Learn me about stuff and things: 2001 Legacy Wagons

[SLK350]

Looking at potentially purchasing a 2001 legacy wagon 2.5 manual. From my understanding they sorted out the head gasket issues with this generation. The car in question is in good shape, 140xxx miles and is in line with KBB pricing, around $4000. Thoughts, comments, lesbian based insults?

[Yo Teach]

My mom drives a 2001 Outback. She is married to a man. We had the headgasket issue. I think we had them redone around 70,000 miles. It's at 80,000 now.

[Grey Mouser]

My mom drives a 2001 Outback. She is married to a man. We had the headgasket issue. I think we had them redone around 70,000 miles. It's at 80,000 now.

lol.. glad you cleared up about your mom.

I've been eyeing a 2006+ Legacy wagons myself... I'd prefer a LGT ... but damn they're rare in wagon form at least in TX.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

Price sounds a touch high but not too unreasonable. I had a '97 Legacy sedan with the 2.5. Not a powerhouse by any means but I like that motor. It seems to have more low end torque than my V6 Mazda 6.

Watch out for rust, especially inside the rear wheel wells. Mine had a huge hole there.

[Mike!]

The SOHC engines tended to show head gasket problems earlier, 40k mi / 60k km versus 100k mi / 160k km on the older DOHC engines (97-99 in the Legacy). The motor might be okay, but if it hasn't been repaired for head gaskets in its life, be prepared to spend $2k, just in case.

That gen Legacy is a good car. The GT in particular, same engine but sportier suspension, higher equipment, and rear LSD, can be quite a fun vehicle.

[MCTB]

lol.. glad you cleared up about your mom.

I've been eyeing a 2006+ Legacy wagons myself... I'd prefer a LGT ... but damn they're rare in wagon form at least in TX.

There is a deal and a half available up here on an LGT 5MT w/ 70k miles. Do a 75 mile search around 22314 on cars.

[Grey Mouser]

There is a deal and a half available up here on an LGT 5MT w/ 70k miles. Do a 75 mile search around 22314 on cars.

Yeah I'm sure.. too far. :p

[c0mmon]

crappy gas
crappy power

nerds like this

guiding you into irrationality zone

[bikerboy]

I have two Legacies of this generation; a '00 Outback Limited and an '02 Outback LL Bean. They've both been great cars, the '00 is an EJ25 with 5MT and has 214,000. The '02 is an EZ30 H6 with 4AT and has 140,000.

I replaced the head gaskets on the '00 at 197,000 miles. They had probably been leaking for about 30,000 miles, and finally replaced them when I started seeing little traces of coolant. Timing Belt on the EJ25 needs to be done every 105,000 miles, so make sure it's been done. Chances are if they head gaskets haven't been replaced, they'll need to be done now or at some point in the future. The issue wasn't really resolved in this gen, especially in the '00-'02 models, it's just much less catastrophic when they do leak then the '96-'99 cars.

It was mentioned, but check for rear quarter panel rust, especially at each end of the wheel wheel. Had to fix rust on the '00, and the '02 is starting to bubble in one spot.

Fuel mileage definitely isn't as bad as people make it out to be, I can get 27 MPG in the '00 and '02 quite easily. $4,000 seems to be pretty inline, definitely not unreasonable. The EJ25 isn't a powerhouse by any means, but coupled to the 5MT I've never felt it's underpowered. Does just fine in daily driving.

[SGLoki]

We have an 03 legacy, one headgasket was done at around 30,000 miles, there are 100k mi on the clock now. My lady and I are lesbians, I am jut a man.