As you can see by the name I am new to scoobys and I am looking to buy.

I have look at a few cars, one of which the owner told me that it had a new engine due to this problem. Is this a manufacturing problem due to subaru or a result of owner abuse. The car was a uk car (98 R) and had to have new engine at 56,000 miles.

Would it be problem that is covered under Subaru warrenty (with in 3 years)?

Is there anyway I can tell if car has piston slap coming on?

To tell what piston slap sounds like go ito this site.