Used Forester or Legacy Outback???

Looking around for a nice commuter/winter car and I've come to the crossroads between a Forester or an Outback. One has the 2.5L F4 and the other the 2.2L F4, both have maintenance records.

96 Outback: 139K miles
98 Forester: 142K miles
Price...about the same...Forester a bit more expensive.

For all those subie gurus, what would be the better pic for reliability? I'm not concerned with purchase price as much as overall reliability. Are there specific things I need to check for when looking at these cars?

 

ide go for the outback because it has the 2.2....they have ALOT less problems then the 2.5...also the forester is the 98, so its the first year with the dohc, and also the last...head gasket monster

 

def go the the 2.2^ awesome motors very bulletproof

 

Nice..good info guys.

Anything I should look for as far as "warning signs" when test driving this car and/or viewing it when I meet her?

Another option is a 97 Civic EX coupe with 202K miles, but meticulously maintained and NO rust. I spoke with this guy and he is a true car guy that racks up miles between Rochester and Farmington for his daily commute.

The Outback has some minor rust too.

 

well, the only problems you will encounter with the OB is leaks, the oil pump seal leaks, rear access cover, rear main seal, its not bad, it wont kill the motor, but it may annoy you, but if its only a winter car then i would say to hell with it and keep driving it

 

^Nice...thanks for the advice. Leaks aren't a HUGE deal, as long as my driveway doesn't get nastied up....

 

p/s pumps tend to leak too( but then again that's probably from my style of driving in winter time:biggrin: )

 

I'd actually have to put one in for the forester

check if the headgasket job has been done, if it has, that engine is going to be perfect and last quite awhile

I dont have the DOHC EJ25 in my forester.. but instead the SOHC since I own a 99, no problems yet.. but I'm waiting for the headgasket issue to come up

I'd have to say that the forester is a great choice just because its more like an SUV than a car/wagon (outback)



Just again, if the headgaskets have been fixed in the past, you dont have to worrie about them going out again in the future

both great cars though!

 

The 98 Forester has an SOHC or DOHC 2.5 F4?

The Forester has had clutch, timing belt, head gasket, rear diff, and a couple other things replaced. I'm looking forward to see both cars and go from there.

 

The 98 forester had the dohc, the more problematic one, or at least more severe head gasket issue

 

Are there any places that stock aftermarket parts for the Outback? The shifter feels REALLY sloppy in the Outback, although everything mechanically works very nicely.

 

Anything that works for a legacy of the same year will work for an OB

 

I think it was adressed.. but yeah, its a DOHC in the 98

If the headgaskets have been replaced, I would doubt they would go again, just because they "fixed" the design flaw etc

I'd feel very secure with the foresters engine, but thats just me, and I dont know the specific car your looking at

 

OK, I've narrowed it down to 2 cars, almost same mileage.

95 Legacy L or LS (not sure) auto, ZERO rust, good maintenance history
96 Legacy Outback, 5 spd, good amount of rust, also good history.

Is the 4EAT better or worse then the 5 speed for reliability? Since this is my commuter I have no qualms about not rowing the gears, I just want the most reliable.

Thanks.

 

Well niether one is terribly good. but if you drive the 5mt normally you wont have any problems with it