Help Me Choose a Beater! Subaru Legacy vs Legacy

[louis110]

Hey guys I need some advice. I'm looking to replace my 2000 Chev blazer winter beater with a Subaru. I'm selling the chev for $2500 and would like something close to that price range. I've narrowed it down to these two Legacies:

1998 Legacy GT Sedan
$3900 (seller offered me $3000)
226000 km
"Hi, I m selling my Subaru for traveling reasons, 2.5 liter engine, limited edition, Is full loaded, leather and heated seats, mirror defroster, a/c just charged last summer, all season tires 80 % left, automatic transmission, new remote starter, sunroof, AWD safe and fun for winter, cheap on gas, since I have the car only use full synthetic Mobil oil.
Parts just replace not long ago : NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR, SPARK PLUGS, WINDSHIELD POWER PUMP, TIMING BELT, REPLACE CRANK KEY, CRANK PULL AND CRANK SEAL."

1996 Legacy Wagon
$3800
146000 km
"Hello everybody! I have up for sale a beautiful 1996 legacy 2.5gt with very low kms and overall in great shape. This was the first year for the 2.5gt. Call or text anytime. OPEN to OFFERS

PROS

-Phase 1 EJ25 DOHC
-Fully rebuilt engine bottom end up. Brand new race spec ACL mains/con rod bearings, Honed cylinder walls, NEW valve train, Every gasket was replaced with NEW, NEW T-belt, Alternator belts and PS belt, NEW air filter, NEW spark plugs, NEW thermostat, NEW radiator hoses.
-ABS
-AWD
-Cruise
-4 wheel disc brakes
-4 brand NEW tires (nitrogen filled)
-Electric windows
-Fog Lights
-Flushed Transmission fluid

CONS

-Tiny bit of rust on driver side rear quarter
-Windshield is not perfect but there are no cracks in the drivers view.

This thing is ready for new home and needs almost nothing to be perfect!"

I really like the GT sedan, it's got great styling and a very well put together interior (black, leather), and at $3000, that's within my budget. The wagon however makes the most sense practically speaking as it has low km's, a rebuilt motor, and lots of cargo space (not as important though) but it will be higher priced by a few hundred and doesn't appeal to me as much as the sedan does.

Opinions?

[Adler]

I say sedan if you want a more stylish/better looking, cheaper car, and the wagon if you want a fresh motor (probably a bit quicker) and more cargo room. imo I would probably go with the sedan so

1+ for the sedan

[MKIV]

Wagon for the win! Sounds like the better deal for winter beaters. My friend just got a 96 legacy wagon. Literally, two days ago.

[GTRC Admin]

I'm all for wagons! After owning 2 wagons they are definitely far, far more useful.

[JosiahP]

my votes on the wagon. you can fit so much sh!t in those!

[Xeno-Vibe]

Wagon. lower mileage better deal. Subaru head gasket issues were a big issue on the GT sedans and I suggest you avoid it.

[ColinR33]

Wagon! Def more useful plus you have lower kms with a rebuilt motor.

[louis110]

wow it looks like the wagon is the clear winner here! I still have some time to think about it but it looks like the wagon as per your suggestions.

[Wrath]

Ive got a 98 legacy gt sedan. Motor was rebuilt at 140k and is now at 210k and running strong. It does seem like the wagon is the better deal at the moment for you though. Good luck.

[louis110]

^ how do you like the car aside from a reliability standpoint? I negotiated to 3200 on the wagon, which is very fair.

[kev]

I've got a 94 Legacy wagon (2.0 TT) and it's been an awesome vehicle. $400.00 maintenance in 100,000kms.......

[NismoS-tune]

Or buy my 91 Nissan Pulsar (SR20 AWD turbo) STI/evo X/Stock R32/R33 eater. $6000. Runs well.

[louis110]

I've got a 94 Legacy wagon (2.0 TT) and it's been an awesome vehicle. $400.00 maintenance in 100,000kms.......

Holy cow, that's amazing! Was all that cost in oil changes? lol

Or buy my 91 Nissan Pulsar (SR20 AWD turbo) STI/evo X/Stock R32/R33 eater. $6000. Runs well.

As much as I love pulsars, i don't want another rhd, and 6 grand is out of my budget.

[CelicaKidd_205]

Another vote for the wagon. The EJ25 has both head gasket and piston slap issues. Usually the slap doesn't lead to any major damage and most people just ignore it as one of those "Subaru sounds", but it is there and can occasionally cause you problems. If the wagon has a rebuilt motor in it already, I'd say that's a much better buy than the higher mileage sedan.

That being said you could also look for an Impreza TS with the EJ22 engine that has neither the headgasket or the slap issues.

[louis110]

I put a deposit down on the wagon. Thanks for the advice everyone!