mtsmiths

If it were me, I would negotiate heavy and buy it. Once it's fixed, you'll probably have zero problems. IF you manage the cooling system (search). There is evidence that head gasket failure is the result of improper coolant refilling, in many, if not most cases. Plus ... you might get lucky! There have been some folks that have bought Subarus with 'head gasket issues' that only needed to be correctly burped (search again). The engine may actually be fine, just airlocked. For those that don't know Subarus (including most mechanics) many airlocked engines are mis-diagnosed as needing a head gasket. The estimate to do the HG and front case work seems a bit optimistic tho' ... budget $2K to be safe.

I guess I didn't make my intent clear. I meant BUY the extended warranty policy outright, don't pay for an insurance policy with borrowed money. If I 'could' buy a new car outright, I'd still buy used. I let someone else take the 'over the curb' depreciation hit for the pleasure of that new car smell.

Dual range means that there is a transmission 'add-on' with a set of low and high gears. Usual driving is in high range. When you need lots of torque and low speed, you choose the low range. Very handy for off-road, towing up hills, stump pulling, etc. Most desirable, and most unavailable to us poor 'consumers' in the US. ($&^$@%$**) SOA anyhow!

Doin' the daily grind ... too old to work, too poor to retire.

Before I spent any more money on the transmission, I would check the linkage.

Well, I don't know the exact configuration of the Brat. But it sounds like a classic case of a broken transmission or motor mount.

1. I doubt you will ever need an extended warranty on a 2005 Subaru. 2. If you feel you must, by all means do as suggensted, and buy it from your regular insurance underwriter, NOT from the dealer ... period. 3. BUY it, don't finance it.

Sounds like lawyer talk to me. We've been powering a CD player with our cigarette lighter for years, and l-o-o-n-g trips. I'd jus' plug the damnthing in and fuggidaboudit.

In the US it's a state-by-state issue. F'rinstance, used to be legal in Hawaii, aren't any more. Are still legal in Montana ('corse, almost EVERTHING is legal in Montana). I have no idea 'bout legality in OZ.

The way I heard it was: At the time of the importation of the Brat into the US there was a tariff on trucks, but not on small cars. So, the Subaru folks put the seats and belts in the back so it could haul passengers, making it NOT a truck, so they didn't have to pay import duties.

Well, maybe in the New Gen forum, or else somewhere in space! I Wonder what the power to weight ratio is on that thing.

EACH!

Mus be sumpin in the beer down there. If the bloody thing had wings it would fly.

Dealer = $70.00 US!

I'd recommend an '85 to '88 (i 'think' that's the last year ... could be later) GL 5spd D/R. The granny gear will climb a wall, but in 2WD and fifth you can cruise the interstate at 75 and be under 3K rpm. We now have later Subaru's ('95 and '00 Legacies). They are much more sophisticated and comfortable highway cars, but our '87s would go anywhere we wanted to, bone stock. The later body style has more room, and lend themselves to modification. We drove ours all over FS roads, abandoned railroad beds, forest tracks, streambeds, you name it. We hauled rock, gravel, firewood, building materials, bikes, canoes, airplane parts, dragged trailers ... my wife called hers the 'Jap tractor'. My only recommendation is to get one with fuel injection, our only problems invariably were related to carbs. Talk to mudrat (john).

What a can-o-worms. Sell the damnthing and buy a manual now. Cheaper in the long run, and why continue to drive a car you dislike. Delete aggravation in all forms.

Sounds like it might be a bad ground.

DId it stop if you rolled the window down? There have been posts re: front windows not properly sealing. I believe there's a fix, but since our '00 hasn't exhibited this anomoly I didn't pay much attention. 'Normal' I don't think so. Is this the same dealer? Are you sure you want to buy a car fromn this guy? He's either clueless or a crook. There's a lot of Subarus in the sea.

That's it in a nutshell. Great out west, not much good in Maryland, 'cept maybe on the interstates in the middle of the night. Don't use it in traffic or on wet and snowy roads.

Awwwww, that is *so* special. Nah, really nice pics, it's really hard to get good rainbow photographs. Or, for me good Subaru photographs!

Just helping the new kid out. Don't want him to get lost on his first day at school. I wanna find out where he lives.

Well, we're at 160,000+ miles on our '00 Legacy AT wagon and we've had zero mechanical issues. Wait we did have to redo a front wheel bearing after one of us did a curb kiss.

If were me shopping I would bump up to the $10K range and get a '00-01 Outback. The later models avoid possible headgasket issues, and the drivability and creature comforts are a lot better. Oh wait, that's what I *DID* do!

SO, oystein, where in NW Montana are you. I'm in Whitefish. 'Cept for Olney, Trego and Eureka, it's about as NW as it gets up hereabouts.

I know nothing about your exhaust system (although I own the same car). But I'll tell you one thing about your dealer ... RUN! You can most certainly do this (whatever it is aftermarket). Do you live in an inspection state? DUH, never mind the last ... I just looked.