'96 Legacy Outback 2.5l automatic

[rick]

any quirks / nagging problems with this model/year?

TIA.
Rick

 

[lkreh]

You can check out this weblog:

http://www.toad.net/~rrubel/outown.html

Beyond this, just my common sense comment that, at 10 years old, any
car is going to start to have a lot of problems.

-LK

 

[rick]

You can check out this weblog:

http://www.toad.net/~rrubel/outown.html

Beyond this, just my common sense comment that, at 10 years old, any
car is going to start to have a lot of problems.

-LK

Thanks LK. Single-owner, 41K miles, completely gone over by a dealer/shop
that I trust, so I'm hoping you're wrong.
Rick

 

[lkreh]

Good luck. The low mileage is remarkable. Is it possible that the
speedometer (and hence odometer) was replaced somewhere along the way?
The electronic sending unit in the 96-99 Legacy Outback speedometers
sometimes failed. I have a 99 Legacy Outback with a new speedometer,
but the odometer was rolled forward to show actual mileage (122,000 and
going strong by the way).

-LK

 

[Lyons Net]

Good luck. The low mileage is remarkable. Is it possible that the
speedometer (and hence odometer) was replaced somewhere along the way?
The electronic sending unit in the 96-99 Legacy Outback speedometers
sometimes failed. I have a 99 Legacy Outback with a new speedometer,
but the odometer was rolled forward to show actual mileage (122,000 and
going strong by the way).

-LK

I've had great success with my 2.5 auto 96 outback, with 186K to date.
I bought it from my dad in 04, and he bought it used from a Sub dealer
in 2000.

Only thing I watch is the oil, as it seems to burn about 1L between oil
changes.

I especially like it in Ontario winters.

Cheers

 

[rick]

I've had great success with my 2.5 auto 96 outback, with 186K to date.
I bought it from my dad in 04, and he bought it used from a Sub dealer
in 2000.

Only thing I watch is the oil, as it seems to burn about 1L between oil
changes.

I especially like it in Ontario winters.

Cheers

Thanks. I had a '99 OBS which I was very pleased with once we got the rear
wheel bearing issue straightened out. I'm just wondering if there's any
widespread or recurring problems (like the '99 bearings) that I should be
aware of.
Rick

 

[Tcassette]

Based on my experience, you probably have some repairs ahead. At
50+thousand miles I had the continuing check engine light problems noted by
others. Bad cam sensor was finally diagnosed and replaced. At 60+thousand
miles the notorious Subaru oil leaks started. Front cam and crank seals
were bad and had to be replaced (along with the timing belt). Now at around
114000 miles there is some slight oil leakage through the rear crank seal,
enough to drip on the exhaust and be smelly. A oil additive to "restore"
the seals has helped.

Other than that, it's never stranded me and everything still works properly.
I figure the repairs have totaled about $1200 over 10 years.