I had one of those pre 2000's.
Issues with leaky head gaskets (at 80,000 miles) and worn bearings/cv joints (95,000) and then at 140,000 miles the all wheel drive started to fail. Went to two wheel drive and drove it for another 10,000 miles and then gave it away.
2 years later I still see it on the roads.
All in all a good car. Those fixes were less than 300.oo each and no other problems.
Great in the snow, but not as fun as my old chevette with bald tires.
Comfortable on long drives.
Lots of room.

Liked it better than the Forester I have now.
And I also don't give a schlitz about who else drives one - or their taste in women..

My friend just had his head gasket go out on his '98 with 160k
They seem small and cheaply made to me, wouldn't buy one.

Cindy & I considered one as a grocery hauler years ago...as transportation, the reputation seems solid. Why didn't we buy one? Several reasons...main one was the salesman kept talking to me when I told him it was going to be Cindy's car...and...another bad fit for my size...just couldn't imagine being comfortable after driving it a long distance. Also, I couldn't see traffic lights by merely glancing up...roofline in the way when I was 1st at the light...

By sight, it looks like the Forester has a higher roof line. I'm not sure though without the stats in front of me.

Very well could be. I haven't looked at them in years...

The new ones are cool. Not nearly as boxy, more powerful, and a lot cheaper than the Outback. They look more like a little Mercedes SUV, than the wagon-type look of the Outback.

I have a 2000 Outback limited with 220k on it. Runs awesome! I will make you a hell of a deal if you are interested! I have too many cars.

Great cars, we've owned ~6 subarus over the years.

The 99's and earlier had some headgasket issues, but thats all I've heard.

In the snow? You ever watch WRC? Its kinda like that :)

I'm quite surprised that not many have mentioned the brake caliper issue. If you search for Suby threads on the net there are pages of complaints and Suby just stonewalls owners. I finally had to spend some big bucks for heavy duty calipers about 6 months ago and so far I'm OK. I musta gone thru six sets of OEM calipers in the past four years or so. Otherwise I love the car.

- what years have the brake caliper issue?

- when did they go to the SOHC motor? what years have the 2.5L instead of the 2.2L?


and.... does that great price include delivery to Oregon? I cannot promise you a ride in my 911, but I will let you help me put the front suspension back on...

Mine is the 2.5. Cant promise free delivery but I am certainly well qualified to put your front suspension back on SmileWavy

free beer...

The beer sounds good but it is the 40 hours in a subaru that dont :)
PS< The nickname for the car is "The LCV".........Lesbian Cruising Vessel

subies EAT catalytic converters...and they are $$$. we sell 1000 or more a year for these 2.5 subies.

LCV.........Lesbian Cruising Vessel

- I used to have a lesbian roommate... not that hot tho.

Brother in law is on his second one , he was forced off the highway coming back from The Grand Canyon, rolled it with his father inside, a few bumps and bruises but both survived. He loves it and went straight back to the same one.

We rented an Outback wagon a couple of years ago to drive in the mountains of Colorado and Utah on vacation. It was a great car, pretty fast, handled well, lots of room. I thought at the time - if they made a WRX STi version of the wagon similar to the Audi S wagons they wouldn't be able to keep up with the demand. :D I'd buy one.

I owned a 98 Legacy GT 2.5 for 8 years - changed the brake pads and timing belt - that's it. Least expensive maintenance record of any car I have ever owned.

Love subbies!

- does this apply to all years?

it doesn't seem to have been picked up by the CU surveys....

any idea what causes it?

Funny. In over five years of Subaru ownership and reading Subaru boards, the only catalytic converter issues I've heard of are people who swap out parts of their exhaust system for high-flow or catless alternatives and have to deal with the CEL's.