# How much would you pay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735 "2008-11-06T20:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jkolasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jkolasa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkolasa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/1 "2008-11-06T20:44:32Z")
I need a new head gasket on a 2002 Subaru Impreza. Can’t do it myself. The dealer wants $1100. Is that reasonable? Thanx! jk ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/2 "2008-11-06T20:48:45Z")
Yup. But don’t take my word for it, call some independent shops. They’ll generally be less expensive than dealer shops. ---
**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:** [November 6, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/3 "2008-11-06T21:02:11Z")
For a dealer it sounds reasonable. It is absolutely unbelievable Subaru produced such a terrible motor. Supposedly yours was engineered not to have the issue… I love my Subaru Impreza WRX but have the smaller turbo engine that seems to be immune to the problem. ---
**Author:** ![jkolasa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@jkolasa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkolasa)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/4 "2008-11-06T21:33:50Z")
Yeah, I love that car. It’s got 132,000 miles, handles a 70 miles/day commute, and has killed two deer. In 4 years, I’m thinking about a Forrester or Outback. jk ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/5 "2008-11-06T22:04:42Z")
If you are planning to keep it another four years, I think you should spend the $1,100 and get it done. Andrew, is this a design flaw or is it a problem with long-life collant like with some GM vehicles? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/6 "2008-11-06T23:10:38Z")
> Can’t do it myself. I don’t know…can you?? What mechanical work have you ever done on a car??? Do you have the necessary tools?? I have the knowledge and tools to do a head gasket. But it’s not something I’d like to tackle. I just don’t have the time. Expect to spend a whole weekend. And that’s not counting possible machine shop work. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/7 "2008-11-07T00:57:31Z")
There’s a few unknowns here. Any coolant mixing with the engine oil? If so, potential problems. The heads could quite possibly need machining and the water pump, timing belt, and tensioners have to be considered along with a new thermostat. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/8 "2008-11-07T12:04:03Z")
It is a design flaw due to thermal expansion in the head and bad gasket material choice. Note this problem is exclusive to the 2.5L engine(non turbo). For the 1990-present engines 1.8L, 2.2L, 2.0L(WRX), 2.5L turbo they do not have the issue. Current 2005+ 2.5L owners have not incurred the issue but most engines are under 80k so hard to to tell if the problem has resolved. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-much-would-you-pay/21735/9 "2008-11-07T12:17:16Z")
Subaru is more time since it has two head gaskets not one. However this case it may only be one that has failed. Here is a post on how to fix one: [http://home.comcast.net/~skipnospam/Head\_gasket\_replacement.html](http://home.comcast.net/~skipnospam/Head_gasket_replacement.html)