[Closed] Subaru Legacy question

town driving in a 2.0 litre subaru auto. Low 20s mpg would be my best estimation

Low 20s mpg would be my best estimation

^This

I've owned a couple of 2ltr Impreza's and a Forester. They like their fuel! 😀

I used to get nearly 30mpg in country lanes driving.

I had the Outback Estate version when living in Oz - lovely car, well put together, reliable and massive boot but it drank fuel. Low 20s at best guess.

You should average about 30mpg, maybe less if in traffic a lot.
If it hasn't been done already the rear driver's side wheel bearing will need replacing at some point; I've had five Subes and they've all needed it, but nowt else!
On the twin tail pipe models check the rear Y piece thoroughly, and the front of the rear silencers. You're looking at 3-400 EACH for these three items, though cheap copies are available.
Timing belt is 45k , but check the tensioner and (maybe) the idlers have been done. Budget £3-400 for these at a dealer.
Other than that, it'll be good for a few hundred thousand miles, with no drama.
They are really comfy cars, with the best front seats I've ever had. The rear seats fold perfectly flat in 10 seconds. The radio will be shite!
Great cars!

I've got a 56 plate 2.0 manual and I struggle to get 30mpg doing a 10 mile cross country commute. Motorways I can hit 36mpg and I assume the autos will be a little lower.

There's a fault in the ECUs that can mean you have a flat spot in the rev range if you switch fuel RONs. I think the timing will slowly advance and then when it detects knock pulls right back.

The power is all at the top end so you really have to rev it, but it can be quite quick when needed.

I've got the REN version so it has all the toys, it's fairly comfy and the steering is relatively light.

I love the pillarless doors and would love to get a turbo import version if I had the money.

My Y piece is also about to go, but you can get a complete mild steel exhaust from eBay for about £130.

2.0 manual estate here. 35 on motorways, 32 average overall. Down to high 20's round town, low 20s on 2 mile journeys.

Absolutely fantastic cars, driver seat very comfy, I'll happily drive ache free for hours.

147k miles on it, just routine oil and filters. Other than that... Discs seem to last 60k miles, pads a bit less. Tyres last about 40k miles. Original clutch. Replacement exhaust at 125k, custom stainless job from cat back for £400. Set of ht leads at 135k for £30

Radio great in mine! Though cheap 12v-USB adaptors cause interference.

Got a set of winter tyres for mine and it'll pretty much go anywhere on them. Swap them out each winter/summer.

OP you better watch out as Kahn is cosying up to the Paris Mayor, if he copies her policies you'll have permanaent road closures (to reduce traffic which actually just creates more jams), reduced speed limits (to redice emissions which actaully means more pollution as cars stuck in more jams), vintage cars banned for excessive polution (as though the number of them will make any difference), cars banned althogether on certain days and her master plan which is to ban diesel cars from the city altogether.

In terms of the oldsr Subi what I have heard is fuel economy is one of fheir weaknesses.

Their achillies heal from people I've known who've owned older models is minor spares availability. Servicing and consumables were fine but my sister in law had to scrap hers after a break in and attempted theft because there just seemed to be no way to get hold of the parts to repair the lock barrels / ignition and steering column.

I've got the 3.0 spec b and it gets around 27mpg most of the time so reckon the 2.0 should do somewhat better. As orangewhinger says, you can get the exhaust cheap off ebay (do not get from dealer). Mine seems built well, not had much of an issue so far. 4wd v.useful where we live in the winter. Somehow, insurance is ridiculously cheap, perhaps because theyre not desirable. My similar age golf costs more to insure.

Somehow, insurance is ridiculously cheap

Yeah, mine is silly cheap. About the same as the other halves yaris.

In London traffic there's pretty much no chance that car is going to see anything over mid 20s

(Londoner here too, just bought a petrol auto barge. Petrol mainly due to low annual mileage, don't think Sadiq's thinking will impact for a couple of years)

Many thanks for all your replies.

Another couple of questions if I may

I have noticed there are two types of 2.0 l versions

one like this
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201605264337866?logcode=kp

or this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201607226095708?logcode=kp

one is more powerful - does it have a turbo ?

the less powerful has better MPG

thoughts on the two versions ? The bless powerful person lacks cruise control !

many thanks

Later model? Different version? Not a turbo though. A turbo would have another 100hp or so.

Might have a different cam profile or variable vale timing. Knowing Subaru those extra bhp will be at 6900rpm. I can't remember if they did a 2.5 in the Gen 4 but if they did it would be worth seeking out. The extra low end torque makes a huge amount of difference in drive-ability vs the 2.0

....sorry another question !

Whats the difference between the Legacy and the Outback ? They look the same ?

2.5L Mpg shocking ???

TIA

There's a JDM spec B gtb on ebay right now with an alleged 30000 mile old engine and turbo in it, and a lot of paperwork... I don't really want to spend £4000 on a car right now but [i]damn[/i].

Whats the difference between the Legacy and the Outback

the body is exactly the same, but the outback sits on raised suspension with bigger wheels combined to give more ground clearance.

cp - Member

Whats the difference between the Legacy and the Outback

the body is exactly the same, but the outback sits on raised suspension with bigger wheels combined to give more ground clearance.

Depending on the year I think some of them had low-range and self leveling suspension too. Interior a little big more rugged in places.

unfitgeezer

2.5L Mpg shocking ???

In real world terms little to no different. The 2.0 is probably using less juice at 60mph on the motorway but for everywhere else the extra little bit of torque in the 2.5 means you're not revving as high to get the car to go anywhere. Probably best avoiding Subarus if your in the least bit concerned about mpg anyway.

On that age of legacy, the engine options are normal 2.0 which is 135bhp ish
Or 2.0R 162bhp ish, vvt
Or 2.5 175bhp ish
Or 3.0 245bhp, 6 cylinder.
I had a normal 2.0, it was fine to drive, had enough power etc.
If i was buying another (and I probably will) it will be a 2.5.
They are great cars, mine had 110k miles on it, and it looked and drove like a new car, handling is superb.
Manual box, i got around 29 in town, would go up to 34 on a run.
2.0R and upwards models are nicer inside, worth the extra in my opinion.

There's a JDM spec B gtb on ebay right now with an alleged 30000 mile old engine and turbo in it, and a lot of paperwork... I don't really want to spend £4000 on a car right now but damn.

Can't hear you...

LALALALALALALALALALA

We had a 2012 Outback. manual dual range, very handy getting up and down skifield roads in NZ. Quite agricultural internally, plastic heaven.

We had a 2012 Outback. manual dual range, very handy getting up and down skifield roads in NZ. Quite agricultural internally, plastic heaven.

the 2013 onwards is a very very very different car inside, really nicely finished.

I had the Re 2.0 manual and struggled to get anywhere near 37 on a run even cruised , had more than enough umpff with 162 bhp.. but seriously watch for secondary air intake problems a useless system put on for emissions when this fails your looking at around £500 and £200 for the valves and another 500 for the motor , with the 2.0 you cant remap or blank off this like the 3.0 or 2.5 version due to the Hatachi ECU.. worth a google at least

Nothing but trouble

I've got the 2.5 2005 and get 30 mpg avg. Mostly A road and Motorway driving including when loaded.

There's a JDM spec B gtb on ebay right now with an alleged 30000 mile old engine and turbo in it, and a lot of paperwork... I don't really want to spend £4000 on a car right now but damn.

if its any good - buy it! 😀

I've got the 3.0 spec b and it gets around 27mpg most of the time so reckon the 2.0 should do somewhat.

How on earth do you manage that? I got 28mpg once on a long (slow) run down a dual carriageway, average for 2 1/2 years of ownership was 19mpg. Great car though. My inlaws bout ha diesel Honda car at the same time (same age and mileage), they sold it at the same time as I sold by spec b and they lost £6k more in depreciation. Puts the 19mpg into perspective!

Had a Legacy estate as a company car way back and before the taxman thought about emissions and taxing them and my god it was a great car.

No idea about the fuel economy as work was paying for it and business was good so no one looked at that sort of thing but I know it was high with my heavy right foot at the time.

Not much help I know but great memories of a fantasic car

I'd go for a manual. The Subaru auto isn't the best.

The Legacy is awesome though. Why not look more towards the 3.0 or 2.0R?

BTW keep a lookout for HG. Just incase. Rare but still.

The 3.0 isn't far off the 2.0 at all in mpg

3.0 H6 engine has a timing chain too. Doesn't guarantee worry free motoring but more durable than a belt.

Tom200 - don't know how I manage it - but that's approximately what we get according to the trip computer (reality may differ?). The car is a little bit upgraded (better air filter, stainless exhaust, suspension upgrades) but basically a standard manual power train. We dont drive in town much though, or on motorways.
Lack of timing belt in the H6 and tractor-like robustness was an attraction. As well as the power and handling and space and cheapness of purchase.