MPG question: Owned both a WRX and a BP5 Legacy Turbo?

[Konan]

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.

[Konan]

Thanks for the input chaps. It doesn't sound like they're worlds apart.

Legacy may be a little slower in my case as I'm running around 280bhp on the WRX, but this is a decision 75% based on my love of the legacy front seats

[Konan]

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.

[Konan]

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]

Not a bad run off of one tank. Mixed roads.

[Konan]

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.

[Konan]

Expensive 1st month!

[Konan]

carjerk said:

Konan said:

Expensive 1st month!

What's happened there!?

I turned the wheel pulling out of my drive and heard a bang. Expected to find a broken spring or a snapped drop link... but it turned out that threaded part of the shock sheared off. Never seen that before! Not much stress on that part, so I wonder if somebody went at it too hard with an impact driver in the past. Makes me worry about other work carried out on it. But, that's used cars. Might have just been a factory fault.

New units and top mounts going on some time next week.

[Konan]

If anyone finds this thread that's asking the same question.....

Legacy is working out about the same on fuel for the most part and about 10% better than the WRX when on a motorway run.

Some of it may be down the the fact the auto is a bit easier to drive smoothly at low speeds.