96 Outback buying ?

[rweddy]

Ok In my eternal quest for a new subie I have found a 96 outback for sale. It has 55k original miles.

 

I am pretty sure it has the 2.2. Is this correct?

 

What kind of mpg will a 2.2 outback get? My friend has a 98 2.5 and only gets like 25mpg and had had head gasket issues.

 

Is this a good combo ? 2.2 outback?

 

Thanks

[CardinaA]

I would go for it, as long as the price is fair. I have a '96 2.2 outback and I get about 22 mpg combined. The car has plenty of power for most situations, and the engine is superior to the 2.5, esp. of '96. The only problem I have encountered during my 3 year ownership was a bad viscous coupler in the AWD. Other than that, the car has been great and now has 140k. This car is a needle in the haystack of outbacks, so i'd go for it. who cares if the car is a little slower than a 2.5 but doesn't blow heads and trash motors?!? Also, i believe the 2.2 was used only in the '96 stick outbacks though there are some on this board that disagree.

[hawksoob]

Snag it. I got my '96 (2.2) 2 and a half years ago for $5500 with 126K. Have put 30K on it since. Previous owner apparently neglected it, maintenance wise. It ran like a slug then. Now it has great pickup, cruises quite comfortably at 85mph, gets about 26mpg on average. (New: fuel filter, knock sensor, oxygen sensor, PCV valve, etc...)

 

The only problem (well, one of my only problems....see below) I have with it is the typical oil pump/crank/cam seal leak. But, it's not a tremendous amount of oil, just annoying with the smoke and the smell and the ick.

 

My understanding is the 2.2 is fairly bulletproof. Also, the fact that it's a noninterference engine is a plus.

 

CardinaA - have any details re: the bad VC? I'm curious because I recenetly noticed a binding in the wheels when I make a slow (parking lot speed) tight turn ONLY after long trips. No problems in day-to-day driving. Only after going nonstop for 100-200 miles. Thought someting in the VC mechanism.