What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

Picked up a week prior to last Thursday (10/11). Definitely like it, more or less the same as the Outback was, slightly lower ground clearance. Also my understanding (as confirmed by Old Tom) that the GT wagon is kind of a rare oddball trim.

Definitely has some pep to it, still getting about 24mpg around here (same as OB).

Head gaskets, timing belt, and water pump were replaced in the past 1500 miles, however I have a suspicion that it was a ****ty job (none of the idler/tensioner stuff was replaced, and I've been getting temp spikes while top hose is solid/hot). Still working out the bugs. 3 owner car with 169xxx miles

Has some issues that definitely need immediate attention, and at this point I'm starting to see how much I overpaid for the car (~$2100 out the door) given repairs that are needed, but c'est la vie I suppose...

More info to come, I'm too tired to type tonight and the cold is killing my hands. I do have questions in regards to stereo wiring if anyone can help, as well as a few other minor things (stereo harness is wired up for PnP, but unit is not getting enough power from in car harness)

BTW svxfiles, if you happen across this thread, I'll get in touch with you ASAP, sorry I didnt get back with ya over the weekend.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

Nice find! I had one as a daily. Did all the JDM exterior bits, lowered it too much, and swapped in an EJ205 WRX engine. Nobody ever saw the forest green station wagon coming.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

I love my '97 Legacy GT wagon that I've had for going on 4 years. I bought it for $600 from a college girl after the second engine developed a knock. I ran an EJ22 in it briefly before swapping back in the third EJ25 from my sister's '98 Outback (she blew the head gasket so I gave her the EJ22 & took the EJ25.)

I just brought it back from the dead for the 3rd or 4th time after my dad got t-boned on the passenger side while driving it last summer. Insurance company totaled it out and I bought it back cheap & threw a couple of doors on it. It still drives fine. I'm thinking of swapping my spare SVX engine into it for a little more power.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

I'd love to swap in an EG33 but currently not an option. May not have the car for much longer anyway, lemon law claim starting. Definitely some major issues with the car, the timing belt/water pump/HG job was done half assed and incomplete, and the car has a knock among other odd noises after its first oil change. If I end up keeping it, it will definitely be getting an EJ22 swap (found a local independent Subaru garage up the street that quoted me $1200 for the swap, which includes motor with a minor refresh). I've had it with the EJ25D piston slapping, head gasket blowing piece of garbage.

Stereo is wired up, but works intermittently (12v switched problem or faulty unit). Fixed the overheating issue with the car, had to fill and bleed the system again. Think it also has some suspension related issues as well, the right rear seems to get loose and roll when I corner. Possibly needs all 4 wheel bearings and new brakes/rotors at all 4 corners. E brake is boned, needs new cable or something is seized (wont stay locked when handle is pulled, snaps back, possibly the ratcheting mechanism). Has a fuel related issue (which could be timing related) and

Really getting fed up with POS cars that die on me within 6 months :mad: I dont need something that is a project :mad:

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

Good luck with the lemon law... it only applies to new cars:rolleyes:

And spend more money if you don't want something that's a POS. Still doesn't mean you won't get a POS when you spend more, but as the old adage says, you get what you pay for...

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

Magnuson Moss Act (i.e. federal Lemon Law) does apply to used cars from what my research has turned up. It has to do with implied vs. written warranties, but I'll leave it to you to do the research, lest I go into too much detail regarding my situation.

As far as spending more money, this is by far the most expensive car I have ever bought, and was at the very limit of my budget (sorry, but not everyone can afford to shell out $5k to get a used car). I've payed $1200 to $1500 or less or all of my other cars that I've owned, and never have I had this many issues. Sadly, the Subaru fits what I need though, unlike the other vehicles I've owned, so I'm essentially stuck with them unless I want to go back to FWD.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

There are virtually no consumer protection laws regarding the purchase of used vehicles in PA. The Federal Lemon Law does in fact only apply to new vehicles. There is a very small loophole in the state law which can allow you to gain a 48 hour buyers remorse period, but they apply to less than 1% of sales.

Even that loophole does not apply after you've had the car for 2 days. You've even said yourself that the knock developed after the first oil change. You have absolutely no recourse here. (I'm assuming you don't have a warranty.)

Please step back and look at what you're doing. You're upset because you bought a $2100 and it is having problems. Most $2100 cars do have problems. If you had wanted a car that was trouble-free, you certainly could have bought a new or CPO legacy from the subaru dealership. Sure they cost more, but the difference in price gains you a lot of reliability. If an old Legacy were as reliable as a brand new one, they wouldn't be so much cheaper.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

brian this situation seems real familar dont it? hows it feel being on the end of the ****ty stick. if there was a lemon law for used cars dont you think i would have come after you for my 2800 back that i foolishly paid for a car worth no more then 1500 at most. sorry but karma sucks:lol:

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

not getting into this. I've said what I had to say on the matter, and you know where I stand. And I still feel the car was worth the money, regardless. And AFAIK, lemon law applies only to dealer purchased vehicles, not private sale. Doesnt matter anyway...

As far as the price vs. problems, I am very aware that any use car regardless of price has its problems. And I was aware of certain issues with this vehicle which werent an issue when I purchase it. I don't mind repairing vehicles, and price certainly wasnt an issue when I purchased it, however my major gripe is that I drove less than 150 miles before the car went to **** (I am very anal about maintenance on my cars and dont beat the tar out of them). Paying more for a vehicle was not an option. If it had been, I would have purchased that A6 from you Green, however the $2500 valve job on top of the price tag put it way out of my league. My budget was $2000, with a max of $2500. Certainly if I had the money I would have purchased something else.

If in fact the fed law does only apply to new cars, I have one other avenue of recourse. I was smart enough to purchase not only an Autocheck report, but also a Carfax and InstaVIN report. The vehicle does qualify for buyback through both Autocheck and Carfax, however I do need to look into the specifics more. I have come to find out recently that this vehicle was sold at a salvage auction by Copart in Massachusettes (presumably to the previous owner/salesperson at the dealership I purchased it from).

But screw it. I've had enough. Mods, please lock and/or delete this thread, I'm done. I don't need to sit here and put up with mudslinging, I have enough things on my plate stressing me out, I don't need more.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

thats probly the same attitude the guy that sold you this one is saying too. maybe you should stay away from the subarus until you have money to maintain them since none were perfect. my cavalier has been great the last 4000 miles and havnt had to spend a dime. ;)

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

Again, I will not comment on this. You know my position, as the SVX ran excellent for me, and was trouble free beyond the coil that went. I would have loved to keep it, but you of all people know my situation and why I sold it. I would have rather kept it honestly, as it was one of the better cars I've owned (second only to the 88 Fiero and the 92 Escort).

I will say this much: If there were other options available in an AWD wagon within my price range, I would have gone with something else. Unfortunately, the only other option is an Audi, and repairs/maintenance are even more expensive on that. And I will not go back to FWD/RWD. I drove a dozen cars prior to buying this one, none of which were AWD, and I just wasn't comfortable with them.

With that said, I leave this thread at that, and again I request that the thread be locked and/or deleted.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

it ran excellent for me as well. when i bought the car you said the propeller shaft was bad and thats the noise. well i learned that you were way wrong and it was bearing failure. brian that issue put my schooling on the line. if it wasnt for pete saving my ass i would be out 50k. thats what real friends do for one anouther. now being as nice and real as i possibly can. get a car that will get you to and from were you need to go. stay away from awd as its alot more to fix when it breaks and high maintnece. get something fwd. its cheap and most are reliable and cheap to maintain. im sorry but you should have learned after the first 2 that subarus are not for people on a tight budget. if your not gonna listen and keep buying these pos clunkers then dont complain about it

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

I said the driveshaft wasn't balanced from when the transmission swap was performed, which was what I was told by the previous owner (who was/is a member here and is well known). At no time did I ever say the propeller shaft was bad. I was also told by said previous owner that the rear bearings had been replaced not long before I purchased the car. I did state that I had my mechanic check the bearings at inspection time because I personally had some concerns about the noise in the rear (right after I purchase the car), of which I was told they were fine, and I provided you evidence that supported that they were checked when I gave you the records with the car.

I really would rather not get into this, as we've already discussed it in length, but if you insist on continuing the conversation, you are welcome to take it to PM. As far as I'm concerned, its water under the bridge and useless to continue, seeing as you know where I stand on the matter. Again, I feel bad that you had so many troubles with it, but it was out of my hands at that point. Hindsight is 20/20, and knowing now what I know, I never would have sold you the car. Put yourself in my shoes: I lost someone who I thought was a friend over this crap, and have now learned that I will never sell another car to friends again (goes back to hindsight being 20/20).

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

propeller shaft and drive shaft is the same thing but anyways im done.

Re: What I've been up to: new daily driver acquired: 97 Legacy GT wagon
 

The buy back guarantee on the autocheck and carfax is only if there is a branded title that they didn't report. For example, if the title has a flood brand on it, and the history report doesn't indicate this.