Originally Posted by
Summer
QFT. Used to have a 2.5 manual 97 Outback. Absolutely loved that car. Bought it used for next to nothing from an auction house, had to do the front hubs and plugs on it right away, but it was a beast that just kept going. No major issues with it for years, just regular maintenance and the occasional replacement of random parts e.g. PCV valve shit the bed one morning but easy fix.
Sold it for what I paid for it, and included service history. Pointed out that the head gasket hadn't blown up on it while I owned it so caveat emptor.
The buyer rings me up within a week of selling it and says the check engine light came on. He brought it back over, we plugged the scan tool in, turned the light off, stuck tape over it, then he went on his merry way. Never heard from him again, so problem solved.
Former boss had the same car, but her head gasket fully gave up one autumn morning on the way up to main lodge at Mammoth. She replaced it, and it ran for many years after that.