Update: Well looks like one of the ball joints was so toasted that the mechanics wouldn’t take it on a test drive until they replaced it. The head gasket is also gone, alternator belt needs replacing. Other than that…it may be okay. With the ball joint repair we will have “bought” this car for two grand. To do the head gasket or not to do the head gasket…clutch seems fine, brakes are good, body is good, interior is adequate, suspension is okay, in the words of one mechanic, “fix it and you’ll have a good beater” which is exactly what we wanted…but has the economy gotten to the point that “a good beater” is a 4 thousand dollar proposition?? Wow. I am amazed. It is, however a better bet than the other two she bought that lost engines and transmissions - head gaskets we can do for less than an entire power train. One mechanic said that Loyale’s typically didn’t have Subaru’s famous head gasket problem, and questioned the diagnosis, but I think it’s likely to be correct. Thoughts anyone?
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