Outback 3.0 v Legacy spec b 3.0 differences ?

Outback 3.0 v Legacy spec b 3.0 differences ?

Author
Discussion

phib

Original Poster:

4,464 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
Starting to look at the spec b legacy 3.0 and the outback 3.0 c. 2007 / 8. They seem to have the same engine and mpg but when you look at the 0-60 the outback says 8.5 and the spec b 6.5 ?

They both seem to have the same engine a 243bhp 3.0, are there actually any differences or the figures just wrong ?

Any help gratefully received

Thanks

Phib

74merc

594 posts

192 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
The Spec B comes in either manual or auto, whereas the Outback is auto only. The lower 0-60 figure could be for the manual box. I think the manual is lower geared too as the auto manages better MPG apparently.

phib

Original Poster:

4,464 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
That could make sense, they were both autos on autotrader bug maybe their figures were wrong

Will keep digging, thanks for info

Phib

sawman

4,919 posts

230 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
try asking here: http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/index.php/forum/2-g...

I am sure someone there will know the exact spec of both, but I had assumed the engines were the same, obviously the ride height is different, the spec B has some fancy bilstein shocks and is set up as a fast road car rather than an occasional off roader with a major turn os speed and so may have a slightly different ECU map?

oop north

1,596 posts

128 months

Tuesday 6th January 2015
quotequote all
I am pretty sure it's down to the gearbox as the engine is identical - if post facelift then both have si drive (makes a massive difference). The wheels / tyres are different - on my 09 outback the wheels are 17 inch with Yokohama geolanders all weather tyres. Spec b has 18 inchers with regular tyres. The front seats are a little different too - a bit flatter on outback. Outback suspension raised and with body cladding. Some outbacks have the Ivory leather, all spec bs and some outbacks have black. All spec bs have satnav but not all outbacks

GibsonSG

276 posts

111 months

Saturday 17th January 2015
quotequote all
I had a 3.0 Outback and wasn't that enamoured by it to be honest. I really wished I had the 3.0 R Spec B Legacy instead but it was a company car and the Spec B was just out of production with no UK stock.

As I recall the Outback had a slightly lower redline than the Spec B but for me the auto box was poor - the ratios seemed mis-matched to the engine's characteristics, so the first four gears seemed far too tall and fifth was a massive overdrive. Made for a nice cruiser but you had to drop to third to get any meaningful acceleration to stream past traffic in the usual motorway grind between 60 - 90. Plus, the higher ride height and softer suspension are not sporty - a lovely wafter but a different beast to the Spec B.

I'd had two Saab 9-5 Aero's before the Outback so it was a lovely change at first but eventually its appeal faded for me.

cailean

917 posts

173 months

Saturday 17th January 2015
quotequote all
I thought the spec-B was also 8 something and not as low as 6.5 even for the manual one

SonicHedgeHog

2,538 posts

182 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
What mpg were you getting from your 3.0? I'm about to start doing a lot of motorway miles so hoping the long gearing will work well for me?

GibsonSG

276 posts

111 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Over it's total life it did 24.6mpg - I was using a fuel card as it was a company car so the data is good. However, if you cruised at 70 - 80 at constant throttle on the motorway you could see around 31 on the trip computer. I personally never noticed any difference in economy between the three modes (Sports Sharp, Sports and Rigor Mortis).

I am a bit lead footed by the way, hence the 24.6 mpg overall. As a comparison the 95 Aero averaged 26.5 mpg over 80-odd thousand miles.

74merc

594 posts

192 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
My long term average in a 3.0 Outback is 27.9 mpg according to the computer. Most of the driving is a 60 mile commute into work on A roads and motorways.

sawman

4,919 posts

230 months

Thursday 22nd January 2015
quotequote all
my 3.0 outback auto has squeezed 26.4 miles out of each gallon on average over the last 20k miles - typically 35 miles each way commute. This is according to the app on my phone. The on board trip computer reckons its about 27.5

oop north

1,596 posts

128 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
quotequote all
From last June when I got it until the weather got colder mine averaged 26.5 (detailed spreadsheet calculation) - live in country which ruins the mpg but average one trip a week that is mostly motorway and outside rush hour

In the last couple of the months it has done much worse - but done far fewer motorway trips (when it does around 29-30) and lots of shorter trips - I think it's down to 23 ish, sadly! But not calculating accurately anymore as it's too depressing to think about!

The trip computer exaggerates by 1-1.5mpg. (On the diesel outback I had before the exaggeration was 6-8mpg)