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I want to thank everyone who has replied to me so far. I've calmed down some about the HG issue. I see that I need to do a lot more research; I don't think a Subaru-familiar mechanic will be easy to find around here (other than at a dealership) but I'm going to try. There's finally starting to be several Subs seen on the road around here, but they all look new/newish. There's this one guy who has an older Forester; next time I see him I'm going to ask him who does his work.

don't go just by what you see online.. actively look around - we found my 2002 Forester locally (other half saw it while he was working) and we got it for $1400 cash. Being in Northern Wisconsin this car is in very good shape for its age. The picture was taken shortly after I got it 2 years ago

Only in the N.W. Tex, Montana , Idaho , Washington . We travel down to Arizona when we can for the gem sales in the spring.

Hi Zett; With 3-4 thousand to spend at the end of the summer you should be able to find a REBORN outback (00-04 )with new head gaskets,seals ,timing components, and an all over check up on brakes, suspension. I sell them in that condition all the time , prices run 2800-4500 on most of them. Only as a last resort should you talk to a dealership. Do not buy a car from them.The mechanics in back might be who to talk to not a salesman. They may know of a subaru shop OR one of them might run a sideline mechanic business. I see Huntington is not to far away and Charleston is sort of nearby. Watch Craigs list. I advertise all my reborn Subi's on C.R. Some one there may be doing the same thing as me. Do not bat an eye at 200,000 miles on the odometer. Most of the ones I sell are over 200,000 . My personal vehicle is a 2000 5 speed it currently has 298,000 miles , the wife's is a 2001 with 254,000 miles , both run strong and are completely reliable. Included a photo of a 2003 obw with 225,000 on the odometer. New h.g. timing components ,seals , front and rear brakes, new axle ,new rear wheel bearing , and more . Its selling this Thursday for $4500. I've got a 2000 limited here with 216,000 for $ 3700. These cars are out there, however I do not know about rust issues in your neck of the woods. Here in the NW we have little to no rust out issues. Beware a badly rusted car!

maybe a hair dryer NOT a heatgun, might help soften the plastic of the wire. I doubt the copper has work hardened

I have a 2002 Forester with the 2.5 that has just over 240,500 miles on it now.. it did have the headgaskets done long before I got it (were done around 180K according to the carfax report) I bought it at 206K. Car runs great. With good care and maintenance they can go a long time, making them quite economical vehicles.

Well, not sure on a new one but our 2001 routinely gets loaded full of rocks ,seats down. Then we hook a 4 x 6 covered trailer also stuffed full of chairs and show tents and much more rock products. We then tow it literally 100's of miles one way to a show at 70 mph. Follows us home like a puppy.

Pick up another MAF if you can, preferably a known good one(borrow a friends) or wrecking yard, do not buy a china knockoff. MAF are famous for slowly going bad in that year group. Seems a solder joint inside makes intermittent contact. They don't always throw a code .

This 100%. My 2005 outback has 120k miles on the clock. Purchased with 97k miles 3 years ago it has been reliable and trouble free aside from general maintenance. The head gaskets are seeping ever so slightly but no oil ever makes it to the ground and it doesn't burn a drop (that I can notice) My 2005 legacy has 170k on the clock. Purchased a few weeks ago and the underside of the engine looks the same as my outback hahaha. I haven't had it long enough to monitor the leak yet but it seems to be doing ok as well. I may do the head gaskets on one and not the other and just see how long it goes with constant monitoring but monitoring seems to be the key. As long as the engine has the oil it needs to lubricate itself it will just keep going (along with fuel compression and spark)...

I usually pay about $75 for used prop-shafts. Call around. Just get a new Duty-C and the gaskets - it's not expensive. You have a running/driving car - do you really suppose that you can replace it with another running/driving car that doesn't have unknown and possibly debilitating problems for $250? 230k really isn't that high if it's been maintained. One of my loaner cars has 320k and customers routinely comment on how they are surprised that everything works, how much power it has, and how tight the car is. It's a one-owner 1990 Legacy 5MT. I have people offering to buy it all the time. High mileage is usually an indication of excellent maintenance. I've seen plenty of low mileage cars that were mechanically thrashed. I would rather buy something with 300k and a huge stack of records than one with 150k and no maintenance. GD

Any Subaru shop will be able to do a 2.2 swap - provided they can find an engine. Another alternative is to swap the pistons in the 25D to the 251 piston and then use the 255/257 head gasket. Cost is about $3500 for piston swap, skirt knurling, HG's, complete timing, all gaskets and seals, etc. 2.2 swap can come in around $2000 or so if you can find one. It's not my preferred way to fix those cars though. The 251 bottom end or pistons will mate up with the 25D heads nicely and resolves the HG issue. GD

Hi Zett; Are you looking at the first generation outbacks (96-99) or second generation (00-04) The first generation 97-99 2.5 double cam motor can have serious HG issues, requiring instant attention / repair. The second generation is MUCH more forgiving about head gaskets. 2000 and up subi's will need their head gaskets changed at some point after 150,000 miles or so. However they just drip... oil and antifreeze ... directly on your catalytic so you'll smell it BUT, they are slow drips easily monitored and easy to keep topped up, literally for years if you don't mind the smell. It gives you time to save up for the job. Look around your area for a yard filled with Subaru's ,They will be Subaru people... stop in and ask where they have their work done. You may have to travel some but I'm sure there will be a Subaru specialty repair shop. After all W.V. has mountains and snow thats where Subi's Shine!

There are used Subarus that are as reliable as other used cars - ANY used car can have major problems. Maybe if you mention your budget, and ask about a Subaru-friendly repair shop near West Hamlin , in a new thread, someone could point you to a good mechanic. Then, go have a coupla conversations; 1. How much and what is the procedure for a pre-purchase inspection if I find an OB for sale? and 2. Do you have any customers that might be looking to sell their OB soon? The older a car is, the less important that brand's reputation is, and the more important the car's prior care and present condition become.

+1 to what DaveT said. Sounds like a collapsed baffle in the muffler or cat. That'll give you a rattle and/or flapping sound and kill top end power. Try getting someone to hold a steady 2000 rpm in the driveway while you stand at the back of the car. Then shut the motor down quick. Alot of times you'll hear a hissing sound as exhaust still escapes past an exhaust blockage. Cheers Knucklehead.

sounds like possibly blocked exhaust to me. Loosen the nuts on the header studs, drop the flanges a half inch. take a short drive - it will be loud, but if the power is back, you found the problem.