ERICH

We owned a 1993 Legacy a few years ago and liked it. We saw a few newer ones yesterday in our area ( a 98 Outback and a 99 Forester), the prices were reasonable for the mileage. We came home and I started doing some research online and found scarry stories out the head gaskets and wheel bearings. Are the 2.5ltr in the Forestor as bad as the OTB? Once the original H gasket is replaced do you still have to worry, is the design flaw in the original gasket or the engine? How will I be able to tell if the original gasket has been changed, I have done lots of auto work but not much on subbies, is there a way to visually tell if it has been changed? Should I just get one with a 2.2 ltr engine, I up til now did all of our auto work, I have a small business that is just getting off the ground so I don't have time for a head gasket job and don't really want to afford one in the near future. Does the Outback still come in a 2.2 ltr or would I have to get plain Legacy to get the smaller engine? Please advise, what to look out for, or what to avoid. Thanks ERICH