USED Subaru Legacy Estate (03 - 09)

My car

This car is great for frightening passengers and boy racers! I have owned the turbo (GT) 2.0 manual estate for over three years. It gives excellent handling and performance for the money.

It has a hard ride, but a great 13-speaker stereo, although the CD tends to skip due to the ride.

It has had a new clutch, gearbox and engine management chip in the first year under warranty. It has had no problems since.

Go for the auto. I have done 200km/h and 140km/h round a roundabout. Sideways is gets very hairy, though! Tyres are pricey, but you get a lot of car for the money.

My car

A big disappointment - that's the best way to describe my ownership experience.

I bought my Legacy 2.0 litre Sport Tourer new in March 2005 after three years of happy Impreza ownership. And, while I didn't expect the same standards of performance and handling, it seems that Subaru's previously high standards of customer service have slipped noticeably.

Added to that, a number of minor build quality niggles have soured my ownership of the car to such an extent that I shall not consider another Subaru vehicle - at least while International Motors continues to handle distribution of the brand in the UK.

First off, the dashboard has suffered a series of irritating rattles, culminating in the trim strip that resides at the bottom of the windscreen working loose and popping out of its guides every time I drive over a less than perfect road surface.

Adding insult to injury, the Sheffield dealer from where the car was bought failed to secure or replace the part, eventually securing the offending strip with a self-tapping screw. That's right, a highly visible piece of 10p ironmongery secures the dash on my £20k plus new car... Wosre still, the trim still rattles like Granny's false teeth.

This same dealer failed to correctly diagnose another more annoying vibration, emanating from deep inside the dashboard. It make the car sound like an old tractor when accelerating between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm - just the rev band that you use in everyday driving.

My car

I have had this car for some 2 years now with not a single problem. fuel usage is a bit higher than expected. around 31 MPG. but for comfort and practicality it is excellent. This is my 5th Subaru. previous 2 sold to friends, one with 189.300. miles. now in the Shetland Islands. they still good friends. I have no doubt these are one of the best built cars made and while not the cheapest to run, for satisfaction and reliability must be almost impossible to beat. I can not understand why drop 2.5. engine in standard sport estate.

My car

I have driven near 200,000 miles in 2.5 Outbacks and rate them as good, dependable machines. The biggest problems I've had is headlight bulbs blowing and number plate screws shearing for no apparent reason in winter. Changing the headlight bulbs is ridiculously awkward I have to say, however.

Driving sensibly will return 35 mpg or more on a combined cycle and when pushed, the car has excellent balance and handling for a family estate. It gives plenty of warning of when it's doing something it would rather not, but it shouldn't be expected to rip up the tarmac. Off road ability is fair and is mainly limited to the willingness of road tyres in the mud.

Criticism that upkeep can be heavy is fair, particularly with discs and clutches. Clutches can start to complain at about 60,000 but lasted to 75,000.

Maybe Subaru owners do have unusual brand loyalty or 'rose tinted specs', but I think it is beacuse they make good, reliable cars and the dealership's customer service network is top drawer I have always found.