OT: Legacy Motor Question

mods can move this to the tech forum if they think it's more appropriate..

a friend of mine is in the market for a new (to him) car. He's really liking a full-sized Outback wagon from the mid-90's.. i remember hearing that subaru made a run of not-so-great engines in between '92 and '97... can anyone confirm/deny this and tell me what he'd need to watch out for?

thanks

-adam

[Subafreak]

Well first gen Outback ran from 95 to 99? with the 2.5L. The first phase 1 2.5L seems to get a low spot in the heads around the exaust ports cousing the internal head gasket leaking. The phase2 2.5L have a problem with external headgasket leakage, and they all had a run on bad front seals. The front seals are easy enough to fix but as far as the headgaskets Subaru has no real revized fix. Might want to ask in the I club thoe the RS's had the same motors.