Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B | PH Private Area
3.0-litres of flat-six, four driven wheels, five seats and six manual gears - the perfect PH family car
Those in the market right now for something even vaguely fast and interesting for £5k have every right to be a little despondent. What was recently a safe price point for a glut of PH-worthy buys can now feel like the bottom of the barrel. Hopefully, things won't remain this way forever, because it’s making car shopping on a budget a lot less enjoyable than it used to be...
Until then, there are still some smart buys out there - this Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B looks like one of them. To the layman, of course, it’ll make no sense, because it’s an old and not especially distinctive Japanese wagon. Even to those that know something of the brand, the absence of a turbocharger in the Legacy might seem disappointing, because Subarus ought to have big spoilers, big boost and gold wheels. Instead, this is a Q-car in the best tradition; nobody, really, will have any clue at all. Those that do know (and it’s probably only the exhausts that give the game away) will likely just be pleased they’ve seen an actual Spec B. Especially a manual one, believed to be one of less than 100.
The Spec B wasn’t just a big-engined flagship for the Legacy saloon and estate range, but we'd be remiss not to mention what’s under the bonnet. Because in a display of incredible commitment to the cause, the firm decided its flat-four tradition should also extend to a six-cylinder flagship. And so the 3.0 R got itself half a dozen horizontally opposed cylinders, for 245hp, 219lb ft, and a soundtrack far more like a Porsche 911 than would have even been expected from a four-door saloon. It was decently brisk, too, at least with the manual, hitting 60mph in less than seven seconds and hitting 150mph on a good day. It’d hit 25mpg on a good day as well, but let’s deal with the positive bits first…
As well as a memorable engine, the ‘B’ in Spec B meant there were Bilstein bits, which was a worthwhile (if unexpected) upgrade for Subaru’s bigger saloon. It didn’t make the 3.0 R into a grown-up Impreza, even with a rear limited-slip diff for the four-wheel drive, but it was surely better for the Bilsteins. This example in fact benefits from fairly fresh springs and B6s, so the handling ought to be decent for a 2005 Legacy with a six-figure milage; it’s also got a full stainless steel exhaust to make the most of that unique soundtrack, plus some EBC pads to slow it down better. The standard car’s less-than-stellar braking was experience gleaned from the seller’s first Spec B. Must be good if they’ve bought another.
Indeed, there’s plenty to be encouraged by here: the ad is honest and full of detail, the pictures are nice, the spec is good - including a double sunroof, Bluetooth, and climate control - and the Legacy’s condition must be above average. We’ve definitely all seen Subarus with many fewer miles than this that aren’t turned out this well. There are niggles to fix, yes, but nothing critical. And better to go into ownership knowing them than discovering them in a couple of months.
A 3.0 R has never been cheap to run - an official average of 23.7mpg wasn’t great even in the mid-2000s - though this 55-plated car will at least benefit from the more affordable tax bracket. Then all you’ll need is one more person who has any idea what a Spec B is when the time comes, and it’ll be no bother to sell again, either.
SPECIFICATION | SUBARU LEGACY 3.0R SPEC B
Engine: 3,000cc boxer six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 245@6,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 219@4,200rpm
MPG: 23.7 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 285g/km
First registered: 2005
Recorded mileage: 111,000
Price new: £26,500 (saloon)
Yours for: £5,500
See the originally advert here
Only issues I had with mine were front discs, rear wheel bearings and a rusty exhaust at the Y-piece. Parts weren't too costly apart from the exhaust, Subaru quoted over £1000 for that Y-section of pipe (no boxes just pipe) when I could get a full cat-back stainless system for £600ish. In the end I had it welded up for £20 and had no further bother with it.
Only issues apart from fuel economy that is. It was months into ownership and took consciously driving as carefully as possible to actually get to see a fuel consumption figure starting with a 3. That may have been because it was too much fun wringing the neck of that glorious sounding flat-6 and driving like a loon in the back roads of South Wales.
A practical, reliable family wagon during the week and a real fun car for a weekend blast.
This one is getting warnings at MOT time. Not surprisingly given its age.
I had a 2008 2.0 poverty spec auto estate recently for a couple of years and it was great, no ball of fire, but so effective. I have now one of the last of the previous generation auto 2.5 estate's which is completely different to drive...4 speed slush box, needs lots of beans to get cracking , but very much a Subaru! Very sure footed (so far) Just keep the tinworms at bay and change the oils and belts when told to by the book!
I had a Gen 3 wagon (2.5RX) before it and a Gen 5 GT wagon after it - same deal, reliable and understated fun.
Fuel consumption is crap on all of them but usually made up by just not needing much done.
The main thing to bear in mind, though, is that these aren’t cars for people that care about the numbers - they are so much more than the output/performance numbers might say, and great cars to actually own.
The 6 speed and suspension,on the surface, are such little changes over the 3.0RN but add up to a whole lot. My dad had a 3.0RN for a few years from new and in comparison to that the Spec B was like a different car. The flexibility the gearbox gave you made the car feel half a ton lighter and you were never stuck in a dead zone between ratios.
Never had a problem with the brakes, even when towing or belting round the Nurburgring.
Real world fuel economy was better than the official stats, typically 26-28mpg, an 80mph cruise on the motorway or more casual cross country trip would see 31-33mpg which was comparable to similarly engined German stuff of the time.
Original parts like the Bilsteins or exhaust were a fortune to replace and likely unobtainable new now.
For a Subaru the interior was quite a lovely place. If you must have an auto then take the hit on the higher VED and get a facelift as the later gearbox was way better.
Lastly just beware when buying one, surprising number of people think that any 3.0 legacy is the Spec B and will advertise as such. So check the details, like the wheels, suspension, interior (black upholstery in the Spec B, cream in the 3.0R/RN) etc
I do like them though. Finding a manual is extremely difficult it seems. Plus, I'd personally prefer a saloon as have no need for an estate.
I bought it as a temporary car whilst I'm awaiting my 2.0 Twinscroll 6-Speed arriving from Japan. But honestly, this 3.0r B has really surprised me and I'll be disappointed when the time comes to sell. The Twinscroll should be the slightly better car, but I'll miss the Flat-6 soundtrack
I did have a mark 2 Subaru Legacy estate once, bought it for £900 and it was suprisingly good. Slow yes but once it got going, the boxer rumble and the handling made it all good. It was so rewarding to drive.
I remember driving back one Christmas from Cornwall and it was thick with snow, about 6 inches of it and there were cars on the motorways and A roads banked to one side, some had skidded off the road into a tree but I was going 60mph full tilt without a care in the world, listening to music, literally ploughing through snow and NOT ONCE did it slip. They have the best AWD system in the world.
Which brings me to this fine example - a 2004 3.0 R-B manual wagon, one owner from new, coming up for 460,000km on the clock, which is around 290,000 miles
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2004-suba...
Only selling cos his new Subaru has been delivered…
I managed to get mid 30 mpg on a recent trip to Europe which is notably better than the 6cyl UK version.
What I'd do for the noise of the H6 boxer though! Twinscoll Subarus sound more like a Honda than anything unfortunately
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