Subaru Legacy 2.5
Discussion
Fubar1977 said:
@MarkBenson
Interesting you mention the exhaust, it`s what got my mate to sell his in the end as he was quoted around £1200 to replace the full system inc. downpipe and cat etc.
He only paid around £1500 for the car.
I got a full SS custom build cat-back sports system for mine for £350Interesting you mention the exhaust, it`s what got my mate to sell his in the end as he was quoted around £1200 to replace the full system inc. downpipe and cat etc.
He only paid around £1500 for the car.
mini1380cc said:
Having just bought a Legacy GTB I have done a fair bit of research into them. The 2.5 is well known for blowing head gaskets.
The gaskets only go on the previous generation engine, pre 2004. There was a recall in the US I think, involving them putting an additive into the coolant to keep the system sealed.The post 04 generation is fine.
I think the turbo'd early 2.5 Forester engine can go pop - main bearings or similar - but the N/A legacy motor is less stressed.
2.0 - gutless. 2.5 - okish. 3.0 - great, really great but drinks.
Mine's a 2.5 auto with nav - only a 4 speeder so a bit dim witted but every extra you need and great in the snow.. and it goes round corners well.
Drop links go - cheap, exhaust is mega money as already said - it goes at the Y-piece under rear bumper, and parts can be expensive if not shared with the Imprezas. Cambelt every 60k, so that one is getting very close to a change, and I'd do the pulleys/bearings at the same time at that mileage.
At 3 grand you can't lose really, but I'd negotiate re the imminent cambelt.
Sold a 3.0Rn earlier this year @ some 120+K miles. It's my second Legacy. I'd have another. I *will* have another.
The 3-litre engine is thirsty but "lusty" as they say. If you're going for one of the 4-cylinder non-turbo engines, you need to wind them up to get any grunt out of them but they all turn-in and hang on in any weather far better than many other cars. Very little body roll too.
Exhausts fail at the Y but they can be welded (£35 and £40 for the two occasions I had it done). Ultimately you'll want a stainless system which Subaru doesn't supply, so you reach out to the 3rd parties who can supply the Y-piece for ~£400. Tail pipes tend to look shoddy but should last.
Wheel bearings are integrated into the hubs. £800 for Subaru to do the job (two) or £110 delivered to your door from a guy on Ebay in the US, and 4 hours of your time to fit (3 hours the first one, while you learn, and an hour the 2nd).
Stereos are rubbish but can be supplemented by those under-seat subs which add a little bass and all the mid-range back in that the OEM Subaru system is missing.
The satnav is the Nippon Denso touch screen version found in many other makes of cars, for good reason. It works..!! And you can get updated DVDs off Ebay for £10-£15.
Steering feel is generally "light" which doesn't sit well with some people, however it's a "quick" rack, requiring few turns lock-to-lock which I loved. It requires a light touch, and after living with my last one for over 5 years, I'm struggling to understand why all cars aren't like this.
Auto gearboxes are definitely from 2 or 3 generations past (I am currently driving a Merc ML with the 7G-Tronic box which is worlds apart from the rather crude Scooby item) however they are generally strong and problem-free. Just don't believe they are sealed for life and get the oil changed. It'll work out in your favour.
The Outbacks have a rear LSD which the normal Leggy doesn't. The Outbacks also have self-levelling rear suspension - but I'm not 100% certain when that was introduced. Check. It's worth having.
Generally Subaru parts are expensive but a) they don't need them often, b) most places (non Subaru) can service them, and c) many 3rd parties can supply parts.
Cam-belts are an expensive replacement but it's not such a specialised job that any half-competent garage can change them. The 3-litre engine uses a cam-chain which is a "life" item. My local Scooby franchise said they knew a guy running around with a 3-litre that's passed 380K miles now, with nothing more than consumables and servicing.
The 3-litre one again has more/all toys as standard, with the others having them as options, so you need to check.
Tow bars are ~£250 plus wiring which is ~£150 for a plug-compatible loom.
Roof racks use the captive nut system which is better than roof rails IMO.
Any other Qs, PM me.
The 3-litre engine is thirsty but "lusty" as they say. If you're going for one of the 4-cylinder non-turbo engines, you need to wind them up to get any grunt out of them but they all turn-in and hang on in any weather far better than many other cars. Very little body roll too.
Exhausts fail at the Y but they can be welded (£35 and £40 for the two occasions I had it done). Ultimately you'll want a stainless system which Subaru doesn't supply, so you reach out to the 3rd parties who can supply the Y-piece for ~£400. Tail pipes tend to look shoddy but should last.
Wheel bearings are integrated into the hubs. £800 for Subaru to do the job (two) or £110 delivered to your door from a guy on Ebay in the US, and 4 hours of your time to fit (3 hours the first one, while you learn, and an hour the 2nd).
Stereos are rubbish but can be supplemented by those under-seat subs which add a little bass and all the mid-range back in that the OEM Subaru system is missing.
The satnav is the Nippon Denso touch screen version found in many other makes of cars, for good reason. It works..!! And you can get updated DVDs off Ebay for £10-£15.
Steering feel is generally "light" which doesn't sit well with some people, however it's a "quick" rack, requiring few turns lock-to-lock which I loved. It requires a light touch, and after living with my last one for over 5 years, I'm struggling to understand why all cars aren't like this.
Auto gearboxes are definitely from 2 or 3 generations past (I am currently driving a Merc ML with the 7G-Tronic box which is worlds apart from the rather crude Scooby item) however they are generally strong and problem-free. Just don't believe they are sealed for life and get the oil changed. It'll work out in your favour.
The Outbacks have a rear LSD which the normal Leggy doesn't. The Outbacks also have self-levelling rear suspension - but I'm not 100% certain when that was introduced. Check. It's worth having.
Generally Subaru parts are expensive but a) they don't need them often, b) most places (non Subaru) can service them, and c) many 3rd parties can supply parts.
Cam-belts are an expensive replacement but it's not such a specialised job that any half-competent garage can change them. The 3-litre engine uses a cam-chain which is a "life" item. My local Scooby franchise said they knew a guy running around with a 3-litre that's passed 380K miles now, with nothing more than consumables and servicing.
The 3-litre one again has more/all toys as standard, with the others having them as options, so you need to check.
Tow bars are ~£250 plus wiring which is ~£150 for a plug-compatible loom.
Roof racks use the captive nut system which is better than roof rails IMO.
Any other Qs, PM me.
SVX said:
Watchman said:
The satnav is the Nippon Denso touch screen version found in many other makes of cars, for good reason. It works..!! And you can get updated DVDs off Ebay for £10-£15.
Did you manage to upgrade your DVD? Mines the 2004/5 disk and very dated... 
we had a 06 Forester with the 2.0 manual.. engine did need winding up to get best out of it.. but as some1 said above, it didnt realy make a huge difference if it was just me or 4 adults + kid + shopping in it doing down KMs of gravel road to a cottage.
we had it from new for 5 1/2years and 120k KM (80k miles) and other than the servicing n belt.. nothing else happened.. untill he day after we posted the forsale advert it got all stroppy n threw a CEL.! which we fixed before selling (cost us 700ukp). it was the 2ndary air re-circ (emmissions stuff), which apparently if a common failure on this on that engine after about 60k miles, but in the UK you should be able to get it blanked off and the error mapped out for alot less then fixing it.
Iv read on scoobynet the 2.5 NA is fine but the turbo can be a little fragile around the ringland n HG.
we had it from new for 5 1/2years and 120k KM (80k miles) and other than the servicing n belt.. nothing else happened.. untill he day after we posted the forsale advert it got all stroppy n threw a CEL.! which we fixed before selling (cost us 700ukp). it was the 2ndary air re-circ (emmissions stuff), which apparently if a common failure on this on that engine after about 60k miles, but in the UK you should be able to get it blanked off and the error mapped out for alot less then fixing it.
Iv read on scoobynet the 2.5 NA is fine but the turbo can be a little fragile around the ringland n HG.
A belt change can be as little as £150 so don't rule out the 4-cyl engines too readily.
The 3-litre only gives ~20mpg which can cause some people consternation. Personally, I see it as a source of amusement when talking with people who are amazed I would consider such a car... That is until the snow came. I only ran mine on Nokians all year round. Made sure they were new in October every year and generally made a nuisance of myself to anyone who would listen.
Before you need any new part, do a Google. An informed Subaru owner can be a very smug owner. I was.
The 3-litre only gives ~20mpg which can cause some people consternation. Personally, I see it as a source of amusement when talking with people who are amazed I would consider such a car... That is until the snow came. I only ran mine on Nokians all year round. Made sure they were new in October every year and generally made a nuisance of myself to anyone who would listen.
Before you need any new part, do a Google. An informed Subaru owner can be a very smug owner. I was.
Fubar1977 said:
In the real world my mates 2.5 Auto Outback never really got much above 25MPG.
It`s what`s always put me off buying a Legacy as, otherwise, they are a superb car.
Parts can be a bit pricey too but they`re very well screwed together.
I run a 2.5SE Outback (manual) and get 30-35mpg almost irrespective of how I use it.It`s what`s always put me off buying a Legacy as, otherwise, they are a superb car.
Parts can be a bit pricey too but they`re very well screwed together.
Rock solid car - probably one of the best I've ever had!
Exhausts do rot though. Go for an aftermarket replacement in stainless - about £500 as said previously.
I'm thinking of changing mine... but only for another!
Edited by Stig on Tuesday 16th July 18:49
[quote=Mark Benson] for instance we needed 2 rear sections and a mid-section of exhaust and the part was dealer only - it ended up being about the same to have a stainless exhaust made (around £800IIRC ) as to buy the dealer item.
I know this is an old thread but don't want people to be put off when reading this. Hayward & Scott custom built a stainless steel backbox for my 2005 Forester 2.5XT for £175.00 amd cat back wouldn't have cost much more.
Definitely something to bear in mind
I know this is an old thread but don't want people to be put off when reading this. Hayward & Scott custom built a stainless steel backbox for my 2005 Forester 2.5XT for £175.00 amd cat back wouldn't have cost much more.
Definitely something to bear in mind
My Evil Twin said:
Iv read on scoobynet the 2.5 NA is fine but the turbo can be a little fragile around the ringland n HG.
I have a Forester 2.5XT. Run it from 40k to 97k miles in 5 years and it's been faultless. Only work needed was drop links at 93k miles but it's had a tough life with me!Going on forum knowledge, Ringland failure is only an issue on the 2.5 turbos in higher states of tune. E.g. Sti upwards, so nor a concern in this thread.
Hope that helps
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