Most reliable for £2.5k - Subaru Legacy or Volve V70 AWD
Discussion
Subaru without a doubt. I've had them for years. My first Legacy, a poverty spec ex-company car, went from 55k to 135k in my ownership. It needed a clutch at 120k (the wife tends to ride it, one reason I now have an auto), otherwise nothing. Not even a bush or joint. It was still on the original battery and exhaust when sold.
People tend to be down on the interiors and while they may not have fancy soft-touch plastics they wear well and don't break. Plus the AWD system is very well developed and reliable.
People tend to be down on the interiors and while they may not have fancy soft-touch plastics they wear well and don't break. Plus the AWD system is very well developed and reliable.
My legacy is 55 plate 85k, one headlamp bulb and one interior bulb in that time, one advisory at mot for front wishbone bushes showing signs of wear but still ok, plan to keep it for at least another 3 yrs no real wear just a bit of tear, a few dents from a branch falling on it and where a horse kicked it, dogs have had a bit of a chew on rear head rests
Not as big as a Volvo inside and driver legroom a bit tight for my 6'2" after 150 miles, four wheel drive worked in the snow last year and haven't got stuck in any fields towing, always goes where you point it.
Not as big as a Volvo inside and driver legroom a bit tight for my 6'2" after 150 miles, four wheel drive worked in the snow last year and haven't got stuck in any fields towing, always goes where you point it.
If it's a normally aspirated Legacy then I'd say go for it. The 4wd drive is a simple robust system and the rest is typical Japanese build quality. If it's turbocharged I'd hesitate just because the engines are a bit highly stressed. I'd probably still buy it though because they're a hoot and I'm biased but the Volvo would win out on reliability and economy at that point.
Oldandslow said:
If it's a normally aspirated Legacy then I'd say go for it. The 4wd drive is a simple robust system and the rest is typical Japanese build quality. If it's turbocharged I'd hesitate just because the engines are a bit highly stressed. I'd probably still buy it though because they're a hoot and I'm biased but the Volvo would win out on reliability and economy at that point.
As long as they're maintained sensibly and not abused/badly modified the turbos are reliable too, my '02 GTB (2.0 twin-turbo 280bhp) has been almost faultless over the 3 years and 40,000km I've had it. It will do 32mpg easily enough on a run and I usually average 26ish in mixed use. There is less to potentially go wrong with a naturally aspirated one though I agree.
GravelBen said:
Oldandslow said:
If it's a normally aspirated Legacy then I'd say go for it. The 4wd drive is a simple robust system and the rest is typical Japanese build quality. If it's turbocharged I'd hesitate just because the engines are a bit highly stressed. I'd probably still buy it though because they're a hoot and I'm biased but the Volvo would win out on reliability and economy at that point.
As long as they're maintained sensibly and not abused/badly modified the turbos are reliable too, my '02 GTB (2.0 twin-turbo 280bhp) has been almost faultless over the 3 years and 40,000km I've had it. It will do 32mpg easily enough on a run and I usually average 26ish in mixed use. There is less to potentially go wrong with a naturally aspirated one though I agree.
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