Thread: Another Car Question: 2002 Used subbie GT Legacy

So whats the long term reliability on these things? I know the normal head gasket issues, etc. Just would like to know if a 2002 with 140K on it (2 owners both utah clean carfax) is going to be any more reliable than my 2003 pathfinder with 135K on it and is in need of maybe $1000 in repairs to bring it up closer to 100%.

What say ye mags.

from what i have heard turbos are less reliable than naturally aspirated engines although ymmv.
a quick check of consumer reports, which doesnt have info about the '02 GT, says that '02 regular legacys have below average reliability. i would imagine that the turbo is even less reliable.
'03 pathfinders have average reliability.

Was the 2002 GT a turbo?

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

Was the 2002 GT a turbo?

No..........

That's what I thought. The 4th gen Legacy and OB were first to get turbos?

Originally Posted by PNWbrit

That's what I thought. The 4th gen Legacy and OB were first to get turbos?

No, the first generation had a turbo legacy as well. turbo engines being less relaible is an old wives tale these days. Turbo engine owners on the other hand....

I had a 2000 Legacy GT wagon and sold it to a friend when it had about 105K on it. Up to that point it was reliable engine wise. AWD and suspension boots and bits wear. Repair/maintenance was cheaper for parts but not less frequent or lower cost for labor vs. my 3-series BMW (which has been reliable, IMO). My wife's X3 has been as reliable up to the 60K level, 100 more HP, it's faster, it's way more comfortable, and has same mpg.

My friend had the car from about 105K to 120K but it was totaled in an accident. He liked it enough to buy another used Legacy wagon of the same vintage.

The car itself is OK, not great. Slow. 18mpg all around; 24 mpg hwy. AT sucks - always hunting in mountains or you'll need to drop it into 3rd.

One more thing - make sure you're comfortable in the car for long stretches. Those models have tilt, but not extension on steering wheel. If you have long legs, the you may end up too far from the wheel.

Toss up. While the electrical should be sound, I'd imagine the Leggy's interior has seen better days, and may sound like the dash is about to divorce from the firewall at any moment. Can't really speak to how the Nissan might be aging.
Have the tranny checked out on the Subaru, at 140k it may be nearing replacement. Drivetrains have never been a strength of Subaru's.
Not sure about the Pathfinder, but any older n/a Subaru is pretty much a dog in the power department.
My '94 Legacy SS (turbo) went to 175k no problem, and I got $2,500 hundred for it last year when I replaced it with a newer LGT. Not bad.

There's a 2002 legacy around the corner from me for sale, and I called the guy yesterday because the body looked really nice for a city car. 90k on the engine, 220k on the body. Only issue is a Left Cylinder Head (?), water pump and timing belt were done in the fall. The car is $1500, I'm tempted to get it and replace my 1999 Audi with 180k, but the only thing that needs supposedly is a clutch in 20k miles. What do you guys think, am I becoming a horder or is this car interesting?

SkiDog

the volvo you were looking at earlier is safer - more comfortable- precived as more costly in repairs. However Bob MC has taken great care of my turbo brick. (2002 volvo)

I was tossing up between the volvo 2002 and a subie 2005. I went with my guts and bought the volvo. So happy I did. the car has been super reliable - not super costly in repairs like everyone told me it would. thanks Bob MC!! and so safe for me and my kid.

this is comming from a nissan hardbody PU owner who dropped so much coin into that truck.
Threw a timing belt going up parley's that not only bent all my valves but also cracked a couple cylinder heads causing a 3k new engine.

Lastly the turbo has great life and just plows up LCC. I get 22 mixed MPG and 27 on HWY driving.

I am considering trading it in for another XC or a 4 runner in 2 years.

Ask inspector gaget how he likes his blue mulva ( volvo )

end of rant

CAT

Watch out for the 2.5l engines in the era of Subi. Lots around here and I've seen 5 blow head gaskets between 90 & 160 000km, which are very expensive to fix considering the value of the car with ~140 000km.

6 cyl - 3l engines, however, are considered great and not much more expensive to fuel up. You'll also save money not changing the cam belts every 90 000km as they're chain.

I have an 03 with a little over 100k. Seems fine. Heard/felt a slight clunk the other day doing a tight turn in a parking lot. was kind weird. Power steering pump might be going. It doesn't seem to like to work in the cold and hitting the end of the steering range.
Always starts up no matter how cold it is.
a/c is kinda week.
Pathfinder is probably fine, but I wouldn't buy a car that needed repairs. Could wind up being a money pit.