Why did I buy a used Subaru?

Someone please tell me.

In late July, I bought a used 99 Outback Wagon, manual transmission, higher
mileage, 120K. I didn't pay a lot for it, but having bought it from a
dealer who stated that the vehicle had been thoroughly checked, I assumed
that I had made a decent, at least moderately reliable, purchase.

Two days after purchase, I noticed the temp gauge climbing. No engine
light, but after driving it a bit, I opened the hood, and the coolant was
boiling. Dealer towed it, said the head gasket was blown and there was
piston damage. They towed and repaired at no charge. Good.

Four weeks later, the engine starts sputtering and the check engine light
comes on. Since the dealer is 40 miles away, I take it to my local
mechanic, who has serviced other cars for me over a 10 year period and in
whom I have a lot of trust. My mechanic says the engine light came from a
problem with the cam, that the crank had jumped three teeth and that it
looked like there could be engine damage, all effects which would have been
consistent with an inappropriately-performed gasket replacement. At this
point, the car is out of the 30-day, 1000 mile dealer service period (even
with the car being in the shop for a week with the gasket issue; also I have
1050 miles on total). But I call the dealer, they tow it and instead feel
that the problem was caused by a tensioning wheel. No evidence of engine
damage, they say. They offer to split the repair cost, which I think is
fair, and offer to drive it a bit.

Three days later, the repair is done. Then I get a call with, "Oh by the
way, the clutch is slipping and you're going to need to replace that."

Now, I don't expect a higher mileage used car to run like a new one. I
anticipate having repairs to a used car. Brakes will go, clutches, pumps
and all that. But I find it amazing that I have now had two significant
engine repairs, and the clutch is on the way out, within six weeks of
purchase. The dealer clearly stated that the car had been looked over
carefully before I purchased it, and, of course, touted the service
department. Am I unreasonable to think that some of these issues should
have been obvious if they did indeed look over the car carefully? Should
any of this, or could any of these potential issues have been disclosed
prior to purchase?

I am one unhappy Subaru owner who now walks to work every day. Thanks in
advance for your replies.... cars are not my specialty.

JCF wrote:
>
> I am one unhappy Subaru owner who now walks to work every day. Thanks in
> advance for your replies.... cars are not my specialty.

I have learned the same lesson with my first Subaru:
Never EVER buy a used Subaru. Usually someone milked one for good
and dumped it onto someone else to pay for expensive repairs.