Subaru Legacy B4 RSK: PH Carpool
A 280hp Subaru that isn't an Impreza? This PHer extols the virtues of a very rare Legacy
Car: 2000 Subaru Legacy B4 RSK (Rallye Sport Kompressor)
Owned since: April 2014
Previously owned: BMW E46 318i M Sport, Lexus IS200 SE, Lexus IS200 Sport, Toyota Corolla SR.
You wait ages for one B4 RSK...
"Technically speaking I didn't buy it, I swapped my 318i for it! I didn't like the Beemer at all and the Legacy owner's wife wasn't happy with that, so it really fell into my lap and I couldn't be happier! I'd wanted a B4 Legacy for a while and I'd been a Subaru fan since I was a child. While I like Imprezas, being only 22 means getting insured on one is next to impossible. The Legacy represented the Scooby magic but being far more achievable!
"The interior is nicer and it was also somewhat of a different choice, you see far less of them around and I also liked the idea of a big, spacious, comfortable car that is also highly capable in terms of power and handling. It's far more understated than the likes of big winged Imprezas and Evos and can still give them (and a lot of other cars on the road) a good run for their money. I like having the not so obvious choice and Subarus have a good following here."
Blue with gold wheels, but not as we know it
"I had been heavily researching the car in the run up to buying it. I joined the Irish Subaru Drivers Club forum and the guys there were a great help. In terms of the BE5 Legacy, there are two versions - Rev C and Rev D - I have a Rev C. The facelifted one has, in my opinion, a nicer front end and a better ECU, so people will generally tell you to go for that one. Mine has a Rev D front bumper but not the lights. However the seats in the Rev C are much nicer and the standard alloys I think are preferable too, should you find one with them still in place.
"I was told to look out for crunchy gearboxes and ones with hesitation when coming on boost. There are, from what I've seen, no real stand out problems with these cars - just look out for ones that haven't been thrashed without rest. This is not a new car and one that can easily have been driven hard by a previous owner, just be careful. I have had a couple of seized brake caliper pistons on mine but this is an age-related problem. Most of the door seals need to be changed as does the boot seal. Some hang down and are loose. Something to watch for or factor into replacing. I've seen nice examples and I've seen poor examples of the B4 out there. It could potentially be a problem car if you buy the wrong one."
Things I love:
"This could be a long list! Getting into it, the way the dials light up, the colour... The WRX wheels (gold of course) I have instead of the Rotas that were on it. The sound it makes! There is something so intoxicating about that boxer rumble, I absolutely love it. There's a cat-back exhaust on mine and it makes such a nice noise, has me dropping the windows through any tunnel or in narrow streets. And I've had compliments on the sound too!
Boxer rumble a big part of the appeal
"It's really planted on the road too - the B4 came with Bilstein suspension as standard and in tandem with the AWD you can feel her gripping really well on the twisty bits and the steering is quite responsive (while a little too light) it really gives you great confidence when behind the wheel. The seats are great too! Supportive and comfy even on long journeys. It's a really good point to point cruiser and the boot is huge."
Things I hate:
"My biggest pet peeve is people saying to me 'what did you get that for, it must cost you a fortune on fuel?!' As if I was expecting diesel levels of economy when I got the car. Clearly, these people have no idea what it means to be a petrolhead.
"Also the car scene here is becoming saturated with slammed diesel A4s and Golf TDIs that 'boo' and at the likes of Cars & Coffee these people utter the same idiotic things about mpg. Its a twin-turbo boxer engine! Yes it's uneconomical, I get it! When it was on 18-inch wheels it could be a bit crashy and loud on bad roads but 17-inch wheels and better tyres have solved that. The turning circle is quite large which can become an annoyance. The speakers are a bit knackered but that's no major issue (boxer soundtrack). It's not an easy car to work on servicing wise, accessing the plugs on a flat-four isn't a simple task by any means."
Fuel economy? Killian will tell all!
"With a commute of only 10 miles the poor fuel economy isn't a problem for me at all. Best I've achieved is 28mpg and that's good going. Expect 24-25 on average, or even less. If you are on the secondary turbo at all you're burning quite a bit of juice. It's a small tank too. I'm lucky to get over 400km (240 miles) to a tank. But who cares? It's fun! Insurance is quite high due to my age. My policy for this year was 1,735 euros (£1,250) and and that was with a driving course at work and both my parents added to it, which dropped the price by £500! Tax here is is 710 euros for the year as it has a 2.0-litre engine. Irish tax is based on the engine capacity.
"I haven't had to replace anything yet other than the stereo and brake pads. It does need a few jobs now but all consumables that come with age, bushings here and there and a drop link that needs to be changed. Parts seem to be easy to source too."
Where I've been:
"Nowhere special yet, been to quite a few Cars & Coffee meets and I often take a spin to the Old Head of Kinsale which is quite a nice drive on the Wild Atlantic Way. Worth a trip if you ever find yourself in the area. I've also been through parts of the Ring of Kerry which is also great. No track days yet but hopefully at some stage in the future once I know the car is fully ready for it. I want to take it to mainland Europe and the Nurburgring too."
Certainly isn't sat gathering dust
"No plans to sell just yet, I'm still looking back at it as I walk away so that's a good sign! Soon I'll be replacing the brakes with some drilled and grooved discs ones from Mtech. I'm saving for a remap for Irish fuel as it's down on power with the lower octane fuel here. I'm told to expect nearly 300hp once mapped. I need to get the front end resprayed as it's badly stone chipped which really lets the car down.
"I fitted a Tommy Kaira grille which I think looks great and I've picked up a rear underbody brace which I will fit once I get a front brace too. I'd also like a short shift kit and some WRX four-piston calipers which bolt straight on. Other than that, I'll just have to see where the road takes me!"
Want to share your car with PHers on Carpool? Email us at carpool@pistonheads.com!
"Notes:
The third generation Legacy sedan redesign has undergone a minor name change, with a B4 tag on the front, and RSK on the rear. The B4 (Boxer 4wd) refers to suspension tuning by Porsche, Subaru's new partner in Japan (in dealerships), and the RSK is simply the RS (Rally Sport) of the last model, with K (Kompresser) added, to distinguish it from the lesser NA RS model."
http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/index.php/topic/102...
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