Have I found my perfect 2nd car? Subaru content...

[Leonard 0]

Ok I have been looking for a 2nd car for a while now. Need to do more commuting miles and it doesnt make financial sense to run the Corrado all year round anymore.

 

Cant decide wether to just get a £1k 'banger' the sensible option! Or go for something a little newer and hopefully more reliable and refined.

 

Over past few months I have been looking at:

Mk2 Golf Gti's

Mk4 Golf Gti's

Mk4 and Bora 4 Motions

Audi A4 1.8T Avants

Alfa Romeo 145 cloverleaf!

And all manner of beemers, randoms and VAG's!!

 

Anyway..... My criteria is big enough to put a couple of bikes in the back. Nice bit of refinement. Reliability. Interesting engine with a bit of poke. 4wd would be nice. And sensible-ish running costs (Corrado comparable anyway!)

 

Finaly today I figured this does everything I want. Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B. Anyone had any experience of one?

 

If anyone has any other suggestions Im all ears!!!

 

Cheers

 

Matt

[dan 0]

I'm considering a People Carrier myself (never enough room with the kids :) ) I like all those cars you've looked but I have to say that subaru is the best choice from what you describe. subaru drivers are the most happy car owners according to many polls. That's a real nice one you got there to 8) If you don't get the Subaru then I'd say go for the A4 Avant

[Leonard 0]

I'm considering a People Carrier myself (never enough room with the kids :) ) I like all those cars you've looked but I have to say that subaru is the best choice from what you describe. subaru drivers are the most happy car owners according to many polls. That's a real nice one you got there to 8) If you don't get the Subaru then I'd say go for the A4 Avant

 

Trouble is the A4 Avant i really want (2.0T FSI Quattro) I cant afford :( :lol:

 

If your after a people carrier my boss has an S Max which I drove the other day. All the toys and goes like a rocket ship! I was pretty surprised lol

[Leonard 0]

No ex Scooby drivers then? :scratch: :grin:

[vr6-phil 0]

I drove my father-in-laws Outback quite a few times and was always happy with the drive and handling. Obviously the Outback had a little more height to it so the cornering should be better in the Legacy.

 

He had the 3l and it seemed to always get people talking...interesting really!

 

Managed to beat an eager Mk4 Gti off the lights which the Mk4 really wasn't expecting as he was trying to beat us to the next roundabout where he wanted to turn left...he had to go right around the roundabout!! Made us smile.

 

The subaru is a nice car...only issue is that for an estate it isn't too great on rear leg room...other than that...get one!

[big ben 10]

thats a nice looking motor as well, i would use that daily :D

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B

 

Worth buying just for that name :D

 

I must admit it's the less obvious choice and much kudos due for that, and it's also probably one of those unsung hero cars that no one knows about because it hasn't got 4 rings in the grille :salute:

[Leonard 0]

Thanks guy's just the sort of positivity I needed to give me the much needed push to get my hand in my pocket and get one bought LOL :grin:

 

Just need to find a manual one now in silver or black for the right money!

 

I think it could be just the ticket though :luvlove:

[WreckedGecko 0]

Im quite a big fan of all things Subaru, and if i am not mistaken did the spec Bs not have the same flat 4 turbo as the WRXs?

 

If so, get it bought!

 

Seriously i have only heard good things about them.

 

Good Luck with it!

[Leonard 0]

Im quite a big fan of all things Subaru, and if i am not mistaken did the spec Bs not have the same flat 4 turbo as the WRXs?

 

If so, get it bought!

 

Seriously i have only heard good things about them.

 

Good Luck with it!

 

No unfortunately not that version did not get imported into the UK.

 

It does have a rather nice Boxer flat 6 though, sounds a bit like a 911!

[WreckedGecko 0]

Ah you are right, my mistake.

 

Still, 3.0l flat 6! pretty awesome.

[pete_griff 0]

i used to own an impreza wrx sti wr1 - liked it!

 

they are solidly built reliable cars. personally i much much prefer evos after having owned both - evos are a much better drivers car - sharper responses, much better turn-in with a LOT less understeer etc etc.

evo mechanicals seems to be a fair bit more robust than subaru bits too - but that only really becomes an issue when you start upping power etc.

 

however....

 

subarus are cheaper, not only to buy but to run due to stupid extra evo costs like active yaw control fluid etc etc

 

i'm a big fan of the legacy estates - they are a nice q-car. i actually toyed with the idea of getting one myself for a while.

 

GET IT BOUGHT - looking forward to your review :D

[Jim 1]

Nice! Top Gear always rave about the Legacy. What's not to like? The performance and handling of an Impreza, without the image, and with the practicality of an estate. They're not bad lookers either!

[R0B 0]

Liking the Legacy, I had an Impreza P1 about 6/7 years ago and loved every minute of it, the dealers were very good and very reasonably priced too, in fact at the time a service from the dealers was cheaper than my local subaru specialist.

[Leonard 0]

Liking the Legacy, I had an Impreza P1 about 6/7 years ago and loved every minute of it, the dealers were very good and very reasonably priced too, in fact at the time a service from the dealers was cheaper than my local subaru specialist.

 

Good to know Rob thanks.

 

I had just assumed that they would be pretty expensive.

[pete_griff 0]

one thing with the boxer engines - apparently they can be quite sensitive to damage when doing oil changes.

if not done correctly, the bearings/crank can wear very prematurely - apparently!

 

the oil filter screws on directly vertically, in order to allow the filter to be filled up with oil before it goes on.

 

once it's on an you've re-filled the car with oil, disconnect the crank sensor (just above/behind the alternator on the ej20/ej25 engines - uncertain about the 6-potter...) and then wind the engine over on the starter to get the oil pressure back up before starting. (an even more friendly way is to remove the plugs too, so not to put any pressure on the bearings when cranking.)

that's apparently the "correct" method when servicing it - how many dealers actually do that i don't know...

 

there's obviously much heresay over the web, but afaik, the flat engines do suffer from premature bearing failure unless they're looked after properly.

 

just FYI - i wouldn't let it stop you getting one, but be aware of it.

in order to keep up the history on my old car (due to it's very new age) i had it dealer serviced, i wouldn't let them lay a finger on it without me watching though!

[daleyboy 0]

Ive got a alfa 145 cloverleaf, very good car the body is galvanised, unfortunately they didnt bother with the floor so it rusts badly, they eat cam belts and front wishbone bushes. Great handling though the steering is very direct (2.2 turns lock to lock) if you like laying underneath it sorting rust or your head under the bonnet then buy it, if you dont then dont. They need constant tlc it is an alfa after all, would i buy another OH YEAH !! defo.....that twin spark engine is the best 4 pot ive ever had awesome noise only beaten of course by the VR ................ :wave:

[Andy665 0]

IIRC all official UK 3.0 Legacys were automatics, if you do ome across a manual it will be an import

[C488ADO 0]

No ex Scooby drivers then? :scratch: :grin:

 

 

lol i am but not really sure how to compare it as i bought mine in 2002 97 p 20,000 miles on the clock for £19,000!

 

version 3 facelift sti type ra vltd no 62 out of 555 well that was the title anyway!! lol

 

ridiculous spec colin mcrae sig car 325 bhp carbon front and rear sti braces, red top, roof hatch,pancake filter twin blow off valve 4" exhaust from turbo back, all the useual sti gumpf massivlyquick

 

quicker than the evo5 i had and a lot more sure footed on the road felt very safe in it unlike the evo

 

afer the spiralling fuel costs had to get rid as i just couldnt maintain the £10 to 37 miles i was getting never let me down though

 

woudl love another but the chav factor and the fact i cant afford to run one kinda stops me dead lol

[jackvine 0]

Ive got a Forester 2.5XT brilliant car, extremely fast, also in the snow it was great hardy lost grip, we have had ours for a year and nothing touch wood has gone wrong with it apart from my wife getting it hit by a cyclist !!

[Leonard 0]

Ive got a alfa 145 cloverleaf, very good car the body is galvanised, unfortunately they didnt bother with the floor so it rusts badly, they eat cam belts and front wishbone bushes. Great handling though the steering is very direct (2 turns lock to lock) if you like laying underneath it sorting rust or your head under the bonnet then buy it, if you dont then dont. They need constant tlc it is an alfa after all, would i buy another OH YEAH !! defo.....that twin spark engine is the best 4 pot ive ever had awesome noise only beaten of course by the VR ................ :wave:

 

Hmmm maybe not then LOL

[Leonard 0]

IIRC all official UK 3.0 Legacys were automatics, if you do ome across a manual it will be an import

 

You sure Andy seen quite a few manuals now that have been supplied by a UK Subaru dealer? Were they imported by Subaru UK as 'grey's'?

[Leonard 0]

Still really keen on one of these.

 

I wont be getting one until next spring now though, as I have just bought this for the winter LOL

[Andy665 0]

Leonard - I was sure that all flat six official import Legacys were auto's but could very well be wrong

[daleyboy 0]

Ive got a alfa 145 cloverleaf, very good car the body is galvanised, unfortunately they didnt bother with the floor so it rusts badly, they eat cam belts and front wishbone bushes. Great handling though the steering is very direct (2 turns lock to lock) if you like laying underneath it sorting rust or your head under the bonnet then buy it, if you dont then dont. They need constant tlc it is an alfa after all, would i buy another OH YEAH !! defo.....that twin spark engine is the best 4 pot ive ever had awesome noise only beaten of course by the VR ................ :wave:

 

Hmmm maybe not then LOL

 

I can understand your point of view, the only thing i can say is i love my VR cos of the way it makes me feel when i sit in it, and drive it, it makes me feel special. You can talk as much as you want about engines and bhp IMO, but i buy cars for how they make me feel when i drive them, i drive the alfa and i feel special like the car was designed especially for me like they knew what i wanted. Thats how i look at cars, if you dont agree then your different to me and horses for courses and all that........... :D