f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Wanting to get back in a Subaru as a daily driver. Need a wagon and was thinking of a WRX 2003/2004/2005, but they seem to the thin on the ground in standard or relatively unmolested form.

Don't want to spend more than £4K and don't want to pay extra for engine mods or coilovers etc.

Had a quick look for a Legacy today and some nice ones at around £4K, are they any good or too big? 2, 2.5 or 3l? Also how is the auto as half of them seem to be autos.... would prefer a manual as hills are a joke around here in the winter.

Anyone owned one?

thenewgalaxy

Came very close to snapping up a 3.0 Spec B from a garage in Stockport earlier this year, unfortunately I was unable to purchase it as my bank account was cleared by a bunch of crooks called Enterprise, who claimed that I had damaged the car I hired to the tune of several thousand pounds. By the time that was sorted the car was gone, and I eventually ended up with something different.

The Legacy is a nice comfortable medium sized saloon, well built and reasonably enjoyable to drive. They feel like grown up Imprezas. Handling and road holding is generally excellent. The automatics aren't the best so stick to the manuals. Don't expect great fuel consumption from a Spec B, you're looking at 20mpg round town and up to 30 on a run. The 2.0 is slow and not great on fuel, and as far as I'm aware the 2.5 can suffer HG issues but it tends to spring up at high mileage.

Reliability is generally good, I know the shocks can need rebuilding between 80-100k but otherwise I'm not aware they have any recognised problems. Try and get a March 2006 or before as they are top road tax bracket.

The diesels are out of your price range but we know the earlier models can have issues.

A lot of Spec Bs have STi exhausts and V8/V9 impreza front grilles added.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Slightly above your price range, but what fun I had, should never have sold it. Leggy Spec B WR Ltd 2l twinscroll,

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Cheers for the replies guys.

So a manual 3l looks like the car then

That Spec B looks stunning, but as you say above my price and this is a daily thrasher I'm after. I woudl spend too much time cleaning that

john banks

I have a MY04 3.0R auto saloon. They are not too big, the auto is ponderous but smooth and no disadvantage in deep snow. Ride is comfortable, steering light but good, brakes acceptable in road use with good feel. You can chuck them around and they love bumpy roads, so still fun despite being comfortable and refined in a way most do not expect for a Subaru.

Economy at motorway cruise can be up to 32mpg but driven in hilly and twisty routes is about 18-19mpg same as GTR covering the route in the same time.

Some parts can be expensive, others not. Engine and gearbox have been great, but I have changed two wheel bearings, window motor, blower motor (original windscreen seal leaked at 9 years), caliper seals and pistons (was chewing discs). It is now 10 years old with 48000 miles and the latest MOT has its first advisories for play in drop links and a little degradation of bushes. I will do those and change the ATF after the winter.

rob84

iTrader: (5)

if your going to get an Auto my only advise is make sure if you change the oil you use the SSR (Subaru Specific Requirement ) Oil in the box, sounds crazy but if you don't it screws the shifting up to the point it doesn't shift when it's supposed to. Found a few times when bob in his back street garage has used the incorrect oil in them they go strange.

some 3.0 flat 6 motors have been noted to throw p0420 codes up for buggered cats.

The odd arb bush and link gives a few knocks and bangs & check the brake pipes up the side of the fuel tank on the osr for excessive corrosion. Also the rear Y pipe to the silencers leak like crazy too if it has twin silencers

thenewgalaxy

The 3.0 Spec B I was looking at was 53,000 miles and two previous owners for £4500, the dealer accepted an offer of £4250 back in March... I've seen good private examples around the same price, you will find a 3.0 Spec B for your budget if you want one. It comes with an STi 6 speed also by the way.

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

You should find a 2004/5 spec B manual close to £4k I paid £4300 for mine. Come over to UKLegacy to find out more and some good buyers guides etc. I can't get over how much more refined mine is than the impreza.

tony de wonderful

These are pretty good bargains now, only issue is fuel costs. Bit too much of a hair shirt to be my main car though.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Nice cars as a daily, I was going to get one but the wife didn't approve so got BMW instead (yes I love being a ****)

Porkpie

I have a 2.5 BP 2004 wagon SEn with heated leather, factory nav, large sunroof. Bloody brilliant cars, mine cost me under 3k and its mint.

Autos are way better in the snow than manual, I've had 4 proper winters in auto legacies.

You would need to get your head around suspension bushes being service consumables and the achilles heel is seizing calipers particularly if they have been stood, having said that a regular clean up of the pistons can prevent this.

Go try one. Not as quick as Impreza but a seriously good car. I spend most of my time on the motorway and it averages 36mpg, can just about make 40mpg on a long run. No turbo means that a good quality oil can be run up to 12k with no bother.

Call in at uklegacy.com

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Cheers folks, I am coming round to the idea more and more.

Not bothered about performance as I have a mental AMG for that these days, just want a good reliable load lugger that's not as boring as my V40 LOL! A great car the V40, but it really is dull!

Porkpie

Watch out for the exhaust Y piece corroding on twin exhaust models - eywateringly expensive OE and not available at Kwik Fit (thankfully) bespoke Stainless is the best option, mine has a longlife catback, the receipt for which is £537 came with the docs when I bought it.

legacy_gtb

iTrader: (3)

I bought a 2005 2.0 re two weeks ago as needed something to do a longer commute in.

Not the quickest and a bit floaty, but heated leather and cruise for juat over 2k. As said, exhaust y piece needs looking at soon. But mightily impressed with it so far. Soooooooo much car for the cash.

Porkpie

Millers SPIII meets Subaru ATF and makes a big difference over DIII, shifts are so much smoother

Porkpie

Shaid

WANT!!!!!

Shaid

Okay, you aren't bothered about performance but you'd at least want some otherwise things will get very boring very quickly.

I'd recommend a 3.0 Spec B (there values are pretty much all over the place and you better be good at haggling).

It's got a nice dashboard



Spacious Interior



Just a general decent looking car



Plus performance is slightly better than most standard UK Turbos and you get a 6 speed box

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

If you can up your budget slightly and can find a good bp5 2.0 turbo then I'd get that although doesn't have the 6 speed afaik

Shaid

I believe the later twin scroll facelift turbo's are 6 speed.

But they cost a lot more than OPs budget.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

OK slow down lads. slow down

My budget is £4K tops. Spent a sh1tloadon the AMG this year so £4k is maximum! Whilst a Spec B would be nice, I wold probably be better off with a more middle of the range example for the following reasons:

1) I don't want to like it so much I end up mollycoddling it, it has to be a daily driver/workshorse. Doesn't mean I won't look after it, but I am bad enough with cleaning and tweaking the AMG all the time... this needs to be a 'clean it when it needs it' car.

2) If I want performance I have the AMG so would be better going for mildly better insurance/fuel economy/running costs with the Legacy

3) I will get a better standard model for £4K than I will a Spec B

john banks

You do still need some performance to avoid boredom though, so an H6 it should be.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yeah I'm thinking of a 3l admittedly.

thenewgalaxy

If you're not after a Spec B pay half your budget for another model in the range.

These cars are good for some serious mileage!

But if it's the 3.0 you want, get the Spec B it's a great machine.

Shaid

Get one like mine

£3k would get you a lovely example and spend another £1000 on LPG then it'll be cheap as chips to run (I know i had a twin turbo on LPG), just stick to basic servicing and etc... etc...

Any excuse for a pic

Mine has all the toys, coilovers, big brakes, Bob Rawle remap to 300+ bhp and dreadful fuel economy lol.



Okay then be sensible....

Here a nice one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-SUBAR...item3a88668a80

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

I knew you couldn't stay away from the Subaru brand for long.

As soon as I sold my STI 3 in 2008, I wanted another, but just didn't have the spare £££.

Feels good to be back after so long.

Good luck in your search. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yeah, you'd think having owned 5 over a 17 year period I'd be over it

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

4 over 9 years for me.
And in between that I had -

MR2 Turbo
Integra Type R
BMW 328

All were cars that I just had to try in my youth. Nothing could compare to the Impreza though for every day fun.

Yes, the MR2 was fun but scary and not really practical.

The Teg was an awesome but far too focused for an every day car for me. Plus I missed the lack of torque, even though you could get round this you drove it properly, it just made you look like a tit as you had to drive everywhere at 6000rpm .

And the 328 was great at going sideways....but that's all it could do. Enough was enough when the snow arrived!

The Impreza just handles everything with ease and despite what some people would have us believe, they are a seriously quick point to point car for the modern age.

Go on, get another Impreza. You know you want one!