It has an AT, with a button that says AWD. Can the AWD be engaged/disengaged while moving?
I had a Tercel AWD Wagon with a mechanical linkage, and you could just slide the lever when you wanted (sometimes...it was a BIOTCH getting out on dry pavement...)
Also, what do I need to look for? Headgaskets? Timing belt? etc.
The car is in fair shape; the body is OK, all one color, but there are a few 'groans':
One of the front struts is in better shape than the other. How hard are these to do?
One tie rod end has a bad bushing. The tie rod end itself is OK, the bushing is shot.
One ball joint is in pretty bad shape. Any hints for replacing it? (Never done ball joints before).
Rear shocks are...um...there. How hard?
Overall, the car is OK. This is all I could discover in about a 15 minute test drive and a look on the lift. No apparent slop in the rear diff/driveshaft, goes OK down the road but has 13" wheels! (Subaru/Tire Rack say 14"!!!)
Not leaking oil from the oil pump...yet...how hard are the gaskets/oil pumps to replace?
I took it "off road" (up a two track less-than-dirt road) and everything seemed OK, except the 13" wheels rubbing on the calipers...