# Buying Car with Rebuilt Engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** outback, subaru\ **Created:** [June 8, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031 "2010-06-08T03:48:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![u2glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/838e76/32.png) [@u2glory](https://community.cartalk.com/u/u2glory)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/1 "2010-06-08T03:48:28Z")
In general, is it a bad idea to buy a car with a rebuilt engine? I have heard those types of cars are more prone to engine leaks, misplaced bolts, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/2 "2010-06-08T03:55:14Z")
The big question is REBUILT BY WHO??? Generally speaking, if a car needs a new engine, you are better off just buying a new car. If the engine is worn out, chances are the entire car is worn out. Nobody should be paying serious money for Subaru’s with much over 100K miles on them…The value just isn’t there… ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/3 "2010-06-08T15:09:37Z")
Agree; if the engine needed rebuilding, the rest of the cars was likely abused or neglected as well. There’s rebuilt and rebuilt. The seller will not reveal if the rebuilding shop was a Mickey Mouse operation. ---
**Author:** ![karguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@karguy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/karguy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/4 "2010-06-08T15:19:35Z")
I agree with Doc and Caddy. I’d try and do some digging on who did the rebuild and why. If you get a song and dance routine, walk away. ---
**Author:** ![u2glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/838e76/32.png) [@u2glory](https://community.cartalk.com/u/u2glory)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/5 "2010-06-08T16:22:49Z")
Thank you all for your feedback. The owner who is selling the car said that the engine blew a head gasket and she decided it was wiser and more economical in the long run to just replace the engine than to fix the head gasket. The car is a 1999 Subaru Outback… I have done a little research and it seems this was a problem with Subarus of that era. Any other advice or suggestions, given this info? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/6 "2010-06-08T18:01:56Z")
I general how is the engine rebuild industry doing? It does seem that the glory days have passed and much more emphasis is placed on other systems. I always wondered if I made a mistake by not getting involved with Subaru, nice little nich market, and we really do get a lot of posts dealing with Subaru issues. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-car-with-rebuilt-engine/50031/7 "2010-06-08T19:46:16Z")
If you are interested in a low priced Subaru I would recommend skipping the Outback. A 1990-1998 Legacy uses the reliable 2.2L which does not use the trouble prone 2.5L engine.If you want an Outback(with revised 2.5L) fast forward to 2005-present but price of course jumps.