Subarus - are they any better these days??

skoty · Post by **skoty** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:34 pm

Back in the early 90s Subarus wern't the most reliable things on the road to say the least from friends experiences. Over heating and electrical issues were quite common. The Subaru trend then faded away and the cars depreciated quicker than most other things on the road.

However I've noticed a fair few people I know getting back into them as a turn around, mostly late 90s to early 2000s Legacys. They are pretty cheap in comparision to other 4wd turbo vehicles, so have things changed for Subaru or would purchasing one still be the worst decision one could make...?

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:39 pm

Nope, they're still as fragile as ever. Legacys are more prone to lunching motors than Imprezas, but either one will die horribly if you abuse it. The 6 speed boxes in the later Imprezas are very tough though, but they also have lots of electrical problems.
If you get one, dont modify it.

johndoe1025 · Post by **johndoe1025** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:45 pm

even if it is stock, itl shit itself

skoty · Post by **skoty** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:48 pm

johndoe1025 wrote:even if it is stock, itl sh*t itself

Really?!

So mechanically they are only sweet if you nana them 24/7

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:49 pm

TBH I've not heard of many standard Imprezas blowing up, but definately B4 Legacys do.

touge rolla · Post by **touge rolla** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:55 pm

Yeah notorious for doing big end bearings.

skoty · Post by **skoty** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:56 pm

Dell'Orto wrote: B4 Legacys do.

An old mate just bought one of those :lol:

rollaholic · Post by **rollaholic** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:56 pm

STi or bust in my personal opinion. cambelts are expensive, as are clutches and they always leak from the rocker cover gaskets after 80 odd kms.

would never own a subaru personally, and especially not a legacy.

plus pillarless windows = easy access for any asshole who wants to take it.

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:57 pm

skoty wrote:
Dell'Orto wrote: B4 Legacys do.

An old mate just bought one of those

I hope he got mechanical insurance :lol:

touge rolla wrote:Yeah notorious for doing big end bearings.

They often melt pistons too...pretty much they fail quite catastrophically, often

johndoe1025 · Post by **johndoe1025** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:59 pm

wev had fresh off the boat 8 km(thats 8, not 80, not 800, EIGHT) old legacys not running come into our work... 8-)

rollaholic · Post by **rollaholic** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:01 pm

yar i've pulled more engines out of subarus than any other type of car combined i think.

RollaGT_87 · Post by **RollaGT_87** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:03 pm

Nah my brother's legacy's lasted years...

Oh yeah, he's a Nana :lol:

But seriously if you're not gonna reem it round like a boy racer the non turbo subies will clock up a LOT of North Island Ks!! Following rallies no problem for years in it!

Winning formula = Get a suby... AND a racecar for fun :lol:

johndoe1025 · Post by **johndoe1025** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:04 pm

subie+turbo+thrash=EPIC FAIL

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:07 pm

Got 348,000kms on my B4, still going alright.

Generally if you look after them they are alright. Biggest issue I've seen is people cooking them.

Cambelts are expensive in parts as there are 4 pulleys to change which gets up in price if you're paying retail and doing all of them. There isn't a huge amount of time in doing one.

Oh, and twin turbo stuff is asking for trouble. The flatspot between the turbos is horrible anyway

Adamal · Post by **Adamal** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:37 pm

My flatmate has a 2003 WRX STI. Gearbox is rooted.

Lloyd · Post by **Lloyd** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:55 pm

Oh, look for binding diffs when you turn on full lock too

Boosted_162 · Post by **Boosted_162** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:15 pm

Adamal wrote:My flatmate has a 2003 WRX STI. Gearbox is rooted.

Brad's WRX is broken already??

OMG so shiny! · Post by **Dell'Orto** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:24 pm

HRT wrote:Got 348,000kms on my B4, still going alright.

Generally if you look after them they are alright. Biggest issue I've seen is people cooking them.

Cambelts are expensive in parts as there are 4 pulleys to change which gets up in price if you're paying retail and doing all of them. There isn't a huge amount of time in doing one.

Oh, and twin turbo stuff is asking for trouble. The flatspot between the turbos is horrible anyway

Yeah, but at what k's did you get it?

Twolitre · Post by **Twolitre** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:53 pm

By cooking I assume you mean overheat? It's pretty hard to overheat a car unless there is a defect in the fan/radiator setup given regular coolant changes. I've never owned one but do they have a defect in the cooling system or do they blow HG's for some other reason like 7MGTE's ?
I'm also guessing your high K's B4 is infact a non turbo?

HRT wrote:Generally if you look after them they are alright. Biggest issue I've seen is people cooking them.

Stott69 · Post by **Stott69** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:07 pm

mate of mine owns a 00 sti wrx wagon, blow a pin hole sized leak in the radiator, n managed to limp it round for a bit. He go it plastic welded up to start with, now upgraded to a larger alloy one. was a pain to bleed all the air out. Other wise hes happy as with it.
Think his family has like 4 subies in it