Pretty much everything under the hood it seems! The motor has been the biggest headache...
Had to replace all the seals and gaskets on the motor.
Replaced old faulty coolant temp. switch.
Many other problems that made the car inoperable!
When I first bought this car, even with high mileage, it ran very well. I assumed that it would need odds and ends, which it did need. I replaced the tires, put new front brakes on it, had the timing belt changed, and got the oil changed.
Even with new brakes on the car, the braking is horrible. I mean REALLY bad! No matter your speed, you can slam the brakes on with no sharp response, tire squeal, or even response from the ABS. Something doesn't seem right.
It was soon after that I realized what a complete piece of junk the car was! After driving the car around the first week, I realized 3 of the 4 shocks were completely shot. On the highway the car handled like it was being suspended by bungee cords.
I also began having trouble getting the shifter out of park. I would literally have to sit there for 5min. or so and fuss with the shifter before it would finally release. Simple problem. A small device for the shifter in the console had lost its lubrication with time and needed to be re-lubed.
Thank goodness I didn't sink money into replacing the shocks because soon after the "check engine" light came on. The coolant temp. sensor had gone bad. A common problem on these cars. It was cheap, so no big deal. Just very annoying!
About a week later the engine started knocking on and off. One day it would run smoothly. The next day it would knock. I took it in to be looked at and I was basically told not to worry about it because Subaru engines make noises like that when they get old. So I didn't worry about it and continued driving the car around.
Shortly after that, smoke began to pour out from under the hood whenever the car was driven. Back to the mechanic it went. Diagnosis: leaking gaskets and seals. I spent close to $1,000 for that major repair.
Not too long after that the car began running horribly. So bad that it could not maintain it's normal idle speed and would stall. It was then difficult to crank back up. The knocking became worse and the stalling became worse. Back to the mechanic yet again. Diagnosis: stuck lifter! I am royally fed up with this hunk of junk. Back to Volvo for me! Keep in mind all this happened within 1,500 miles of driving.
Besides all of the nightmares this car gave me, it was not a good driving car. The seats were hard and uncomfortable. The all-wheel drive REALLY saps the cars power. The engine always revs way too darn high before it changes gears and the slightest increase on the gas pedal induces a downshift no matter your speed. A very dissapointing car and will not buy again or recommend.
Shouldn't you have noticed the horribly "hard" seats during the test drive?
Same with shocks. Those DO wear out after awhile and its expected that you'll have to replace them eventually. Same with all the little things you mention. The fact that the engine was near the end of its life is totally your fault.
Why did you buy such a beat used car? You should stop complaining about a perfectly good car that you bought stupidly with mega miles.
The AWD does not sap the power as you state. My impreza is more powerful than many cars in its class with near 300 horsepower (with turbo I know) and near 300 foot/lbs of torque. Mind you it's a 2004, but my parents owned a legacy of the same year and I got to drive it occasionally, and it seemed perfectly normal. You probably had no performance because the used, beat to crap car had a failing tranny.
The car was purchased with 190,000 miles. It sounds as if it was worn out.
I have a 1995 legacy wagon witch also has 193,000 miles on it and it still runs strong. even with the front seals leaking, rotted doors and a bad starter. I don't why you complain because you should have noticed all the things that were wrong with it when you test drove it.
Hello
i have a 1995 legacy wagon/ all the seals leaked the clutch went O2 sensor went bad rear shocks replaced and timing belt also/
new plugs and wires every year
the car passed 300000 and runs like a horse/ power and fuel mileage/
you can't even hear it idle
best car I ever got.
We bought a 1996 Outback used just last year. Yes we had to put money into it, but it was well worth it. Number one the front oil seals go bad and require the seals and timing belts to be replaced, period get over it. these cars go well over 300K miles easily with proper maintenance. You probably ran the lowest octane gas you could find, bad choice these engines run on 93 octane USE IT. If the label inside the gas door says premium then use it. Any other octane will cause carbon build up low gas mileage and all the other engine problems you mentioned. As for the sensor they do wear out and need to be replaced. The car was used so you should have expected to put money into it. Stop complaining and get over it. We replaced the gas tank, front seals, oil pan seals, rear shocks, radio, but still got a great deal. When buying a used car remember, Unless you knew the people personally you have no idea on how well the car was maintained. If you want perfection buy new, but even then expect to spend on repairs. at least with used most of the bugs have been worked out.
I have to agree with the others. I have a 1995 Legacy LSi with over 230,000 miles. I take it in once a year to have various work done--nothing extraordinary--and it keeps on truckin'. Toughest little car I have ever owned. I'll probably drive it for another year and think about purchasing a new one--especially if there is a hybrid model soon.
I bought a 95 Legacy L AWD for 200.00. Put a few new parts on it (gaskets, seals), cleaned the pistons... the thing runs like it's brand new and I've put 2,000 miles on it.
The gas isn't all that great and I can't open the hatchback, but hell, it's way worth the 200 bucks.
I hate to say it, but I don't think I'll ever buy another new car, let alone a domestic. As long as it gets me to work for a while, I'm good.
I just purchased a '95 Legacy LS for a $100, and the only thing buggered up was the tranny isn't shifting properly.
It sat for a few months through the winter and one of my rear brakes seized.
Otherwise it's perfect; engine runs smoothly, and not a spec of rust on it. 250 000 km's on the car.
It's survived since '95 in Canadian east coast weather. Tough little car.
400 bucks for a tranny I dug up for it. Boom, car is on the road and kicking.
I knew the issues ahead of time, the fella just wanted it off his hands.
I've just bought a 1995 Subaru Impreza 1995 L with 160,000 on the clock. When I first serviced the car with 20w 50 oil (as it's summer and I live in Houston) new plugs etc, the car ran great, idles real nice, I had to replace both halfshafts (CV joints) and I replaced the bottom ball joints in the process.
I had to drop the exhaust manifold to get to passenger side axle pin. I understand that's the oxygen sensor in there. When driving it to Firestone to have the camber and tracking reset I noticed when in park (idle) a knocking noise from the front underside, comes and goes??? Does anybody have any idea as I am disappointed now. What are the symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor? As I may have dinted it!. Please help! Set a side that its in great shape; I was always a big VW Scirocco fan; these engines are meant to be good stuff and hard.
I have a 95 legacy L wagon AWD. I've never had a better car. The seats sit very well. It drives like a dream. 220,000 miles runs great. I guess you can get a lemon in any car.
I have a 96 Legacy LSi, bought it at 225000km, had it for over a year and now I'm at 260000km.
Since I've owned this car, I've bought tires and a battery. That's all it needed which is regular use.
Right now the coolant sensor is acting up, so when I find the time to change it I will, but it still runs good... just bad idling in warm weather.
Now for the first post of this thread, you really should have noticed these things... and I don't know what happened to your motor, but I've been driving the crap out of mine and it still has high power.
It's not turbo or anything, but I can easily make her squeal (tires are due). For those who are wondering how to make an AWD spin tires, well I found out you can make your car FWD. It is for towing purposes, yet it does not damage anything and been running like that for a couple months now. There is a fuse holder above the passenger side suspension pillar, just insert a fuse and a FWD light appears on your dash and voila! It is possible to save on fuel this way, although it is debatable and not my purpose.
One advantage is if you are rolling on unevenly used tires. Your car being AWD will try to balance your wheels speed and force to achieve so. FWD mode lets you have different tires which is my case since I had a blow out in a pot out. Well hopefully someone will benefit of this information for this great car. Can't kill a boxer engine!
It's kind of what you expect to get for buying a car with that many miles on it? Up until a few weeks ago when I had an accident, my Subaru 1995 Legacy Wagon L ran beautiful. Yes there was an oil leak on it at one point, and the starter and alternator were replaced, but it's the cost of repair that you EXPECT to have on a car like this. It's a normal, ordinary cost.
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