# Is a 1999 Subaru Legacy Limited Wagon a good idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** legacy, subaru\ **Created:** [December 13, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633 "2010-12-13T02:25:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Noknowledgeaboutcars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Noknowledgeaboutcars](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Noknowledgeaboutcars)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/1 "2010-12-13T02:25:53Z")
Hello- My Husband & I are in need of a new car. We live in the upper mid-west & are thinking about a 1999 Subaru Legacy Limited Wagon with 46,500 miles on it for $7,500 is this a good idea? ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/2 "2010-12-13T02:36:52Z")
[Edmunds.com](http://Edmunds.com) is a great website for evaluating used cars. Especially useful is the “reviews” section with reviews written by actual owners. Look for mention of systematic problems, for example overheating in certain models/years of Subarus. Here’s the link for 1999 Legacy wagons: > **[Read consumer reviews for Used 1999 Subaru Legacy Wagons](https://www.edmunds.com/subaru/legacy/1999/wagon/consumer-reviews/)** > > Read what 58 verified drivers of the Used 1999 Subaru Legacy Wagon had to say about it on Edmunds.com. Or write your own review. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/3 "2010-12-13T02:40:25Z")
PS–As you will see from the reviews, this model year suffered from a head gasket problem that resulted in overheating. ---
**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/4 "2010-12-13T02:45:43Z")
Low miles but 12 years old. You’d better factor in a $2,000 head gasket replacement. ---
**Author:** ![jesmed1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jesmed1/32/2097_2.png) [@jesmed1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jesmed1)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/5 "2010-12-13T02:56:04Z")
I suggest looking at a '99-'01 Honda CR-V with all-wheel drive. If you can find one in good condition with under 100,000 miles, buy it. Should be in the $6000-$8000 range depending on year, mileage & condition. These are highly reliable vehicles if previous owner did regular maintenance. Only weakness is, the engine valves MUST be adjusted every 30k miles. Some owners neglect this, and suffer engine damage. Model years 2002 and later had A/C compressor problems, so stick with 2001 and earlier. Read owners reviews on Edmunds. ---
**Author:** ![twotone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@twotone](https://community.cartalk.com/u/twotone)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/6 "2010-12-13T03:16:21Z")
Worth $4,000 tops if it passes PPI with no issues. Subtract whatever work it needs from $4k and make your offer. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/7 "2010-12-13T04:14:44Z")
Way overpriced for a Subaru and it’s not a good idea. Other than the perpetual head gasket problem there are often overlooked issues such as when the valve lash was last checked (99% odds say that it’s never) and a timing belt/water pump/tensioner job, which can be a little pricy. That timing belt is 12 years old if it has not been replaced and that would mean it’s been on borrowed time for half a dozen years. ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/8 "2010-12-13T14:02:16Z")
Great car for $2500. $7500? ROTFL! That means Rolling On The Floor Laughing! ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-a-1999-subaru-legacy-limited-wagon-a-good-idea/58633/9 "2010-12-13T15:11:30Z")
With the low mileage Edmonds puts the dealer sale price at about $4,500 for a clean car. For $7,500 you should get the dealer to put in new head gaskets, a timing belt, water pump, brand new tires, a complete 4 wheel brake job, new battery, all new drive belts, new heater and radiator hoses, and change out all the fluids (coolant, brake, oil, transfer case, differentials, power steering). These are the main issues with this car at this age. For the sale price the dealer has on the car it should be nothing less than perfect, “outstanding” condition. Even with all this done you have a car with 12 year old CV joints, struts, steering rack, etc. If the dealer isn’t willing to do all this work, offer about $4,000 for the car and see where the negotiation goes.