Should I buy this GTB?

Hi All,

New to the forums (and NZ!), looking at buying Legacy wagon manual under $7k, year 2000 onwards and under 200K kms.

GT/turbo model isn't necessary but its all that seems to be for sale on trademe, original spec also preferred (ie no crazy mods)

So I had a drive of this http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-889565850.htm last night, Seems pretty nice, although 1st gear it was pretty touchy/boost quickly so might need a tune up to smooth things out, though I've only really driven single turbo cars before so might just be me.

I'm not that familiar with turbo/import Subarus, i get the feeling that GTBs can be a bit of a ticking time bomb in terms of reliability? Am I over thinking this or is that just the modded ones i should steer clear of? Much rather a non-turbo family driven wagon, but they're pretty hard to find in manual under 200K kms and riding a bike/bus is getting old real quick

Anywho, any recommendations very welcome or what to look (our) for, also I'm guessing trademe is the go to market place?

Thanks!

Looks like as safe a buy as you'll find for that price / year / kms

If it's been run on good gas, serviced and not played with you're onto a good bet. As with literally any 270hp, second hand car there is a small gamble involved, but if I was in the market I'd definitely have it on the short list.

If anything, make sure the one you get is a rev-d (facelift) model, better yet try to find yourself a BP5 shape, they can be had for similar $$ and are a far better car in most every respect (apart from the seats)

Yeah, buy a BP5 if you can afford a little more.

http://clubsub.org.nz/forum/showthread.php?46454-FS-6500-Subaru-Legacy-B-Sport-2006-2-0-4AT

This could be a good option

Thanks for the quick reply everyone!

@Marky - thanks for the advice, how to tell if its rev-d?

@GorGasm- Yeah the BP5 are great, I have a one (2.5l NA) back in Melbourne, that would be ideal, but all that seems to be for sale are automatics which i can't stand

@ ADIKT - Daaamn, that looks really good, cheers for the find, if it was manual that would pretty much ideal.

Which leads me to.. would getting in touch with an importer be a better option if i'm just after daily driver/family wagon? I've got the feeling they deal with cars that are $12k+?

An auto turbo one will still be a far, far better drive than a manual n/a, and still a nicer car than a BH5 shape.

Rev-d - that car is one, but the applied model code will be BH-5X - the X tells you which revision it is. Giveaways are the backlight gauges and facelift exterior (the headlights, bumper are different) at a glance

Importer could be an option but don't expect to save a heap on something that age

The BH5 manual would be fine I guess. Just go into it knowing it's an old car, will feel old, won't be that fast, reliable or efficient but might be a little bit of fun.

I have a 200km BE5D and it goes OK

Try and find a BP if you can for the price you are after. I use to have a 97 twin turbo Legacy GT, and my manual 04 Legacy GT single turbo kills it in performance, reliability and pretty much every aspect. No head gasket issues either, not sure if that is a general problem with the older GT Legacy's ?