Subaru Legacy/ Levorg ownership, what's it like?
Discussion
I've had my Levorg 1.6 for over 3 years now, nothings gone wrong with it, it's my 7th Subaru and I like it very much. For the last 2 years it's had a TDI tuning box fitted, which gives 210 bhp and 300nm and makes a big difference to passing and merging. It's not exactly fast by today's standards, but it's rapid enough, and handles like a Subaru should. Excellent driving position and visibility. Steering is well weighted, precise, but perhaps lacking in that elusive "feel". Gearbox is really good once you get to know it, much better than Legacy 5 speed auto. Overall mpg has been 35mpg over the last 3000 miles. 40mpg is easily attainable on a motorway run. Most Levorg owners seem to love them, there's nothing else quite like it out there.
Sad Weevil said:
I've had my Levorg 1.6 for over 3 years now, nothings gone wrong with it, it's my 7th Subaru and I like it very much. For the last 2 years it's had a TDI tuning box fitted, which gives 210 bhp and 300nm and makes a big difference to passing and merging. It's not exactly fast by today's standards, but it's rapid enough, and handles like a Subaru should. Excellent driving position and visibility. Steering is well weighted, precise, but perhaps lacking in that elusive "feel". Gearbox is really good once you get to know it, much better than Legacy 5 speed auto. Overall mpg has been 35mpg over the last 3000 miles. 40mpg is easily attainable on a motorway run. Most Levorg owners seem to love them, there's nothing else quite like it out there.
Thank you for this! It's very insightful. I'll keep my eye out.Hi not sure if you have made a decision yet.
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
sledge68 said:
Hi not sure if you have made a decision yet.
I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
Hi this is really useful, especially considering I am in the auto v manual debate for a daily. I haven't made my decision yet as I've still got to find the time to drive all the cars I am considering to see if I like them. I'll keep my eye out. Cheers!I had pretty much every variant of warm Legacy, early GTB twin turbos x 3, 2.5 outback x1, 3.0 spec Bs manual x 2, 2008 2.0d tourer, and my current car a 2006 JDM twinscroll Spec B tourer 5EAT.
For me my current car is the best IMO, it does everything i need it to do.
Good points
Very responsive engine, the TS spools up at low revs
utterly reliable, i have had it 2017 as a fresh import, other than pads, tyres, service parts and some bushes its never let me down
VED was £235 think its £245 now
5EAT with paddles, smooth in auto and responds well in manual
Handles well, mine has the billies and STI springs so sits lower and is firmer
Being a facelift its quieter and smoother than any of my previous ones
Most people have no idea that they are quick
Had this one since 2017 and i still love it
Bad Points
MPG, my commute is 4 miles each way, so does not bother me.
Odd tyre size means if you go with OEM the choice is expensive and limited, most opt for 225/40/18 not 215/45/18.
Spark plugs are a pain to change, best to drop an engine mount.
Billies can be expensive to replace, a member of uk Legacy can get them pretty much half retail
hard on drive train, i have poly bushed nearly everywhere
I had a Legacy 4Cam Turbo for 15 years, it was the best car I ever had by a country mile and now I wish I had kept it!
+s
Dead reliable, comfortable, fabulous handling, 4wd, roomy boot.
-s
Very expensive parts, impossible to change the spark plugs, inclined to leak oil from the valve covers, 7,500 mile oil changes, driver's seat fabric wore.
Never had any corrosion issues anywhere, exhaust and clutch were the originals when I sold the car at 140k miles.
+s
Dead reliable, comfortable, fabulous handling, 4wd, roomy boot.
-s
Very expensive parts, impossible to change the spark plugs, inclined to leak oil from the valve covers, 7,500 mile oil changes, driver's seat fabric wore.
Never had any corrosion issues anywhere, exhaust and clutch were the originals when I sold the car at 140k miles.
Just to add to this, I’ve had four Liberty/Legacy, plus a Forester, all manual, 3 with the NA 2.5 engine, plus a couple of turbos…
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
PomBstard said:
Just to add to this, I’ve had four Liberty/Legacy, plus a Forester, all manual, 3 with the NA 2.5 engine, plus a couple of turbos…
1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
I'm with you on that, I really like the current Outback shape too especially in the olive green colour. Apparently it's just a bit too slow for it's size so the WRX STi treatment would be perfect. I'm currently after a Levorg STI, but are they really too small inside? 1998 Gen3 2.5RX wagon - owned for about a year, sold to buy a new 07 Forester 2.5X that we kept for 10 years
2003 Gen4 2.5 saloon - bought as a stop-gap car, kept for 2.5 years alongside the Forester
2005 Gen4 2.0T GT wagon - bought at 9yo w 180,000km on the clock, sold as we outgrew it pretty quick
2012 Gen5 2.5T GT wagon - bought at 4yo, kept for 4yrs, only sold because we outgrew it - Readers Cars thread on it somewhere, utterly brilliant car.
Overall, superb cars to drive and own. Parts are expensive and they’re all thirsty but they are v reliable if properly/regularly looked after and the fuel use is a constant thing, no matter what engine.
Looked at a Levorg but too small and auto-only, so gave it a miss, and have never driven one.
If Subaru resurrected their fast wagon by putting the WRX bits into the Outback body and letting STI play with the suspension, I’d be in the queue to buy one.
TO73074E said:
I'm with you on that, I really like the current Outback shape too especially in the olive green colour. Apparently it's just a bit too slow for it's size so the WRX STi treatment would be perfect. I'm currently after a Levorg STI, but are they really too small inside?
I think the size thing depends on your needs. I’ve got three kids, and the Levorg is based on the Impreza chassis so it was never really going to work. Closer in size inside to a Gen4 Liberty.The current Outback really is big inside. I compared the back seat of one to the VF Commodore that has replaced my Gen 5 GT, and there’s not a lot in it. The Holden is bigger, but it’s close - and the only other cars that are close are an E Class, Superb, and Grand Cherokee. If that bodyshell was available as a fast, fun thing, I’d buy it.
Ilovejapcrap said:
Anyone else on this forum Currently running a levorg?
I'm looking at buying one later this year, they seem good value. I believe that these are these are just a WRX/Imprezza wagon - the front looks exactly the same.The 1.6 turbo was switched for a 2.0 nat asp in about 2022 I think, any comments on how the two compare?
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