1996 Subaru Outback LX 2.2L from North America
Summary:
I wish I could drive it forever!
Faults:
Usual maintenance, brakes etc. Changed the timing belt at 102,000 miles as a precaution, although there were no problems with the car at the time.
General Comments:
Car is almost 17 years old, and it runs like new.
Have had other Subarus; all are THE BEST in snow. Love the "winter package" with heated seats, mirrors.
Have gone through knee high snow like it wasn't there, and the car tracks beautifully.
Cargo space is much bigger than it looks, and I have gotten a lot of stuff back there.
Safety. A friend rolled her Outback 4 times down an embankment, and came away with only a bruised thigh.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 4th December, 2012
23rd Jul 2011, 14:26
A shop that does a lot of Subarus will do a simple head gasket job for about $900 (if you find the right shop). Don't waste money on a valve job or even a new timing belt or water pump if the timing belt & WP has been recently done.
Keep it! You will be doing your pocketbook a favor! It will most likely go another 200k miles. IF the heads go, go to a machine shop to get them resurfaced. That's the ONLY trick to this repair.
Also: two or three of the exhaust valves will be too tight. They will need to be adjusted using thinner "disc-shims". Only a shop doing a lot of Subaru's will have these disc-shims.
Keep the repair cost low by sticking with this procedure, and the car will very likely not have any more serious trouble for years... at least that has been my experience. Good luck, and for real: keep it!