OT - '93 Legacy opinions?

One of my sons is graduating from high school, and needs a car. We looked at a '93 Legacy sedan today. 4-cylinder automatic, A/C. I don't know if it's a L-model or what, but the cloth interior has me suspecting so.

What worries me is the automatic. Does anyone know if it's the same 4EAT used in the SVX's, and if so, is the service record as poor in the Legacy? I'll tolerate that in the SVX, but not in a 'driver' for my kid..

Thanks,
--jim