I don't know the full history of the car. The lady bought this 2000 Oubtack about a year ago at 272k. Still pretty impressive for one of Subaru's less reliable platforms.

 

The 251 is a great engine. Don't know where you got that it's unreliable.... I recently rebuilt a 251 for a member here that lost a rod bearing at 472k. That's not unreliable. The 251 and newer have 52mm rod journals unlike the 25D's 48mm journals which were it's bottom end weakness.

 

GD

Can they really reach 120mph?

No Doubt it probably could. I just finished an EJ swap in my EA Wagon and it will easily BURY the needle on the 85 mph clock with plenty of room left on the tach. I won't be making a habit of it though, just wanted to see what was up there:D

Can they really reach 120mph?

 

I had a 1995 Legacy with a 2.2l/5MT to 120. It had well over 200,000 miles on it.

 

It didn't get there quickly...but it got to 120.

The 251 is a great engine. Don't know where you got that it's unreliable.... I recently rebuilt a 251 for a member here that lost a rod bearing at 472k. That's not unreliable. The 251 and newer have 52mm rod journals unlike the 25D's 48mm journals which were it's bottom end weakness.

 

GD

 

Didn't say unreliable, just less reliable. I have a lot of faith in it, (taken it on several cross country trips.) but I have more faith in the Ej18 and my Phase 1 EJ22s.

 

Got a good look at the motor while doing a trans swap a few months ago. A little seepage from the separator plate and drivers side head, but for 300k the car is doing fantastic.

When I had a 300+k 2.2 in my 98 I had it well PAST the 120mph mark on the speedometer. Of course, on a closed track in Mexico. It'll take a while to get there.

I think the GenII 2.5's are a better motor than the Gen I 2.5's. My 2cents.

There's a reason that VWs, luxury cars, and especially Subarus get notoriety for being "unreliable"

 

They're cars that are primarily owned by drivers; not mechanics. People don't tend to pay any attention to a car until an idiot light comes up, it smokes, or doesn't run. So when you have a car that has some quirks that can lead to failure, most people don't notice until that failure happens. Whereas most of us would pull over and shut the car off at first sign of a temperature rise, they'll drive until the car shuts off from melting parts.

 

Just my $.02. I have remnants of two phase I 2.5s that were ran dry on oil, and I just bought a legacy that disintegrated a timing idler and collided valves and pistons.