Subaru Legacy Tourer - Experiences ?
Discussion
I had a Legacy Spec B Saloon and I am afraid to say I didn't get on with it.
The fit and finish of the cabin is very good in comparison to the Impreza. The fuel economy was very bad and I had dreadful brake judder and frequently a disgusting smell from the clutch when pulling away on slopes.
The fit and finish of the cabin is very good in comparison to the Impreza. The fuel economy was very bad and I had dreadful brake judder and frequently a disgusting smell from the clutch when pulling away on slopes.
Everyone seems to agree that the Legacys are thirsty beasts. I just sold one and I'm waiting for my next one to come off the boat as a personal import - the crazy thing is, I went from a Merc 300 4-matic the size and weight of the bloody Tirpitz to my old Legacy, and the Legacy is a couple of MPG thirstier than the german monster!
This may be because all the Subaru motors love to spin, and whether it's the new flat-sixes or the old turbo 4's that adds up to juice, juice, and more juice. The odd part of it is, the driving experience with a Legacy is so good that you tend not to begrudge the high fuel costs all that much: I thought mine (an ancient 1991 original Mk1 single turbo) was one of the most amazing devices I've ever come across, and I speak as an AMG owner and 6-times veteran of the lunacy that is Citroen.
Buying at the moment is a weird process, because there's so many conflicting factors. On the one hand, the new generation models with 2.5 4 and 3.0 6 engines are well up to standard; on the other hand, there's more expertise outside the dealer network than there is in it. Then you have to consider that the cheap models are somewhat risky - I'm buying a manual twin turbo, and the T/T's are noticeably different in parts and diagnostics from the single-turbos and their descendants in the Impreza family tree. T/T's can, I am told, eat a tank of petrol in 150 miles, and every so often one should indeed do just that to make sure the second turbo (which comes in at 4500 rpm) gets a good workout.
My old Legacy was good enough, despite the consumption, that after my mate bought it off me I wasted no time at all in replacing it. But I probably wouldn't buy new. (at £1,350 FOB Japan for a 60,000 mile 10 year old car, I'm happy that someone else took the depreciative hit)
This may be because all the Subaru motors love to spin, and whether it's the new flat-sixes or the old turbo 4's that adds up to juice, juice, and more juice. The odd part of it is, the driving experience with a Legacy is so good that you tend not to begrudge the high fuel costs all that much: I thought mine (an ancient 1991 original Mk1 single turbo) was one of the most amazing devices I've ever come across, and I speak as an AMG owner and 6-times veteran of the lunacy that is Citroen.
Buying at the moment is a weird process, because there's so many conflicting factors. On the one hand, the new generation models with 2.5 4 and 3.0 6 engines are well up to standard; on the other hand, there's more expertise outside the dealer network than there is in it. Then you have to consider that the cheap models are somewhat risky - I'm buying a manual twin turbo, and the T/T's are noticeably different in parts and diagnostics from the single-turbos and their descendants in the Impreza family tree. T/T's can, I am told, eat a tank of petrol in 150 miles, and every so often one should indeed do just that to make sure the second turbo (which comes in at 4500 rpm) gets a good workout.
My old Legacy was good enough, despite the consumption, that after my mate bought it off me I wasted no time at all in replacing it. But I probably wouldn't buy new. (at £1,350 FOB Japan for a 60,000 mile 10 year old car, I'm happy that someone else took the depreciative hit)
CatherineJ said:
frequently a disgusting smell from the clutch when pulling away on slopes.
I expect that was a mis-adjustment in the "hill holder" system. They have a setup where the brakes go on if the clutch pedal is down and the wheels aren't turning. Get it mis-aligned and the brakes and the clutch fight it out with one another.
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