sandspider

Hi all As the title says, I'm looking for a standard Spec B 3.0 Legacy estate of 2005 / early 2006 registration so it's in the lower tax band (£285 odd per year, not £500 odd). Needs to be manual, and with a good service history - ideally big bits like clutch and exhaust done. Ideally in the South West, but may travel for the right car. Budget is maybe £4,000 - but could possibly go a bit higher for something that's worth it. I don't mind reasonably high mileage as long as it's been cared for. I'm looking in all the usual places (pistonheads, ebay, autotrader, here) but just wondering if anyone has one they're thinking of selling. I'm in no drastic hurry. Any cars or thoughts, please let me know? Cheers.

Hi all As the title says, I'm looking for a standard Spec B 3.0 Legacy estate of 2005 / early 2006 registration so it's in the lower tax band (£285 odd per year, not £500 odd). Needs to be manual, and with a good service history - ideally big bits like clutch and exhaust done. Ideally in the South West, but may travel for the right car. Budget is maybe £4,000 - but could possibly go a bit higher for something that's worth it. I don't mind reasonably high mileage as long as it's been cared for. I'm looking in all the usual places (pistonheads, ebay, autotrader, here) but just wondering if anyone has one they're thinking of selling. I'm in no drastic hurry. Any cars or thoughts, please let me know? Cheers.

If I read that right, it's only covered 150kms. But what kms!

Cheers shifty. Seems like there's not enough Outbacks around in any form for me to be too picky. So if a manual 2.5 comes up, or a 3.0litre auto I will give it a try...

Whereabouts are you? What sort of money are you looking for? And what's fuel consumption like? Cheers.

:D

Cheers Mr B. I was slightly put off the 2.5 by the cambelt changes - not the end of the world, but pricey when it needs to be done. I also though that the 2.5 was noticeably less powerful than the 3.0, and had only slightly better fuel consumption? That's why I was leaning towards the 3.0l, but I would look at either - ideally I'd like to test both. I've always been a manual man too - never had an auto. But the tiptronic might be acceptable, with full auto mode for long lazy drives. I also understand that modern autos are almost as good (or even better in some cases) than manuals off road...

Ha, thanks. Seems like people hang on to their Subarus once they have them. But that's a good thing, as long as you can find one in the first place!

Cheers majik. I'm in no hurry though - looks like I'll get a little runabout to use over winter (to use up.the remains of.my.insurance) and try and find a good outback in the meantime. Any one here want to sell theirs?!

Bristol mate. But I'm looking for the 3.0l version, and I'm lazy so don't want to drive too far until I'm pretty sure it's one I'll buy. (The Legacy I tested was 2 miles from my house!)

That's even better - suggests I'm not going mad! Ideally I'd like to test drive a manual and an auto, but am having trouble finding (affordable and decent condition examples of) either anywhere near me.

Ah hah. That might explain why I can't now find one! Could've sworn I saw a manual outback advertised a week or two ago. Mistake maybe. Shame, I usually prefer.manuals... Cheers David.

Hi again all. Another question, please - I can't find a single Outback 3.0 in manual flavour for sale or test drive. Only autos. I'm pretty sure that a manual version does exist - is it just that people hang on to them? Or have I got confused with the various models and options, and there isn't a manual 3.0l outback? Am I right in thinking that the Outback 3.0RN is the Outback equivalent of the Legacy 3.0 Spec B? Cheers.

Cheers, good thinking.

Did you get it up on a ramp to look at the exhaust, or just peer underneath it? Or could you hear it blowing when driven? (I'm wondering if it's worth getting a specialist to inspect a potential buy or if a bit of common sense and the willingness to get dirty peering underneath is enough...)

Sounds like a good price! Where did you find that? I test drove a spec B legacy yesterday. Good fun! A sweet spot at about 3000 rpm where it just takes off. And about 25mpg. Also felt really well put together, didn't feel like a 150k car. Trouble is, I'm not sure its different enough to the Porsche to be a legitimate second car choice. Some thinking to do... Still no insurance payout either, of course.

Apparently they deliberately leave poor spelling and grammar in their emails. If people fall for it with the errors in place they're probably dumb enough to be scammed! The best one I had started "Please excuse me if I do bulge into your convenience"!

Thanks gents. Testing a spec B manual Legacy on Sat (2006, 150,000 miles, £2500 ish). Then I should have something to compare to my Porsche, and to other Subarus / other options...

Thanks again, all. I'm now leaning towards an Outback or a Forester when I started off leaning towards a Legacy! Just got to get some money out of the insurance company (blood and stone comes to mind). Cheers.

Thank you gents, that's useful. I hadn't really considered the Forester - it seemed a bit too hardcore 4x4 for my needs, but I'll have a look at one. I heard tell that the Outback handles a bit more boat like than the normal Legacy, and surely the Forester would be similar? More wallowy than the legacy, similar to the Outback? Need to do some viewings and test drives. Cheers all B)

Thanks Mr B, that's useful. Realistically i don't do much off roading, and none of it's hard core. I only put the Jimny in 4wd two or three times a month, and that was more because I could than because I needed to! I'm guessing the Forester has worse fuel consumption on average than the Legacy as it's higher and more boxy? And that XT = turbo? Good thought on two or three owner cars - as and when I get one, the first thing I do will be a thorough service and fix any niggles. Also agree about diesel - there're fewer of them, and they're expensive, and I don't do that much mileage really either. Yes, think I need to do some test driving. Can anyone comment on handling and fuel consumption of auto vs manual? And performance vs consumption of 2.0l, 2.5l and 3.0l? Is there a sweet spot for decent peformance with reasonable consumption? Cheers.

Cheers Jay. :thumb: Yeah, it's definitely more tarmac than off road, and not serious off roadeing either really.

Thanks chief. Yes, could've been much worse - metal can be replaced. Got ya. I found a video on youtube, and the plugs look fiddly but doable. Can't really justify an Impreza to go with my Porsche! Need at least one practical car between us... :s

Hi all I've already posted part of this in the new users section, but thought I'd put it here too as more people are likely to see it. So. Newbie in Bristol here. Not got a Subaru yet, but thinking of a Legacy or Outback perhaps - probably an estate car for practicality. Up until Monday of this week I had a Suzuki Jimny for dirty work - logs, shooting, dogs, snow, camping, country roads, touch parking etc. and an ancient Porsche for long journeys and fun. However, on Monday my gf rolled the Jimny! Luckily she and the dog were fine, but the car is a gonner. So, I'm looking for a replacement, but thinking possibly of going for one car to avoid the expense and hassle of two. I was considering a 3.0l Subaru Legacy estate car - practical, fun to drive, reliable, reasonable soft off roader, only a bit thirsty! Ideally a 2005 ish manual model for the newer interior, but not the higher tax band. Or possibly even a more modern diesel Legacy. Or perhaps an Outback, though the higher ground clearance probably wouldn't be needed much really... Any thoughts on the best model for my needs? Also, what are Subarus like to service? I service my other cars myself, but I saw somewhere that you have to take the enginge out of a Subaru to change the spark plugs if you don't have a special tool that Subaru garages have... Is this right? Sounds ridiculous! Can you service a Subaru on your drive, or do you need any old garage, or a specialist Subaru garage? Also, are there any buying guides on here for Legacies / Outbacks? I could only find one for an Impreza... Or, what is there to look out for when buying a Legacy? (Besides the usual...) Cheers all, lots more to read here. Giles

That's interesting, and impressive. Cheers.