Used 1998 Subaru Legacy Wagon Consumer Reviews
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Beware
Roger, 03/15/2005
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Outback new in 1998 and enjoyed it for the first 95K miles. It was reliable and handled Minnesota winters. The first repairs were at 92K when the brake pads, rotors, and clutch cylinders were replaced. That was a good track record. Now the head gasket is blown at 95K, and I don't yet know whether there is engine damage. Unlike the Phase II engines, Subaru has no extended warranty on these head gaskets. This failure should not have happened so soon on a well maintained car.
GT Wagon - 5 speed
RSamide, 04/28/2005
1998 Subaru Legacy GT 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my first Subaru. Bought it for wagon versatility, reliability, sporty, value, Honda doesn't have wagon, and AWD was a bonus here in MN. Car has 104,000 miles. It has delivered adequately in all categories but reliability has been below my previous Hondas and Acuras. Beware of dealership performance. It has been horrendous with multiple return trips after expensive head gasket replacement. Problems started after dealer repairs. MPG 22-25.
1998 Subaru Legacy for sale near you
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Great for 5 years
boletus, 09/06/2006
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has 67,000 miles on it and the head gasket is going. Have replaced the CV boot cover at 22,000, the oil pump seals at 67,000 and some sensor switch near the timing belt. I have loved this car up until last week and now feel very betrayed by Subaru. The mileage is excellent at 25 and 29. As the dealer said when he handed me the bill for the repairs at 67,000, "Well, except for the head gasket, everything looks just great."
6 year review
etad52, 04/01/2007
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought used. 3 years old and 34000 miles. Avg hwy 27mpg. 2 problems, exhaust heat shield weld broke and rattles and like previous posts, head gasket gone at 95k. Was losing a third of my anti-freeze. Yet couldn't find out where it was going. Not on the ground or in the oil??? Other than that mechanic said engine is good, Cylinder pressure test 155-160. Leakage 2%. Except for the engine repair this car has served me well. I have done several 20 hour road trips at 75 mph. Including a DEN-IND-DEN run during the blizzard in Dec 06. Must have picked up a few hundred pounds of ice yet the car was stable and predictable. MPG dropped to 21 hwy.
98 Subaru Outback 5 speed manual
John , 04/28/2007
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Pros: unbelievable in the snow. 2.5 boxer engine: great low end torque, decent fuel economy, good performance for a 4 cylinder. Handles very well. Excellent roof rack. Easy to change the oil. Cons: piston slap: dealer replaced pistons under warrantee. Alternator went and was also replaced under recall. I had to replace the clutch slave cylinder and hose. Good car, but watch out for blown head gaskets (although this didn't happen to me).
Great car
Kayaker, 08/22/2007
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my 1998 Subaru Outback for almost 10 years and 235,000 miles. It has been an excellent, dependable car. I have just been rear-ended for the 3rd time. I am afraid the insurance company will total it. I enjoyed this car because it was very dependable (it never broke down on me), good gas mileage (over 25 mpg), four wheel drive, and carrying space. My only complaint is the front seats were not very comfortable for long trips.
Love My Car
Profswife1998, 05/05/2003
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback Limited 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I owned a 91 Subaru, sold it to my sister and bought my Outback. My old one is still running strong with over 220,000 miles on it. The cup holders in the front and back are kinda cheap and could have been placed better. I wish subaru would come out with a mini-van quick, because my family is growing and I need a mini-van, but do not want to part with my Subie. If It comes to that, I will definately buy a brand new Subaru when my kids are grown. Love My Beautiful Subaru.
98 Outaback Wagon
wengr18707, 01/19/2003
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Subaru has a nice quiet smooth ride and handles quite well around curves. I have gotten good gas mileage up to 30 on a trip in the summer and about 26 locally in the summer, the mileage drops alot in the winter to about 22 locally. I had the dealer change both the front main and rear main seals under warranty. Only because the were dripping slighly. Also the heater selecter switch light burned out and they repalced that. My main only concern is the noisy engine it runs fine but is really noisy at cold starts then gets a little quiter when warm. I like the room and utility use of this vehicle and I just turn up the sterio to overcome the engine noise.
Great, reliable car
EMM07, 04/28/2008
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Inherited the '98 Subaru Legacy wagon from my parents, and just got rid of it last month. The car was GREAT in the snow, and amazingly reliable overall. It did seem to have some problems with the alternator/belt, but never to the point that it refused to start or run. Interior cargo space was much appreciated; with the fold-down seats it could hold furniture or an entire dorm room worth of stuff. Even after 10 years and 167000 (fairly hard) miles, the car was still running at ~24 MPG and was in fairly good shape. Had it been better maintained early on, I would still have it now. It would make a great family car or college student's vehicle, especially in a cold-weather area.
01 Goat mover
Caroline B Mitchell , 07/11/2022
1998 Subaru Legacy L 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Love my Subaru Legacy Wagon. I have 198,689 miles and still going good. I use it as a farm truck and haul goats and hay in it as well as everyday use.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
It was Ok
Josh, 09/20/2009
1998 Subaru Legacy Outback 4dr Wagon AWD
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
After I totaled my first car my grandma gave me her old Subaru; she loved the car it was easy for her to drive and she had trouble parting with it. I drove the car a year and totaled it as well, I was only going 10 mph when I rear ended a Jeep Cherokee, afterward I got the car fixed, and it was driving pretty good, I drove from Va, to NY and back in 2 days with no problems, now the car is in the shop an they think the head gasket has blown, I think ill be buying and Audi next.