ghageysh Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I just bought a 1996 Subaru Legacy Outback and I wonder if I've lost my mind because it's almost 20 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Nope! Nice car. Welcome to the USMB, your "home away from home!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 You bought probably the best example of a subaru in terms of overall refinement with simplicity. The outback for 96 has the nefarious ej25d, but the 96 should have a composit head gasket instead of the metal layer gaskets that are prone to head gasket issues. Should you have engine trouble (interference timing belt) you can easily swap in a 2.2 from a regular legacy 95-97, and have the option to build 2.2 heads on the 2.5 block for performance gains. The car is not any less reliable than a newer model given the maintenance is kept up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghageysh Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 You bought probably the best example of a subaru in terms of overall refinement with simplicity. The outback for 96 has the nefarious ej25d, but the 96 should have a composit head gasket instead of the metal layer gaskets that are prone to head gasket issues. Should you have engine trouble (interference timing belt) you can easily swap in a 2.2 from a regular legacy 95-97, and have the option to build 2.2 heads on the 2.5 block for performance gains. The car is not any less reliable than a newer model given the maintenance is kept up. It was an awesome drive I've wanted one since college, but they are in high demand here - snowy winters, FINALLY I got one. Very excited. Little electrical problem discovered at the grocery store, will get onto fixing it ASAP. Fortunately I have another vehicle I can drive in the meantime. She is very pretty, no? You can't see it in the photos but there is a bit of rust right above where the metal body meets the plastic bumper. Not any more than my '05 Taurus. These are really good cars aren't they? I was torn between a Subaru Outback and a Jeep Cherokee. Well, we have a Jeep Cherokee and I honestly am not crazy about the stiff suspension, so I started looking for Outbacks. People think I'm nuts for buying an 18 year old car, but what can I say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghageysh Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 Nope! Nice car. Welcome to the USMB, your "home away from home!" Thanks! I will prove to be a pest that's for certain. Completely 100% new to Subarus, but I really do love this car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Welcome to your new obsession! LOL rust in the spot you describe is pretty typical on these cars. if it isnt too bad it can be fixed up fairly easy and look good for a few years to come. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghageysh Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Now I'm just worried about getting the timing belt and all that goes with it replaced. I don't think I can do it myself and from what I'm calculating it'd be somewhere around what I paid for the car to get it done at the dealership. I know I need to, asap since i have no idea when it was done last. My problem is that I love to take things apart. It's the putting back together that gets me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghageysh Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Nope! Nice car. Welcome to the USMB, your "home away from home!" LOL thanks, at some point I'll calm down. Right now I'm compiling lists of things I have to do - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sario Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Now I'm just worried about getting the timing belt and all that goes with it replaced. I don't think I can do it myself and from what I'm calculating it'd be somewhere around what I paid for the car to get it done at the dealership. I know I need to, asap since i have no idea when it was done last. My problem is that I love to take things apart. It's the putting back together that gets me. Where do you live? Someone might be able to suggest a good mechanic your area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghageysh Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 Where do you live? Someone might be able to suggest a good mechanic your area. somewhere around South Bend, In. There's a dealership, a few Import Specialists. Every Mechanic around here list Subaru as a car they work on. Which is fine, but 'work on' and 'really know their stuff' are two different things. I do have a coupon for basic maint (oil change, etc) that includes a multipoint inspection for $54 at the dealership. Thinking I could take advantage of that and then get an even longer list of things I need to do. I had a very basic check done just to make sure there were not any big obvious issues. A dealer should be able to tell me if the timing belt, pulleys, idler and water pump had been replaced recetly...maybe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shady4420 Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 good score man you'll love it! I just got mine running again as of Sunday and am stoked to be driving it again. and doing the timing belt isn't hard, if u can do basic maintenance than u should be able to handle that. pick up a Haynes manual for guidance, it will tell u how to line it up, route it and will even give u a tooth count to each pulley. I just did this Saturday. hope to see some mods on yours in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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