Reliability

[Bones]

So my car search brings me back to the Legacy. I had thought that I might want to get a Speed6, but the reliability issues have steered me away. An A4 could be an option too, but Audi's aren't known for reliability either. I've been a Toyota owner for a long time and can't stomach the fact that I might have to put money into a car for repairs. If I'm going to put money into a car, I want to upgrade, not repair, lol.
I've heard good things about Subaru's but don't really know anyone that owns one, so I don't know first hand what they're all about.
So are there any common problems that you guys are having that would turn me away? I found an 05 GT for 18K with 32K miles on it and want to pounce on it, but want to make sure that I'm not making a mistake first. Thanks for the help.

[Dookie]

Welcome to the forum Bones!

First of all, the LGTs have become a very reliable car, but if you're looking to purchase an '05 model, there have been a few issues that you would want to discuss with the seller.

1. The earlier models in '05 had some turbo problems. The oil line that leads to the turbo would get clogged at the housing called the banjo bolt. There's a small filter there that would get clogged and prevent clean oil into the turbo, causing damage. Subaru may replace it at no charge, or split the cost with you. I have a later '05 model with 62k miles on it and haven't had any problems with my turbo.

2. Most of the '05 models had a defective fan relay, cooling fan relay. It would cause the fan to stay on all the time. Not a big issue and Subaru will cover this defect, as there is a recall for it.

Other than that, the rest is up the the driver and what he/she has done to the car.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide on.

[brownrice]

18k i think is too high. Trust me on this, haggle that price down. You should also be aware that turbos require premium fuel. The legacy isnt exactly a gas sipper either.

[Bones]

18k i think is too high. Trust me on this, haggle that price down. You should also be aware that turbos require premium fuel. The legacy isnt exactly a gas sipper either.

It's going to hurt to go from 28 mph in the city to hopefully 25 highway on premium, but it will be worth it. I don't drive too much, so I shoudn't notice too much of a difference. I think 18k is below KBB as it is, but I'll try to go lower if I decide to go that route.

[havanisda]

I had thought that I might want to get a Speed6.

Get the Speed 6, it's a gr8 car but know it's gonna be tough 2 import here cuz it's not street legal in this country.

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/media/images/galleries/motoring/britishsportscarbargains/medium/TVRTuscan.jpg

[Dookie]

I'm sure he is talking about the Mazda Speed 6, dilweed.:rolleyes:

http://www.cardotcom.com/cars/images02/06mazdaspeed6.jpg

[Dookie]

Look what I found, a LGT and Speed 6 together.

http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/comparison/2006/mazdaspeed.6/mazda.subaru.340.jpg

[havanisda]

I'm sure he is talking about the Mazda Speed 6, dilweed.:rolleyes:

You're an @ss, of course he was talkin about the Mazda, no1 has the Tuscan here. It was used once in the movie Swordfish and that was it. U can't tell by now when I'm bein sarcastic? http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_screwy.gif

[Dookie]

:lol: I guess not.

[rtbrjason]

It's going to hurt to go from 28 mph in the city to hopefully 25 highway on premium, but it will be worth it. I don't drive too much, so I shoudn't notice too much of a difference. I think 18k is below KBB as it is, but I'll try to go lower if I decide to go that route.

I would recommend the Edmunds used car appraiser over kbb..

You can definitely get a better deal.. There is one at a dealer here with 40k miles or so for 14-15k.

[john]

I bought my 05 in mid 06. It had 19k miles and I paid just under 19k for it. That price is too high.

Reliability - the car I drove prior to the LGT was an A4. The LGT was a nice upgrade. I've had zero issues with my LGT, which just turned 50k miles. I've got a couple of nice mods under the hood (just under 400 awhp) and it's as reliable as the day is long.

$0.02 worth. And welcome aboard.

[Bones]

I bought my 05 in mid 06. It had 19k miles and I paid just under 19k for it. That price is too high.

Reliability - the car I drove prior to the LGT was an A4. The LGT was a nice upgrade. I've had zero issues with my LGT, which just turned 50k miles. I've got a couple of nice mods under the hood (just under 400 awhp) and it's as reliable as the day is long.

$0.02 worth. And welcome aboard.

So what did you do to your car exactly? I'm looking at an 07 with 5800 miles on it for 22600 on Mon. I told her my budget was under 20K, and she said not to worry that they would work with me. I'm in a good situation cause my Rolla is still running strong so I don't "need" a car. I can wait and see what comes along without having to jump right into it.

[havanisda]

So what did you do to your car exactly? .
Click on the link in Johns' signature 2 see his mod list.

[TSi+WRX]

My LGT was a dealer demo, a mid-'04 birth-date MY2005.

Winky had about 6500 miles on the odo, when I got her in May of '05.

She's never been in the shop, for even an hour, for something that went wrong. The only time she's been on jackstands is for upgrades/mods. The only time she's spent in a shop is in a speed-shop, for tunes and dyno runs.

Knock on wood, right? ;)

I've done all the maintenance myself. Religious, if overkill, 3K miles or 3-months (whichever first) OCI with either Mobil1 or GC, with Purolator PurOne filters.

She's been "Stage II" since September/October, 2005.

I'm still on the stock clutch. Granted, I'm low-miles (35K), but I'm not easy on her, either. She sees about one 3K-4K RPM slip-launch per week (it used to be 2 launches per week, but my commute has changed, as of the last 2 years or so).

No clutch-stink ( well, except for the time that I sidestepped the clutch at 6K RPM :lol: ), no issues with the fan-relay/ECU (but I purchased a new relay, out-of-pocket, to replace the unit, even though mine did not fall under the recall, just for peace-of-mind).

About the only complaint I have is that the rear defroster is kinda weak. :o

[havanisda]

I have a complaint about your car Allen, .........it's 2 far away 4 me 2 get a test-drive. :(

[john]

So what did you do to your car exactly? I'm looking at an 07 with 5800 miles on it for 22600 on Mon. I told her my budget was under 20K, and she said not to worry that they would work with me. I'm in a good situation cause my Rolla is still running strong so I don't "need" a car. I can wait and see what comes along without having to jump right into it.


http://jsalmi.com/car/mods.html

[TSi+WRX]

I have a complaint about your car Allen, .........it's 2 far away 4 me 2 get a test-drive. :(

^ :p

I really think that I just lucked-out, that's all.

I don't think that she's a particularly "strong" LGT - in that respect, I think that she's about average, given the dyno figures of other LGTs that are configured in the approximately the same manner, on the same dyno as I've run mine.

But in terms of durability/reliability, so far, she's been a rock ( again, knock on wood! :) ).

I hope that we'll get this lucky with Sara's lease renewal. She's looking to get either the '09 Forester 2.5XT or the '09 Impreza 2.5i Premium (I know, we were all set on an Impreza 2.5GT, but the lease on that one is just outrageous - no way we were going to pay that kind of price, for an econobox Subaru!).

[ScoobyDoobie]

+ another for the price being too high. I bought my 05' un-limited Dec. 2007 with 19K miles on it for under 17K. By far the best deal around I could find at the time.

As far as reliability goes, no need to worry assuming you follow maintenance procedures and don't beat on it excessively. Here's a good link to read: http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f87/caring-subaru-turbocharged-engines-37789/

This LGT is my third subie. I had a 95' Legacy L and a 99' Forester that I just sold yesterday. They are very safe and reliable assuming you take good care of them.

[jamesanderson1]

Thinking for some changes on my Volvo car. Please provide some good suggestions.

[john]

Are you considering a Legacy?

[vtgt]

Buy mine :)

[scooby05lgt]

mind has suffered a blown turbo, and now has a bad Knock. and has been in the shop for a month now.... and buy friends tranny just broke last week in his limited gt...

[john]

mind has suffered a blown turbo, and now has a bad Knock. and has been in the shop for a month now.... and buy friends tranny just broke last week in his limited gt...

Did your uppipe cat come apart? Oil starvation?

[scooby05lgt]

Did your uppipe cat come apart? Oil starvation?

no damage was done to the turbo. it was a spun bearing in cyl 3

[kagenmateer]

I'm just gonna leave this here: http://www.legacygt.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1685&page=3

[TSi+WRX]

no damage was done to the turbo. it was a spun bearing in cyl 3

:(

How did this happen?

[kagenmateer]

I'm VERY curious to hear what types of major problems '05+ Subys have as well as their cause.

[scooby05lgt]

:(

How did this happen?

really dont know.. cruise set at 75.. on my way to my weekly cruise with my collegiate car club and just started knocking... FAIL!

[TSi+WRX]

^ Modification list? :(

[scooby05lgt]

^ Modification list? :(


Stage 2.. with straight pipe...

[TSi+WRX]

OTS mapping or custom? If latter, was it a canned map, "e-tune"/remote-tune, or live dyno/road tune?

What's the full mod list (actual components)?

:(

[scooby05lgt]

Dyno tune at my buddies shop.... meghan UE header/UP, invidia V3 catless DP, AP v2, HKS turbo timer, DeatschWerks 750cc injectors, 255 fuel pump.... the tune is a slightly rich tune for safety.... 93 octane religously..

[TSi+WRX]

Damn - I wonder what went wrong? :( Did you ever datalog her through normal driving/cruising?

[scooby05lgt]

idk bro.. :wtf: i constantly watch all my temps, boost and AF, nothing out of the ordinary... put a new short block in it.. should be done this week.. :banana:

[TSi+WRX]

^ WTF indeed - no tell-tales that something was up, until it just went?

Damn, that sucks..... :(

I wonder if it is just a unique variance issue?

[scooby05lgt]

IMO i think it was previous owner abuse that did it... some young kid always drove daddys car... fail! lol that and lack of timely oil change intervals

[TSi+WRX]

^ Certainly could be.

It's why we lease my wife's cars - despite my maintaining her car to the same standards as mine, she simply lacks mechanical empathy.

I don't deny beating on my car :) - if I didn't want to drive her hard, I wouldn't have gone "Stage II," :lol: - but there's still a difference between subjecting your car to harsh demands, and doing so with absolutely no care to it.

Certainly, abuse and lack of care by the previous owner cannot be ruled out. :(