jer28

It is an 02 legacy GT sedan. It has 78,000 miles on it. Automatic transmission.

The current car is an 00 Audi A6 quattro 2.7T. It is a real pain to work on, and parts are very expensive. I do all the work on my cars, so I especially hate the Audi. The gas mileage is around 18-20 mpg.

My main needs are these things- gas mileage, reliability, comfort/ride. At least the Audi does well in the comfort/ride.....

I believe it has the 2.5 and I think that it is a normally aspirated model (I have not seen the car yet). I'd rather not have another turbo as a daily driver. I have been searching around and it seems like there are some head gasket concerns with these cars- but maybe only 99 and before (when they had a 3 layer HG)??? I read that they changed the design to a 4 layer HG in 2000.

At this kind of mileage, what will be my next maint. items? I read that the timing belt is good until 105,000 miles? Can anyone give me a price on the parts for the timing belt job (it is a very pricey job on the Audi). So maybe the automatic tranny fluid, diff fluids.

Any advice I can get ahead of time would be great. Should I bother doing a compression test? Is it easy to do on this car? What is the acceptable psi range for an engine in good condition (if I should bother doing one)?

I will continue to do more searching, but any advice is appreciated.

Flanders

iTrader: (6)

This is a completely different car than what you are used to. it's a snail. I'm not kidding, my butt has been sitting on one for 6 years.

You might need to do brakes if they haven't been done.

The headgaskets can still be a problem. There is a additive from Subaru that is designed to prevent the problem. It's not exactly stop leak. You should ask if this has been used.

You can get 25+ miles per gallon if you take it easy. I have gotten 400 miles on a tank.

I like my car but its modded and its still slow but I have fun with it.

scoobnewb007

legacy GT is usually a turbo model so if you don't want a turbo model.

I can't say if the 02 is 2.5 but the 06 and up are def. 2.5. The gas mileage on turbo cars are always on the 25hwy/19city. So if you do both you looking around 21avg (that is conservative).

I say if the car is close to your home take it to a trusty mechanic and run some comp. test and stuff. this is a peace of mind test so you don't get bent over when something goes wrong.

Flanders

iTrader: (6)

Legacy GT is not usually a turbo model in North America.

It was available for roughly 8 years before it sold with a Turbo.

DLC

There were no USDM Legacy turbo models between 1994 and 2005.

The BE GT is a 165CHP NA 2.5, and it's pretty slow stock, especially with an automatic. There are a considerable number of modifications short of a turbo that can bring the engine to life. I've got intake, cams, pulley, full exhaust and more, but still get 25+ MPG on the freeway and have fun doing it too.

LegacybeR

I think the 1997 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon Shannonville is the hottest. Much better then the 05-07 Legacy outback gt models.

LegacybeR

Whacha talkin bout bro.. the 05 LGT comes turbo.

nattybug33

if you want anything close to the Audi you'll have to buy a newer 05/06 legacy gt, awd turbocharged. i have a 05 legacy gt, around town I usually get 24.5 miles to the gallon, its a 5 speed, its good on gas as long as you stay out of the gas pedal.*L* subaru's can be easy to work on if your familiar with a true horizontally opposed engine, but if you buy a newer one it should still have at least the drive train under warranty. hope this helps.