MPG question: Owned both a WRX and a BP5 Legacy Turbo?
Discussion
I have a WRX wagon and I'm seriously looking at legacy twin scrolls (around '05). I just want a little more comfort and a lot more space.
However, I'm reluctant to up my fuel bill too much. Yes yes, you don't buy a Subaru for economy but I ultimately have to do 250+ miles a week so don't want to dip below 30ish.
There are plenty of reports on the fuel economy of both vehicles but these are obviously subject to conditions/drivers/use - so I'm wondering if anyone has experience of both and can give me a comparative idea of the difference in MPG under the same conditions. I just don't want to take the plunge and find the Legacy is thirstier, having chopping in a (relatively) frugal WRX.
Obviously the Legacy's the bigger car, but it's higher compression, AVCS and twin scroll - I'm wondering if the more efficient recipe counteracts that (or just chucks rods out the block
). I'm also looking at the ECU with switchable maps, might be able to retain the 'eco' map subject to a tune for 97 octane.
However, I'm reluctant to up my fuel bill too much. Yes yes, you don't buy a Subaru for economy but I ultimately have to do 250+ miles a week so don't want to dip below 30ish.
There are plenty of reports on the fuel economy of both vehicles but these are obviously subject to conditions/drivers/use - so I'm wondering if anyone has experience of both and can give me a comparative idea of the difference in MPG under the same conditions. I just don't want to take the plunge and find the Legacy is thirstier, having chopping in a (relatively) frugal WRX.
Obviously the Legacy's the bigger car, but it's higher compression, AVCS and twin scroll - I'm wondering if the more efficient recipe counteracts that (or just chucks rods out the block
). I'm also looking at the ECU with switchable maps, might be able to retain the 'eco' map subject to a tune for 97 octane.My commute is 85 miles a day down the Welsh border. I do 300-400 miles per week.
My solution was an LPG bi-fuel conversion. I get 24.5 mpg on gas and fill up at 55p per litre. The conversion cost £1270 and paid for itself in 11 months. 50,000 gas-fuelled miles later and I'm still smiling. The only drawback is the range; I have a 50litre donut tank in the spare wheel-well; the tank will take 42 litres on a good day and this gives me a gas range of ~200 miles, meaning I'm now very friendly with the staff at Lock's garage on the A465 as I have to visit every second day. However don't despair as you have to keep the petrol (the system runs on petrol until it's warmed up) so always have that as a reserve.
I'm currently thinking of moving to a 3.0 Legacy and would have that converted too.
My solution was an LPG bi-fuel conversion. I get 24.5 mpg on gas and fill up at 55p per litre. The conversion cost £1270 and paid for itself in 11 months. 50,000 gas-fuelled miles later and I'm still smiling. The only drawback is the range; I have a 50litre donut tank in the spare wheel-well; the tank will take 42 litres on a good day and this gives me a gas range of ~200 miles, meaning I'm now very friendly with the staff at Lock's garage on the A465 as I have to visit every second day. However don't despair as you have to keep the petrol (the system runs on petrol until it's warmed up) so always have that as a reserve.
I'm currently thinking of moving to a 3.0 Legacy and would have that converted too.
I had a Bug WRX wagon MT5 for 3 years and currently have (and selling) a 06 Leggy GT twinscroll MT6.. to and from work 30Kms each way 50:50 B road and dual carrageway.
just in general traffic I would get 490-510Km per pank in the WRX and about 480-500 in the Leggy.
The GT is epic quick without feeling it.. honestly you dont know the speed till you look at the dials.. Im pretty sure it would leave my old WRX standing on the slip road, but the WRX does have a certain 'event' when driving that the GT does not.
just in general traffic I would get 490-510Km per pank in the WRX and about 480-500 in the Leggy.
The GT is epic quick without feeling it.. honestly you dont know the speed till you look at the dials.. Im pretty sure it would leave my old WRX standing on the slip road, but the WRX does have a certain 'event' when driving that the GT does not.
Can't help with the WRX, but the 05 Liberty GT wagon I had until May last year used to average around 24mpg for urban work and an easy 33-35 on a motorway run. This was the 2.0T, not the 2.5T. Did an 850km cross-country road trip packed with a family of five, and all the crap needed for a week, and still averaged 32mpg. Including a couple of laps of Mount Panorama. Well, we were passing, and it would've been rude not too 
In short, an awesome car. I plan to have another some day.
In short, an awesome car. I plan to have another some day.
Results are now coming in.
I've just driven one from Wales to Norfolk and managed 34mpg from it.
Very sedate 70mph cruise control M5/M42/M6/A14. Regular driving up from Kettering area to Peterborough to Lynn, then 25 miles of some very well known B road.
Done that quite a bit (without the B road blast) in the WRX and it was about the same. So I'm happy with that considering the size difference and the auto box.
I'll find out how it shapes up on my more regular work trips soon. But it's not going to ruin me.
I've just driven one from Wales to Norfolk and managed 34mpg from it.
Very sedate 70mph cruise control M5/M42/M6/A14. Regular driving up from Kettering area to Peterborough to Lynn, then 25 miles of some very well known B road.
Done that quite a bit (without the B road blast) in the WRX and it was about the same. So I'm happy with that considering the size difference and the auto box.
I'll find out how it shapes up on my more regular work trips soon. But it's not going to ruin me.
I'm 3 days into Spec.B GT* ownership. Managed 35mpg on the long drive home from Devon. Typical motorway speeds with a good blast down the Stratford bypass.
Over the 3 years of WRX ownership I barely ever saw 30mpg, and had to stick to 50mph to achieve it.
...although I recently found that the WRX was running 165bhp, so I don't think it was standard.
(*JDM 2.0 Twinscroll)
Over the 3 years of WRX ownership I barely ever saw 30mpg, and had to stick to 50mph to achieve it.
...although I recently found that the WRX was running 165bhp, so I don't think it was standard.
(*JDM 2.0 Twinscroll)
Those figures sound about what I'd expect - my BH5 Legacy GTB (2.0TT previous model) usually averages around 26mpg, 30-32 in open road driving and a mate who switched from a similar BH5 to a newer twinscroll reckons its a bit more efficient.
Legacies often seem slightly more economical than Imprezas for open road cruising, maybe down to longer gearing and a slipperier shape.
Legacies often seem slightly more economical than Imprezas for open road cruising, maybe down to longer gearing and a slipperier shape.
Edited by GravelBen on Tuesday 13th September 07:37
carjerk said:
I'm 3 days into Spec.B GT* ownership. Managed 35mpg on the long drive home from Devon. Typical motorway speeds with a good blast down the Stratford bypass.
Back from the importer?If so, I had my eye on the Blue WR they had in. The morning I 'snapped' and decided to buy one rather than endlessly looking at them, it sold!
Konan said:
Back from the importer?
If so, I had my eye on the Blue WR they had in. The morning I 'snapped' and decided to buy one rather than endlessly looking at them, it sold!
Yeah a blue WR from Torque GT. I used their personal import service. It took months and months, but they sourced me a good one. Very happy so far.If so, I had my eye on the Blue WR they had in. The morning I 'snapped' and decided to buy one rather than endlessly looking at them, it sold!
carjerk said:
Nice! It's looking like I might get close to 400 miles from this current tank. Never saw more than 280 in my WRX, much better for longer road trips!
The problem I had with my old WRX is it would always do at least 330 to a tank (well, to the light, I think it had a good gallon in it still). Most I ever had was 375.If it'd been a bit worse on fuel, it would've been an easier decision to move and I would've have spent months thinking about it. It was a pretty damn good car all in all, just too small for me.
carjerk said:
Konan said:
Back from the importer?
If so, I had my eye on the Blue WR they had in. The morning I 'snapped' and decided to buy one rather than endlessly looking at them, it sold!
Yeah a blue WR from Torque GT. I used their personal import service. It took months and months, but they sourced me a good one. Very happy so far.If so, I had my eye on the Blue WR they had in. The morning I 'snapped' and decided to buy one rather than endlessly looking at them, it sold!
Ved said:
Pics please!
After it's first proper wash and wax...https://goo.gl/photos/AeWuCMTtM7zRnf9N7
Clayed > Compounded > Polished > Waxed
carjerk said:
Konan said:
Expensive 1st month!
What's happened there!?
New units and top mounts going on some time next week.
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