

[sharky nrk]

coolness

[JBearSVT]

Brought it home last night. Holmgrens did a killer job on the brakes. Wife is loving it. Far from perfect, but the interior is pretty much mint and at 20' the body looks fantastic.

Still having trouble tracking down that trim piece that goes in front of the rear wheel, and it's starting to piss me off. I have no idea where to look for one of these, or even what it's called.

[Huffer]

Still having trouble tracking down that trim piece that goes in front of the rear wheel, and it's starting to piss me off. I have no idea where to look for one of these, or even what it's called.

You talking about the black plastic part?

http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_par ... artid=8132 (http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_partdetail.php?partid=8132)

Looks like part D?

[JBearSVT]

That looks like the one! $43!? Crap. Oh well. Conveniently, Milford CT is pretty close to me. Funny that it would be in a link posted by someone in OH. Thanks!

[Bdubs]

Thats a pretty good price. Especially because you won't have to pay shipping.

[JBearSVT]

Yeah, but if I could FIND one in a junkyard, it would likely be half that, may even be black already. I suppose it says good things for these cars that there aren't any in junkyards, but it's still a bit of a pain. At least now I know I can get one.

[JBearSVT]

Out of curiosity, anybody know the differences between the regular Legacy and the GT package?

Who makes the best shifter for this car?

When did Subaru stop using the hill-helper feature?

[ConnertheCat]

Out of curiosity, anybody know the differences between the regular Legacy and the GT package?

Weight.

Mostly just standard features (Moonroof, etc). They do have different sideskirts though.

[Huffer]

Out of curiosity, anybody know the differences between the regular Legacy and the GT package?

Who makes the best shifter for this car?

When did Subaru stop using the hill-helper feature?

www.cars101.com (http://www.cars101.com) might help here.

[JBearSVT]

Hey, that's a great site. Thanks!