I've spent the last few weeks looking at getting a new(er) DD. I like to be able to haul stuff easilyish so I've been focusing on wagons (mainly subaru), suvs, and trucks (too expensive at the amount of miles I'm looking for).
Enter the reason for this thread. Found a 97 Legacy GT wagon, 5 speed, 2 owner with 101k miles near enough to my budget and location that I'm really liking it. Owner says the timing belt/W.P. were done 20-30k ago. Now the issues - leaky front main seal ("qt every month and a half to 2 months") and the classic Subaru quarter panel rust spots (getting pictures of those later today). It checks all of my boxes: spacious (coming from a single cab truck), manual, can carry junk, and still looks good. I know these engines also have issues with the headgaskets. What are the chances of something going wrong there?
I'm looking for something I can just do regular maintenance on and drive for the next 5-6 years. I don't drive aggressively and have yet to put more than 7k miles a year on a vehicle, not that ive owned one that could handle much more. After a new timing belt, front main seal, and waterpump, would I be looking at a reliable everyday driver?
Vehicle in question
Do you know what motor is installed in it. Timing belt is always the big worry with these cars. If you plan on putting a new one in then that is not a problem. If you do regular maintenance the motor will last for ever. I would also do a compression test on the motor tho. Cylinder #4 doesn't like it when the motor is low on oil. That is for all subaru motors. I say that because it has an oil leak. If the compression is low it is a sign of a crack bearing issue.
From what I've read there are a variety of known issues that one has to make sure to work around for the purposes of reliability and even then if the history is unknown then you could run into issues anyway. My cousin has one that he got with around that mileage and has spent a lot of time and money making it into a relatively reliable daily driver.
The problem is that most of the issues that come up can really affect the engine reliability if they were not taken care of properly by previous owners. Head gasket, turbo oil supply clogging up, these can be minor fixes or upgrades, but if not taken care of can really affect long term reliability.
I'm kind of surprised they had the timing belt done recently and yet seals are leaking. Usually if you pull the motor out you do the seals since everything is right there.
If you're gonna DIY then make sure to have a hoist to pull the motor, because you can't do most anything with the engine in the car.
2.5s are exactly the engines that tend to have headgasket failures (pretty sure thats what a 97 legacy has), usually by about 150k. its not an expensive part or difficult to replace, but youll want to pull the engine to change it, although thats actually pretty easy on these cars. replace that and itll be good to go for another 100k. if youd rather not, id steer clear, find something with a 2.2 or that has already had headgaskets done.
i suppose that being said you can possibly limp along without changing the headgaskets, depending for how long, especially if no signs of leaking or oil/coolant mixing. but sometimes they do go quickly. its an interference engine so you definitely wouldnt want to skimp on timing belt maintenance but thats already done.
In reply to Harvey:
I believe it's the Ej25d. I would not be DIY'ing the seals, and same with a head gasket issue. It sounds like I'm better off moving on from this.
If anyone has suggestions for some model in specific I've been missing put on searching for, post em up! Looking for up to early 2000s Suv's, wagons, or trucks that will be reliable off the bat and stay that way with maintenance. I'm considering jeep Cherokees as well
Yeah, a 97 Legacy GT is going to be the EJ25D/Phase 1 EJ25 which means internal head gasket leaks.
You can bolt-in swap the whole engine out for a Phase 1 EJ22 and use the same engine management, sensors, intake manifold, etc. You could also plunk in MLS turbo head gaskets by playing part number trickery.
In my experience a lot of the lower-dollar Phase 1 cars have been overheated repeatedly by the previous owner and it was only then, after the engine is aluminum scrap, that they decided they would like to sell it. Often it doesn't even start with head gaskets but from something like a pinhole leak in the radiator endtanks, which quickly becomes a head gasket issue after one or two overheats. It's a shame because I feel the 2nd gen Legacies/Outbacks are some of the best cars Subaru ever made.
That said, an EJ22 model of the same car would be rock solid. Those motors are anvils.
I've got a rust free two owner 02 legacy 2.5 gt automatic wagon outside of Charlotte nc. 3500.
Just saying.
^whats the mileage? Shoot me a pm...
Or a text. 678-431-4212
Oh right, that year is the NA 2.5. Still has head gasket issues and yeah you still need to pull the motor to do anything to it.
The SOHC/Phase 2 EJ25 has an external head gasket leak, so you can keep it going indefinitely as long as you can keep oil and coolant in it. It is much less likely to overheat or milkshake up like the DOHC.
It also fixes a few other problems with the early motor (such as the oil separator plate cracking) and the timing belt is a little easier to do.
An '02 GT wagon is a pretty nice ride. You will notice the increased bulk over the second gen, and some things in the rear suspension are more complicated, but it's a good car.
