legacycentral bbs

So I met up with this kid with a 97 Legacy Gt with 185k on it.
He was asking $2500 for it and I talked him down to $1700.
BECAUSE, this is what I found wrong with it from the test drive and his past knowledge.
It has sat for the last 2 years, until last month he started driving it because his other car blew up (HONDA )
He noticed the temp gauge would raise and then lower but never stay high for too long. So he checked the antifreeze in the radiator, and it was low. (he said the overflow was half full)
So he has been adding antifreeze to it about one a week for the last month.
There are bubbles steadily coming from the overflow when the car is running and a nasty black gunk covering the inside of the overflow as well.
The notorious Head gasket is my asumption.
The heater blows hot and he replaced the tstat and flushed the coolant. Bt he used a crappy autozone and not subaru tstat.
I called my mechanic, and he quoted about $800 for a complete reseal of the motor( he buys the kit from subaru and does EVERY seal from the valve covers to rear main)
I also noticed the Tranny acted funny when slowing down from freeway speeds. it was really sluggish and slipped a few times when I was accelerating from a stop after getting off the freeway.
The brakes vibrate and the abs light is on, I suspect warped rotors as the car drives straight.
A tear in the seat, a cracked windshield is all that I could find
It seems like a lot, but I was wondering IS IT WORTH $1700?
The paint is immaculate, and there arent any dents. Tires are newer
and it drives smooth

Before I take the leap, I thought Id ask what you guys think, Ive owned 8 legacys from the ss to my two current na wagons.
But Ive never dealt with the 2.5
YAY or NAY?

Thanks

i wouldnt. find something else.

The headgaskets and the questionable AT are really the two big sticking points. The headgaskets will need to be done, which you really should have the heads resurfaced....and who knows what's wrong with the trans....you'll probably spend at least $2k fixing all that stuff. If the car is worth $4k to you after all the work, then get it....if not....pass on it.

run forest ruuun.

I bought a car in better shape than that in Chicago for $1300. Strong engine, strong 5MT, some rust, but straight panels. Way too many problems and wayyy too high of a mileage for $1700!

Drop a 22 in it and convert it to a 5speed

cj91legss wrote:Drop a 22 in it and convert it to a 5speed

i like this idea lol but you could probly find another 97-99 legacy gt for 500-700 needing head gasket

Ya, Ive decided to pass on it. The kid was just really sketchy on a lot of the things wrong with the car. Leading me to believe theres a few things hes not tellig me. I was planing on either getting the gaskets done, or dropping in the 22. either way, I would have put a 5 spd in it.

just keep looking are just wait dont jump at the first one you see i did and it just costs more money lol post an add what your looking for and put a price that you can spend.