SnatchedHatch Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) This is it, kbb "good" value is $2400. http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4679584947.html The DS head seemed a bit dirtier than the PS, couldn't see a leak but I assume it was from a coolant leak. Underneath is pretty clean. saw a bit of liquid in small spots. Oil looked good, not new, and not black. The rear diff had a splotch of oil covering part/half of it (looking at it from the rear). (Leak? Overflow from vent?) CV shafts looked fine in the back, the front looked fine but I may have seen a sheen on the boots. Could have just been the light, the rubber looked as good as in the rear. Brakes could use a flush, and maybe new rear pads as the rear rotors were not completely clear. Car brakes softer than I'd prefer. Rear shocks are a tad soft, front are good. One of the rear extended more than the other, and both showed a small leak. Seller had a full size jack in the trunk, put it to good use All bearings good, one of the front had a few millimeters of travel, minute amount but noticed. Shifts well for an auto of that age Subie, pretty much without hiccup. Rides well, given its a wagon, and give the softer rear shocks, it is slightly boaty on sharp maneuvers. I floated $2,200, he was receptive. All-season tires all around at 70-75% thread. I'm not entirely sure what I'm getting into, 154k is high mileage territory. Is this a good price, should I go $2100? I imagine if I keep the battery clean at all times, and flush the coolant on an accelerated schedule, along with 3-4k oil changes, I can prevent the HG from getting worse. Not to mention, I have some coolant-additive Head-gasket sealant at home, I hear it works well for preventative measures. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks! CL description: "for sale my automatic 4cylinder OBS 1998 subaru impreza outbacksport color is black everything works interior everything, cold a/cheater works, power window all four works, rear wiper works, AWD worksreally good in the snow, brakes changed about a year ago, car starts andrun everyday no any issues, snow/allseason good tires bought all fourabout a year ago, aftermarket stereo installed, no leaks and it doesn'tburn oil, got my oil changed in time with maintenance and stuff, smokedfront and rear turn signals smoke tail lights, got 6k HID kit on thecar, got/clean title on hand. call or text for more information" Edited September 27, 2014 by SnatchedHatch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 I think I'm going to go through with $2,200, if I don't nab a different car before, I can still make use of my post by asking, when do you think I need to worry about the issues described: possible head and diff leak ever so slight front bearing sideways movement slight leak on shocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Fairly sure this has the 2.2 engine so no head gaskets problems. First thing you need to do is to replace the timing belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 A gas service station down town has a '98 Outback wagon with standard tranny, 75K or so on new engine for $2800. Probably fair, it had been regularly serviced. But they may take less. I would never get set on any car, have it thoroughly checked out, sounds like you are in the process of doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 personally - I dont consider 154K to be "high mileage" on a Subaru. Every one of mine had around that, or more, when I bought them. With good care and maintenance you can easily double that. If that is an EJ22 (check the casting on the block) then it is definitely worth the $2200 - car looks to be in fairly good condition for its age and location (altho I find it interesting there are no pics of the drivers side of the car?) Struts should be a pretty straight forward job - probably around $75-85 each. you may want to consider new springs for the rear as well if the current struts have been worn out for a while... Wheel bearing - it could last a while yet, it could give out next week - being on the front, it should probably be changed sooner rather than later. and I agree with john in KY - unless they can provide documentation on when the timing belt was last done (and exactly what was done - idler pulleys, water pump, etc), that would be my number 1 priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmdew Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 OBS, I have the same car and LOVE it. Mine has 320K on it. 2.2 motor is rock solid. Good Price! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesFox Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I wouldn't worry about HG leaks as this common knowledge doesn't apply to 2.2 with composite head gaskets. And not to worry about the rear diff if the fluid is not low. For the mileage, if the timing belt was done, that is good. If not, use it to drive the price down. I bought a 98 obs with 185,000 mi for $800 bucks as something to compare with, although mine was shagged. About the mileage, 154k is failrly low. If it makes you feel better, my 98 forester heas 243,000 mi, and i swapped a 2.2 in it that has even more mileage. And yes, i did head gaskets on a 255,000 mi ej22 to use in this car. Good luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Yes this does have the EJ22, I have read quite a bit on the "Subaru Headgasket" subject, and agree that the 2.2 was better off, especially 1998.5 and later. However, I read (although I could see my two sources being biased) that the newer engines didn't so much mix oil and coolant, as develop external leaks of oil/coolant. I was thinking about the timing belt this morning, but regardless, how big of priority are the pulleys and pump? Other than that, thanks for the reassurance everyone. It doesn't run like it has high miles, I just get panicky with a low budget and the idea of having to pop open the engine. personally - I dont consider 154K to be "high mileage" on a Subaru. Every one of mine had around that, or more, when I bought them. With good care and maintenance you can easily double that. If that is an EJ22 (check the casting on the block) then it is definitely worth the $2200 - car looks to be in fairly good condition for its age and location (altho I find it interesting there are no pics of the drivers side of the car?) Struts should be a pretty straight forward job - probably around $75-85 each. you may want to consider new springs for the rear as well if the current struts have been worn out for a while... Wheel bearing - it could last a while yet, it could give out next week - being on the front, it should probably be changed sooner rather than later. and I agree with john in KY - unless they can provide documentation on when the timing belt was last done (and exactly what was done - idler pulleys, water pump, etc), that would be my number 1 priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Very observant as to noticing the lack of DS pictures, I noticed you haven't visited his ad He's got about 20 pictures posted, the DS did have one tangerine sized spot of rust on the rear edge of the RR wheel well. If I jump on this, I'm considering grinding it away and sealing it properly? Better a hole than a fender I think personally - I dont consider 154K to be "high mileage" on a Subaru. Every one of mine had around that, or more, when I bought them. With good care and maintenance you can easily double that. If that is an EJ22 (check the casting on the block) then it is definitely worth the $2200 - car looks to be in fairly good condition for its age and location (altho I find it interesting there are no pics of the drivers side of the car?) Struts should be a pretty straight forward job - probably around $75-85 each. you may want to consider new springs for the rear as well if the current struts have been worn out for a while... Wheel bearing - it could last a while yet, it could give out next week - being on the front, it should probably be changed sooner rather than later. and I agree with john in KY - unless they can provide documentation on when the timing belt was last done (and exactly what was done - idler pulleys, water pump, etc), that would be my number 1 priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 I did read, while hunting for a diff leak thread, that it could be oil splashing out. They rec'd checking the Diff oil level as well, not at all familiar with doing this! haha is there an hourglass port, or a plug, or a.. ehmm no dip stick I take it? I wouldn't worry about HG leaks as this common knowledge doesn't apply to 2.2 with composite head gaskets. And not to worry about the rear diff if the fluid is not low. For the mileage, if the timing belt was done, that is good. If not, use it to drive the price down. I bought a 98 obs with 185,000 mi for $800 bucks as something to compare with, although mine was shagged. About the mileage, 154k is failrly low. If it makes you feel better, my 98 forester heas 243,000 mi, and i swapped a 2.2 in it that has even more mileage. And yes, i did head gaskets on a 255,000 mi ej22 to use in this car. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo F Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 I'd buy it for that price. I test drove one exactly like it last year (only 93K miles) and it had issues with the lights, ABS light on, and torque bind and the used car place wanted $3,900. As soon as I felt the torque bind I walked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 --SOLD-- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartless Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) no, i didnt actually go to the ad posting... I was going by what you shared, which was a fair amount. Rear diff does not have a dipstick, sorry... there are two plugs on the back side, one for draining (lower one) and one for filling (upper one) to check fluid level, pull the upper plug and stick your finger in - fluid should be just about even with the bottom of the plug hole. Edited September 29, 2014 by heartless 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belacane Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 SnatchedHatch... did you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnatchedHatch Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 (edited) Belacane assimilated EDIT: I got that SOB/OBS, best decision I've made this year SnatchedHatch... did you get it? Edited September 29, 2014 by SnatchedHatch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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