That looks like a nice clean wagon. Additional advantage is that it probably has the 2.2l motor which was not subject (AFAIK) to the blown head issue that the 2.5 had.
Nice, for sure. But probably not in the price range at which our esteemed colleague is looking...Its a 1999.5 Audi A4 Avant 1.8T Quattro. God I love this car. I can go to the snow with it, haul my bikes, etc. By far the best car I have ever owned (out of 9 total).
That thing has *really* low miles. Make sure you have the mechanic check the CV joints & the cam seals.That 97 subie is still available - I hope to test drive it tomorrow.
Nice. If you like it, I'd start your offer at 4350. I personally wouldn't go above 4800 for that car, unless it's spectacular. Remember if your financing it, the used car rate is 6%, so for a three year loan (for 4800) that would add about 500 bucks to total cost to you for the car. Just something to consider.That 97 subie is still available - I hope to test drive it tomorrow.
Cam seals have a tendency to go bad & leak oil.so what should I be on the lookout for with these two items? Hopefully this is at a reputable dealership and they will have done a thorough inspection before selling.
Haha, that's an oxymoron when dealing with used cars.reputable dealership
I put a 150K on my VR6 with no problems, that era VW had major issues with the ignition coils but it was one of those things where they have all probably failed and been replaced with better ones by now. The rest of the car is a different story.Wow, Subies sound expensive where you're at. I thought they were overpriced here...myself and Caitlin are looking at Outback wagons at about the same age with a smaller budget (4000-5000) and we're not having trouble finding stuff, some of it with lowerish miles. Can someone elaborate more on the 2.5 head gasket issues? I was limiting my search to the Legacys with 2.5 engines because of the relative gutlessness of the 2.2s, but yeah...
While we're on topic, stevew, any idea how reliable a VR6 engine is? Specifically one inside of a mid-90s Jetta...
Didn't the 2.2L have head gasket issues that were corrected on the 2.5L?That looks like a nice clean wagon. Additional advantage is that it probably has the 2.2l motor which was not subject (AFAIK) to the blown head issue that the 2.5 had.
Thanks CP!Nice. If you like it, I'd start your offer at 4350. I personally wouldn't go above 4800 for that car, unless it's spectacular. Remember if your financing it, the used car rate is 6%, so for a three year loan (for 4800) that would add about 500 bucks to total cost to you for the car. Just something to consider.
Explain...I keep telling myself not to buy a VW, but if I find a VR6 Jetta or GTI with low miles it will be hard to turn away.The rest of the car is a different story.
There were a few mechanical things like a wheel bearing, not unheard of for 100,000 miles. Had a leak in the AC system and the ABS went out on me. I never got the ABS fixed, just pulled the warning lamp.Explain...I keep telling myself not to buy a VW, but if I find a VR6 Jetta or GTI with low miles it will be hard to turn away.
~20k miles per year just in my daily commute, then tack on all the weekend road trips.
I'm looking to be right there with ya. I've got about 13k on my truck now, had it since June.~20k miles per year just in my daily commute, then tack on all the weekend road trips.
~20k miles per year just in my daily commute, then tack on all the weekend road trips.
My first Jetta wagon accumulated 75K miles in just under two and a half years because of doing downhill racing/riding every weekend.~20k miles per year just in my daily commute, then tack on all the weekend road trips.
Our house is exactly halfway between my office and MBC's office. She drives an hour the other direction.Why did you get a house so far from work?
I commuted an hour or so for a while. The hour drive was actually pretty nice - gave me a chance to kind of wade into the day in the morning then wind down from work before I got home in the evenings. Effectively losing 2 hours a day kind of sucked, but the actual drive was rather nice.Our house is exactly halfway between my office and MBC's office. She drives an hour the other direction.
I don't mind my commute. It's about 45 minutes and relatively free of traffic. Sirius helps as well. Having a job I like outweighs the extra $2000 or so I spend each year on gas and car maintenance (compared to the 15 mile commute I used to have).
speaking as a former 2.5L owner, i can attest to that being a real issue.That looks like a nice clean wagon. Additional advantage is that it probably has the 2.2l motor which was not subject (AFAIK) to the blown head issue that the 2.5 had.
Not that I know of.... the 2.2 is generally considered Subaru's "bulletproof" engine, IIRC.Didn't the 2.2L have head gasket issues that were corrected on the 2.5L?
slant eye or bug-eye? I have not heard of any major problems with the bugeye 2.5L engines... I know the slant eyes had problems though.speaking as a former 2.5L owner, i can attest to that being a real issue.
The info I've heard was that the 2.5 from the first generation of Outback ('95-'98?)...slant eye or bug-eye? I have not heard of any major problems with the bugeye 2.5L engines... I know the slant eyes had problems though.
I was just thinking the exact opposite!Wow, Subies sound expensive where you're at. I thought they were overpriced here...myself and Caitlin are looking at Outback wagons at about the same age with a smaller budget (4000-5000) and we're not having trouble finding stuff, some of it with lowerish miles. Can someone elaborate more on the 2.5 head gasket issues? I was limiting my search to the Legacys with 2.5 engines because of the relative gutlessness of the 2.2s, but yeah...
While we're on topic, stevew, any idea how reliable a VR6 engine is? Specifically one inside of a mid-90s Jetta...
Did a Protoge 5 search and it didn't turn up anything promising.Maybe look at the 02/03 Mazda Protege5's. Pretty roomy and maintenance free. Ive had one for about 2 years now, no problems, just oil changes and headlight bulb replacement. Handle great, only problem is little lack in the power department. They only made them in the two years, they are now the 3&6 bodys a little different and bigger motor.
where are you searching for cars?Did a Protoge 5 search and it didn't turn up anything promising.
I'm almost up to 90k miles on my WRX Wagon and also going on 3 years...~80k miles in just over three years. Two more years of payments and that baby is mine. I'm glad to see people here got upwards of 200k out of their Subies. I'd really like to go a year or two without payments before buying a new one.
Stupidcall me stupid, but I've been thinking of a 2006 Dodge Sprinter