A Tale of Two Outbacks

[chilly b]

Contemplating two different used Legacy Outbacks and would love your opinions, based on preliminary information:

 

ASSUMING EVERYTHING ELSE IS EQUAL (big assumption, I know, but go with me), which of the two would you say is the better "deal":

 

1. 1997 Legacy Outback. 128K miles; cloth seats; automatic transmission; head gaskets replaced a year ago (which should mean this won't be a problem again?); general maintenance done on schedule; 120K maintenance needs to be done and scheduled timing belt replacement still needs to be done. Asking price: $5500

 

2. 1997 Legacy Outback. 168K miles; leather seats; automatic transmission (replaced last year); general maintenance done on schedule. Asking price: $5500

 

So, I suppose my question is, given that the asking prices are the same, what's of greater value: the fact that the head gaskets have already been replaced on one or that the transmission's already been replaced on the other (and it has leather seats)?

 

I realize there's a LOT more that will need to go into the comparison but what are thoughts/opinions based on the info presented so far?

 

Thanks!

[gbhrps]

chilly b,

 

Always the practical one, so daddy told me, I'd go for the one with 40 000 less miles. That's 2 full years of driving that the other one's already had, considering that all things are equal.

[Commuter]

I own a 97 OB.

 

HG done over 3 years ago. Still holding.

 

280k miles now and the transmission shifts the same as ever. I've heard of very few transmission problems with this generation, but lots of HG problems. And was that a new, refurbed, used, or what transmission?

 

I'd go for the first one. I'm not crazy about leather seats. Doesn't really add (or subtract) value to me personally.

 

Is the second car a Limited? If so, it will have a few more features.

 

Commuter