Subaru Legacies - Gen me up

[Stanky]

So, with my little Nissan starting to get a bit long in the tooth, and an upcoming notable birthday I would like to get a larger vehicle to accommodate my 'powerful physique' and transport me to and from work.

 

My interest has been directed towards a Subaru Legacy as they seem to have a reputation for reliability, be designed to be maintained and have an interesting* angle, being boxer-engined.

 

Now, there is a 1998 Legacy GLS 2.0 Auto in the general vicinity of Stanky_towers for £600 with 60k miles and MOT through to next July. This seems to be a massive bargain, as next-gen models with twice the miles seem to start at twice the price. It could be a total dog, but before I bother to get off my backside (and more to the point, until I have funds available in the new year) can anyone give me any info on them?

 

I am aware that as a 4x4 it needs matched tyres or it will eat its viscous coupling, it will be thirsty for what it is, and as a 2.0 auto, won't be particularly fast - however, it will be somewhat more rapid than my Nissan, and possibly a bit more luxurious. I think that the engine has a cambelt with a 60k / 5 year life, which will be a departure from my life of cam-chain laziness, but would appreciate this being confirmed/denied and me ignorance being reduced

 

I do a lot of miles (about 25k a year is good going for me) but have the luxury of a fuel card, for which I pay a flat rate of tax so the economy is less of a concern for me than most.

 

looking more widely, the 2.5 versions seem to have a reputation for blowing a head gasket at ~100k miles and the 3.0 'Outback' ones are the pick of the bunch as they have a cam chain rather than belt, I'm not really interested in, nor have the funds to buy and maintain a turbo one.

 

So, has anyone got experience of these? I think its a second-gen one I'm looking at, and this particular one is an estate. Do they rust anywhere not immediately obvious? I'll check sills carefully, and bodywork in general. I'll also keep an eye out for mayo under the oil cap, what else should I look out for mechanically?

 

Thanks

[dollywobbler]

I really like them, but they do rot. The one I owned had distinctly crunchy front wings, but I think they're bolt on. I'd definitely want a good poke around the sills and underneath. If you can smell burning oil, the cam covers are probably leaking and oil then gets onto the exhaust. Nice. My 2-litre went well enough, but wasn't geared for comfortable cruising. Don't know if the manual is any better. Still drove it to France and back. Makes a great noise. 

[bub2006]

When I was a nipper my dad had a k registered legacy 2.0 manual. Loved the frameless windows and the high/lo box but that's all I remember. I still like the early shape ones but not many left now

[spike60]

I borrowed a 99V manual for a few days about 8 years ago and didn't gel with it. 22mpg/112bhp, clattery frameless doors, uncomfortable for me. Big enough for the fridge freezer though. Just.

[Asimo]

we have had an 04 (the next generation) Legacy saloon for 7+ years and It has been a real success.

Same 2.0 / 100kw engine as a '98 Gen3. The cam belt access is really good but when I found out that the main dealer price for the job I thought "bargain" and let them do it. The Autos don't have a centre diff at all, they have a clutch on the rear output shaft which closes sending torque to the rear as required. the 3.0 six cylinder is cambelt until the 03 on model, chains from then on. I have had a gen3 estate auto as a courtesy car a few times and I did find it a bit of a step down from my own, nothing like as "polished". But it did have 100k or so more miles on it!

 

The interweb is full of stuff about Subarus, almost all of it about making Imprezas more noisey. The intelligent stuff is from Australia where Legacies seem to have quite a following.

 

Front calipers have been the only weak point on mine but they aren't the same as a gen 3.....

[Stanky]

Thanks guys, keep it coming!

 

SornMe, I agree - its a bit tough wading past all the 'meggerpowerrrr' impreza dross, what I want is something technically interesting, but fundamentally reliable transport which is a step up from my Nissan. The Nissan is still serving up utter reliability but I'd like something different really.

 

Most of the Aussie people seem to have gone for the larger-engined variants (presumably fuel is a bit cheaper over there?) but there is quite a bit of info on general stuff like the state of bodywork which is useful.

 

I have Monday off work so will probably pop up to see this one and then have something to compare others to if nothing else.

 

Re the auto - does that mean its basically FWD most of the time, until it senses the front wheels spinning then sending torque to the rear to compensate? Have I understood that right? Can it be overridden to force it to be 4wd all the time? Do they have 'low range' or equivalent?

[Asimo]

I don't think the auto has a low range like the manuals. Only some manual Subarus have the dual range manual box, the turbos and three litres do without, as do Legacy saloons.
Yes, the autos are basically front drive, with rear drive "added as required". I don't know if they have a force-4wd mode.

 

 

I think legacys are the Volvo 740 of Japanese cars.
(But I thought the gen5 model was shit with its electric handbrake, CVT and clutch automatic, no more frameless windows, dismal diesel and me-too blingy dash)

[bub2006]

Just looking at these on ebay. Is it just me or do the late 90's models look a bit like a chunky Suzuki baleno?

[320touring]

1if you're going to get anLegacy, get the twin turbo 2.5 thingymagubjig one!

 

May as well get some power and decent noise for all your fuel:)

[wuvvum]

They make GR9 trackday cars.