Looking for Legacy / Outback 2.5 or 3.0 advice please
Discussion
Budget is £8K tops.
Want a reliable car with great ride.
We do very low mileage so consumption isn't a problem.
I've driven a 3.0 Outback, and it will do the job, but I've been warned off the 6 cylinder as difficult to work on and difficult to get parts for. Advised to stick to the 2.5.
Is that correct? I want a comfortable car, would consider saloon versions. What should I look out for? Is the cam belt change at 60,000 / ?? years?
Want a reliable car with great ride.
We do very low mileage so consumption isn't a problem.
I've driven a 3.0 Outback, and it will do the job, but I've been warned off the 6 cylinder as difficult to work on and difficult to get parts for. Advised to stick to the 2.5.
Is that correct? I want a comfortable car, would consider saloon versions. What should I look out for? Is the cam belt change at 60,000 / ?? years?
Mrs D has a 05 3.0 Outback, so long as you can stomach 20 ish mpg it is brilliant. I chose the 3.0 over the 2.5 as it has a cam chain as opposed to a belt on the 2.5,and also is auto rather than manual, so no clutch cost to worry about. 3.0 will cost you a bit more in fuel but will be cheaper to service and also has c.80 more bhp and sounds wonderful.
D
D
If fuel consumption is not an issue, then go for the 3.0. I live in a hilly area and round the doors the car will do about 22mpg. On the open road, you can easily see 30mpg, in fact last week I saw 34mpg! I'm not too bothered as I converted mine to LPG anyway.
The ride quality and general refinement is superb though. You'll only hear the engine when you floor it, and then it does sound great.
The 3.0 engine also has a very good reliability record, any parts needed can be bought from a Subaru dealer, but they are a bit pricey. There's no DMF or cambelt to worry about, so the cost of not needing to change these could offset the fuel consumption.
It's also in band L for road tax, so any car registered after March 2006 will be 465 pounds a year to tax. All in all, it's a great all-rounder and probably off most people's radar due to the fuel consumption. Prices tend to reflect this so you can get a great car for the money.
The ride quality and general refinement is superb though. You'll only hear the engine when you floor it, and then it does sound great.
The 3.0 engine also has a very good reliability record, any parts needed can be bought from a Subaru dealer, but they are a bit pricey. There's no DMF or cambelt to worry about, so the cost of not needing to change these could offset the fuel consumption.
It's also in band L for road tax, so any car registered after March 2006 will be 465 pounds a year to tax. All in all, it's a great all-rounder and probably off most people's radar due to the fuel consumption. Prices tend to reflect this so you can get a great car for the money.
Edited by 74merc on Tuesday 12th March 15:27
I have a 3.0r Sportback. Very smooth engine, almost turbine like linear power. Consumption as above, but for the sound of a 911 at the top end it's well worth a look. On the minus side, 60k service is wallet wilting if you can't tell lefty loosey from righty tighty. There is a great looking Spec B on fleabay, unsold and I should imagine north of 6k reserve http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300870594394?ssPageName=...
NotReallyBored said:
I have a 3.0r Sportback. Very smooth engine, almost turbine like linear power. Consumption as above, but for the sound of a 911 at the top end it's well worth a look. On the minus side, 60k service is wallet wilting if you can't tell lefty loosey from righty tighty. There is a great looking Spec B on fleabay, unsold and I should imagine north of 6k reserve http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300870594394?ssPageName=...
Thanks for that. Off to see it tomorrow.I looked at a few before I bought mine and in most cases, the tyres were badly worn on the outside shoulders. I assumed it was a design flaw but I haven't had that problem with mine at all. 14K miles on a set of Hankooks and they're down to 4mm with even wear across the treads. I swapped then from front to back at about 9K miles, but the difference in wear front and back was minimal.
Paul Drawmer said:
NotReallyBored said:
I have a 3.0r Sportback. Very smooth engine, almost turbine like linear power. Consumption as above, but for the sound of a 911 at the top end it's well worth a look. On the minus side, 60k service is wallet wilting if you can't tell lefty loosey from righty tighty. There is a great looking Spec B on fleabay, unsold and I should imagine north of 6k reserve http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300870594394?ssPageName=...
Thanks for that. Off to see it tomorrow.I think I should end up with the car, with 4 X new mid range tyres, and the 60,000 service done for a total of £6350. It's a nice car; the description is spot on. Really nice guy to deal with.
I've got 4 X 215/45/18 93W Nankang tyres from Charlett Tyres in Oxford, and the service is going to be done by Herbies in Banbury: http://www.herbiesvehiclerepairs.co.uk/
He's an ex Prodrive man, and the car is an ex Prodrive company car.
The i-sport mode in auto is manic!
I've got 4 X 215/45/18 93W Nankang tyres from Charlett Tyres in Oxford, and the service is going to be done by Herbies in Banbury: http://www.herbiesvehiclerepairs.co.uk/
He's an ex Prodrive man, and the car is an ex Prodrive company car.
The i-sport mode in auto is manic!
Sounds like a great deal you have there, ideal for some depreciation free motoring. Fighting back the green eyed monster as it looks a lovely spec.
The auto is great in manual mode, I couldn't believe how free revving they are on the move, the handling took a little getting used to myself after lots of RWD cars in the past, the grip once settled into a corner is pretty hard to beat for a big car.
Pleased as punch for you.
The auto is great in manual mode, I couldn't believe how free revving they are on the move, the handling took a little getting used to myself after lots of RWD cars in the past, the grip once settled into a corner is pretty hard to beat for a big car.
Pleased as punch for you.
Paul Drawmer said:
I think I should end up with the car, with 4 X new mid range tyres, and the 60,000 service done for a total of £6350. It's a nice car; the description is spot on. Really nice guy to deal with.
I've got 4 X 215/45/18 93W Nankang tyres from Charlett Tyres in Oxford, and the service is going to be done by Herbies in Banbury: http://www.herbiesvehiclerepairs.co.uk/
He's an ex Prodrive man, and the car is an ex Prodrive company car.
The i-sport mode in auto is manic!
How's the new acquisition? Living up to expectations? I've got 4 X 215/45/18 93W Nankang tyres from Charlett Tyres in Oxford, and the service is going to be done by Herbies in Banbury: http://www.herbiesvehiclerepairs.co.uk/
He's an ex Prodrive man, and the car is an ex Prodrive company car.
The i-sport mode in auto is manic!
Really pleased.
It really is a jekell and Hyde car. Really good just wafting, very quiet cruise, in 'I' mode the gearbox is almost seamless with ultra smooth changes, and resisting change downs until the last minute for better smoothness in traffic.
In 'S' mode it's really clever box, doing exactly what I'd want with a manual. When hurrying along, the suspension copes really well with holes in the side of the road and dips and bumps neither knock the car off line, nor embarrass the cabin.
There's a fair amount of 'thump' at low speed pot holes, but the suspension compromise is excellent. I don't reckon it has any more understeer than my E36325i had, and it's a far quieter cruiser.
Driven hard it's a fun car. Good job I don't do too many miles as it really is a drinker anything round 25 is a good result.
As well as the tyres and service, it needed front disks and pads, and the battery let me down a week later. It's all up together now and I reckon I've got a bargain. It's a very capable car.
I don't driver every day as I live and work in the village. But I find myself looking forward to a drive, and sometimes go round the long way just for fun. It is that good. Addictive noise!
It really is a jekell and Hyde car. Really good just wafting, very quiet cruise, in 'I' mode the gearbox is almost seamless with ultra smooth changes, and resisting change downs until the last minute for better smoothness in traffic.
In 'S' mode it's really clever box, doing exactly what I'd want with a manual. When hurrying along, the suspension copes really well with holes in the side of the road and dips and bumps neither knock the car off line, nor embarrass the cabin.
There's a fair amount of 'thump' at low speed pot holes, but the suspension compromise is excellent. I don't reckon it has any more understeer than my E36325i had, and it's a far quieter cruiser.
Driven hard it's a fun car. Good job I don't do too many miles as it really is a drinker anything round 25 is a good result.
As well as the tyres and service, it needed front disks and pads, and the battery let me down a week later. It's all up together now and I reckon I've got a bargain. It's a very capable car.
I don't driver every day as I live and work in the village. But I find myself looking forward to a drive, and sometimes go round the long way just for fun. It is that good. Addictive noise!
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