RE: Subaru Reveals All-New Boxer Engine

[GravelBen]

Deranged Granny said:

10% improvement after 21 years? Really!?

Its not a 10% improvement over the 1989 version, its a 10% improvement over the latest version, which has had 21 years of development.

[joz8968]

mitch78 said:

Can anyone recommend a good Subaru specialist as close to Leeds as possible? I don't mind travelling anywhere at all, but obviously if there's a good one in Wakefield and an equally good one in Brighton, I'll be visiting Wakefield.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm new to Subarus and I'm considering a 55 plate WRX with about 40-50k on the clock, and I would like things like decent oil pressure gauges fitting by someone that really knows their way around Imprezas.

I'm sure there must be at least one specialist in the Yorkshire area (although can't think of one right now). Get on ScoobyNet and ask the question in their "General Technical" forum.

Failing that, then an hour's drive due south will get you to API in Harbury, Leaminton Spa - one of the most respected Subaru specialists there is. I use them all the time. David, the proprietor and Subaru Guru extraordinaire, ALWAYS makes time for potential customers, with no strings attached for any advice he gives. He's a proper gent.

Edited by joz8968 on Saturday 25th September 10:46

[cossykiller]

ive had a few cars in my time from mercs to fiestas and too date the longest ive ever had a car is 2.5 years and its my 1999 outback legacy estate
the ONLY reason im thinking of getting rid of it now (sold it a year ago for a 3.0L H6 and bought it back) is because its looking a bit tired its done 180k, spots of rust are coming from left alone stone chips BUT underneath is like new, the engine pulls very strong for only a 165bhp 2.5L auto and it is HONESTLY the best drive i have ever had and i have had a cls320, audis and lots of other older but top of the luxery range cars
its a bit greedy on fuel but what isnt nowdays with 4x4, automatic and gearing for pulling houses down?

the car id like to replace it with...........
a newer 2.5 outback petrol i think ill wait for the new engine to come out in 2.5 4 cylinder form and test drive that
ive drove the oil burner and dont like that although it was a very good car but the power band wasnt for me, ive had the 6 cyl 3.0 and it wasnt half as nice to drive as the 2.5, yes it was faster, better on fuel 25mpg where as the 2.5 does around 21mpg smoother, pulled the trailer much better (trackday car) and was just an all round better car BUT it didnt drive as nice, im just hoping that this new engine fitted in the new car drives like my old trusty faithfull 11year old car!!

id get one around 6 months old BUT still dont think id get rid of mine as it will be a perfect car for putting the boat out of teh water on low tides/beaches
i live in cornwall 10 miles from the slipway
PERFECT CAR i cannpt praise it enough, but better mpg would be welcomed as we drive a C1 for about 70% of our chores as it easy does 60mpg and 21mpg from the scooby dosnt have save us money around 300miles a week!!
roll on the new better mpg enegined scooby

[GravelBen]

21mpg is pretty bad, are you sure its healthy? My Legacy GTB (280bhp twin turbo) averages 26ish mpg in mixed used and 30-32 easily enough on a run.

[stevieb]

joz8968 said:

mitch78 said:

Can anyone recommend a good Subaru specialist as close to Leeds as possible? I don't mind travelling anywhere at all, but obviously if there's a good one in Wakefield and an equally good one in Brighton, I'll be visiting Wakefield.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm new to Subarus and I'm considering a 55 plate WRX with about 40-50k on the clock, and I would like things like decent oil pressure gauges fitting by someone that really knows their way around Imprezas.

I'm sure there must be at least one specialist in the Yorkshire area (although can't think of one right now). Get on ScoobyNet and ask the question in their "General Technical" forum.

Failing that, then an hour's drive due south will get you to API in Harbury, Leaminton Spa - one of the most respected Subaru specialists there is. I use them all the time. David, the proprietor and Subaru Guru extraordinaire, ALWAYS makes time for potential customers, with no strings attached for any advice he gives. He's a proper gent.

Edited by joz8968 on Saturday 25th September 10:46

My personal opinion is don't bother with fitting the Worry Gauges. If you are keeping standard or just doing a simple remap, you don't really need them

[joz8968]

GravelBen said:

21mpg is pretty bad, are you sure its healthy? My Legacy GTB (280bhp twin turbo) averages 26ish mpg in mixed used and 30-32 easily enough on a run.

Circa 21-23mpg does seem to be the average for the EJ engine, on mixed driving. Unfortunately. That's around 5 miles per litre.

If you're getting 26mpg mixed, then be very happy.

Edited by joz8968 on Saturday 25th September 13:17

[joz8968]

stevieb said:

...My personal opinion is don't bother with fitting the Worry Gauges. If you are keeping standard or just doing a simple remap, you don't really need them

I agree, they cause just that - worry.

Chances are, when you do notice really low oil pressure at load (i.e. when it 'matters'), then the damage is already done anyway!... or at least just around the corner.

Edited by joz8968 on Saturday 25th September 13:28

[mitch78]

Ok, fair point. Any idea how long they're good for, before they start needing major work? I'm likely to get it over 100k miles in a year or so, is that realistic? (sorry, as you can tell, I know NOTHING about them at the moment!)

[mitch78]

BTW, it's the 2.5 I'm considering.

[garycat]

GravelBen said:

HowardB said:

just a quick note in favour of reliability,..

I've had 5 Scoobys, and done on average 90K in each of them, I am on my sixth, and that has 80K on it, all in all over 13 years, 1 engine seal, 3 wheel bearings, and some oil,..

That is what I call reliable!

Howard

I'm on my 4th Subaru (over 9 years and more miles than I care to count) and other than routine maintenance I've had 1 MAF sensor go (car wouldn't start), 1 MAP sensor (only 7psi boost until fixed), and 1 split radiator hose (on a 15 year old car).

So I agree with you on their reliability!

Yep I'm on my second Impreza, first one had no issues whatsoever in 60K miles. Second one I've had from new and 7 years and 125K miles later I've only had a rogue CEL appear for a Cyl 1 misfile. This was fixed free of charge by Tileys in Bristol by swapping the coil pack with a spare one. It has been remapped and done several track days, but still goes on and on and on and on.

Edited by garycat on Saturday 25th September 20:09

[cossykiller]

i completely love mine
yes 21mpg is normal since ive had it around 40k miles ago on 142k
mines on LPG and only does 17mpg on Gas as its nowhere near as good as petrol, and its not quite as powerfull so i often swop to pwtrol when im towing up hills on the A30
towing 1700kgs under full throttle on petrol uphill will automaticly swop to petrol anyway
the 3.0L i had would just fly up and down hills with ease as it was around 240bhp with mods and stuff but as said the drive wasnt as good for me.
ive not had any problems in 40k hardish miles other than exhaust has rusted through, drivers side inner cv gatier is split, and the drivers side drive shaft is starting to knock on right had acceleration (its always knocked on full lock since ive had it 2.5 years ago) and thats an 11 year old on its original EVERYTHING apart from brakes and tyres!!

id go along with trouble free motoring and a nice drive DEFO GET THE NEW 2.5 ENGINED LEGACY, maybe not an outback this time as just the extra height makes 2mpg or so difference belive it or not.

[Mr Fix It]

I have had a few subarus with varying results. The engines are ok in low tune. The 2 wagons I have owned have had no issues. I have owned a v5 STI from 1999 and that needed 2 engine rebuilds, one on the original 2.0l and one of the swapped out 2.5l. However, this was due to fitting loads of mods and seeking more power, and without the appropriate map the engine can fail very quickly. I unfortunately found out the hard way, as it costs me loads of cash to put right. The only annoying bit was that the company who mapped it were a well reputable company and so I did not expect the problems I had. However, with a proper map, and some forged pistons the engine was great.

[Dagnut]

GravelBen said:

21mpg is pretty bad, are you sure its healthy? My Legacy GTB (280bhp twin turbo) averages 26ish mpg in mixed used and 30-32 easily enough on a run.

26mpg from a ej208? I've had 2 of them and saw nothing even close to that

[johnyb]

I have a 97 impreza running 523bhp on a standard newage sti bottom end and had no issues so far, just regular maintenance such as oil change every 3k miles.

I would recommend Richard Henry motorsport in bradford, to anyone looking for a specialist in yorkshire.

[GravelBen]

Dagnut said:

GravelBen said:

21mpg is pretty bad, are you sure its healthy? My Legacy GTB (280bhp twin turbo) averages 26ish mpg in mixed used and 30-32 easily enough on a run.

26mpg from a ej208? I've had 2 of them and saw nothing even close to that

Plenty of folk on the NZ Subaru forums (these cars are common here) get fuel economy in that ballpark, mine is towards the good end of the scale but by no means out of the ordinary. It is a Rev-D which were better than the earlier versions, and about 10% thirstier than that if I have to feed it 95 instead of 98.

[Dagnut]

GravelBen said:

Dagnut said:

GravelBen said:

21mpg is pretty bad, are you sure its healthy? My Legacy GTB (280bhp twin turbo) averages 26ish mpg in mixed used and 30-32 easily enough on a run.

26mpg from a ej208? I've had 2 of them and saw nothing even close to that

Plenty of folk on the NZ Subaru forums (these cars are common here) get fuel economy in that ballpark, mine is towards the good end of the scale but by no means out of the ordinary. It is a Rev-D which were better than the earlier versions, and about 10% thirstier than that if I have to feed it 95 instead of 98.

Yeah had a rev d saloon myself probably the 95 that returns such poor mileage.

[f111lover]

Good to see development is still going on, my problem is the way Subaru have gone styling wise. No more sports saloons, no more frameless windows, trying to look like every other box on the road, they're just no longer different enough to interest me. Damn shame.

[StuMI16]

Is it me , or is it Chain driven IIRC wernt the older units belts ?

[mitch78]

f111lover said:

Good to see development is still going on, my problem is the way Subaru have gone styling wise. No more sports saloons, no more frameless windows, trying to look like every other box on the road, they're just no longer different enough to interest me. Damn shame.

Looks pretty much like a sports saloon to me:



Does it really make a difference to your choice of car, whether the windows have frames or not?

[GravelBen]

StuMI16 said:

Is it me , or is it Chain driven IIRC wernt the older units belts ?

The older (incl current) 4-pots are belts, but the EZ30 flat-6 is already chain-driven.

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 27th September 20:21