As there has been much Leggy related chat on here recently, here's some personal reflections after 40,000 miles in just over 2 years.
Interior - definately not a 5 seater for long journeys. Boot big, cover arrangement on the Estate leaves a gap through which some of the content remains visible. Seats good, easy to get a comfortable driving position, especially with elec adjustment of the drivers seat. Standard fit radio isn't outstanding but good enough for me.
Climate control highly efficient but Mrs W describes it a draughty. You can't manually close the centre air vents which is a pain, but you can do it through adjusting the flow on the control panel. The huge sunroof is a big plus especially in the winter (brightening the interior!) but rarely use it for its intended purpose.
Fuel - averaging 32 mpg over the 40,000 miles - 25-27 round town/B road 'making progress' through to 37 on motorways at 70-75.
Servicing - 1000 service cost £40. 12,000 - £155. 24,000 - £275. 36,000 - £300. Body Inspection at 1 year cost £140. These are main dealer prices - my local(ish) dealer, Westaway in Spratton is excellent. Tyres ran out of life after 34,000 miles - replaced the original Bridgestone's with Goodyear Eagles which I find better. Sometimes uses half a litre of oil between services, but not always.
Performance - not a ball of fire with the 2.5 engine but more than enough for everyday use. Keep thinking I should get a Spec B or a 2.5 Turbo Forester but I think the performance/economy compromise is probably about right for me. Ride/handling compromise is generally fine - it does understeer a fair bit, hence my interest in some possible tweaks which Aprilia has suggested.
What's gone wrong? Not much - seal on a headlamp failed at 6 months - replaced under warranty with no quibbles. Clutch pedal started squeaking - attempts by the dealer to lubricate it were only partially successful initially but problem has now gone. Paintwork seems to scratch easily.
Biggest surprise - never thought I'd use the Hi-Lo gearbox function but I do - very useful for motorway jams crawling along at walking pace. The 4WD was a big plus on some snowy/slippery transits through back roads last winter.
Summary - not the cheapest car in the world to run, but I didn't buy it expecting that. I like the fact that you don't see that many others around (at least in the South/SE).
Would I buy another? Yes but a second-hand Spec B :o)
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Interesting application for the low-ratio box, Wilco - I wouldn't have thought of that! When the jam clears and you move off, do you have to remember to re-select the normal ratios before you get up to speed, or can you do it when the engine note reminds you?
32mpg overall seems pretty reasonable for a biggish petrol engine with all that drivetrain hardware to propel.
Do you have - or can you take - measurements for the length of the load bay in four-seat and two-seat modes? I find those more useful than how much water you could fill it with (!) but seldom see them in tests or brochures.
Thanks for a useful review.
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do you have to remember to re-select the normal ratios before you get up to speed or can you do it when the engine note reminds you?
Warning light on the dash - but the engine note would soon remind you!! Just dip the clutch and switch.
Do you have - or can you take - measurements for the length of the load bay in four-seat and two-seat modes?
I'll post these here - might be a day or so.....
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>> Do you have - or can you take - measurements for the length of the load bay in four-seat and two-seat modes?
Seat up - approx 42"
Seats folder - approx 64"
I've got some big IKEA flat packs in with the seats down!
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Much obliged, Wilco. 42 in (107cm) is the one that matters most - I don't often need a van but I frequently carry the family and a full load behind the seats. That's about the same as a Saab 9-5 estate. I've always liked the Legacy as something understated and unorthodox; it may yet gain a place on my 'To try' list.
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>>I like the fact that you don't see that many others around (at least in the South/SE).
Lack of Legacies on the road might be down to the very HIGH Purchase Price and the steep depreciation - However they are no cheap 2nd hand as the only place reasonably new ones are available is @ Subrau delears.
I am not suggesting that there is a price ring on these cars but
1) Very few Import cars or discount supermarkets for new cars
2) Prices seem high 2nd hand for cars when the retained value is deeemed low for 3 yr old /30,000 miles
3) Servicing / Parts seem very high cost - even comapred to other well known imported cars.
I saw a 3 yr old car advertised the other day with 60,000+ mls on the clock and the dealer wanted £14,000 - According to the magazines the residual value of a 3 yr old 30Kmls is reckoned to be <30% - i.e. <£9,000 - £5,00 mark up and 30K miles higher!
My son looked at buying one in Texas last year - he was paying something like £16,000 for a top of the range 3.0 Outback compared to nearly £30,000 here. He bought a new Jeep for £16,000 but that was not his best investment - the desire to own a Jeep won over the logic of buying a reliable make.
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As the driver of a Legacy Outback 3.0Rn Auto, I would add that there is a load cover piece that fits between the roller cover and tailgate to hide stuff away fully.
The cars are not so expensive. I paid £18,500 for my 14 month old model with 22,000 miles. In the last 7,000 miles it has performed faultlessly and I cannot think of another car with so much going for it that is such good value.
I'm keeping mine for the long term I hope.
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My experience and views pretty much mirror Wilco's - 45k miles on a June 04 plate. I got a fair bit more out of the tyres.
I still curse the fussy ratios, but I'm pretty sure I'll get a Spec B next, but I'm finding hard to justify the cost to change.
I've had good experiences with one dealer (Robinson's of Rochdale) and pretty dire servicing experiences with another main dealer in the Manchester area, but they've only had the franchise a short while.
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They're dear if you're daft enough to pay the sticker price. I bought a 10 mile pre-reg (by 6 months) spec B saloon for £19k. Still available out there; when I last looked a day or so ago Monty's of Sheffield (where I bought my car) had a 2006 Spec B saloon up at £19995 with only a handful of miles on. You should get it for £19k.
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Fuel economy looks good for the size of car.
Very surprised at £140 for the Year 1 body inspection - are you sure that's correct?
Cars can be imported via Subaru Malta at considerable discounts (30% after shipping) - or via car supermarkets. UK is probably the most expensive pre-tax place in the world for Subaru's. Dealer strategy to get the prices back to a sensible level seems to be to pre-reg the car and knock a few £k's off the original list price.
Parts are dear - again this appears to be due to high mark-ups imposed by the UK importer (International Motors Group) - who also controls imports to Ireland. This is probably the biggest disincentive to ovnership of older Subarus. A great pity, because it must hit values of older cars. I ordered a set of coils for an Impreza from the the USA and even with shipping and tax I saved about 1/3 over the local dealer price - no good if you want the parts in a hurry though!
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You're doing well to get 32 mpg. I don't get much better than 27-28mpg on average in mine (sometimes as low as 24) , but then it is an automatic and spends most of its time on country lanes. However I believe that there is a flat 4 diesel due next year or the year after, which ought make country vets evertwhere very happy.
BTW, you say that you don't see that many others around. Not so up here in Norfolk - in the 5 miles from home into local town this morning I saw two Tourers and an Outback. On a Saturday moring in Holt there are often more Subarus than BMWs (we've got good taste in E Anglia).
And you're right about the paint.
Davros
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>>Very surprised at £140 for the Year 1 body inspection - are you sure that's correct?
It's not just an inspection. They inject certain cavities (doors, boot, bonnet some underside) with a litre of cavity wax and then put on a litre of underbody wax. Why it's necessary I don't know but I suppose it's worth it to maintain the 12 year warranty.
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You rarely see Legacy types in the peak district, but Imprezas quite often.
"As the driver of a Legacy Outback 3.0Rn Auto, I would add that there is a load cover piece that fits between the roller cover and tailgate to hide stuff away fully."
If you are going to park anywhere, and you have nothing in the back of any real value to thieves then don't pull the cover over, let them see it. In my very sad experience, thieves will bust in the back screen just to check. It cost over £800.00 the replace the screen and relector of one of my previous Legacys.
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It's not just an inspection. They inject certain cavities (doors boot bonnet some underside) with a litre of cavity wax and then put on a litre of underbody wax.
That's interesting - didn't know they did that. It seems a strange plan to inject cavities etc a year after the car is sold (and possibly up to two years after manufacture). I would have expected this to be done at the factory or at the UK import centre. I have heard they put additional underbody wax on Imprezas at import. Sounds like an idea to squeeze a bit more money out of the customer....
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Quite possibly Aprilia. I wouldn't have thought more wax would have been needed but it's definitely part of the first body service. The book says the following areas should be retreated: sills, underbody sections, body floor supports and 'any areas that are dry, appear to have been missed or where anti-corrosion materials are flaking'.
This is then repeated at 2 year intervals. Given such a regime I would expect the body to last indefinietly.
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