witzkim

Thanks to all of you for your input. I only wish my computer hadn't crashed shortly my post. I just now got my computer back up making it possible to read your posts. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me- my husband gave the mechanic the go ahead on a complete rebuild job. I found out when he came to me for the money to go pick up the heads and oil pump at another shop in Placerville. I had been telling him all along that I wanted to see a a detailed written diagnosis of what he had found, and then a detailed estimate with a breakdown of expected parts and labor for the job BEFORE we give an OK! Because I had nothing in writing, I didn't fork over any cash. I instead suggest that we should call & see if we could pay for "those parts" with our Am. Express Credit Card before driving to Placerville.(That was Friday- our ride didn't show in time so we didn't make it). Like I said before I am not an idiot, (and I used to work front office at an auto repair shop) so I'm familiar with my rights as a consumer to recieve a written estimate that I need to sign authorizing specific repairs before the auto shop begins those repairs. It's just good business practice anyway. So today, (before my computer was up) my husband came to me insisting I give him the $1,000 cash so he could give it to his friend, who came to our house to pick it up for his brother who is the mechanic and owns the shop, because they are going to drive to Placerville themselves tomorrow to pickup the parts so he can finish the job and get the vehicle back to us. Needless to say I'm livid that I still have received nothing in writing and rather than it for me, my husband yells because "I shouldn't worry about it" "we're not going to get screwed" and he "trusts his friend" and "so should I"-- FAMOUS LAST WORDS!!! I quickly wrote up a detailed proof of cash payment for the parts with the name of shop and told my husband it needed to be signed the shop owner and returned to me to get the cash, along with a matching cash recieved for his records. I recieved my signed receipt back within the hour. At this point, I've been carless for nearly 2 weeks/ I'm down $1000/ My car is undrivable and in pieces/ I still don't have my written estimate/ and I've stopped talking to my husband. So tomorrow, I will break my silence and attempt to keep my cool while I try to relay some of the information and suggestions that you all have been so kind to share. Hopefully it's not too late to look into the EJ22 swap. I'll let you know if I've convinced my husband that there are other Subaru resources out there and if we need anything or decide to sell it. Or maybe I should just divorce him and then I'd only be out half as much-- Just Kidding. .

I've got a 1998 Subaru Legacy GT limited 2.5 Sedan with 170,000 miles on it. My daughter drove it home from school (2.5 miles) making a horrendous noise. Had a mechanic who "specializes in Subarus" come and look at it to diagnose- after repetatively starting and checking eventually the vehicle stopped running altogether. He advised that he believed that the timing belt broke but if I towed it to his shop he would be able to tear it down to make sure no further damage. Estimate approx. $800-$1,000 to R & R belt, pulley(s), tensioner and water pump. Once at his shop and after further investigation he advised more damage and recommended replace heads, oil pump, timing belt stuff, and he would completely rebuild the engine for approx. $2800.00 or he would buy the vehicle as is from me for $800.00. He claims that because this vehicle is a high demand vehicle and that after putting a new engine in it it would be "like new" and I would have no problem getting $4500-$5000 for it if I chose to sell it. The car otherwise is in very good condition interior and exterior (only has a couple of minor dings on passenger door panel and scraped paint on bumper), well taken care (of excluding ignoring recommended replacement of timing belt prior to 100,000 miles). It is bright red in color and I just sunk $800 for 4 new all season tires less than 2,000 miles ago.I may be female,but I.'m not totally ignorant when it comes to cars except in this case i'm not sure what to do. 1. Replace engine and keep the car for my own hoping to drive it another 170,000 miles. 2. Take the $800 and put it toward a newer used vehicle for my daughter who is going off to college, but insists that "now she wants anything but a Subaru Legacy" (She's still learning that all vehicles need to be maintained and sometimes it gets expensive"). (Equalling a total loss.) 3. Sink the $3,000 into it trusting mechanic that I'll be able to turn around and easily sell it walking away with $1500-$2000 to put towards another vehicle. Would the resale value really be that high after rebuilding the engine and replacing heads with new? I'm so frustrated right now- I'm sharing my car wuth daughter, luckily for the sharing part I work seasonally at a ski resort and I'm not working now. Unluckily I'm not working now, so money is really tight, and majority of savings were supposed to go to help pay for her college. [Note she is working 2 jobs and enrolled fulltime at the community college and does help contribute financially.] This amount of money to spend at this time is so much, I would just feel better if I had some other unbiased opinions regarding the costs quoted and suggested retail prices by people who are up on Subaru issues and have nothing to gain by lying to me, (not that I've ever been lied to a mechanic before haha). I do believe he's giving me a good Price on the work. All I have to do is drive 100 miles to pick up and pay for the heads and a new oil pump and bring to him. lease any advice would be greatly appreciated, and of course I need to make a decision ASAP.