Used 1997 Subaru Legacy Consumer Reviews
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Worth it
I bought this car after I rolled my rear wheel drive truck in the snow. I wanted something that would hold the road and it has not disappointed. The car shifts rough into second gear, but it does have 170,000 miles. I just replaced the front axle and when I first got it had to replace the NOC sensor. Something like that. If I don't sell it, I think it'll make it to 220,000 or so before anything major needs to be done to it.
1997 outback
Best car I ever owned.
Very Solid Car
I bought this car over e-bay at 85k and I now have 104k on it. I've spent $2500 since then for all the normal stuff (brakes, tires, struts, timing belt, ect,). It lives outside and since I'm always in a hurry, I drive it hard. So far, it has taken all my abuse in stride. Since it has the 5- speed, it can be fun to drive. The ride is rough, but it handles well. The rear fenders have started to rust where the wheel well meets the rear bumper. This may be due to poor care on the 1st owners part. No other rust.
about that dashboard light...
Great car in the rain/snow. Like the two previous reviewers, I had to have the alternator replaced when the car was less than three years old. I was reimbursed a year later after being informed of the recall. But now I too have the same strange non-functioning dashboard light for my heater. Another factory flaw? Also, takes a lot of airconditioning to keep it cool in summer, and the moment I turn the a/c off, the interior heats up again fairly quickly. Not thrilled with the gas mileage. It is worse than listed, though, oddly seems to have improved a bit over the last two years. Overall,though, pretty happy with the car. The alternator has been the only repair in almost 5 years.
Live saver
My '97 Subaru served me well right up till last week when, while taking a left on a green light, I got hit head on by a van going 55mph. Despite being flung across 3 lanes and having the car totaled, I was able to walk away with little more than a bruise on the knee. At 82000 miles, the car never had any maintenance issues: very reliable and useful with the rear of the wagon being used from everything from a diaper changing table to hauling cargo from Home Depot. Moreover, the designers at Subaru did an excellent job in safety: between the forward crumple zones, rigid safety cage, and airbags, I can quite literally say that the Subaru saved my life. We'