MedigoFlame's now dead 97 Outback

I've been thinking of posting this once I got my 1997 Subaru Legacy Outback from my uncle. I've borrowed it from my uncle in the past, so I knew how it'd be once I finally got to own it as my own. Had my license for a year and been a bit impatient in owning my own car... Back to the car... It's had quite a history, I suppose (Ownership history) :

• Originally bought brand new by my father's old boss
• Sold to my dad for a couple hundred I suppose (can't remember how much exactly)
• It was mainly meant to be my uncle's car when he got his license (moved to the U.S. a couple years ago.)
• My uncle then moved to Texas for about a year, so he gave it to my older brother during his senior year in high school.
• My uncle moved back to Maine and my brother returned the car once he left for college. (My brother got my aunt's 1999 Honda Accord sedan recently after she got a new car)
• And now, present time, my uncle was looking for a car for $2k and ended up with a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder. Resulting in him passing down the Subaru to me! (Got it on Sunday 10/9/11)

It currently has 157,411 miles on the odometer. Doesn't sound bad for a Subaru, however it hasn't been given much care.

Here are some pictures of my '97 Outback (washed it today!) :



Early 2000s car phone!

A dent from when my uncle lived downtown in the not so nice neighborhood..

Tried to take a picture of the wheel well rust, however the digital camera focused on the wheel... :/



My dad's 2005 Toyota Sienna. (Aka: Party Van! Really good factory speakers. This is what I've been driving ever since I got my license, which is sadly one of the vehicles that I'm mostly used to.)



My mom's ever so dull 2003 Toyota Camry LE. (Bought out of state in New Hampshire since none of the Maine dealerships had the color, model, and price my parents wanted.)



I don't have any pictures of my brother's 1999 Honda Accord though...not like it's interesting anyways. ^_^

Should I be blurring out the license plates? I feel like it's something I should do...just not sure.

For the Subaru, I do plan on getting it fixed... My uncle hasn't had the time to give it much love. I'm not really an expert on automotive mechanics, but this is what I can describe about the problems with it.

• At idle the entire car vibrates (new engine mounts?)
• Automatic transmission shifts are rough (like being punched in the back X_X)
• For some reason when the front passenger window is moved downwards, the door feels like it's moving outwards.
• Has claw marks on the inside of the rear passenger doors from the original owner's dog.
• Suspension probably needs to be fixed, feels a bit stiff at times. Along with some shaking every time I slowly turn, like turning at a stop sign.
• Steering would need alignment, slightly tilted to the right to drive straight.
• Feels weak on power... Probably needing some new fluids.

Not sure about any future modifications. If it's really worth doing, but I would like to do some. Any suggestions? Just thinking about turning into a daily rally car to battle the Maine weather. 💡

Future Ideas:
-New HID headlights? Current headlights seem awfully dark...
-Weight loss, of course.
-If ever possible...an overhaul?

Wow that Outback looks like its defiantly been there and done that. Reminds me of my car (also first) my dad's 1998 Toyota Tacoma . I start driving in a week or so. My truck has been there and done that too but luckily it doesn't have any real problems mechanically. Esthetically yes but no rust since I'm in Arizona.

Yeah, in Maine, rust is a big issue getting a used car. The Subaru's actually got a really long pinstripe on the left side due to the "nice" side of the city along with paint swaps. Got some nice orange paint on the rear passenger door. But my Subaru did come with another great extra...beaded panda and dolphin things that hang off the rear view mirror! My uncle's Pathfinder that he bought had a LOT of rust. It was on the side step, rear and front bumper, and on the wheel wells. I actually took pictures of the rust spots on it. >_>

What kind of MPGs are you getting? I have a 2000 Outback sedan and I'm averaging under 20mpg.

To be honest, I don't really know. Especially the fact that my fuel gauge doesn't work. ^_^;;; So...yeah, sorry. It's one of those fuel gauges that likes to go up at random times. :/

Bit of an update... Maine got hit by the nor'easter yesterday. It was around 6PM or so when it hit, while I was at work. Got out of work find my car covered in slushy snow

Tried to take a picture of how snowy my street was, but forgot to turn off the flash...

Around 1AM this morning, heard a large cracking sound. Thinking it was just some tree branch somewhere else... Only to wake up and find that it had fallen on my car. Luckily it ended up to be some scratches.
What was left after we got the car unpinned from the branch.

And the scratches that are on the roof now... (camera sucks at focusing on things... X_X)

Really sucks about those scratches, but I suppose it's nothing a $10 bottle of touch-up paint can't fix

Awesome Outback you've got there, by the way 👍

I wish it was mine.

Do any saweet snow doriftu?

Nice for a first car! What engine has it got? The 2.5?

FordMKIVJ5

Nice for a first car! What engine has it got? The 2.5?

Click to expand...

Thanks! It's a 2.5, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot less than the original 165 horsepower engine by now. 0-20mph at the lights in a while... Loss to a Ford Escape that wasn't even competing with me.

Cale

Do any saweet snow doriftu?

Click to expand...

I would try to drift it, but...due to it's condition. It already has enough mechanical issues that I don't really want to increase with some abuse. :/

Mark II Blit

Really sucks about those scratches, but I suppose it's nothing a $10 bottle of touch-up paint can't fix

Awesome Outback you've got there, by the way 👍

I wish it was mine.

Click to expand...

My friend gave me the same suggestion to fix the scratches. It shouldn't be too hard to find some paint of similar color. Or even exact. Thanks for the 👍!