Considering a 1997 Legacy 2.5GT

Royal Tiger · #1 10-16-2008, 07:11 PM

Anything to look for? What year had the infamous head gasket issues? Thanks.

svxfiles · #2 10-16-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Anything to look for? What year had the infamous head gasket issues? Thanks.

1997 was a head gasket year...

The trany should be bullet proof, not literally you gun nut!

subi-crosser · #3 10-16-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxfiles

1997 was a head gasket year...

The trany should be bullet proof, not literally you gun nut!

Buy it!! I have (2). Yea, head gasket thing bit a time or two but they are sweet cars! Outback 'Limited'(s)..

Gave $4,500 for the first one with blown head, 5 years ago and bought the second one with a 'heating' problem 2 years later for $2,000. Both cars are alive and well at this time.

IF the money is right, do it.

Royal Tiger · #4 10-17-2008, 03:43 AM

The car looks great. 101k on it and loaded up nicely. Even has the moonroof.

I'm going to see it when the guy gets back next week.

Hocrest · #5 10-17-2008, 04:38 AM

If the price is right, jump on it. Treat it like a SVX with the tranny. Plan on doing a HG job in the next year and if you don't need to then you get a bonus.

Once you get it, this seems like a decent forum for that generation of Legacy, SLI

Royal Tiger · #6 10-17-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxfiles

1997 was a head gasket year...

The trany should be bullet proof, not literally you gun nut!

Was there a recall? I thought there was, so that if this one wasn't done, I can have a Subaru dealer do one for free?

svxfiles · #7 10-17-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Was there a recall? I thought there was, so that if this one wasn't done, I can have a Subaru dealer do one for free?

I believe if you come in for a $2000.00 dealer head gasket job they will give you a FREE bottle of head gasket "treatment".

SomethingElse · #8 10-17-2008, 08:02 PM

96 and 97 are the best looking imo. Ive been looking for one as well. I hope i can find one that needs a head gasket so I can rip that motor out and drop in 3.3 type size engine.

Royal Tiger · #9 10-18-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svxfiles

I believe if you come in for a $2000.00 dealer head gasket job they will give you a FREE bottle of head gasket "treatment".

Thanks smarta$$!

I wonder how much it'd cost non-dealer. It's the only issue I have, as the car looks good. I'll know more this week. The price seems a tad low, so I'm curious about that as well.

svxfiles · #10 10-18-2008, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Thanks smarta$$!

I wonder how much it'd cost non-dealer. It's the only issue I have, as the car looks good. I'll know more this week. The price seems a tad low, so I'm curious about that as well.

I just did one for Jerry, subi-crosser, maybe he remembers what I charged.

ensteele · #11 10-18-2008, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomethingElse

96 and 97 are the best looking imo. Ive been looking for one as well. I hope i can find one that needs a head gasket so I can rip that motor out and drop in 3.3 type size engine.

Just about every one I have seen that has not had that done yet, needs it done shortly after buying it.

You should not have a problem finding one.

gstape · #12 10-18-2008, 12:36 PM

Don't be so quick to dismiss the head gasket treatment stuff. My 2000 2.5RS had a bad head gasket, and that stuff fixed it. I later removed the engine when I did my 02 wrx swap, but then my brother and I put it in his 95 Impreza wagon. At about 200,000 miles the original head gaskets are holding out just fine.

It sounds way too easy to be effective, but it worked for me.

Royal Tiger · #13 10-18-2008, 06:15 PM

Tom was tormenting me a bit. There is "treatment" stuff?

Yeah Jerry, how much?

benebob · #14 10-18-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Tom was tormenting me a bit. There is "treatment" stuff?

Yeah Jerry, how much?

Yes Subaru calls it "conditioner". In reality it is nothing more than snake oil that in the long run will gum up your system just like the aftermarket products promising to fix coolant leaks and hg leaks does. Subaru gave me a bottle for the 03 legacy which I promptly put elsewhere. In effect the stuff will keep coolant from leaking until your warranty is up. It isn't a fix for the problem any more than running without coolant is

.

Hope you have better luck then we're having with the Made in Mexico (assembled in Indiana) 03 GT we have. I'll never buy another American made Subaru product after the crappy quality and finish.

If it is more than $1500 (2000 if its a stick) in need of gaskets you're paying too much BTW! I'd also walk away unless it has an LSD.

svxfiles · #15 10-18-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

Tom was tormenting me a bit. There is "treatment" stuff?
Yeah Jerry, how much?

Yea! Thats the ticket! It's NANOBOTS in a can! Tiny little robot mechanics who find that pesky leak and clog it shut with their dead lifeless bodies,. Sure, thats exactly how it works.

OK, I'm a somethingh, something.