Need some help from you guys: Won a car on ebay: 1997 Outback Limited with 132,000 miles. Call to finalize deal and got this: "Hey, guess what we just found? The car needs new head gaskets!" Shocking eh? But he offered to charge me only $3600 for the car, and ship for free.

 

Is it worth it? Gasket job will probably cost $1400-1500, so car up and running for $5100.

 

Should I cut and run or go for it? Any thoughts?

thanks,

Brian

Don't buy a car you haven't even seen in the metal.

 

 

I would never buy a car that I hadn't seen up on a lift. Let alone never seen at all!

Need some help from you guys: Won a car on ebay: 1997 Outback Limited with 132,000 miles. Call to finalize deal and got this: "Hey, guess what we just found? The car needs new head gaskets!" Shocking eh? But he offered to charge me only $3600 for the car, and ship for free.

 

Is it worth it? Gasket job will probably cost $1400-1500, so car up and running for $5100.

 

Should I cut and run or go for it? Any thoughts?

thanks,

Brian

How is the seller's ebay rating?

Car fax on the car?

Can you find others for the $5100 range in your area?

If I were buying it, I wouldn't be buying it. With my '99 OBW, I got a head gasket replacement, which aparently did not fix the problem, the engine seized and I got to buy a new engine. I don't recall off the top of my head whether the 99 and 97 have the same engine, but I believe they do.

 

As always, YMMV.

 

Cheers,

Charles

"Never buy a pig in a poke". If you've not seen the car and inspected it, or had a reputable mechanic inspect it and get his verdict back to you, regardless of what the seller says, don't buy it. The seller has given you the perfect out.

Wait till you find one that you can inspect and test drive. It pays to be patient...

Forget it! I got my 00 legacy with no problems and 95k miles for 6700 this July. You can find a much better deal.

Thanks everyone. I guess I'm also sick of looking for a decent subaru I can afford. I have found that prices in the Northwest here are twice as high as the south and even the Northeast. Maybe I'll have to wait to find myself behind the wheel of a Subie. Ah,patience.