I'm looking at a 2003 legacy with a 2.5. The guy just did head gaskets and used multi layer felpro. I have only dealt with mid 90s Subaru's and everyone says stay away from felpro. Is something different with newer models?

Felpro makes the Subaru OE gasket for the mid 90's 2.2. 

 

They've updated their 2.5 gasket design to match OE specs, but I'm not sure if they manufacture the 2.5 gaskets for Subaru. The Felpro gasket should be fine. The bigger question is, how well were the heads and block prepped. Doesn't matter what gasket you use if the surfaces were poorly cleaned or if the head is warped, it gonna fail.

 

updated their 2.5 gasket design to match OE specs

They had better exceed the OE specs!  The OE replacement gaskets is just the same old 633 HG that would be likely to fail. 

I have seem multiple failures with Fel Pro head gaskets in the 2.5s. I would steer clear of them as they will eventually breech the coolant passage into a cylinder, causing the coolant to be pushed out, cylinder misfire and overheating.

The bigger question is, how well were the heads and block prepped. Doesn't matter what gasket you use if the surfaces were poorly cleaned or if the head is warped, it gonna fail.

 

Or if the engine was previously overheated and how badly?  

 

Those are the larger considerations.

 

 

I think Dan has used hundreds if not thousands of Fel Pro gaskets as a full time mechanic...don't quote me on that but he is crawlerdan on here - or it was someone else here that uses them routinely in his shop without issue. 

 

If they fail more and there are two views then maybe - is that because they're being installed by people less familiar with subarus, more concerned with cost - unlikely to do the job as well (resurface, block prep, etc).  Is the gasket actually inferior or are "whatever is available at the local shop"  more likeyl to be used by "lesser" mechanics and hacks than a Subaru gasket?