1996 Subura Legacy outback - manufactured feb - 1996
2.5L EFI boxer style engine, opposing 4 cylindar
All wheel drive (90% power in front, 10% in back unless in first gear, and then 50% 50% - this helps fuel economy.)
dual front airbags
Abs brakes/ antilock breaks
automatic transmission
power mirrors
cruise control
power windows
power locks
roof rack
upholstry/cloth interiear - excellent condition.
no plastics missing.
tires about 20% worn - alignment looks good.
169,000 miles
Estimated fuel economy new: 24 city, 29 highway (about 22 city with 87 oct gas on first tank)
12 disk pioneer cd changer manufactured in 1997 - aftermarket instalation
keyless entry with one remoter
15 wheels, alloy~7.3" ground clearence (no skids plates, but front and rear skids can be taken from 97 model if we find it in a junkyard)
We asked to drive it. Drove it, then stopped at subaru dealer for some question and answer time.$100 checkup at subarur dealer before we bought it:Transmission needs to be flushedOil needs to be changedFront passenger headlight is 'foggy' plastic, should be replacedSlight oil leak on rear seal of engineslight oil leak at right side valve covercar has been home for 24 hours after driving it about 40 miles and no oil leaked out of it yet. a good sign.rear stuts need to be replacedrear shocks need to be replacedthe tranmission slightly binds in hard turns, the flush should fix thistiming belt has about 35% life left in it according to subaru's recommendationsthey also reset the keyless entry system as it had lost power and kept the 4 way lights 'dimly' blinking all the time. the use car sale's man didn't achnowledge this problem ever.they ran the VIN and discovered it's had some front end damage - obviously professinally fixed as the only obvious damage is the front fog light passanger side cracked out and the foggy headlight on passenger side and a 'custom' mounting job for the headlight and a cracked plastic grill. who cares.It took them about 50 minutes to eyeball the car, giving us the royal 'used car inspection without opening anything' - and we went to talk to other subaru saleman. I asked the first one we came to if he had anything from the mid 90's that was 4x4, not awd, and standard, not automatic transmission.he say in early 90's, subary stopped making the 4x4 option, it's always awd now. and he said he could not touch the price, and if he were us, he'd buy it, even if it had 169k miles on it and it needed 1000$ worth of work. A nice guy to talk to.
Blue book for a private party sale is 5200$Blue book for a retail sale is 8100$Blue book for 'dealer cost' is about 5100$ before miles are calculated.we paid ~$4650total with 8.7% tax and liscening/transfer (35$ + 35) came to $5100.
Before we bought the car, we found some paperwork displaying the timing belt replaced at 99000 miles. subaru says timing belts last 105k miles.The used car sales man had only ONE key. AND said he did not have any keyless entry stuff, even though the car is equipped with it.He also achnowledged that there was a consol for a pioneer cd player, but did not know where the player was (trunk style)We got the car home and found:12 disk pioner cd changer under the seat in working condition WITH the remote.1 keyless entry clicker.more service records indicating taht 4 months ago breaks were fully serviced, misfire issue was resolved, 2 o2 sensors were replaced, and miscelanious others fixed for 750$ in parts and 250$ in labor. why then never addressed the trashed rear shocks and struts is beyond me, but i'm not complaining.
It's got a Jesus fish on the back (hopefuly not driven with christian rage), and we found a christian cd in the glove compartment.We'll probably mail back the orgional (previous owner before the used car man) their cd and ask for more keys and clickers if they have them and more service history.
we feel we got a 'fair' price, but definiatly not a steal.some wax, some rear struts, and a tank of gas, and it should go for a while.
since then, alodia helped me put in the rear struts and we're still married (130$)
we flushed the transmission at subaru - it was low and burned - but other then that looked ok - no parts came out (130$)
changed the oil - 3 tables spoons appeard on the garauge floor - but after 200 miles NO MORE has appeared - a one time deal - maybe a spill and no leaky seals.
glued the grill back together with fiberglass resin (overkill)
go a nice Haynes repair manual off half.com for $12.50 -
still to do:
fix drivers side passanger electic door lock
purchase passenger side headlamp assembly (120$)
purchase/make/repair passenger fog lamp: in bumper - with stone guard.
look at t-belt and replace it
replace right engine cover seal
replace rear engine seal (if really bad)
install after market (additional) fog lamps - walmart specials
