Legacy 2.5 what to know?
Discussion
Right I've been offered a 2001 legacy 2.5GX auto saloon for near shed money, 75k miles good service history. I'm thinking of picking it up for my dad who lives in the middle of nowhere in Ireland or to to use as my own winter car.
Experts what is the worst that can happen? and what should I look out for? I have no knowledge of them so would welcome the teams input. They seem to be pretty cheap for all the tech which makes me and my bank manager worry.
Experts what is the worst that can happen? and what should I look out for? I have no knowledge of them so would welcome the teams input. They seem to be pretty cheap for all the tech which makes me and my bank manager worry.
Try and listen to engine on startup from cold, any probs ought to be audible.
Auto Gearbox can fail suddenly, but at 75K with history you'll be unlucky if you don't have at least 50K miles left in it.
Change the engine oil and filter regularly every 5K miles - use decent synthetic oil, not cheep 10/40. if you know your pcv valves it's worth cleaning/replacing that on first oil change, easy to do check 'you tube' if unsure, there's a couple of vids on there about changing it, but a good clean [use carb cleaner]is just as good. Change spark plugs at first service, these don't often get changed by garages who service the car coz they're not the easiest to get at.
Brakes wear out pistons sieze but are easy to change [caliper not cheap though], if theres a 'clonking' from front or rear when going over bumps it'll be the ARB droplinks easy to change £30 a side from motor factor maybe cheaper on ebay.
My 2.5 auto gets 32mpg, less if you do short trips.
For winter use use winter/snow tyres, then you'll be able to drive anywhere, only probs willbe the other road users blocking the roads - I ski frequntly and get fed up having to pull out Brits in their Huge 4x4's fitted with crap tyres who've slipped off the road into the ditches at side of many alpine roads.
If it's less than £1500 buy it now, you won't regret it.
Hope this helps
Auto Gearbox can fail suddenly, but at 75K with history you'll be unlucky if you don't have at least 50K miles left in it.
Change the engine oil and filter regularly every 5K miles - use decent synthetic oil, not cheep 10/40. if you know your pcv valves it's worth cleaning/replacing that on first oil change, easy to do check 'you tube' if unsure, there's a couple of vids on there about changing it, but a good clean [use carb cleaner]is just as good. Change spark plugs at first service, these don't often get changed by garages who service the car coz they're not the easiest to get at.
Brakes wear out pistons sieze but are easy to change [caliper not cheap though], if theres a 'clonking' from front or rear when going over bumps it'll be the ARB droplinks easy to change £30 a side from motor factor maybe cheaper on ebay.
My 2.5 auto gets 32mpg, less if you do short trips.
For winter use use winter/snow tyres, then you'll be able to drive anywhere, only probs willbe the other road users blocking the roads - I ski frequntly and get fed up having to pull out Brits in their Huge 4x4's fitted with crap tyres who've slipped off the road into the ditches at side of many alpine roads.
If it's less than £1500 buy it now, you won't regret it.
Hope this helps
Edited by S47 on Friday 11th October 11:09
Good info, thanks S37!
OP: Bought a '99 110k Legacy Outback for the Mrs and we're absolutely smitten with it. £750 because it was mechanically good, but cosmetically pretty poor, and it's lovely. The engine is great, giving all the speed you need in a general wagon with a nice noise to boot. The ride is fantastic and the 4WD system has got her out of trouble several times (she's an equine Vet, so farm tracks and fields are obstacles she needs to get through rain or shine!) Came with a fresh cambelt and gearbox oil change (precautionary). All the toys work, the interior is rattle free.
Only issues are that I can't get the ODB port going for diagnostics, a weepy cam cover gasket and a tendency to flash the oil pressure light up on very hard braking.
OP: Bought a '99 110k Legacy Outback for the Mrs and we're absolutely smitten with it. £750 because it was mechanically good, but cosmetically pretty poor, and it's lovely. The engine is great, giving all the speed you need in a general wagon with a nice noise to boot. The ride is fantastic and the 4WD system has got her out of trouble several times (she's an equine Vet, so farm tracks and fields are obstacles she needs to get through rain or shine!) Came with a fresh cambelt and gearbox oil change (precautionary). All the toys work, the interior is rattle free.
Only issues are that I can't get the ODB port going for diagnostics, a weepy cam cover gasket and a tendency to flash the oil pressure light up on very hard braking.
Edited by Krikkit on Friday 11th October 14:26
I had one. It was a great car until some idiot drove into the back of it and wrote it off.
I had to have the headgaskets done and put a new clutch in at the same time £850, other than that it was a great car, comfy and awd as well as being spacious.
Not sure how good the auto boxes are though.
I had to have the headgaskets done and put a new clutch in at the same time £850, other than that it was a great car, comfy and awd as well as being spacious.
Not sure how good the auto boxes are though.
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