Hi,
So is it a good engine or bad, because I'm confused?
Honest John: "Starting from cold, the engine sounded like someone was shaking an old metal bucket of bolts under the bonnet. "
Jeremey Clarkson: "No. It?s crap. Normally, diesels are happiest at low revs in a high gear. Not the Legacy. It has the torque of a pencil sharpener, the life and soul of a corpse. You need to be in first until the whole engine has revved itself clean off its mountings, and even then when you go for second it judders and shivers in protest. "
However:
Autocar, Autoexpress, and What Car reckon it's brilliant!!
Anybody driven it and confirm either way?
Edited by Pugugly on 21/04/2008 at 21:43
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Recent thread here -
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=61...9
I would add to my comments in that thread that there seemed nothing untoward on startup from cold.
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As a 3.0R Spec B owner I've taken quite an interest in this car as my "travel" requirements have changed and I'm considering it quite seriously. Apart from HJ and JC the rest of the motoring press seem united in their praise for the engine. I'd recommend that you spend some time checking out other road tests and if still interested present yourself at one of the eight dealers on autotrader selling a diesel Legacy (at mad money!) and try it for yourself.
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I've read other reports that 1st and 2nd are too far apart. I'd try a very early change to 2nd, rather than revving it in 1st, to see how it copes. I'm sure in many scenarios starting off in 2nd may be quite possible.
Another issue is all the testers will have been in a brand new car. A 30,000 mile long term test is needed.
This car seems to be a definate case of wait 18 months and read a few ownership reviews before commiting.
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I have driven the Outback for 1hr + the vehicle is spot on. the engine is just what Subaru range needed, I recommend they should delete the saloon, the Tribu** omit the new Forester and import just diesel estates + the Subaru R1 electric car.
I have owned Subaru Legacys going back to 1992 + a few tubo's & Foresters.
If it is your own money ie not a company car purchase then nothing comes close for driving pleasure, the alternatives Benz & BMW are all too expensive in UK spec eg want £300.00 per switch and the Audi Avant still suffering from LHD design - just measure across the passenger footwell v the RHD driver side.
As regards purchasing now well the UK dealers have 20-24 cars each for the year, there in lies the issue for buyers.
Suggest you sell your car privately then negotiate £1.5k off the list price then keep the car for 5 years or untill the fuel runs out.
How about a bio diesel subaru MMMM
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After one month and 2000 miles I think they all have a point.
On the plus side:
Once its moving it is excellent to drive, goes round corners like it's on rails and it's quiet, smooth and economical. I am averaging just over 45 mpg for both the daily commute and a couple of longer trips. The acceleration for overtaking is brilliant.
On the down side:
I have to cross eight speed bumps over the one mile from my house to the nearest main road. My previous car, a 2 litre VW diesel, would crawl over these in third gear without complaint and would pull away quite happily after each one. In the Subaru Diesel I have to go down to first over each bump. Even in second it's easy to stall.
Overall,at the moment, I love the car and am happy to curse the speed bumps.
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lovely engine:very smooth with a great flat four burble. I'd take the Clarkson rating with a pinch of salt. He's funny but don't I don't go to him for a good opinion on a car as I reckon he is after the laughs now and hating Diesels is a trademark. I have driven one and can say it is not gutless. HOWEVER the power and torque delivery is much smoother and spread across the reve range. It doesn't lunge down the road like a VAG TDI of similar power but there again there isn't the brick wall effect either. It would be improved by a six seed though I must admit.
Edited by Mattbod on 06/06/2008 at 01:35
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