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Show Friday, September THE DAILY HI RAID, Ptovo, Utah -P- 24, age El Transportation news for Utah Valley Published Fridays by The Daily Herald Mazda perfect candidate for rebuilt engine Dear Tom and Ray: Would it be crazy to put a rebuilt engine in a car? I use my old Mazda wagon as a dogmobile for my business. I've been looking at new cars, but I don't think I could stand it if the dogs scratched up the inside of my new car like they've done to this old one. Will a rebuilt engine give my Mazda a new lease on life? Sally dog-walki- - RAY: Absolutely, You're the perfect candidate for a rebuilt engine, Sally. In fact, the American Association of Engine Rebuilders will probably want you to star in their next TV commercial. TOM: Here's your situation, Sally: You have a aside from a car which worn-ou- t serves you engine perfectly well. So why spend a ton of money on a new, or newer, car that you don't even really want? Just throw an engine in it. RAY: The one thing that you absolutely have to do, though, is have the rest of the old Mazda thoroughly checked out before you put the engine in. Have a Popular, sporty Subaru Outback 2000 easy to get into By ANN For The Associated Pres Tom & Ray mechanic you trust go over the old beast from headlight to tailpipe as if you were going to buy it as a used car. Find out everything that's wrong with it and factor that into your calculations. TOM: So, for instance, if it needs new shocks, that's no big deal. You put in an engine and shocks, and you're happily toting the doggies around again. RAY: But if you find out that you also need a new transmission and your frame is rusted, then you might want to reconsider. TOM: I've got it. If it's not worth putting an engine in it, she could just rig up a harness and let the dogs pull HER. How many Pekingese does it take to pull a Mazda? RAY: I'll have to look it up. But if the car checks out reasonably well, then by all means, toss in a new engine and keep driving, Sally. Subaru Legacy Outbacks have become so popular and occupy such a special niche that they scarcely need Crocodile Dundee, aka actor Paul Hogan, to hawk them. They also don't need the Legacy badge. Beginning with the 2000 model year, the Outbacks bust out as a model line of their own, though they continue to be based on the Legacy cars. The new Outbacks carry starting manufacturer's suggested retail prices plus destination charge of $23,190 for a wagon and $26,390 for a sedan. The name isn't all that's changed. The new Outbacks are built on a more rigid platform, which makes for more stable handling and a quieter ride. And the outer styling has evolved to a more integrated look with prominent sport utility vehicle cues. There are new safety features, and the interior has an upscale feel. Last but not least, the Outback boxer engine is for better low- - and torque. four-cylind- mid-rang- e GEORGE T. MULLER, president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America tvVi'!i,!iW''j';,t Pj 4 'lw.T Vavwiml BASE PRICE: $22,695 for base Outback wagon; Outback Limited wagon. AS TESTED: $27,900. TYPE: drive, ENGINE: 2.5-lite-r, single overhead-cam- , Front-engine- ,. $26,095 for ', mid-siz- wagon. boxer e r, engine. MILEAGE: 22 mpg city, 27 mpg highway. TOP SPEED: NA. LENGTH: 187.4 inches. WHEEL8ASE: 104.3 inches. CURB WT.: 3,565 pounds. BUILT AT: Lafayette, Ind. OPTIONS: automatic transmission, CD changer, $510. Four-spee- d Inc., says the new Outback advances the company's "best of both: part car, part truck concepts." The test Outback Limited wagon rode pleasantly, not like a truck, which is a complaint of some owners of SUVs.The suspension cushioned most road bumps, yet the vehicle had a modern, carlike stiffness in its motions. Subaru has retained and tweaked the front strut suspension but installed a new multilink arrangement at the rear whose components don't intrude into the cargo area. This allowed Subaru to add 5.2 inches of space between truck-base- d $800; six-dis- the wheelhouses inside the vehicle, bringing maximum cargo space to 68.6 cubic feet. That's just 1.5 cubic feet shy of the room in the 2000 Volvo V70AWDXC and 5.5 cubic feet less than in a 2000 ' Chevrolet Blazer The Outback wagon's rear suspension also is mounted on a subframe to help reduce noise and vibration inside. And the vehicle body is stiffer than before. Thus, the Outback feels more stable on sweeping curves and even in the slalom, though there still is some body motion and a bit of a sense of the vehicle being top-heav- YOU CAN sit surprisingly ', y off-roa- d All-whe- (HiPflii 4i&2 " 2V 34 ; ..... e, nf77n 01 high up, thanks to the heavy-dutraised suspension and standard driver seat height adjustment. In fact, with 7.3 inches of ground clearance it rivals that of some SUVs. The, 2000 Blazer 4X4, for example, has 7.5 inches of ! ground clearance. Despite the height, I didn't! have to climb up into the wagon, as I do on many SUVs, nor did I sink into the driver I seat. At merely turned and sat down. Talk about a comfortable entry! The Outback is an easy vehicle to steer around town, too, and it's purposely so. Subaru designers worked to position the pillars around windows so they block as little of a driver's view as possible. ; The rear window on the wagons also is reshaped for maximum view. Yet, none of this detracts from the overall adventurous, stout look. Looking at its large fenders, big foglights and cladding, ample lower-bodyou can easily imagine it going anywhere, anytime. And why not? drive is standard with every Subaru. The 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback wagon was a recommended buy in the annual Consumer Reports auto issue this year. y M.JOB ' S? 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