RonniN

Yeah, I will have to do emissions in about 9 months. When I bought the car, the tags were still good, and the owner lived in a county that didn't require emissions (Pinal)...so I want to repair the exhaust system if it needs. The car actually sounds alot like a Volkswagon when it starts, and when I accelerate. During idle, it is so quiet, I wonder if it is still running! I heard that Subes and Volkswagon share some commonalities, but I doubt that it should sound like this, even with dual exhaust pipes. As to the shifter, yeah, we figure it is the bushings. Bitch to put in, eh? Good to know the parts won't cost an arm and leg though. Thanks for the info, we will use it!

The brakes are replaced already ( Thanks for offer of parts)... it'll be some time before we are road-worthy to go that far north, but hopefully in the Fall (my favorite time up in Prescott)! I appreciate the blow-out diagram of the shift assembly, we don't have a Haynes manual yet, just the Chilton's. Scarily enough, my car is well over 225,000 (90K on a re-built engine, according to the seller), but the engine is strong as can be. Immediate problem is now shift linkage and possibly an exhaust issue we haven't pinned down...could be baffles, or something in catalytic converter. Hoping to tackle one priority after another, cosmetics last. Could take time, we live off a teacher's income!

This last week I changed the air filter and assisted my old man with changing the rear brakes, which were squeaking like crazy. Turned out the previous owner had just put on some used break pads, they were for the front, not rear, and in the process he or she had broken the break caliper clip on one side, so it was flopping all over the place. The other side, the pad was to the metal. God only knows how long it was this way! I think my baby was abused Gonna try to bring her back to former glory, but with my bank account, it's gonna be one little thing at a time. Next on deck: Shifter assembly. Flops around like a sock in a dryer.... BTW, the manual diagram for the shift linkage is pretty lame. Anyone know where I can find better shots of one going in? I looked in the posts, didn't find much online other than pics of other shifters, that may not have even been for my make/model.

! This rat sounds like a genius. Maybe if you leave him some plutonium, he'll trade you for some Subaru parts you need, that don't already belong to you!

Duh, I figured it out...shoulda checked this in the first place. Advanced reply has attachment. Anyway, wanted to show rear damage to car, get your perspectives. Your wheels look sweet...I'm considering mags. I like the black finish.

BTW, I cannot figure out how to connect photos from my album to the posts. when I want to insert a photo, I'm asked for URL. I went back to my profile, but couldn't find info. I do have an album containing current pics of my car. What'd I miss? Thx.

My hatch has been hit before, by the look of it, on the left side, close to tail bumper. The guy tried to bondo it, but didn't do a great job. It was left primer grey, to make matters worse. The plastic "runner" on bumper was also broken, so it is missing a piece. Overall, not the prettiest part of the car. Both rear tail-lights have damage. Anyone have any suggestions for replacing the tail lights? I live on a pretty tight budget (don't we all), and was wondering if junk yards are my only option. The cosmetics are going to have to wait until I address the sloppy shifter and brakes anyway. I'd LOVE my car to look even remotely like yours, monkeyposeur!

Well, "rain" is subjective here in the desert, but the roads still get pretty slick. I've never had AWD vehicles before, so I was pretty impressed, also considering that the brakes in back still need to be changed. It took to the road conditions like a champ. It has small, kinda racey lookin' tires on it, nothing fancy (the tread seems to go in reverse), and no hubcaps yet. All in all, its "virgin voyage" on a 65 mile round trip through town went well!

I washed it, vacuumed it, prayed over it, armour-alled it, then took it for a 60 mile round-trip voyage in a rainstorm. I took the freakin' rack off the roof...had to plug up the rack holes with putty before the rainstorm, of course. Little steps.