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Used 1997 Subaru Legacy Consumer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars
97 reviews

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4.38 out of 5 stars

about that dashboard light...

mgh, 04/29/2002
1997 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

Live saver

Epacific, 08/12/2004
1997 Subaru Legacy L 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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'

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4.63 out of 5 stars

Reliable +++

Salmo, 07/03/2003
1997 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Sedan AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I have 138,000 miles on my 1997 Outback. I just replaced the battery and have the original suspension system. Just periodic recommended maintenance has kept this an extremely reliable car. In the wintery Northeast it is a must. I was so impressed that my wife and I bought her the sedan.

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5 out of 5 stars

solid all-around car

caseo6, 09/16/2004
1997 Subaru Legacy GT 4dr Sedan AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful

I bought this car with 150000 miles on it. I was a bit leary of it at first, but I've come to like it. It was only $3600, right in my price range as it is a car for my son. The leather is in remarkable condition,as are the interior accents,power equipment, for a car with that many miles. The engine is still strong,though it hesitates slightly on take off with the auto tranny(a recall should correct this). All the paint is fine as well. It only has one problem that will cost money, the headlights have hazed over. The dealership said toothpaste will remove it.I see this car making well over 200k miles with no trouble.

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4.25 out of 5 stars

Kudos

Solution, 01/01/2006
1997 Subaru Legacy L 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 2 people found this review helpful

The car has been excellent overall. It has been reliable, the finish and other exterior pieces have held up well in Hawaii's marine environment, and the handling, while not "sporty", is just fine. The car's only weak point is the drive train for the front wheels. There seems to be a design flaw there which has necessitated work on a couple of occasions.

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