Seriously tempted - Legacy Spec B...
Discussion
Had an old 2ltr Turbo which was a v.good car - liked the pace and stealth over the Impreza. Spec B models now seem pretty cheap (54-07 plates) from around 5-10K depending on age and mileage.
Anything special to look out for on these? Known weaknesses?
How do you tell a Spec B over the normal 3.0R?
Does the Auto option make a big difference on the performance side?
Anything special to look out for on these? Known weaknesses?
How do you tell a Spec B over the normal 3.0R?
Does the Auto option make a big difference on the performance side?
ScoobieWRX said:
GravelBen. He knows his Legacies and is an owner. Very nice chap too. Just wait a little while for replies as he's in New Zealand.
Aw shucks!Thanks for the compliment but I don't actually know much about the 3.0R and details of UK spec, though if its like ours I expect the Spec-B gets 18" wheels (instead of 17") and Bilstein suspension, probably higher interior spec as well.
Silky smooth engines with 240bhp, very reliable in general AFAIK. I've heard mixed reports of fuel economy, varying from ~22mpg to a friend of my dads who's seen 37mpg from his on an open road trip.
AFAIK they've never made a factory turbo 6-pot, guess they don't see the need! A few aftermarket conversions have been done though, there is a hillclimb Impreza kicking around with a 700bhp H6 in it down here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExX8JHkDiJs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExX8JHkDiJs
I have one!
Bought it a couple of months back. I have the estate on a 54 plate with manual box.
I think the defining feature of the Spec B was the bigger wheels, Bilstein suspension and black rather than cream interior. These are the only differences I found to my Dad's 3.0R, he had one from new in 04 and sold it in 07.
The manual gearbox makes such a difference to the performance, my Dad's was an auto which only had 5 gears which were a bit too long.
It is a very smooth engine and just pulls cleanly through each of the 6 gears.
General reliability and wear and tear is good, mine is on 130,000 miles, was previously owned by a farmer and everything electrical still works.
I have just had one of the shocks go though, apparently this problem stretched back through the previous gen Legacys and is to do with the Bilsteins being inverted. Its not a major issue as its only £110 for a new shock or aboout £80 to get Bilstein to refurb one. Just a bit of a bugger to diagnose as the shocks show no visual signs of being broken so some people go replacing bushes/ antiroll bars/ drop links/ track rod ends only to find it was a knackered shock which is about the cheapest thing on that list to replace.
Fuel economy is not great but it is par for the course and matches all similar cars except for BMWs who seem to be able to get amazing figures. I am averaging 29mpg on my current tank but half of that was used ferrying 4 people plus luggage to Gatwick at 80mph, with traffic on the M25. I average 23-25 on daily short trips around town.
Try to find one with the Prodrive exhausts as they make a lovely noise.
It is a nice place to spend the daily grind after abusing myself in the not so smooth P1 at weekends.
The Mrs approves as its a nice grown up car. Remember it comes with all the toys you could really want, electric everything, air con, heated seats, leather, massive sunroof, sat nav etc. Its actually quite a nice place to be and all the touch points are nice compared to a lot of modern cars, it all looks and feels high quality
If there is anything specific you want to know I will try my best to answer you.
Bought it a couple of months back. I have the estate on a 54 plate with manual box.
I think the defining feature of the Spec B was the bigger wheels, Bilstein suspension and black rather than cream interior. These are the only differences I found to my Dad's 3.0R, he had one from new in 04 and sold it in 07.
The manual gearbox makes such a difference to the performance, my Dad's was an auto which only had 5 gears which were a bit too long.
It is a very smooth engine and just pulls cleanly through each of the 6 gears.
General reliability and wear and tear is good, mine is on 130,000 miles, was previously owned by a farmer and everything electrical still works.
I have just had one of the shocks go though, apparently this problem stretched back through the previous gen Legacys and is to do with the Bilsteins being inverted. Its not a major issue as its only £110 for a new shock or aboout £80 to get Bilstein to refurb one. Just a bit of a bugger to diagnose as the shocks show no visual signs of being broken so some people go replacing bushes/ antiroll bars/ drop links/ track rod ends only to find it was a knackered shock which is about the cheapest thing on that list to replace.
Fuel economy is not great but it is par for the course and matches all similar cars except for BMWs who seem to be able to get amazing figures. I am averaging 29mpg on my current tank but half of that was used ferrying 4 people plus luggage to Gatwick at 80mph, with traffic on the M25. I average 23-25 on daily short trips around town.
Try to find one with the Prodrive exhausts as they make a lovely noise.
It is a nice place to spend the daily grind after abusing myself in the not so smooth P1 at weekends.
The Mrs approves as its a nice grown up car. Remember it comes with all the toys you could really want, electric everything, air con, heated seats, leather, massive sunroof, sat nav etc. Its actually quite a nice place to be and all the touch points are nice compared to a lot of modern cars, it all looks and feels high quality
If there is anything specific you want to know I will try my best to answer you.
Tempted myself as well. Seems to tick the boxes of performance (Impreza engine?) and practicality. Very discreet car as well.
And seem pretty cheap to boot as well... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-SUBARU-LEGACY-Spec-B-Es...
Kind of asking myself why i wouldn't go for one...
And seem pretty cheap to boot as well... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-SUBARU-LEGACY-Spec-B-Es...
Kind of asking myself why i wouldn't go for one...
bungle said:
Tempted myself as well. Seems to tick the boxes of performance (Impreza engine?) and practicality. Very discreet car as well.
And seem pretty cheap to boot as well... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-SUBARU-LEGACY-Spec-B-Es...
Kind of asking myself why i wouldn't go for one...
Unfortunately it hasn't got the impreza engine. But a nice H6 3l engine, with no turboAnd seem pretty cheap to boot as well... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-SUBARU-LEGACY-Spec-B-Es...
Kind of asking myself why i wouldn't go for one...
I used to have a manual saloon. A great car with a peach of an engine. As already mentioned, 18'' wheels, Bilstein suspension, satnav, climate (zoned on the later models), electric seat adjustment, built-in 6cd changer, sunroof etc etc. I used to get low 20's most of the time, up to 30 on a run. Chain cam engine too so no expensive belt changes. The engine is so smooth, I miss it.
I traded my Spec B auto estate in January. It gave me 5 years of trouble free motoring and was a great place to sit. Very comfortable and I miss it a lot. Downsides were mpg (22-36), road noise and lack of gadgets I like (bluetooth and iPod) and no ability to upgrade to include them.
I'd have another tomorrow.
I'd have another tomorrow.
bungle said:
ffc said:
lack of gadgets I like (bluetooth and iPod) and no ability to upgrade to include them.
Can't you hook up a Parrot Bluetooth to any audio set-up? Before driving to Spain recently the Surf i bought had some truly awful aftermarket ICE installed using the OEM speakers.
The unit i bought was a pioneer that came with a remote microphone you can place anywhere it suits. There are units that come with a built in mic but i don't think they are as good as having a remote mic. I placed my mic on the right side of the overhead navigation compass console. Audio quality listening to calls is nothing short of excellent, and i'm told audio quality the other end is equally excellent.
The detachable face has a slot for a USB stick and an Ipod socket. I bought some Alpine speakers to replace the OEM items back and front, the whole thing didn't take long to fit and it sounds much better. Made my roadtrip that much sweeter!!
I don't reckon Subaru ICE has moved on very much in donkeys years so if yours is as bad as the OEM in my Bugeye, retrofitting some aftermarket ICE is essential. There are plenty of double din units around and Halfords have got some cracking deals on at the moment.
The unit i bought was a pioneer that came with a remote microphone you can place anywhere it suits. There are units that come with a built in mic but i don't think they are as good as having a remote mic. I placed my mic on the right side of the overhead navigation compass console. Audio quality listening to calls is nothing short of excellent, and i'm told audio quality the other end is equally excellent.
The detachable face has a slot for a USB stick and an Ipod socket. I bought some Alpine speakers to replace the OEM items back and front, the whole thing didn't take long to fit and it sounds much better. Made my roadtrip that much sweeter!!
I don't reckon Subaru ICE has moved on very much in donkeys years so if yours is as bad as the OEM in my Bugeye, retrofitting some aftermarket ICE is essential. There are plenty of double din units around and Halfords have got some cracking deals on at the moment.
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