2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0R auto real world mpg?
Discussion
Thinking of a replacement for my A6 and basically want the same as my current car offers but ideally a few more mpg and better designed. Think the Legacy of this vintage with the 3litre engine could be the best bet it claims 28.9 a full 7mpg better than my A6 manages in normal use. I guess I may miss a bit of the torque after the turbo low range shove but that's it, good choice?
I ran a 3.0 legacy for about 10k last year and have sold loads, i struggled to get more than 23 mpg average, mixed driving and enjoying the 3.0. I rekon 26 ish av would be doable,but to get that you might as well have the 2.5 and get well over 30. The 3.0 with a manual box is a lovely lovely car, im never very impressed with the autobox mated to the 3.0. As a car i would say that vintage of legacy/ outback is up there with the best car to use abuse and keep forever. They seem to do everything very well indefinitely.
Yup, they are one of the few brands with total loyalty, nearly everyone i sell goes either to someone who has always had one or someone who tried something else and wants back into one. I regularly retail them with well in excess of 100k and have about 25 at the moment, one with near 200k. That said, i dislike the diesel boxer and feel subaru are trying a bit too hard to be the same as other brands with their more recent stuff. We dont like change us subaru folk. 
Forgot to add, the 3.0 is a great engine, lovely smooth power delivery, the autobox is pretty smooth, but can feel a bit flatfooted occasionally, pop it into sport mode (SI version) and that sharpens things up pretty well. Overall I am pretty happy with the outback and can see me keeping it for a good few years.
OK, I had a 3.0 Legacy SW on a 2005 plate. I covered a whopping 157,000 miles on her, so if anyone can pass comment I guess I qualify.
The Engine:
It really is a peach, good torque that will put a smile on your face every time you press the fast peddle! It's nicely smooth and when cruising feels like a good old lazy lump. Economy I think isn't too bad, obviously short journeys make it drink like a fish but cruising 70ish on a long run I could get 30 on the trip computer. I once did a steady 56mph run down to Essex from Derby (I wasn't in a rush) and it admirably returned 39mpg according to the computer. I just set the cruise and relaxed.
Build:
Built like a nuclear bunker, it sometimes felt a bit 'mechanical' under there if that makes sense. But everything carried on working (almost) to the end. The interior developed a few rattles here and there but all the important bits were solid.
Electrics:
I did have a couple of problems with some of the electrics, the clock would suddenly disappear and then reappear as and when it chose, also the cd player wasn't always reliable, these are quite common problems with earlier MY's.
Mechanicals:
Ok so having covered 157,000 miles things did start to get a bit expensive. Up to 135,000 the car ran without a hint of trouble. Then I had to have the exhaust replaced, an engine rebuild and the suspension sorted. One word of caution; parts aren't cheap! The exhaust cost me upwards of £300, engine rebuild was £2000, and the knocking suspension cost me a few hundred (from what I remember). The gearbox however would've probably gone on for double what I put on it! The gear changes felt as smooth as the day I got it.
Things to watch out for:
It can use a bit of oil so be sure to check it regularly, I serviced mine once a year and in a 12 month period I would need to top up with about 3/4L in total. The AWD system is very solid, however make sure you change the rear diff oil as you can get a bit of noise from them if not maintained. The only time my car wouldn't start is when the leads got wet in the engine bay. It p1ssed it down one night and somehow the water got in. The finish on the alloys isn't the best so check for bubbling and flaking. Be aware of when the belts need doing as this is another quite expensive job.
Summery:
These are cracking motors and if it wasn't for mine becoming uneconomical I would still have it. I have never covered as many miles in a car as what I did with my Legacy. The handling inspired confidence, the engine made me smile and the gearbox made it relaxed, everything a car should be. For that type of car the MPG isn't at all bad, everyday driving around 26 if you drive gentle low 30's.
Hope this helps...
The Engine:
It really is a peach, good torque that will put a smile on your face every time you press the fast peddle! It's nicely smooth and when cruising feels like a good old lazy lump. Economy I think isn't too bad, obviously short journeys make it drink like a fish but cruising 70ish on a long run I could get 30 on the trip computer. I once did a steady 56mph run down to Essex from Derby (I wasn't in a rush) and it admirably returned 39mpg according to the computer. I just set the cruise and relaxed.
Build:
Built like a nuclear bunker, it sometimes felt a bit 'mechanical' under there if that makes sense. But everything carried on working (almost) to the end. The interior developed a few rattles here and there but all the important bits were solid.
Electrics:
I did have a couple of problems with some of the electrics, the clock would suddenly disappear and then reappear as and when it chose, also the cd player wasn't always reliable, these are quite common problems with earlier MY's.
Mechanicals:
Ok so having covered 157,000 miles things did start to get a bit expensive. Up to 135,000 the car ran without a hint of trouble. Then I had to have the exhaust replaced, an engine rebuild and the suspension sorted. One word of caution; parts aren't cheap! The exhaust cost me upwards of £300, engine rebuild was £2000, and the knocking suspension cost me a few hundred (from what I remember). The gearbox however would've probably gone on for double what I put on it! The gear changes felt as smooth as the day I got it.
Things to watch out for:
It can use a bit of oil so be sure to check it regularly, I serviced mine once a year and in a 12 month period I would need to top up with about 3/4L in total. The AWD system is very solid, however make sure you change the rear diff oil as you can get a bit of noise from them if not maintained. The only time my car wouldn't start is when the leads got wet in the engine bay. It p1ssed it down one night and somehow the water got in. The finish on the alloys isn't the best so check for bubbling and flaking. Be aware of when the belts need doing as this is another quite expensive job.
Summery:
These are cracking motors and if it wasn't for mine becoming uneconomical I would still have it. I have never covered as many miles in a car as what I did with my Legacy. The handling inspired confidence, the engine made me smile and the gearbox made it relaxed, everything a car should be. For that type of car the MPG isn't at all bad, everyday driving around 26 if you drive gentle low 30's.
Hope this helps...
Edited by TheCarMadDad on Friday 31st January 23:00
Edited by TheCarMadDad on Friday 31st January 23:02
Herman Toothrot said:
....they are solidly built.
I don't know about the newer one's but I had a '02 plate one a few years ago,I was given it because the clutch had gone, I put a new clutch in and every nut and bolt came undo without any problem.
It had c.180,000 mile on it when I got it and just over 200,000 when it was cat B'd after some idiot ran into it.
Everything worked, there were no rattles and it didn't leak anywhere. It was really solid.
I spent ages trying to find a half decent one for sale but couldn't, I got the impression that people hang on to them! I think that tells you a lot about just how good they are.
I got mid 20mpg but that was mainly rural driving and I'm not light footed!
I bought one about 18 months ago. We just went to the Alps and back in it.
Perfect.
Cruise was set at a certain speed that I'm not going to say on the internet but certainly isn't good for mpg, and over the 1400 miles we got 27.6 mpg. That's a manual though. And a 54-plate.
Short journeys it probably averages 25mpg.
It's a bit too grown-up for us, a bit too refined after the Impreza, but the 'handling' for such a big car is unbelievable. Ours is the Spec.B.
As mentioned above it is apparently not cheap to replace the suspension, as it is some very good (but not electronic) inverted Bilstein combos, the rear wheel bearings go but easily replaced, as do a few bushes in the front, but all small beans really.
Do it - the Spec.B is just as good as the journos say it is.
Perfect.
Cruise was set at a certain speed that I'm not going to say on the internet but certainly isn't good for mpg, and over the 1400 miles we got 27.6 mpg. That's a manual though. And a 54-plate.
Short journeys it probably averages 25mpg.
It's a bit too grown-up for us, a bit too refined after the Impreza, but the 'handling' for such a big car is unbelievable. Ours is the Spec.B.
As mentioned above it is apparently not cheap to replace the suspension, as it is some very good (but not electronic) inverted Bilstein combos, the rear wheel bearings go but easily replaced, as do a few bushes in the front, but all small beans really.
Do it - the Spec.B is just as good as the journos say it is.
Had my Spec B for a year now. Still love it.
I seem to get more or less 23 mpg whether I drive it cautiously or with enthusiasm. The latter is a great deal more fun. That's on a 55 plate with an auto box. The box tends to hunt occasionally in traffic (better in sport mode, as mentioned above)but it is a brilliant all-rounder and still makes me smile every day when I turn the key.
It's definitely a keeper.
I seem to get more or less 23 mpg whether I drive it cautiously or with enthusiasm. The latter is a great deal more fun. That's on a 55 plate with an auto box. The box tends to hunt occasionally in traffic (better in sport mode, as mentioned above)but it is a brilliant all-rounder and still makes me smile every day when I turn the key.
It's definitely a keeper.
My dad had a 3.0 auto and I had a spec b manual both pretty good but if you can go for the manual. The auto is just geared a bit too long.
Both returned an average Of about 26-27 I did on occasion manage about 31 on Cross country jaunts.
Only thing to break in either of them was the front shocks on mine but it was at 130k miles and had spent the first 8 years of its life as a farm car.
Both returned an average Of about 26-27 I did on occasion manage about 31 on Cross country jaunts.
Only thing to break in either of them was the front shocks on mine but it was at 130k miles and had spent the first 8 years of its life as a farm car.
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