I am looking at buying an inexpensive outback that I was told overheats during long drives, but not short drives. Without seeing the car, what are the chances of it actually being a head gasket issue? Is it worth it if I get the car under $1K or that ballpark?

I am looking at buying an inexpensive outback that I was told overheats during long drives, but not short drives. Without seeing the car, what are the chances of it actually being a head gasket issue? Is it worth it if I get the car under $1K or that ballpark?

 

 

How many miles? Auto or manual? What else to you know about the car?

what are the chances of it actually being a head gasket issue?

 

Depends on the mileage, though if it has been "cooked" once or twice the chances of needing a head gasket(s) increase. There are many things that can cause overheating, especially in a 10+ year old car.

 

Is it worth it if I get the car under $1K

 

Reality check: if the car is not driveable it is scrap. To keep said car from heading to a junkyard you are going to have to pay slightly more than a junkyard would pay for it. ONLY you can determine what the car is worth to you and using your instinct bid a price for the car you can live with. If it is your intention not to personally fix this car (pay a garage to do the work) there would be no trouble spending in the order of $2000 for fixing. How much is the car worth now?

It's on ebay and is currently under $600 with 2 hours to go. It has 161K and is an auto trans - ebay number 320097766936. That's all that I know.

i picked up my 96 outback for $250 and it needed headgaskets.i did the job myself for under $300.