Nate's Car Log

[Stein]

It felt fine, but I'll pay extra careful attention to it next time. How would I check for wear on the other strut? Push down on the car in that corner and see how many times it bounces before settling?

They also sell used parts at this dealership so I'm kind of curious as to whether the parts are new or just "less used."

 

[Chris]

When you push down it shouldn't bounce, it should just come back up.

What dealer is this?

 

[Stein]

Norm's in Wiscasset. Have you heard good things? Bad things?

 

[Chris]

Norm's in Wiscasset. Have you heard good things? Bad things?

Ahh, Norm's.

I've heard good and bad. I bought my car there. I didn't really know as much about cars as I wish I did when I bought it. And I could have probably got more off the price if I had known more.

I have never had a problem with their service. About 2 weeks after I bought my car my filler neck rusted through and started leaking fuel, they just replaced it for me. They didn't have to do that.

Since I've had a couple small things they've fixed without any drama for a comparable price. Then I've heard bad things about them too.

But their sales dept. is just a typical used cars sales dept. They are going to try to sell you a car for much as possible and tell you as few problems about it as they can. Not to be cynical, but it it true.

 

[Stein]

Cool

. So should I check for rust underneath the car or just on body panels? There's a few dents on the OBS that I would either like taken out or taken off of the price. It also has a 90 day warranty from them, so I don't know if it makes sense to have a mechanic look at it first or after we buy it.

It's still going to be hard to compare it to the 07 Legacy. They're totally different. I'm curious to see which one handles better. The OBS felt soft over the bumps, but it also felt like it handled good on the tighter turns.

 

[Chris]

Check for rust EVERYWHERE. Not just one specific location... that would be silly. I got lucky finding my car, only rust is on one door, and surface rust on a quarter panel. That's it!

And the car is 10 years old, it is going to have some dents. Deal with it, or get a new car.

 

[Stein]

lol, well they weren't bad and I may be able to pop them out myself.

 

[Tyler]

If I had the choice between the OBS and the '07, I would that that to be a no-brainer ...OBSs are sweet but, there's something about a 2 year old car I like

 

[Stein]

Well the other thing is that I don't want to empty the wallet too much, even if it isn't just my wallet.

 

[Stein]

shooooooooot I hit back by accident and my long post got erased

.

starting over:

We purchased the '99 OBS this afternoon. I drove it the 45 minutes home and only stalled once, at a red light in Bath

. Went out tonight and drove to a friend's house, then I screwed around with another friend who has a '99 Impreza L wagon (5-sp of course

). No stalling, and when I got to my house I practiced going into 1st while still moving. Not very smooth, but I did it.

Anyway, I hope to get pictures in the morning. I have a question about scratches in the windows though. There's two verticle patches of bad scratches on each of the driver's side windows (didn't check the pass side). the salesman said that all Subarus of this era scratches the windows in these two places, but I'm not so sure...

 

[Chris]

I have a vertical scratch on my driver's window. Looks like it scraps inside when it goes up and down.

 

[GClark]

NOMYGOD, He bought a effin car. Congrats man! arty:Now lift that mutha and put some grabbers on.

 

[Chris]

NOMYGOD, He bought a effin car. Congrats man! arty:Now lift that mutha and put some grabbers on.

I agree with all of this

 

[IBratmanI]

Good to hear!! Lets see some pics!!

 

[Stein]

I have a vertical scratch on my driver's window. Looks like it scraps inside when it goes up and down.

OK, so I guess I won't bother the dealer about it. I may be able to just buff it out, no?

NOMYGOD, He bought a effin car. Congrats man! arty:Now lift that mutha and put some grabbers on.

I have about a thousand bucks or 1.5 grand left. I'm thinking exhaust, winter wheels/tires (I'm currently on steelies but the first thing I did when I got home was rip the hubcaps off

), and eventually I want it repainted and the dents filled.

I'd love to lift it but I'm not going to be doing any crazy offroading, so I'll leave it stock. Maybe 1" spacers eventually, or maybe a drop (I'm sorry!). Depends what I want to do with it.

My mom agreed to let me park on the lawn for a few minutes, so I'll take some pics there

.

 

[IBratmanI]

An exhaust would make it sound real nice, and maybe even an intake. As far as wheels go, maybe find some nice 16" Alloys? A set of RS six spokes would look awesome, or another set of factory Subaru wheels

 

[Chris]

You could bug them about the scratches. I just complained and got some $$ off the price... LOL.

Hub caps... I have 3 on my car... would you want to part with one?

Whatever you do, DON'T DROP IT (out of a window). These cars don't like that sort of abuse.

Seriously though... You'll hate yourself in the winter when you are trying to get up a steep driveway with a foot of heavy snow. (I can't be the only one to deal with that...)

 

[2point5RS_Dan]

Tires are the way to go.

WRX 6 spokes like someone else said are the way to go as they are plentiful and cheap and look decent enough. Winter tires + awd = beastly.

Post some pics and have fun with the car.

 

[-=Lobstah=-]

Anyway, I hope to get pictures in the morning. I have a question about scratches in the windows though. There's two verticle patches of bad scratches on each of the driver's side windows (didn't check the pass side). the salesman said that all Subarus of this era scratches the windows in these two places, but I'm not so sure...

The scratches are typical GC thing. guide pads get crudded up over time. I'm not sure of a way to buff them out, in theory you could, but i've never tried. To prevent fom scratching it up more its recommended to replace the pads (pretty easy)

 

[Fozzy]

Good to hear!! Lets see some pics!!

This