Subaru - Collos25
As anyone experience with a Subaru legacy 2.0 I have been offered a an 05 estate immaculate condition although pretty basic inside but the 4 wheel drive attracts me.
Subaru - Happy Blue!
I have the 3.0litre Outback but other than some toys the cars are similar. What do you want to know?

Edited by Espada III {P} on 15/12/2008 at 13:22

Subaru - Alby Back
What do you want to know?



Are the brakes any good ?

;-)
Legacy - douglasb
I ran an '02 Legacy 2.0 for over 6 years and 172K miles. Overall it was an excellent car.

I've now got a Legacy diesel.
Subaru - Collos25
That as well ,
are they as reliable as other Jap makes ,parts costs and just the general feeling about about Subaru.
Subaru - douglasb
are they as reliable as other Jap makes


The main "non service" item that I had to replace was the power steering pump at about 110K miles. The clutch lasted 150K. It was still on the original battery and exhaust when I sold it.

>>parts costs

Service parts, brake pads, etc., seem to be reasonably priced. The power steering pump was just over £700 fitted. The clutch was expensive as the dual mass flywheel on Subarus tend to sacrifice themselves when the clutch goes.
and just the general feeling about Subaru.


I bought another one! What does that tell you?
Subaru - Happy Blue!
Humpf.........

I'll report that message as offensive!

Edited by Espada III {P} on 15/12/2008 at 13:28

Subaru - Happy Blue!
Apart from my recent little bump in the Outback, nothing has happened to my Subaru or the five year old Forester we also have. I have had the Outback for two years and it is now 3.25 years old and about 40,000 miles. It did 22,000 in its first 15 months. It performs as new - simple as that. No repairs, no warranty items just servicing and fuel. No oil between services either.

Nothing to say other than a very well built reliable car that is that bit different. I think the 2.0 engine in the 2005 model is the older less powerful engine, but these have been going for so long, they have forgotten how to fail.
Subaru - Falkirk Bairn
I have the 3.0litre Outback but other than some toys the cars are similar. What
do you want to know?


After Espada slid down hill and bumped the said car - The brakes are good but sledging is a problem!

No Offence
Subaru - Happy Blue!
None taken.

Subaru - legacylad
I have owned two 2.0 Legacy estates and a 2.0 (non turbo) 5dr Impreza. They covered many thousands of miles over several years. NOTHING ever went wrong. Only routine maintenance required...all 3 vehicles purchased when they were 3 years old, so my depreciation was not too bad, although the last Legacy took an age to sell privately. The interiors, however, are dismal, albeit hard wearing.
Just waiting for prices to dip more then maybe a Spec B tourer...to go alongside SWMBO MX5 folding hardtop. then we have the best of all worlds.
Roll on 2009!
Subaru - Happy Blue!
I think the 2005 model the OP is looking at is the new model with a much better interior - like mine.
Subaru - Paul G1pdc
HI.
my father in law is on his second legacy, the first a w reg 2.5 the second a 3 litre 04 plate.
hes been happy with both and always recommends them to friends at work who are looking for a decent car, he usually talks them out of audis etc and into a subaru, the kit and build you get for the money generally swings it.
it must be catchy, as i've in the last 3 weeks bought myself an 03 plate impreza 2.0gx
for 4k from a dealer with 29k and fsh.
theres quite a few about, and in 1000 miles i;ve owned it, the car has returned 32mpg
paul.
brakes are all good, disks all round and works as well as the family volvo v40
the impreza estate also gets hi/low ratio which the saloon doesn't.
Subaru - Mapmaker
And with a 2001 100k estate 2.0 or 2.5 as you fancy coming in at £1,000 if you're lucky, this is beginning to look like a real uber-banger.
Subaru - nick
Any Legacy is about a bullet-proof car as you can buy. I'm on my third Subaru, I can't rate them highly enough. The Legacy, especially the saloon, seems to be somewhat ignored in the secondhand market so there are some real bargains to be had.
Subaru - boxsterboy
My father in law is on his third Forester. It's not very economical on the motorway, or has a small tank, judging by the number of times he needs to refill when we drive to Switzerland. I could be tempted by a Legacy or Outback myself but the 'father-in-law has one' syndrome and lack of diesel auto puts me off.

Edited by boxsterboy on 16/12/2008 at 10:16

Subaru - Collos25
I am running a honda accord estate diesel 2005 fully loaded model but have the chance of a legacy 2005 really mint with full service history,I prefer petrol to diesel and the 4 wheel two ratio drive would come in useful in Germany during the winter months but apart from that I think they look nice now could I sacrfice the heated leather seats.But thanks for the comments they seem to be held in high esteem and I will have a closer look.
Subaru - davros
Great cars. I've had my 2004 2.5 auto Legacy estate for three years and couldn't be happier with it. Coming up to 45k miles and it drives just as it did at 14k. Interior (leather / heated seats on the SE) has worn very well indeed despite the detritus of two hairy dogs and regular use as a builder's van. Nothing has as gone wrong (touch wood) during that peiod bar a flat battery caused by me leaving an iPod and both interior lights on for five days....

Sure, a few more mpg would be nice, but dependability more than makes up for mpg.

Incidentally, I'm overwintering in Eastern France and have changed the standard Bridgestones (which are rubbish in snow) to a set of Dunlop M3 winter tyres which seem to be very grippy indeed - and quieter, curiously. While we've yet to have much snow, they certainnly feel more secure in slippy sub zero temperatures on awful local roads.

Davros
Subaru - Wilco {P}
Endorse everything said so far - have run a 2.5SE tourer for 4 years/65,000 miles. Test drove a 2.0 at the time of purchase - perfectly OK, but pretty flat performance, not that the 2.5 is a ball of fire. Reliability excellent, servicing not cheap but local dealer is good.

Basic spec is pretty basic, SE spec if the car has it, is good with heater seats as already mentioned, big sunroof and so on.
Subaru - Alanovich
Do all Legacies have AWD?

I'm looking at a 2005 (55) 2.0i Auto saloon.

If they don't all have AWD, how can you tell which ones do?
Subaru - Falkirk Bairn
all UK Legacies are 4wd.

Donkeys years (20 yrs ago) there were 2wd variants but were LHD = hired one in Gibraltar in 1991
Subaru - Alanovich
Great, thanks. I might just get myself one, they're not as thirsty as I feared. No worse than my current Mazda 6. I can change to a Legacy with similar miles and of a similar age for very little extra money.

The one I'm looking at has Bridgestone tyres on, do any owners on here have any experience of any all season tyres on a Legacy?
Subaru - MadVlad
Don't try the Bridgestones in snow - they're not good at all! (they're officially a summer tyre in any case).

I've just fitted Uniroyal RainSport 2s and am very happy so far - even in snow. They get good reviews but it may not be that easy to find a retailer who stocks them. Other owners like Eagle F1s and there's also Toyo Proxes. Have a google and then see what suits you pricewise.

Edit: mine's a Legacy diesel btw...

Edited by MadVlad on 10/01/2010 at 18:45

Subaru - dimdip
Other owners like Eagle F1s and there's also Toyo Proxes.


That's odd; on another motoring forum earlier, people mentioned those two very types as being particularly bad in this weather for them (I was surprised thinking perhaps the softer compound of Toyos might be an asset). Don't know what to conclude other than perhaps there's a big range of conditions and subjectivity at play in this...
Subaru - oldtoffee
On my Legacy's I've run Goodyear F1 GSDs in the summer (miles better than factory fit Potenzas IMHO) and Vredestein Wintrac Extremes (outstanding) in cold temperatures and particularly on snow and slush.
Subaru - Alanovich
Thanks for the info.

Are the 2.0s chain or belt cam?
Subaru - Wilco {P}
Belt - only the 3.0 flat 6 is chain.
Subaru - Alanovich
Thanks, Wilco.

I'm considering a 2005 car (2.0i) with 30k on the clock. Should it have had a belt change by now?
Also, any idea what a belt change costs on one of these?
Subaru - SteveLee
I've had a couple of Lagacys, they are heavier on fuel than a comparable sized/engined car because of the weight and drag of AWD. The interiors are a bit low-rent but the cars are utterly reliable and do have character as far as Japanese cars go. If you want a car to keep for years and run into the ground the Legacy is a fine pick, a good example will give you 15 years of trouble-free motoring with only servicing costs - practically free motoring! :-)
Subaru - Cosec
Alanovich

I had the belt replaced on my 03 Legacy 2.0l in Dec 08. The total cost, along with a major service (incl changing the ATF) was about £900 at the main dealer. They originally quoted me about £200 for the belt, but I also changed the pullies etc at the same time. I usually use a local indie garage, but they are not Subaru specialists, and I wanted this job done properly.

Seems expensive, but this car has never gone wrong and now has 90k miles on the clock, so this is the only major expenditure in all that time other than routine servicing/tyres.

This is by far and away the best car I have ever owned. Far better than the 04 Audi A4 company car I had before as an overall package. Very comfortable, reliable and huge boot for the dogs.

When I replace it, it will be with another Subaru.
Subaru - Wilco {P}
Belt change at 60,000 on the 2.5 (and also on the 2.0 I would imagine). My 60K service including the belt change was a tad over GBP 600.
Subaru - brettmick
I bought an 04 plate 2.0 petrol Legacy Estate in September. I had an 05 Saab 9-3 150 bhp diesel until March 09 and a brand new 1.8 Tfsi A3 for 6 months until the Legacy.

There is no comparison to the build quality or mechanical integrity of the Saab vs the Subaru. The Saab was very well looked after and was a year younger, but the Subaru has no rattles inside, the suspension doesn't crash through holes or sound like it is working itself loose. The Saab was quicker and used less fuel, but sounded like a tambourine. The Legacy is far more engaging to drive however.

Audi was nicer inside, quieter, faster and so on but using the train for work was a lot of money to have sitting in the garage depreciating. Hence its gone and a new kitchen will be arriving instead.

The recent weather makes me think I have found a brand I might stick with, although the new cars seem rather pricey...