Discussion
What are they like (the gen 3 ones)?
I'm looking for a daily driver that's also going to be suitable for towing my kit car (530kg + weight of trailer) to the odd track day.
It'll be replacing my '91 Supra TT so it can't be hugely slower than that and needs to be a reasonable drive on the twisties too (the Supra isn't exactly the sharpest handling machine ever made, but good fun all the same). Fuel economy isn't a major concern as the Supra likes a drink anyway
Are they reliable? What are parts costs like (I'll do most work on it myself if at all possible)?
I'm looking for a daily driver that's also going to be suitable for towing my kit car (530kg + weight of trailer) to the odd track day.
It'll be replacing my '91 Supra TT so it can't be hugely slower than that and needs to be a reasonable drive on the twisties too (the Supra isn't exactly the sharpest handling machine ever made, but good fun all the same). Fuel economy isn't a major concern as the Supra likes a drink anyway
Are they reliable? What are parts costs like (I'll do most work on it myself if at all possible)?
Fuel economy is better than you might think (depending what sort of driving you do), I'm in the process of buying one myself at the moment after 3 NA Subaru wagons, my investigations (and mates with GT Legacies) suggest that when cruising the fuel economy isn't much worse than an NA, its only when you give it the old jandal (or do a lot of round-town running) that they guzzle.
Oh, but stay away from autos. If I have to explain why you might be on the wrong website.
ETA: At 280bhp/~1500Kg they still go pretty well and handly nicely too, but the sequential twin-turbo setup is pretty complicated to work on.
Oh, but stay away from autos. If I have to explain why you might be on the wrong website.
ETA: At 280bhp/~1500Kg they still go pretty well and handly nicely too, but the sequential twin-turbo setup is pretty complicated to work on.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 27th August 11:30
GravelBen said:
Oh, but stay away from autos. If I have to explain why you might be on the wrong website.
I've had it suggested to me that some kind of cheap auto diesel thing might be the way forward if I want to tow with it. That's a stupid idea though 
Sounds like I might have to go take a closer look at one...
I had a B4 RSK for 4 years and loved it! The twin turbo setup isnt the best though and you can get caught in quite a flat spot though which wouldnt be great for towing!?! And it absolutly drank fuel!!!!!! 220 miles to a tank!!!
I now have a current model Legacy GT Spec-B WR with the twin sroll turbo....a fantastic car..and ecomomical too!!
Sorry to say this..but I'm also and Audi-phile and I would buy a 2.5 TDI for towing!
I now have a current model Legacy GT Spec-B WR with the twin sroll turbo....a fantastic car..and ecomomical too!!
Sorry to say this..but I'm also and Audi-phile and I would buy a 2.5 TDI for towing!
The flat spot between the turbos (aka valley of death or VOD) seems to vary alot from car to car, can be anywhere from feeling like the engine has stopped to being not much of a problem at all. Either way there are fairly cheap VOD solutions such as the zerosports sequential controller.
Your fuel use sounds a bit worse than average for someone doing primarily short trips around town, long open-road trips driven gently they can get 400+ miles to a tank. (though an auto will always drink more).
I'd agree the gen4 Legacy GT (single-turbo) is a better car all-round, however where I am anyway they're still holding much higher prices and don't occupy the same bargain territory that the 3rd-gen cars currently do.
Your fuel use sounds a bit worse than average for someone doing primarily short trips around town, long open-road trips driven gently they can get 400+ miles to a tank. (though an auto will always drink more).
I'd agree the gen4 Legacy GT (single-turbo) is a better car all-round, however where I am anyway they're still holding much higher prices and don't occupy the same bargain territory that the 3rd-gen cars currently do.
Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 28th August 00:39
Legacywr said:
As you all seem to be involved with gen3 cars does anybody know of anyone breaking one??
Ask Vixpy1 on PH, he's got a Legacy and runs his own rolling road. He'll be in the know. Otherwise get in touch with Grade-A Subaru as they do mail order and their prices are very reasonable. Talk to Andy the owner, he's a very top man!!Personally I wasn't that impressed - I was looking at getting one, test drove a couple. Found the steering far too light and uncommunicative and for me didn't feel that fast - presumably because I read all these reviews that said it was "blistering quick" and so on - which quite frankly it isn't. It is quite nippy though.
filski666 said:
Personally I wasn't that impressed - I was looking at getting one, test drove a couple. Found the steering far too light and uncommunicative and for me didn't feel that fast - presumably because I read all these reviews that said it was "blistering quick" and so on - which quite frankly it isn't. It is quite nippy though.
As standard they are not that fast compared to the Impreza's. The steering is also very light.You might also want to consider a Saab 9-5 Aero?
remap, filter and exhaust and you will keep almost anything you meet honest in a straight line....although they are FWD. Then again, a big heavy-nosed AWD estate isnt exactly a stiletto of a car!
if you want to stick with toyota, or have a lot of cool 2jZ go-faster parts you want to keep, what about an Aristo Vertex? Same engine as your Supra.
bear in mind any kind of turbo petrol towing something heavy will be loading the engine quite often, therefore using LOTS of fuel.
remap, filter and exhaust and you will keep almost anything you meet honest in a straight line....although they are FWD. Then again, a big heavy-nosed AWD estate isnt exactly a stiletto of a car!
if you want to stick with toyota, or have a lot of cool 2jZ go-faster parts you want to keep, what about an Aristo Vertex? Same engine as your Supra.
bear in mind any kind of turbo petrol towing something heavy will be loading the engine quite often, therefore using LOTS of fuel.
It's a 1JZ engined Supra, but it's pretty much standard anyway
Pretty sure that Aristos are all autos...
Not too fussed about drinking lots of fuel while towing, it's not like it'll be doing it every week or anything. Probably no worse than driving two (not especially economical!) cars to tracks, which is what we do at the moment.
Pretty sure that Aristos are all autos...
Not too fussed about drinking lots of fuel while towing, it's not like it'll be doing it every week or anything. Probably no worse than driving two (not especially economical!) cars to tracks, which is what we do at the moment.
if you want something good for towing but still a laugh to drive how about one of these?
5.2 V8, selectable 4wd, manual - can get 20mpg towing cars and equipment.
granted it is never going to corner like a Supra or Legacy - but still good fun to drive!
Bit Redneck, though!
5.2 V8, selectable 4wd, manual - can get 20mpg towing cars and equipment.
granted it is never going to corner like a Supra or Legacy - but still good fun to drive!
Bit Redneck, though!
Edited by filski666 on Thursday 28th August 16:57
B4/GTB are blisteringly quick you just need to know how to exploit/abuse them!!!! dispite all thier short commings they are a fantastic car to own on an everyday bases...lets face it 95+% of the time you want something relaxed and refind and in that respect they are miles away from an Impreza! I had mine for 4 years and only sold it to buy the current generation!
Very similar to my new one, picked up a couple of months ago. Goes very well, the flat spot between turbos is a non-issue and not bad on fuel either - so far averaging around 10.5 L/100km which is ~27mpg, and I haven't exactly been driving with fuel economy in mind.
Edited by GravelBen on Monday 15th December 23:55
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