Project "I bought a cheap Subaru, now what?"

It all started with "Here, YOU deal with it!" "So... you don't care what happens to this car?" "Nope. Make it go away."

$50 later, I own this. 1996 Subaru Outback wagon. Auto. 52k miles. Been sitting since 2011 according to the inspection sticker. Looks great, runs great. No brakes due to rotted lines. Looks significantly less great underneath. So now wtf do I do with this thing? Dump it as is? Fix it and sell it? Fix it and keep it? IDK. Help.

The 1/4 panels

THE HEADGASKETS. On a 2.5 quad cam Subaru. DRY.

Pefect rockers...

But then this is where things get ugly...

So, what do? Any advice on brake lines? Never done it...

Fix it and sell it before more things break.

Yeah, what Powar said.

Is there snow at Sugarbush yet?

You have become a 'Wheeler Dealer'.

Some of you guys have a funny idea of what not looking great underneath means

Fix it - rally-X it and then sell it when you're bored, or want a different platform, for a profit.

I bought mine for $500 and sold it for $1000 and mine had 412K kms on it.

Edit: Or fix it, sell for profit and buy something else. With that low of mileage around here that's probably a $2000-$2500 car. It's fall and the Subaru tax is about to kick in.

I'd flip it before you need a tetanus shot.

Hi, I'm a doctor. My prescription is for rallycross. Also, it's not important, but if any police officers ask you about this conversation, my medical license is just temporarily suspended due to an embarrassing - but in the end, hilarious - misunderstanding.

The head gaskets on the DOHC cars leak internally, not externally like the SOHC cars do. How's that oil look? How bad is the blow by if you open the oil cap while the car is idling?

Holy E36 M3 that's rusty.

Flip it and let it be someone else's problem.

Fix brakes, sell for $1000 or more. They are pretty much always worth $1000 or so if they are running and you get any sort of snow in your area.

My wife put a tree into the side of a 96 one we had, I had the side pulled out and still sold it later for $900.

Oh wait 52k miles? Yeah you can probably get $2k

I was talking to the guy who deals with our wholesale cars today. He said "I think you should buy it [as is] for around $1000, if you fix it I bet you could get $4-4500 for it".

Though I'm a little afraid to begin to even try taking anything apart...

I just checked your profile. You're in Vermont.

If you don't rally-X it, which you should, the Outback suspension really soaks up the bumps nicely (I had a 97 - 5 Spd), then do the following:

1. Run new brake lines from under the seat to the back - they likely failed after they drop down out of the rear seat area.

2. Give it a tune up

3. Test the oil for traces of coolant

4. Throw it on CL for $3200.

Most of that rust is surface rust, was the car parked on grass? I don't see much structural rust. That would be a hell of a winter car.

Subaru's typically go up in price $500-$800 in the fall/winter.

Wheeler Dealer it...

Rallycross all day long. $50 plus fixing brake lines? Yes please.

I love how even the oil filter is rusty.

You're in Vermont? Oh chrissakes that thing is gold Jerry!

all the mention of rust, outside the exhaust everything looks like a remove, POR 15 on the differential housing and either POR 15 or blast and powercoat and reinstall will address. (I'd obviously opt for new axles as well if they makes their condition be known to be an issue)