dipper

Anyone had any experience of either of these cars?

Legacy RSK B4/GTB or Galant VR4.

Another option is a EVO5/6 but I'm more interested in the alternatives.

Cost of servicing, type of fuel, insurance, reliability, driving experience etc etc

Cheers

AJbaseBloke

I've a definite bias to the B4 RSK...fab balance of pace, poise and comfort - the current D revision (BE5D) is the best of the lot with more body rigidity, even better damping, NVH and low down punch (plus better emissions and fuel economy to boot ).

A,B,C versions also damn fine cars. GT-B is a fab wagon, too. As with most cars, reliability has a fair bit to do with the pilot - anyway, mine has been great (and I don't nanny it, but do keep her well maintained).

If you enjoy fine in car audio without fancy lights, the McIntosh system is very nice indeed (not so loud, but very low distortion and very clear, transparent sound).

VR4 - very fast in a straight line, but IMHO not as well balanced in handling stakes (and absolutely being murdered over here by the B4 in sales terms - sorry VR4 owners, but it's the truth). All the usual Mitsu quality (good or bad depending on your pref).

There are some UK official VR4s, vs. B4s being grey...can't help with ownership costs in your part of the world (where's that?), but if you have an appreciation of the low CG/balance of Scoobies, enjoy the boxer beat, and prefer suspension with decent stroke, I think the answer is pretty clear - hey, you asked the question on a Subie board after all

All IMHO, usual caveats, disclaimers apply, blah, blah, blah...3 layer nomex suit, nomex undies, helmet, etc. on...come and get me

Toerag

According to my dealer IM are to going to officially import the B4 late this year, or next year.

clarence

Actually, IM does import the B4 & it has been available for a long time already, albeit only the 2.0 & 2.5 non-turbo versions, & the export spec cars aren't badged as B4.
What we want is the B4 RSK, & it'll be great if IM does bring it in, but at what price?

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

scuse my ignorance wot does IM stand for? I keep seeing it n trying to see what it means? Am I being thick?

Toerag

IM stands for international Motors, the company that imports subaru and isuzu cars to the UK for official distribution.

AllanB

IM have had a couple of these cars themselves so hopefully they will become an official UK import as I would have gone that route rather than the Impreza.


AllanB

clarence

They had sold off one a few months ago via a dealer, but the price was highly inflated for a 2-3yr old car. It was over £20k.

hades

VR4: V6 engine great from low rpm, smooth. INVECS gearbox not to my taste - fine as an auto, but v.slow to respond in tiptronic; not a sporting option. Gears very short, not suited to car I thought. Ultimate performance with the auto v. dissapointing, well short of a MY00 Impreza turbo I test drove back to back with it.

Handling - well it had AYC, which gave awesome results powering through corners. However, I felt it was the AYC overcoming a mediocre chassis with poor balance, noticeable roll and suprisingly hard ride. When I did one harsh manouvre it was all over the place - the car wasn't forgiving if you do something sudden or stupid.

Might be that I got a go in a duff one, but it was from a main Mitsubishi dealer. I was intending to buy a VR4, than I drove one, and went and bought a new age WRX. Draw your own conclusions to my opinion. No offense to any owners out there - the car just wasn't for me.

Never tried the legacy.

clarence

Gears short? I thought the auto has quite long gearing. I think it has longer overall top gear/final drive ratio than the UK 2.5 Galant, so it should do more than 25mph/1000rpm in top.
Chassis is softer than the Legacy & the car is abt 100kgs heavier than the B4 RSK.

Flat 4x4

Lancaster Pangbourne still have the only OFFICIAL UK B4 RSK for sale - 00 V for £20495 and full UK warranty.

Bet they'd take an offer though as they've had it for a year.

Ed Hodgson

B4 is a great car, & there's a couple of very cheap ones on the BB at the moment.

usual subaru running costs - it's not much different to an impreza really. Service every 6K for oil change. Possibly slightly better fuel consumption.

I don't hear of any reliability problems apart from one - there's a flap in the exhaust that can stick shut - simple job to wire it permanently open.

usual import issues on parts, specialist dealers.

ride/interior much better than impreza, also much bigger car if you need the space. Performance is delivered a bit differently to the impreza, as the twin turbo setup really gets going above 4500 - more like a VTEC IMHO.

Go & drive one - it should only take you 5 minutes to decide it's a fantastic car

Ed

dolers

I live in Cyprus and have a B4 RSK which I bought last year in Jan (2000 model) - it's done 22k km andin mint condition. I am just about to sell it back in the UK but not sure where to go to. any help appreciated. they are superb cars - great to drive. I am selling direct and can provide the full history - and just after a reasonable price as I bought it duty free in cyprus. Anyone got any thoughts??
thanks, B

H7

I ran a Legacy RS-B for 2½ years and have run a VR-4 for the past 5 months. Runnig costs are probably similar, Legacy used to return around 22-23mpg, VR-4 around 20-21mpg. It took me a good few months to get to love the VR-4 but I doubt now whether I'd return to a Legacy. The build quality of the Mitsubishi is even better than the Legacy (and that was very good indeed, much better than my old Impreza ). The INVECSII gearbox takes a bit of getting used to and most (if not all) are supplied with Dextron II automatic transmission fluid. Change to Dextron III (same stuff as is recommended for the AYC) and it behaves much better. Gear changes are very crisp, much faster than a manual and it becomes a seriously quick and relaxing drive when you want it to be, or a complete hooligan of a car if the moment takes you. Handling is very much on a par with the Legacy. Change to 17" wheels and 45 section tyres (or just increase the pressure on the standard 225/50s) and it handles well. It's still a ton and a half of metal so will never keep up with an Impreza or an Evo on the twisties but that's not what the car is about. It's a wonderful long-distance tourer, so much quieter and more civilised than the smaller cars (as was the Legacy) and there's very little on the road that will touch it for pace. My VR-4 has the optional Sport interior with proper Recaros and is even more comfortable than the Legacy (with wannabe Recaros ). The sequential turbo setup of the Legacy was great and provided real top end power, but the whine of the twin turbos on the VR-4, coupled with the roar of the V6, is more music to my ears. At the end of the day, it's personal choice. I chose to move to Mitsubishi because I got totally fed up with IM's attitude to imports. My VR-4 is an import but was bought from, and is maintained officially, by a Mitsubishi dealer.

Brian

LeeMac

iTrader: (1)

Also a VR4 owner, where are you from H7

H7

Hi Lee,

Scottish Borders.

Brian