Should I buy a Legacy?

EvanB said:

Unfortunately auctions aren't really the place to get deals on vehicles anymore. There are still some outliers so I keep following and attending but the number of junk cars going for thousands over what you would find them for on marketplace or craigslist is crazy. 

I know a guy with a dealer license and he's been telling me that the auction scene has been crazy since the pandemic. There's still deals out there, but nothing like the way it used to be.

Thanks for sharing the experience with us.  You are better off without the suby, sometimes sitting does worse than driving.  Old antifreeze sitting in an aluminum engine, soaking into the head gaskets does no good.  Getting the smell out of the musty interior is no fun.  New owner will regret the decision very soon.  

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like a typical rural PA estate auction. I went to a few of them with my ex- and her parents.  They can be a great way to score tools for cheap, but it's hit or miss. Her father bought a barely used Jet 14" bandsaw for $25 after nobody else bid on it, despite the fact he didn't need it. My ex- got a call that evening, "we're coming down. you're getting a new band saw..."  I spent more on the mobile base.  Her father filled a barn doing that sort of thing over 50 years.

If you want a complex AWD system, go for the turbocharged one.

Can I interest you in a $850 Mazda 323 gtx? 

Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Sounds like a typical rural PA estate auction. I went to a few of them with my ex- and her parents.  They can be a great way to score tools for cheap, but it's hit or miss. Her father bought a barely used Jet 14" bandsaw for $25 after nobody else bid on it, despite the fact he didn't need it. My ex- got a call that evening, "we're coming down. you're getting a new band saw..."  I spent more on the mobile base.  Her father filled a barn doing that sort of thing over 50 years.

I'm currently the owner of two, 30-hp Evinrudes that I bought for $12.50 each because no one bid on them.  That was another estate auction a few years ago.  I once bought a Mokai for $250, brand new in the shrink wrap, and the Honda engine was still sealed in a bag with the little jug of oil.  I sold it for $3200.

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

If you want a complex AWD system, go for the turbocharged one.

 

Can I interest you in a $850 Mazda 323 gtx? 

Let's K-swap it.

I sure hope whoever bought that Legacy understands that timing belts need to be replaced by age, not just mileage or they're in for some pain. 

My '08 Legacy is my favorite DD to date out of a string of BMWs (E28, E30, E46) and golden-era Accords. It is on the slow and somewhat thirsty side though. Supposedly the next gen up '10+ are pretty bland and softly sprung. 

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

If you want a complex AWD system, go for the turbocharged one.

 

Can I interest you in a $850 Mazda 323 gtx? 

what'll you take in trade?  

Rural auctions are weird.

I watched an one last year, someone had spent like $40k on all new/near new tool truck brand tools then just quit or something. I ended getting a set of 3/8" snap-on swivel impact sockets for around half price. A bunch of stuff was selling for silly money though. I'm talking more than MSRP...my local Snap On rep doesn't even charge MSRP.  It's all online and the listings all had the full part numbers in the description, so it takes nothing to highlight the number and hit "search in another tab" to see you can buy the exact same thing for 25% cheaper on ebay, but shipped to your door rather than making a 2hr round trip to the small town to pick it up.

I've found estate auctions to be a waste of my time. It seems most ppl are willing to pay whatever it takes to win the bid regardless of market value.

rustybugkiller said:

I've found estate auctions to be a waste of my time. It seems most ppl are willing to pay whatever it takes to win the bid regardless of market value.

Hit or miss for me in Amish country.  If I'm eyeballing a tractor at an auction and I see 1 Amish or Mennonite guy eyeballing it, I might stick around.  If I see two, fuggedaboutit.  You really learn to read the crowd.  Last night I didn't have a chance because there were 500 people there.  I've been to auctions with 25 people and you can really clean up.  I watched an 82 F150/manual/300-6 barely make $500, and it was registered and driving.  There just wasn't anyone there who wanted it.  One guy finally raised his hand when the call got down to $400.  He and one other guy got to $500 and that was it.  I think neither one wanted it, but they couldn't pass up a cheap truck that they could flip.

Interestingly, last night's auction had about 50 guns.  I watched one guy buy a ton of them and the tally in my brain put it at about $10k worth of guns.  I figured he was a broker, but dad said he was the guy who pumps out his septic tank.

Sitting at home is another auction score for me.  One brand new Ford 9" housing, modified for truck arms/NASCAR style and 8 center sections of varying ratios, and including two LSDs.  Snagged the whole lot for $25 because the predominantly farmer/Amish crowd didn't care about hot-roddy stuff.

OTOH, the 50k mile Powerstroke seemed like a very fair deal.

Wow, somebody overpaid.  Regardless of the mileage it probably needs a timing belt due to age. 

This generation was much more refined than the earlier legacys. They actually made a wagon version of the 2.5i non-outback & outback cars w/a manual transmission.  The 5MT was pretty rare even back in the 2000s, so finding one now would be very lucky.  

A 401 CJ said:

OTOH, the 50k mile Powerstroke seemed like a very fair deal.

I thought so as well.