We won't be getting UK versions of the twin-turbo Legacy B4 (or any of its derivatives - RSK, GT, Blitzen, etc) because it has failed to gain European homologation.

I'm told it failed Euro Step 3 which means it was too noisy and/or couldn't pass the emissions test without the addition of an extra catalyst which would have strangled the engine. Boo hoo

Brian

 

Surely it would have to meet these requirements for SVA? If so, I cannot imagine that people would bother importing them if they had to strangle them.

Where did you here this?

Geezer

 

Hot off the press from my local Subaru dealer. I believe the SVA test is different, but I don't know in what ways.

Brian

 

Got the same statement from a dealer last week.
B

 

The SVA is also going to be very expensive from mid this year, which is surely going to reduce imports

robski

 

If you bring one of these in, any idea where you can get them serviced as presumably UK dealers won't touch 'em with a barge-pole?
Cheers

 

MarkM,

Being in Hampshire, you're fortunate to have the services of Park Lane available in Alton. That's where I bought my Legacy RS and they've been very helpful for spares (it's a bit too far to go for regular servicing, though!)

Brian

[This message has been edited by HunterB (edited 24 January 2001).]

 

Thanks for the tip, Brian. Do you or anyone else know of anywhere up country near Nottingham as we may be moving up to that neck of the Sherwood Forest?
Thanks.

 

We have the lot here ! RSK-B4, Blitzen, H6-3.0 ltr... etc. Very very nice cars, much better build and ride quality than than my WRX, a better motorway car for sure.

 

I'm sorry to hear you won't be getting the GTB and B4 in the UK. I've got a current model GTB and I can only assume that it must be the emissions test that it failed because with the twin turbos it's whisper quiet.

I adore my car (adored it more before it melted a piston in November!) and I can't wait to get it back from Subaru. It's a popular ski car during Winter here in New Zealand and they are reasonably common on our roads.

 

MarkM,

Charlesworths (http://www.charlesworths.co.uk) are just outside Nottingham. I've never dealt with them so can't comment on their service. However, Ed Hodgson (edward.hodgson@mail.com) on this BBS has just bought a car from them so he may be able to offer comment.

Brian

 

Brian
Thanks. I'll try Charlesworth & Edward.

Mark

 

MarkM,
Yup, I will also say try Charlesworths at Plumtree, south of Nottingham.
Got my Forester stb from them and they had several Legacys in at the time.
Could do with better knowledge of models they sell when you have trouble with them though. Otherwise a professional outfit.

 

I reckon that Park lane's the best place to start for B4's - but they have no manuals in stock at the moment

Plumtree scored on 2 accounts
a) they are local to me (I'm in Derby)
b) they had one in stock (Imported new - by Park Lane)

They were a bit expensive though - but I wanted the car, & couldn't afford to wait for a cheaper one, so paid a bit over the odds I think. - you should be able to get 5-10% off their price though

I also know other people who have bought from them, so they should be reasonably reliable.

I've also spoken to International Motors about the B4 - they do sell their old cars through their dealers, & have been running 5 or b4's. they didn't want to sell me one though, as they are now putting them through UK homologation, so we may see an official car in the UK some time late in the year.

Don't know what that will do to import prices - depends on how much they sell them for. But if Mitsubishi want over 30K for the Galant VR4...., then the current import prices look cheap.