AggressiveTuna

Every compression gauge will read differently. Generally you want no more than 10% variation between cylinders. I started saving up a couple bucks a month when I tested mine at around 205K at 140, 130, 140, 120 on cylinders 1-4 in that order. It made appreciably less boost than it should have and burned a lot of oil. When my car went through a half quart of oil after just under a full tank of gas, I parked the car and bought a beater and removed insurance on the Legacy. Saved up a couple grand and accelerated the engine rebuild timeline. My valve stem seals were shot and my piston rings didn’t hold much oil back. Others experience burnt valves often as well. My valve clearance was extremely tight but my valvetrain appeared fine when all removed.

Thanks Pleides. Compression test came back at 124 123 120 and 114 for 1-4. Leak down 20-25%. I told him I couldnt meet the 7500 asking and he said he has some other offers on the table.

Does cyl 4 scare you? I know its the hot one so it makes sense its worse, but a -10 difference seems large to me. Leak down also seems large, but mechanic didnt seem concerned about either. It does have 188k..

Thanks for the wealth of information! Im getting a PPI and compression test on Monday, went and checked it out myself yesterday. Couldn't find a thing wrong mechanically, turbo and engine felt great. Hopefully the mechanic finds the same result.

Anyone have experience with getting these compression tests done on these cars? Mechanic mentioned should be above 115. He might be able to help me interpret too, but is it a 'good or bad' result or is it more granular than that? Such as compression is fantastic, like new; or its fine for its age; its got 10k left before you start to lose power; its ticking time bomb...

Personal experience here would be great to help me price the car after the result.

Thank you!!

This is great advice, thanks. Any experience with price for these? Looking around, 7.5k seems like a great deal, but not if its 'any day until a new shortblock and turbo have to go in'.

That seems like major surgery, and could drive the all in price upwards of 13k I imagine.

He mentions the oil burn in a separate email at 1qt every 3000 miles, a qt every 500 miles seems insane! 1qt/3kmi sound reasonable or do you think hes exaggerating?

Thanks again! Glad I checked here..

Cruising these threads on these cars makes me think this spec B with 188k miles is just a mile away from a complete engine failure, but maybe people only post when there is a problem...

I am new to subaru but super excited to get in a gen 4 legacy. The price on this one makes me hesitant, but it seems like hes done quite a bit of serious maintenance and most of it reasonably recently. The clutch and water pump seem to be about due though.

Would greatly appreciate any advice from someone who knows what they are talking about, either 'stay the hell away' or 'Just check these things' would be awesome!

Going to be a daily driver, but daily might be aggressive. I don't commute to work so more of a fun car that ill take when the other ride is busy.

Thanks!

https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/d/loveland-rare-2006-subaru-legacy-gt/7355424089.html

Hi, I hope this is the right place for this kind of post. This legacy I came across last week got me super excited and put me down an research rabbit hole on these Legacys. Now its all I can look for. I've driven many subarus but this would be my first to own.

Would love and really appreciate opinions and advice on what to look for and what to ask about during an inspection. I am certainly not new to cars but i've mainly stayed in the older American and German lanes. Most of my research on these has pointed me toward things hes already taken care of, and looking at comps on the market this feels like a good deal. Hoping you guys have some input on what could be red flags for these guys.

Pumped to get in one soon!

Thanks!

https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/d/loveland-rare-2006-subaru-legacy-gt/7355424089.html