EJ20 Problems?

[Setright]

Hello All!

 

I am seriously considering getting a loan out so that I can buy a nearly three year old EJ20 5MT Legacy, 30k miles on the odo. What I want to know is, what should I look for while the car is still under factory warranty?

 

My old Legacy is nearing 200k miles and it keeps costing me...alternator...wheel bearings...CV joints.. you know the drill. I use the car for work and I rack up between 25 and 30k miles a year.

 

Once the "new" car is out of warranty I will perform all the maintencance myself, at reduced intervals, so the future should be stable, but is there something I need to be extra cautious about? Like the EJ25 Head gaskets :cornfuzz:

[1 Lucky Texan]

Hey buddy, I know you read as much stuff here as I do and I always enjoy your posts - just chiming in to remind you of the whole TB tensioner vs. piston slap controversy. Seems like the consensus is the tensioner is a real problem, the piston slap isn't. May not apply to this engine. Anyone? Oh and another reminder, make sure it looks like the coolant level is normal, no bubbles in the coolant, no chocolate mousse on the oil filler or dipstick, etc.

enjoy your new ride, I know you've been considering it for some time.

[Legacy777]

Is it an ej20 n/a or turbo motor?

 

I haven't really heard too many problems about the ej20 motors. Nothing like what we have heard about the 2.5.

 

I do hear ya on the maintenance. It's one thing after another. I've got a couple more things I need to do to mine, and I think I'll see the light at the end of the tunnel.....until something else breaks or needs replacing.

[1 Lucky Texan]

Setright, might be worth doing a search over at the forums at http://www.nasioc.com

[Setright]

Thanks Texan! And right back at ya'!

 

It's a na EJ20, so at 125hp it can hardly be stressed, and proper maintencance should see it lasting a long time. I'll keep my eye on the tensioner and listen for slap on the cold start up of the test drive.

 

[outback_97]

Setright:

 

Try this page, it has links to an Autobild article regarding the quality of Subaru 2.0, 2.2 and 2.5 engines (and the cars as well). The 2.0 looks very robust and had the least number of problems.

 

http://users.sisna.com/ignatius/subaru/headgasket.html

 

There are links to the original article (German) and one translated into English via Google's translator.

 

Steve

 

EDIT: Just realized that you're talking about a car that's a bit newer than the ones in the article. Oh well, it still might be applicable.

[Flo4Legacy]

Good to hear that you made up your mind to get a newer Legacy, finally. And not another brand ...

 

From what I heard there are not very much problems with the 2.0 na engine. I am tending to say that it's better than the 2.5 (even sohc). The only thing what I don't really like about this combination is, that the engine is a little bit weak. In an Impreza, this engine behaves really different! It is not slow at all, but also not sporty.

 

I am really surprised about the new 2.0 with 138 hp. Last week I had the chance to drive it for 3 days. It is a big difference to the 125 hp version. It is more quiet, you can "feel" the power increase, and it's getting a better mileage - about 1,5 liter less for 100 km.

 

How much do you have to pay for it? 3years old sounds for about 35% value loss, or?

 

Maybe can wait some month more and get the new model for 20 % less???

 

I am also having a dilemma at the moment. I can't decide what way to go: A new Legacy with 2.0 eninge and not so much options, or the 3.0R with everything but also a defeated bank account ... The 2.5 would be the way to go, but I don't trust the 2.5 anymore ...