Subaru Legacy/Outaback Estate Advice
Discussion
I was looking at these and they seem pretty good value for money. I’m too fussed about the mpg or the tax. What are they like in terms of parts and maintenance and any problem areas:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
Mr.Nobody said:
I was looking at these and they seem pretty good value for money. I’m too fussed about the mpg or the tax. What are they like in terms of parts and maintenance and any problem areas:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
2.5s have a reputation for head gasket failures.https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
fuel consumption isn't the best
the rear exhaust is ludicrously expensive, but allegedly there is a bloke in Caerphilly who can make a replacement for half what Subaru charge.
The characterful exhaust note you might hope for from the flat 4 is missing.
frameless windows are cool.
It's more reliable than my son's land rover
The above is based on 12 months of ownership - I don't use a car much, but I rather like it.
I put 70K miles on a 3 litre Outback and didn't have any issues with it. Exhausts can be repaired or replaced with aftermarket ones from ebay. Scrapyards are full of diesels with broken crankshafts and petrol engines are super reliable. I think that the head gasket issues on the 2.5s only affected much earlier models.
I bought a 2.5 back in 2011 and did 21,000 miles in the one year I had it. Obviously fuel wasnt great, real lifelow to mid 30's if I remember, but there was a lot of motorway miles to get that. A very comfortable car, all had a Momo steering wheel if I remember correctly. Extremely large loading area, no mechanical issues in the year I had it, I loved it and often browse for a SpecB occasionally.
The Y section of the exhaust can corrode apparently, but a new section can be fabricated, though it was never mentioned in the MOT , nor after I sold it ( I do stalk my old cars), also the 4wd is immense.
The Y section of the exhaust can corrode apparently, but a new section can be fabricated, though it was never mentioned in the MOT , nor after I sold it ( I do stalk my old cars), also the 4wd is immense.
As above the 2.5 isn't the pick of the bunch.
The 2.0 is reliable but slow
The picks of the bunch are the 3.0 or the 2.0 twinscroll which was JDM only. I have the latter and it's great, also being an import its a lower tax bracket
After deciding I wanted a legacy I was open to either the 3.0 or a twinscroll, my twinscroll simply became available first.
If you haven't already then take a look at uklegacy, great owners group, I actually bought mine following a post on the site
The 2.0 is reliable but slow
The picks of the bunch are the 3.0 or the 2.0 twinscroll which was JDM only. I have the latter and it's great, also being an import its a lower tax bracket
After deciding I wanted a legacy I was open to either the 3.0 or a twinscroll, my twinscroll simply became available first.
If you haven't already then take a look at uklegacy, great owners group, I actually bought mine following a post on the site
It all sounds very positive. I do like them. They aren’t everyone’s choice but they are unique in a strange sort of way as you don’t see many:
I’ve found a 3.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204071279205?mkcid=16&a...
I’ve found a 3.0
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204071279205?mkcid=16&a...
I had a 3.0 outback..still have it but its sat on SORN until I can work out what to do with it.. Great cars, absolutely loved it. No serious problems in 4 years of ownership....Right up until my mechanic found the rust. Rear subframe rusted through, had to replace..While taking bits off to replace subframe, found tons more rust elsewhere on chassis. Not economical to fix all the rust sadly so shes consigned to spares/repair I guess.
Im tempted by another but i wouldnt buy one that had been in the UK for any period of time.
Great fun and super practical.
Im tempted by another but i wouldnt buy one that had been in the UK for any period of time.
Great fun and super practical.
I ran a 2007 outback with the 3.0 engine. Fautless over 70k in 4 years apart from an appetite for suspension bushes and a new exhaust.
I sold it a few years ago but looking at mot site its still running and covered another 45k with just tyre advisorys on mots
Buying one at the age they are, i’d be wary of rust but aparrt from that pretty bullet proof.
I sold it a few years ago but looking at mot site its still running and covered another 45k with just tyre advisorys on mots
Buying one at the age they are, i’d be wary of rust but aparrt from that pretty bullet proof.
I’ve had 4 Subarus with the NA 2.5 engine - a 98 Liberty (at 6yo for 2yrs), an 03 Liberty (at 7yo for 2 yrs) an 07 Forester (from new for 10 yrs) and a 2012 2.5T Liberty (at 4yo for 4yrs). All have been mechanically v reliable and none have suffered head gasket problems.
Over here Subaru has a similar market share to VW and the vast majority of its cars - Impreza, Forester, Outback, Liberty - have been sold with various versions of that 2.5 litre flat four. If it was a crap thing, word would’ve got out by now.
The 2.5 is usefully torquier than the 2.0, and whilst not the most economical thing, will be reliable.
Elsewhere, the car is a good drive, rides well, and is well screwed together. It may not have the design flair of contemporary German stuff but it won’t fall apart. I’d expect a 15 yo Liberty/Legacy to still feel reasonably tight and rattle free.
However, service history and regular oil changes are vital - don’t skimp or buy one that has work missed. Treat them well and they’ll just keep going.
I’ve had two other Subarus - an 05 Liberty GT with 2.0T and, briefly, an 02 3.0 Outback - and will be looking at 03-08 2.5 Foresters for PB Jnr1 when she starts driving next year…
Over here Subaru has a similar market share to VW and the vast majority of its cars - Impreza, Forester, Outback, Liberty - have been sold with various versions of that 2.5 litre flat four. If it was a crap thing, word would’ve got out by now.
The 2.5 is usefully torquier than the 2.0, and whilst not the most economical thing, will be reliable.
Elsewhere, the car is a good drive, rides well, and is well screwed together. It may not have the design flair of contemporary German stuff but it won’t fall apart. I’d expect a 15 yo Liberty/Legacy to still feel reasonably tight and rattle free.
However, service history and regular oil changes are vital - don’t skimp or buy one that has work missed. Treat them well and they’ll just keep going.
I’ve had two other Subarus - an 05 Liberty GT with 2.0T and, briefly, an 02 3.0 Outback - and will be looking at 03-08 2.5 Foresters for PB Jnr1 when she starts driving next year…
I had a 2005 Outback 3.0 for 3 years/almost 50k miles and while I'd happily have another as a 5k mile per year winter hack/utility wagon, I wouldn't have one to do our usual 17k p.a. in.
Good points: Super smooth engine - like 'sometimes genuinely hard to tell if it's actually running when stood at traffic lights' smooth. Very good off road and in snow. Properly practical load bay (seats fold totally flat, no lip to boot floor, wide between the arches, no daft sloping roof). Big sunroof was ace. Very comfortable. Drivetrain can take a lot of stick without complaint.
Bad points: Auto gearbox is a bit dull-witted and blunts performance quite a bit. MPG not great as you'd expect (though tbh I averaged high 20s and doubt you'd get much better from any other 3l petrol estate of a similar vintage, certainly not an AWD one). Tax on the later ones is a bit mad for what it is, though on my 2005 model wasn't too bad.
Parts do tend to be pricey but you shouldn't need many. I had to replace a few wheel bearings which weren't cheap but if you buy one on which they've already been done then you'll probably never have to. The only recurring problem I had was the brakes tended to bind, but that does seem to have just been my car - it doesn't seem to be a common problem. I got through quite a few suspension components but then I did use it off-road quite a bit. I did have to replace the dreaded Y-piece on the exhaust but the mechanic I use (who also fixes tractors and stuff), fabricated something for next to nothing.
So yeah, a really good car and left me with a positive impression of Subaru - if you could get the new 2.4 turbo Outback in the UK I'd give it very serious consideration. But I found that doing 17k miles p.a. with some pretty hard use thrown in the expenses racked up a bit too quickly for my liking.
Good points: Super smooth engine - like 'sometimes genuinely hard to tell if it's actually running when stood at traffic lights' smooth. Very good off road and in snow. Properly practical load bay (seats fold totally flat, no lip to boot floor, wide between the arches, no daft sloping roof). Big sunroof was ace. Very comfortable. Drivetrain can take a lot of stick without complaint.
Bad points: Auto gearbox is a bit dull-witted and blunts performance quite a bit. MPG not great as you'd expect (though tbh I averaged high 20s and doubt you'd get much better from any other 3l petrol estate of a similar vintage, certainly not an AWD one). Tax on the later ones is a bit mad for what it is, though on my 2005 model wasn't too bad.
Parts do tend to be pricey but you shouldn't need many. I had to replace a few wheel bearings which weren't cheap but if you buy one on which they've already been done then you'll probably never have to. The only recurring problem I had was the brakes tended to bind, but that does seem to have just been my car - it doesn't seem to be a common problem. I got through quite a few suspension components but then I did use it off-road quite a bit. I did have to replace the dreaded Y-piece on the exhaust but the mechanic I use (who also fixes tractors and stuff), fabricated something for next to nothing.
So yeah, a really good car and left me with a positive impression of Subaru - if you could get the new 2.4 turbo Outback in the UK I'd give it very serious consideration. But I found that doing 17k miles p.a. with some pretty hard use thrown in the expenses racked up a bit too quickly for my liking.
Had a 2.5SE for many years and it's probably the best car we've ever had.
No idea how many miles we racked up in it, but made at least a dozen trips to France and all around the UK, mostly fully laden and usually towing something.
Other than a cambelt change when I bought it (which I carried out), the only thing it needed was an exhaust as the OEM one seems to be made of puff pastry. Got a complete system in stainless made by a chap in Slough for about £500.
I miss it greatly as we had may happy family memories in it and I still see it sometimes in the locale. Maybe I'll buy it back sometime!
They're pretty bulletproof, but they are getting long in the tooth and Subaru parts aren't cheap (then again, what is). Highly, highly recommended.
No idea how many miles we racked up in it, but made at least a dozen trips to France and all around the UK, mostly fully laden and usually towing something.
Other than a cambelt change when I bought it (which I carried out), the only thing it needed was an exhaust as the OEM one seems to be made of puff pastry. Got a complete system in stainless made by a chap in Slough for about £500.
I miss it greatly as we had may happy family memories in it and I still see it sometimes in the locale. Maybe I'll buy it back sometime!
They're pretty bulletproof, but they are getting long in the tooth and Subaru parts aren't cheap (then again, what is). Highly, highly recommended.
I'm about 18 months into my second gen 4. This one is a 3.0 manual...
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