At this time of year Shed is always on the lookout for a practical winter barge. Preferably something nicely looked after that can be cruelly slogged through the worst that Jack Frost can throw at it and then given a quick springtime jet wash for onward sale to the next mug - sorry, lucky owner.
Down Shed's way he sometimes comes across likely motors via the postcard ads that appear in the window of the local sub-post office. He has to watch his step down there though, as the attractive widow who runs the shop can be a bit needy and will always try to use Shed as a shoulder to cry on. Mrs Shed is not unaware of this and uses the jungle telegraph to keep tabs on her hubby.
A decent Legacy isn't a myth!
Anyway, Shed was in the post office the other day inquiring after a ridiculously priced Series 2 Landie advertised there by a rheumy old local farmer. The postmistress was nowhere to be seen. Shed climbed over the counter to find her in the stationery cupboard, where he immediately found himself engaged in a predictable conversation about the latest bit of bad luck she had had, some old guff about her widower's pension being held up.
Shed was in a bit of a rush that day and decided, with half an eye on matrimonial peace, that it might be best to be honest with the postmistress. Give it to her straight, really lay it on the line, cruel to be kind, that sort of thing.
Unfortunately it turned out that Mrs Shed was also in the area at the time, shopping for a heavy-duty girdle. She walked into the post office just in time to hear, though unfortunately not see, Shed commanding the postmistress to suck it up and take it on the chin.
The ensuing fracas is expected to make the front page of next week's local paper.
The day wasn't all bad though. While researching fast-acting pain relief tablets Shed came across this rather nice Legacy on PH. He's thinking of nabbing it for himself, but if you take prompt action you could beat him to it.
Even the leather is holding up well
What do we have here? A big, but not too big, surprisingly comfy estate offering a sweet combination of year-round handling and soft but adequate performance, courtesy of its 4WD system and non-turbo 2.5-litre flat four engine.
A good example of this car will eat up big mileages and live up to the model's decent reputation for reliability and practicality in bad weather. Shed thinks it may even have heated wipers, which would be cool. Or warm, hopefully.
But, as Shed knows only too well, nothing is perfect. So what can go wrong, apart from a deluded purchaser thinking it's going to be cheap on fuel?
Well, it might not be cheap on oil either. A Legacy can burn it at a retro rate. Head gaskets have been known to fail too, as a result of which Subaru extended its warranty to eight years to pacify disgruntled customers - but only in the USA. On the negative or indeed the positive side, depending on your outlook, there are two head gaskets on a flat four. There's no mention of gasket replacement in the ad, which again is either good or bad. You'd like to think that the current owner's comprehensive programme of preventative maintenance will have given the car the impression that it's being looked after, which it might then reciprocate by looking after the next owner. Or something.
The Legacy's automatic gearbox can feel a little clumsy, the brakes might seem a bit spongy and the cooling system can spring the odd leak. There have been reports of broken con-rod bearings too, but you'd be unlucky to get that.
Good ad, good pics - what's stopping you?
This example seems to be relatively rust-averse, but check the rear door seams at least for any early signs of rot.
A Legacy is never going to be a car to nod off in, what with the wind noise from the frameless windows and the sunroof, the tyre noise from the, er, tyres and the seats that look comfy but that can actually send some folks' legs to sleep. However, if you like character in your motoring this is a great winter choice for those with a family, or dogs, or both.
Shed thinks that the price may have come down from £1,250. Considering the mileage and the amount of work the current owner has put into it, that seems entirely reasonable for a big-hearted car that will smile while you beast it and purr when you don't.
I have owned this car for the last 18 months, during that time the following preventative maintenance has been carried out.
- Cambelt, tensioner and water pump changed
- Aux belts changed
- Differentials drained and refilled
- Autobox fluid and filter change
- Spark plugs replaced
- Engine oil and filter have been changed three times
- Air filter
- Front and rear brake pads
- Driveshaft gaiter front off side
- Drop links and D bushes on the front ARB
- Drop links on the rear ARB
- New exhaust rear section
- Two new tyres
- New battery (5 year guarantee)
The car has the following specification
- EJ251 engine 16 valves SOHC
- 4 speed torque converter autobox
- Full black leather in good condition
- Climate control in good working order
- Heated front seats
- Dual sunroof
- Cruise control
- CD and cassette player
- Tow bar and 7 pin electrics rated to 1800kg. I use the car to tow a small open trailer.
- Full time 4wd system and traction control working as it should do.
Full record of servicing, stamped book before my ownership and receipts during my ownership. The car drives as it should and seems to have been looked after mechanically. Unfortunately the bodywork is showing some signs of age, there is no sign of rust but there are quite a few minor bumps and scratches. The worst of which is the front bumper and rear OS corner. The car has MOT until February, it was passed last time with one minor advisory point for a small tack in the rear tyre, this has obviously now been removed and the tyre repaired.