which models/engines to avoid?

[Guest jclay]

Hi all,

 

I'm hunting for a new sube, and was hoping you all could fill me in as to which model/engines i should avoid.

 

I'm looking for either a legacy or outback, but wouldn't rule out a forester. Given ther price range i'm working with @8-9 k, I think i'm looking in the '97 to '00 range, and although i currently have a '94 Legacy GT wgn, it has the awesome 2.2, so i know very little abouot the 2.5. Are there any models of car or phases of the engine to avoid? are there any engines more prone to the dreaded HG failure then others?

 

Thanks in advance for all input!

[Al_SemC]

Phase I DOHC EJ25 motors have that HG problem. They changed them over to the Phase II SOHC in '98 in Imprezas and in '99 in Legacys. The Phase II SOHC motor is nicer in that it makes its torque at a lower RPM. I still hear instances of HG blows in the Phase II's, but not nearly as many.