RE: Subaru Legacy Spec B: Spotted
Discussion
It's my car!
Yes it is a cassette player, and an in-dash 6 CD changer - and bluetooth hands free & music player, so covers most bases..
(I have two flat 6 engined cars with cassette players at the moment
)
Yes it's done nearly 30 mpg over 6k miles (29.4 on the OBC) and will cruise at 33-34 mpg on the motorway
Ed
Yes it is a cassette player, and an in-dash 6 CD changer - and bluetooth hands free & music player, so covers most bases..
(I have two flat 6 engined cars with cassette players at the moment
)Yes it's done nearly 30 mpg over 6k miles (29.4 on the OBC) and will cruise at 33-34 mpg on the motorway
Ed
I bought and estate model of this legacy over the summer. Admittedly it's only the 2.0L so nowhere near as powerful, but it's been a great car so far. I bought it as a hack/mule for my bikes, garden crap etc, so not to mess up any of my other cars and paid a little over £3k, with 86k miles on it and full service history (14 dealer stamps!). One of the things I love is how lively it is compared to modern cars. The steering is really responsive, the handling is fun and you can really throw it around. It's far more rewarding to drive than a new mercedes C/E class which I had considered. The only expense has been a set of all season tyres and a service which I did myself. I've looked at potential things that will need replacing in the next year or so and parts are easy to get hold of and cheap. Much of it's drivetrain is shared with the impreza so there are plenty of places to get these from. I get around 32mpg with sensible driving, and around 36mpg on a long run.
The only thing it's begging for is more power, so I may replace it this year with a turbo version.
The only thing it's begging for is more power, so I may replace it this year with a turbo version.
Nice cars. I've got a 3.0 Outback with the same engine but with the auto. MPG is 31 max for me sat at 65 and I see 23 on average.
Generally good cars but they aren't cheap to service as they're around £600 for larger services but they rarely go wrong and the manuals like this are quite ok to drive, although not really worth the 6k for such a leggy one here.
Generally good cars but they aren't cheap to service as they're around £600 for larger services but they rarely go wrong and the manuals like this are quite ok to drive, although not really worth the 6k for such a leggy one here.
S100HP said:
Interesting. I've often looked at them but for some reason looked away.
do they rust as much as the Impreza?
Mine didn't but it was still relatively new when I sold it. Plus, I always look after my cars. I'm sure you'll find the driving experience completely different to an Impreza but for a big car, I thought it handled well (Bilstein's on the Spec 'B') and was quick enough whilst at the same time being very comfortable. And the Boxer '6' is one of the nicest engines; very quiet, silky smooth and happy to rev when the mood takes you.do they rust as much as the Impreza?
Finding one will be the challenge, especially the later face lifted model.
Ved said:
Nice cars. I've got a 3.0 Outback with the same engine but with the auto. MPG is 31 max for me sat at 65 and I see 23 on average.
Generally good cars but they aren't cheap to service as they're around £600 for larger services but they rarely go wrong and the manuals like this are quite ok to drive, although not really worth the 6k for such a leggy one here.
It's £2500..Generally good cars but they aren't cheap to service as they're around £600 for larger services but they rarely go wrong and the manuals like this are quite ok to drive, although not really worth the 6k for such a leggy one here.
RB Will said:
Bladedancer said:
As far as fuel consumption goes, on a run you get high 30s
How were you managing that? I have always been a defender of these when people say about dire fuel economy and my real world MPGs were normally above what anyone else gets but even I never got more than 31-32mpg even on a gentle run (had one auto and one manual) Though I do like the engine a lot a Legacy saloon's not for me. I'm happy to put up with the relative thirst and expensive parts to have a car that is as practical and good off road/in snow as my Outback (important to me as a country bumpkin), but the engine alone - i.e. without the cargo carrying capacity and ground clearance that you sacrifice with the saloon - just wouldn't be enough.
If I lived in the UK I would have this car - or one like it - in a shot.
Looks ordinary inside and out, but that engine...!
A flat six runs nicer than any other layout except a V12, beating even a straight six for smoothness.
This car has torque absolutely everywhere, and a manual STi gearbox to go with it.
Only thing letting the side down is the 4WD, taking away some oversteery fun and adding weight.
But this really is a 911 Carrera 4 the right way round. And then for that price...
Looks ordinary inside and out, but that engine...!
A flat six runs nicer than any other layout except a V12, beating even a straight six for smoothness.
This car has torque absolutely everywhere, and a manual STi gearbox to go with it.
Only thing letting the side down is the 4WD, taking away some oversteery fun and adding weight.
But this really is a 911 Carrera 4 the right way round. And then for that price...
I ran one of these for 12 months or so, highly entertaining. Went to France and back in it, then it served as a family bus.
Unfortunately a couple of rather large bills (3 cats/Lambda sensors, tyres, brake caliper - you get the idea) a few untimely break downs with a 6 month old and an average of 25mpg made it not viable for us anymore.
It's still in the family, it's gone back to my sister who originally had it. I'd like to say I'd have another, but it would have to be an estate. The saloon is a bit of a squeeze once you've put a pram in it.
Unfortunately a couple of rather large bills (3 cats/Lambda sensors, tyres, brake caliper - you get the idea) a few untimely break downs with a 6 month old and an average of 25mpg made it not viable for us anymore.
It's still in the family, it's gone back to my sister who originally had it. I'd like to say I'd have another, but it would have to be an estate. The saloon is a bit of a squeeze once you've put a pram in it.
mcpoot said:
That won't impress Eric. It's not a facelift and they are so much rarer!
They are awesome cars whether facelift or not, the last of the facelifts are certainly rare - let me know when you come across a 08/09 manual SpecB saloon like mine, I have never actually seen one in over 2 years which is a far cry from the number of turbocharged German cars you see nowadays (which dont sound half as interesting as a N/A H6)
Krikkit said:
Looks a great car, but Subaru parts availability puts me off massively: If you wanted to do anything but run this into the ground, it could be very expensive and tricky.
In 2 1/2 years of owning mine I had no issue with parts, they are readily available and sites like partsouq can source and tricky to get bits. In most cases once you treat them with good quality oils they look after themselves, that and compliance bushings which is not much of a biggie. From the tone of somepeople you would think it had the running costs of a Hummer H6. Krikkit said:
I'm speaking from running a clutch of Outbacks, so the Legacy may be different (although a lot of parts are common), but things like exhausts, suspension components, gearbox spares, some engine sensors, and interior trim have all proved extremely tricky to get, and hilariously expensive going through Subaru.
In fact, I had to abandon buying an exhaust and make a repair section myself.
any main dealer parts will be expensive - how much for an exhaust for a Lexus IS250 from Lexus? general OEM consumables can be got easily on the web - only fools would get parts direct through Subaru for a car that oldIn fact, I had to abandon buying an exhaust and make a repair section myself.
RB Will said:
Bladedancer said:
As far as fuel consumption goes, on a run you get high 30s
How were you managing that? I have always been a defender of these when people say about dire fuel economy and my real world MPGs were normally above what anyone else gets but even I never got more than 31-32mpg even on a gentle run (had one auto and one manual) 
I run a late (09) gen 4 Legacy 2.0R, my third Gen 4 Legacy.
Great cars and always hankered after a Spec B but put off by the consumption. That said I only average 30mpg in the 2.0 which it must be said is underpowered - I would happily exchange a 5mpg deficit for that flat 6 engine.
Parts are expensive if you buy from a dealer, but don't - use ICP / Blue Print. I've just done the full cam belt with a Blue print kit and it cost me £175 including all idlers and tensioner - the bearings were all Japanese manufacture as was the belt.
They eat drop links and bushes but they are cheap to buy and replace.
Don't pay £1,800 for a Subaru exhaust - get a custom made stainless system for around £500.
Love them, there's a really special feel to them.
Keep being tempted by a JDM twin scroll
Great cars and always hankered after a Spec B but put off by the consumption. That said I only average 30mpg in the 2.0 which it must be said is underpowered - I would happily exchange a 5mpg deficit for that flat 6 engine.
Parts are expensive if you buy from a dealer, but don't - use ICP / Blue Print. I've just done the full cam belt with a Blue print kit and it cost me £175 including all idlers and tensioner - the bearings were all Japanese manufacture as was the belt.
They eat drop links and bushes but they are cheap to buy and replace.
Don't pay £1,800 for a Subaru exhaust - get a custom made stainless system for around £500.
Love them, there's a really special feel to them.
Keep being tempted by a JDM twin scroll
edh said:
It's my car!
Yes it is a cassette player, and an in-dash 6 CD changer - and bluetooth hands free & music player, so covers most bases..
(I have two flat 6 engined cars with cassette players at the moment )
Yes it's done nearly 30 mpg over 6k miles (29.4 on the OBC) and will cruise at 33-34 mpg on the motorway
Ed
Is this Ed Hall?Yes it is a cassette player, and an in-dash 6 CD changer - and bluetooth hands free & music player, so covers most bases..
(I have two flat 6 engined cars with cassette players at the moment
)Yes it's done nearly 30 mpg over 6k miles (29.4 on the OBC) and will cruise at 33-34 mpg on the motorway
Ed
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