99 Legacy GT

[seahawk]

I'm currently looking at buying a 99 Legacy GT. It's a 5 speed sedan, with about 135K miles on it. A "discount" dealership has it listed for $5500. Is there anything specific I should look for on this car? Any achilles heels? Known problem areas? I would appreciate any information y'all might have.

[TheAngryPidgeon]

I'm currently looking at buying a 99 Legacy GT. It's a 5 speed sedan, with about 135K miles on it. A "discount" dealership has it listed for $5500. Is there anything specific I should look for on this car? Any achilles heels? Known problem areas? I would appreciate any information y'all might have.

Head gaskets, head gaskets, head gaskets. Make sure they have been done, it's a $1200+ job, and they go out on the 2.5Ls like nobody's business. Mine went out 2 weeks after I bought it at only 105k, so definitely check into that.

Aside from that, both my roommate and I have 2.5 GT Sedans, '99 and '98, and we love 'em. Other folks on here will be able to tell you about other potential problems though.

[maboater86]

1. Headgaskets (if you need headgaskets use the Subaru Cooling System Conditioner when refilling coolant)
2. Oil Pump Leak
3. Cam Seals Leak
4. Oil Pan Leak
5. Valve Cover Leak
6. Gas filler tube rots
7. Axle Boots dry crack and evetually break
8. Cat. Conv. Goes
9. Rear main seal leaks
10. Transmission Pan Leaks
11. Piston Slap

If the car has been properly maintained you won't have many issues. Get the car on a lift and search for oil leaks around the front plastic motor covers (look for swelled rubbers in between the plastics and front of the motor). Check Headgaskets make sure there is no coolant / Oil seepage. Look at axle boots, make sure they are not cracking in between each bend. Look for a leak where the engine block and tranny meet (rear main Seal). Any gas smell usually means the gas filler tube is leaking, smell for gas around the filler tube.

When you start the car cold make sure the piston slap goes away when it warms, if you can still here the knocking when the car is hot, you will need now pistons and rings or your low on oil, fill and recheck.


Like all cars, they are made to break. It's called job security.

My headgaskets blew at 76K, I resealed everything when I took the motor apart, from the oil pump to the rear main seal, I have had no leaks since I did it. My car has almost 150k now

[seahawk]

Sweet, I'll take a look at all of that stuff later this week. I appreciate the responses, hopefully I'll be posting pictures of my new car this weekend... :grin:

[Huffer]

I'm currently looking at buying a 99 Legacy GT. It's a 5 speed sedan, with about 135K miles on it. A "discount" dealership has it listed for $5500. Is there anything specific I should look for on this car? Any achilles heels? Known problem areas? I would appreciate any information y'all might have.

Depending on where you are, you should be able to get that for $4500 or less. I got my 98 back in 04 for $4000 and it had 130k on it.

Put aside $500 in maintenance straight away (this is true for all used cars) for a tune-up, new plugs, wires, oil change, fluid changes, brakes etc.

If you have cash, walk in and offer $4500 straight up inc. tax and title. Wave the $100 bills in their faces, and be prepared to walk too. You'll be surprised how quickly they'll run out the door to stop you.

[TheAngryPidgeon]

Put aside $500 in maintenance straight away (this is true for all used cars) for a tune-up, new plugs, wires, oil change, fluid changes, brakes etc.


Or you could put aside $5000 for maintenance, but you're not buying a '98, so I wouldn't worry about it too much, lol. :smt009

[seahawk]

I wasn't going to pay $5500, considering they paid $3500 at most for it (wholesale). I figured on offering about 4500, depending on what I found wrong...I never pay retail, it just isn't worth it.

I'm a rather decent mechanic, I've been working on cars for about 15 years...just not professionally. I've worked on Jeeps, Dodges, Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and Nissans all to varying degrees. I should be able to change the head gasket on the engine, but the OHC design makes it a slower, more painful process. Then there are the "specialty" tools...
I believe it needs tires too, but I'm not sure yet.