damien

Speaking of autoX, how'd you get into that? It's somthing that I've always wanted to do. Did you just join a club or something? I just broke my back and will have to put off buying a car and can't be behind the wheel for now anyways, but I'd like to get into to it.

Sorry...didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. "it is definitely sucking" is a quote from the funny VW clip that the guy posted above. I agree. More power to him. As I said before...It'd be fun to drive in autoX

yah...it is definitely sucking autoX looks fun tho

I heard the easiest way to do this swap was to open up the hood of the RS, take the oil cap off, replace the RS with an STi, put the oil cap back on and close the hood. Sorry, I know I'm worthless.

wow...nevermind.

Thanks again for the responses guys (and gals if there are any). My next questions are these: What is the lifetime of replaced headgaskets? (I'm also considering a 98 outback wagon with 150k miles and replaced headgaskets with 20k miles on them) Are there any other engine problems that I need to worry about aside from the headgaskets? Even with replaced headgaskets I feel like a car with 150k miles on it can't have that many more miles left in it. Also, what do you guys think of a clean, well maintained 150k mile 98 outback with replaced HGs and a replaced transmission for 5300? I feel a bit uneasy about paying 5300 dollars for a car with so many miles. What do you think?

Thanks for the responses guys! Much appreciated!

Below is some of the advice that I've been given about purchasing a 135k mile 1998 Legacy GT with 47k miles on a replacement engine. It's a pretty discouraging evaluation. What do you people think? The advice: "Severe head gasket problems are ’96-’99.5. This is why he has a new engine. Technically called a Phase I 2.5 DOHC, this is by far the very worst engine that Subaru has ever built. These engines destroy themselves when the head gasket leaks. 47k on a replacement engine, means you have ~40k to go until you will have to replace the engine again. If you’re lucky. Because everyone who owns these ’96-’99.5 Subaru’s will need a used engine before 100k, the demand for good low mileage engines is through the roof, which makes them very expensive ($2500+). If you are getting a Subaru it needs to be a ’00 or above (Phase II 2.5 SOHC). Some ’99’s had the new engine, but you will have to confirm it on a case by case basis. Ironically you can buy these late model engines with very low (10k) mileage for ~$1500 because they don’t break, so no one wants them."

really fun: BMW M3, Porsche Carrera 4 pretty fun: STi, VW R32, BMW 328, Audi S4 fun: VW VR6/1.8t, VTECs economical, sorta fun and practical: newer AWD soobs, turbodiesel VWs not fun but economical and practical: plain japanese cars especially toyotas and hondas fun but not very economical and sometimes practical: VWs and Audi Quattros (especially turboquattros) These are just the cars I've driven and had experience with.

I'm looking for a set of clear/red tailights to replace the stock ones on a 98 legacy gt. I've seen pics of a car with clear where the amber is on the stock taillight. Like the ones on this car on this russian website I found on google: http://www.autominsk.by/?action=view&ID=4906 thanks

I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I grew up driving in the snow and I've never experienced any damage resulting from snow/ice build up like that. I can understand that the sound is disheartening, but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

I was wondering if any of you had any suggestions for a bay area soob mechanic. I live in the city, so I'd like to find one here if possible. Also, I'm looking for a car right now, so any suggestions for a shop in north/east/south bay would be helpful too...especially east bay at this point since I'm looking at a car there. Thanks

Hi guys. I'm new to subarus...never owned one before and I'm looking at buying a '98 legacy GT. I've been told by the owner of a car I'm looking at that I will probably need to replace the front axles. yikes! I want to know if I should run in fear or whether this will just be a 500-600 dollar repair. I'd appreciate the answer to that question and I'd also like any other recommendations you all might have. thanks