Legacy GT-B twinscroll - am i an idiot?

[TwoBobBit]

Hello

Long time since I posted in PH, but i'm back!

I currently have a hankering for an estate - I have 2 small kids and a mountain bike to cart around, so i need a bigger car than my current BMW 1-series, but it has to also be interesting. I was originally looking at Volvo V70R or at a minimum a V50 T5, but finding one thats: manual, under 7 grand, not knackered, not been to the moon and back - is almost impossible. So i started looking around and spotted a 2004 Legacy GT Spec B 2.0 Twin Scroll manual for the right price and with only 64k miles.

The seller says it was imported from Japan when it was new, has regularly been undersealed and meticulously serviced.

I am aware that these things are thirsty, but i mostly work from home, and would only drive it maybe 2 or 3 times a week - probably wouldn't do more than 8000 miles a year. I'm also quite handy with a spanner (i also own a small British sports car!) so fixing stuff on the driveway doesn't bother me too much.

My question is - what am i letting myself in for? Am i being silly boy for wanting a 20 year old performance estate such as the Legacy GT?

Cheers!

[Sad Weevil]

Not silly at all. They're very rewarding cars to own and drive.

[Rooted]

Not at all - they tick a huge number of boxes - I was looking for one during lockdown but the prices became silly. They are coming right back now so I may well start looking again too.

[TEKNOPUG]

How often will you be driving it on your own and how often will you be transporting the family? If it's more the latter, you may want to reconsider. And that's from someone with 2 young boys and 10 years of Impreza Wagons.

[Konan]

Daily driven mine 70,000 miles now. Ownership has never felt like a big undertaking, if I'm honest. Maintenance is easy enough and it's never had the gremlins you get from 'normal' European cars.

They're quick rather than fast, I'd say.

No, it's not crazy if you're already accepting it's going on 20 years old.

[TwoBobBit]

Thanks all for your replies.

I went ahead and got the one i was looking at - £6600 for a JDM Legacy GT Spec-B twinscroll with 64k miles, and so far i love it! The worst thing so far is a knackered propshaft, but i found a fresher one on ebay for £27, and the car is so easy to work on that i don't mind changing "big" things like that. There are a few other things to fettle, but its a 20 year old car so i was expecting to spend a few weeks getting it 'just right', but right now i'm glad i took the plunge and got a Subaru. I've wanted one for years so it's sort of like a thing ticked off the old bucket list.
It the first proper Japanese car i've owned (excluding a properly knackered Suzuki SJ), and so far the experience is good! Cheers

[Konan]

Give us a shout if you run into anything, or try uk legacy.

The workshop manuals and parts catalogues are very easy to find by (and brilliant to follow)

Mine has been a real workhorse.

[Hallsy01]

I've been looking at these recently also, going to view a JDM twin scroll over the weekend.

It will be a replacement for my Saab 9-5 Aero estate, had that for ages now and has always been a good car, but fancy a change. Consolidating our cars this year (new baby arrival 18 months ago) and fancied a more focused replacement.

Always had a soft spot for the legacy - owned a mapped Blobeye Impreza WRX some time ago that I loved to drive, but wasn't that fond of the interior - hoping the Legacy can cover both of those bases!

But I do ask myself if I am mad to be spending a reasonable amount of cash on something that is pretty much same class as the 9-5, albeit with a much better chassis!!