considering buying a 97 OBS -- input...

[bagelche]

Hi all,

I'm still in the wading pool regarding car knowledge, but I wanted to check in w/ you all.

 

I'm look to buy a car--in this case a '97 OBS w/ 157k miles. It seems in fine shape--cosmetic wear on floor mats and interior wood trim, center console latch broken, but otherwise fine inside and out--not really any dings to speak of. engine starts right up and sounds nice, but I haven't had a chance to drive it yet. leather seats are in good shape, though I understand the heater on the driver's seat doesn't work. new tires, new timing belt. He did say that when he drove it yesterday the check engine light came on, but the reason wasn't readily apparent.

 

Asking $4,000.

 

The seller's an upstanding sort of guy--mechanic who sells cars on side--so I don't think he's trying to rip me off. I actually bought my last car from him (a '93 Legacy sedan which is holding up well (been 4 years with only minor work), but on that one he stood pretty firm on his price--right about book value it seemed.

 

any input would be helpful. Do I jump for this or hold off? Basically we're a one-car family and we really need two--I need to get a car within the next month or so and even at $4000, I'm borrowing a couple of k.

 

thanks much,

bagelche

[karnofsky]

Hey, if this link works, (I'm new here still figuring things out), you might want to look it over and go to his guest book of folks that have suffered head gasket failures with late 90's 2.5L Subarus. We just junked my wife's 97 OBW prematurely, I wish I'd discoverd this earlier. Whatever you do, don't buy the car until the check engine light is off and stays off. I've spent my life buying $4,000 Subarus and in general they've been great but that engine is trouble. Good luck.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze730qe/