Subaru Legacy 3.0 H6 2002 - should I buy it?
Discussion
I've seen one of these for sale near me at a franchised dealer - looks good, leather, twin sunroofs, it's the 3.0 Auto.
Is it going to be ruinous to own - and what are it's weak spots - anyone got one? I've had a Subaru Forester before and it was excellent.
Any advice, tips, what to look for (beyond the obvious engine, gearbox and AWD system) would be good.
Thanks
Is it going to be ruinous to own - and what are it's weak spots - anyone got one? I've had a Subaru Forester before and it was excellent.
Any advice, tips, what to look for (beyond the obvious engine, gearbox and AWD system) would be good.
Thanks
Oh OK, sounds good. I'm looking at a 2002 as an over-winter car. The one I'm looking at has a full 12 month warranty so I won't get massive problems I don't think (and if I do, they're fixed for free!).
Any other views - looking at the car tonight and I suspect I'll be whipping my card out!
Cheers
Any other views - looking at the car tonight and I suspect I'll be whipping my card out!
Cheers
Check the small print on the warranty, don't take their word for it re. repairs.
Also will it need a service in that time?
You are looking at low/mid 20's mpg plus it may be difficult to get rid of once the time comes.
However it will be ideal over the winter and Subaru's are known as being very reliable.
Also will it need a service in that time?
You are looking at low/mid 20's mpg plus it may be difficult to get rid of once the time comes.
However it will be ideal over the winter and Subaru's are known as being very reliable.
blueg33 said:
we have a 2007 3.0 outback with the H6. Its a lovely smooth engine, almost silent at idle an during normal driving, sounds great when pressed..Pretty quick too, expensive big service every 60k miles when tappets are done
I meant to add, that we get an average of 26mpg but don't do much town driving, its all country lanes and b roadsI have the 3.0 H6 in Spec B form on an '05 plate.
It's now done 120,000 trouble free miles - engine is still strong and mechanicals appear to be pretty much bulletproof.
In 120K it has needed Discs, Pads, Tyres Oil and Exhaust (Subaru one was 900 quid, no aftermarket so I had a custome stainless cat-back system done for 500).
Mine has only managed to do an average of 23mpg but that consists of wifey short distance pootling and me giving it a thrashing every now and then.
If you can live with the fuel bills I highly recommend picking one up.
It's now done 120,000 trouble free miles - engine is still strong and mechanicals appear to be pretty much bulletproof.
In 120K it has needed Discs, Pads, Tyres Oil and Exhaust (Subaru one was 900 quid, no aftermarket so I had a custome stainless cat-back system done for 500).
Mine has only managed to do an average of 23mpg but that consists of wifey short distance pootling and me giving it a thrashing every now and then.
If you can live with the fuel bills I highly recommend picking one up.
Benbay001 said:
Mr Gearchange said:
I have the 3.0 H6 in Spec B form on an '05 plate.
This is the one i want 
In a few review videos the sat nav screen seems to be reading out throttle position and other things. Whats the "other things"? Cheers! (nice car you have)
To be honest I only really use it for the Sat-Nav and to demonstrate how inefficiently my wife is driving.
I've had Subarus for 10 years now and owned one H6, a Spec B saloon. It's an absolute peach of an engine and chain cam so no expensive belts to change. All mine have been pretty much bulletproof. I've had a sensor on the exhaust go under warranty on my Forester, a clutch at 130k on my first Legacy and that's it. They are very well made cars and the interiors wear well. I doubt you'll regret it.
hora said:
When sensors eventually go they cost circa £470. The Air/fuel sensor is at the front/leading edge of the engine bay so can pick up mulch/corrosion over time.
The only problem with our Legacy was the cost of some of the parts. We had ours from nearly new at 20k miles until 85k. It was faultless in the time we had it, but by 85k we decided it was time to let it go as ongoing maintenance was becoming too much for a 5 year old car.
As someone above said, the exhaust was dealer only, as are many of the sensors, wheel bearings etc.
We had a 2.5 and although as I say, it was utterly reliable, once it got to about 80k miles the usual parts needed refreshing.
Bearings (need a whole new hub I seem to remember) - dealer only, £400 each fitted by an independent.
Exhaust - dealer only, centre section £600, 2 rear boxes £300 each.
Bushes - dealer only, can't remember the cost, but a lot more than any other car I've owned.
It was after doing the exhaust centre section then soon after that a bearing went and finding it could do with the suspension bushes refreshing that we traded it in.
So in reality, a leggy Legacy can cost just as much as a less reliable alternative.
Mark Benson said:
hora said:
When sensors eventually go they cost circa £470. The Air/fuel sensor is at the front/leading edge of the engine bay so can pick up mulch/corrosion over time.
The only problem with our Legacy was the cost of some of the parts. We had ours from nearly new at 20k miles until 85k. It was faultless in the time we had it, but by 85k we decided it was time to let it go as ongoing maintenance was becoming too much for a 5 year old car.
As someone above said, the exhaust was dealer only, as are many of the sensors, wheel bearings etc.
We had a 2.5 and although as I say, it was utterly reliable, once it got to about 80k miles the usual parts needed refreshing.
Bearings (need a whole new hub I seem to remember) - dealer only, £400 each fitted by an independent.
Exhaust - dealer only, centre section £600, 2 rear boxes £300 each.
Bushes - dealer only, can't remember the cost, but a lot more than any other car I've owned.
It was after doing the exhaust centre section then soon after that a bearing went and finding it could do with the suspension bushes refreshing that we traded it in.
So in reality, a leggy Legacy can cost just as much as a less reliable alternative.
Mr Gearchange said:
Might per pertinent to point out that on the Spec B the suspension gearbox and steering is the same as the Impreza STi - and as such there is a fair amount of aftermarket stuff available - won't be the same for the non B though...
In that case, disregard most of what I just posted 
Mark Benson said:
Mr Gearchange said:
Might per pertinent to point out that on the Spec B the suspension gearbox and steering is the same as the Impreza STi - and as such there is a fair amount of aftermarket stuff available - won't be the same for the non B though...
In that case, disregard most of what I just posted 
I get 23mpg average over the last 30K which is a mixture of the Mrs driving it on short town journeys, from cold, lots of stop start and her driving two gears below where she should be (hasn't really got to grips with the improved torque over her 1.2 206) and some motorway and A road driving.
I drove it to France over the summer loaded with fishing gear and on a 900 mile round trip at a steady 80mph most of the way it returned 28mpg. Still not great.
Having fitted a new exhaust (not OEM) the mpg has improved by about 7% - but I think it needs a remap to take full advantage of a freer breathing system.
I drove it to France over the summer loaded with fishing gear and on a 900 mile round trip at a steady 80mph most of the way it returned 28mpg. Still not great.
Having fitted a new exhaust (not OEM) the mpg has improved by about 7% - but I think it needs a remap to take full advantage of a freer breathing system.
We ran a 2000 2.5 legacy outback. Issues were front suspension top-mounts, front calliper pistons sticking, gearbox mount (little 50p coin sized rubber ring) needed replacing, both cat converters needed replacing (pattern parts around £300) and 4 wheel alignment almost annually. Tyres a bit pricey, as we stuck with OEM Yoko Geolanders.
All in all a very pleasant car to smoke around in. The 2.5 did around 28mpg on average but ours didn't have air-con, and was unbelievable hot in the summer. The auto box wasn’t shabby either, and it performed well for it’s 160-odd bhp.
I’d have one again without a bother.
BB
All in all a very pleasant car to smoke around in. The 2.5 did around 28mpg on average but ours didn't have air-con, and was unbelievable hot in the summer. The auto box wasn’t shabby either, and it performed well for it’s 160-odd bhp.
I’d have one again without a bother.
BB
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