Discuss: Subaru Legacy GT

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
01/14/2014 at 14:00 • Filed to: None

So the 944 Turbo turned out to be way more work than I wanted. But a nice Legacy GT came up that looks promising. It's not a wagon, but it is a manual. Anyone had any experience with these before?

Any advice is appreciated.

DISCUSSION (23)

ddavidn > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:02

I want one of those, real bad. Can't give too much insight except that it feels like a good solid car and the manual version is nice to drive.

William Byrd > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:02

I've had bad experiences with a 944 Turbo if it helps validate your decision. :)

No personal experience with a LGT but folks I know who have had them all liked them. And the GT shares some hardware (and can share more I believe) with the Impreza line.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:03

LGT's are great cars. Watch out for mods:

1. if the mod was done badly it means the previous owner was a hoon and didn't give a crap about maintence

2. if the mod was done right, it means he is a hoon.

Other than that, check the sway bar endlinks, the CV boots and the upper strut mounts. Also, check the coolant and smell the dipstick for a burning smell (turbo cooked oil)

MonkeePuzzle > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:05

I love em!

I hear the twin turbo ones are a nightmare, but uber rare, so.

that generation especially I love. Actually the slight model revision where they got either a vent or a reflector on the rear bumper is my favourite. drool. The wife even loves these, so, possibility I might one day own one is higher than other models

Tom McParland > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:06

I had an '05 LGT wagon 5 speed absolutely loved the car until the clutch kept going on me. After the second one I traded it in for my Mazda. After talking with some Subie folks apparently it was a "thing" for 05. I still miss the car.

Jay Lauer > HammerheadFistpunch
01/14/2014 at 14:06

No mods on it. It lost power and developed a knock, so I'll be pulling the whole motor anyway. It's only 108k miles so it can't be too torn up.

Also, would a Spec B be called a LBGT?

Jay Lauer > MonkeePuzzle
01/14/2014 at 14:08

I believe this is a 2.5 single turbo. All the WRX stuff, but with the STi block.

My guess is that it can't be much different from the WRX I owned. It's just more refined.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:08

Legacy GTs are fantastic cars. I owned one much like the one pictured, for about 7 years.

However, as the mileage accrues, they start to nickel and dime a bit, and stuff starts to show significant wear. Not unreliable to the point of being un-driveable, but sometimes a bit annoying.

It also may have been that my car was a 2005, a first model year, and had over 100K miles, and was slightly modified.

Any details about the car you are looking at?

Jay Lauer > Tom McParland
01/14/2014 at 14:09

Well hopefully the clutch isn't fucked on this one, but it's only 108k miles.

I would totally prefer the wagon, having owned a WRX Wagon before, but they're hard to find and this one is cheap in my own city.

Jay Lauer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
01/14/2014 at 14:10

Just impressions from people that have owned them, stuff to look out for, etc.

This one is a 2005 as well with 108k and kept stock. I have yet to see it in person, but most all of it looks well taken care of.

HammerheadFistpunch > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:11

"Also, would a Spec B be called a LBGT?"

I think they call that "diversity" now.

Kinja'd!!!

Jay Lauer > HammerheadFistpunch
01/14/2014 at 14:17

That would really help Subaru's sales with their lesbian buyer stereotype.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:20

Make sure the timing belt service has been done, is the big thing.

I had it done to mine just a few months before I traded.

Suspension bushings and dampers need a bit more frequent maintenance than I would have preferred, mine was on it's second set of Bilstein struts, after the originals failed.

I loved the car, and I still miss it when I see pictures like that one above, but it came time to decide whether I should spend a couple grand on maintenance that the car really did deserve, or spend it on down payment for something else that can haul more cargo.

The one down-side was that the car couldn't carry any large parcels much bigger than a standard suitcase. It isn't a very big car, actually on the small side, which I liked.

But the 05 and 06 sedans don't have folding rear seats, just a center pass-through. Later cars did have folding rear seats.

But the trunk portal is a bit small... the trunk can hold a good amount of stuff, if it can fit through the opening.

But landscaping materials and such became an issue, and I wanted to get a car with folding seats, and a rear hatch. If that is not an obstacle, then it is fine.

It truly is a gem of a car... there aren't many AWD manual cars left, let alone with good amounts of power... and the full time 50/50 AWD is very capable, especially with proper 3-season performance tires, and winter tires.

It is too bad they are starting to get a bit older, and Subaru hasn't done much interesting since.

A new '15 WRX sedan might be close to what the LGT used to be, and maybe even better in the handling department, but again, I was looking for something with more cargo flexibility... and Forester XT with an automatic isn't it, compared with everything else out there that has an automatic.... and Forester X with a stick is pretty spartanly equipped.

Jay Lauer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
01/14/2014 at 14:26

Well I've had 2 Mustang and I'm on an E46 now, so small trunks aren't too big of a deal. Ideally, I'd like the wagon Legacy, but this is way cheaper, and I like having money.

The folding seats are a bummer, since I could fit a mountain bike in the WRX Wagon I had, but I can get over that no problem. Other than that, I'm a college student, so it looks like it's got plenty of space for me.

Also, it's a fixer upper. I'll be pulling the motor out when I buy it, so I can do a timing belt no problem then.

RW53104 > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:49

Just uploaded this, had it saved for awhile. Should help you!

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/subaru-buyers-…

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 14:51

Legacy GT wagon, Outback XT wagon, and WRX 5-door, and Forester XT all have better cargo capabilities for the likes of mountain biking, or hauling college living stuff around. I had a 3-door fastback coupe when I was in college, and I really appreciated the cargo room advantages of a hatch.

What is up that the car needs the engine pulled?... I would hope that the car would be pretty inexpensive to buy at that point.

Stupidru > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
01/14/2014 at 15:14

I came to the exact same conclusion when I sold my 06 LGT... and I ended up buying a Forester XT.

I will agree with you almost 100% on what you said. The suspension bushings, wheel bearings, brake pads, & brake rotors were things that I didn't appreciate replacing as often as I did. The car was a bit of an attention whore- it never got so bad that I couldn't drive it, but there were little things that always nagged for attention.

I sold mine due to a ringland failure in cylinder #4. It also came down to "do I want to spend a few grand and get this thing fixed, or can I sell it and get the equity plus use that few grand as a nice downpayment on something that I can haul the wife and the dog and all of our stuff for a weekend up north?" I have a feeling I'll get another one someday. I loved the car to bits, but at the time it just got to be a little much

Stupidru > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 15:15

I owned an 06, and I replied to BoxerFanatic, troublesome ... with this:

" I came to the exact same conclusion when I sold my 06 LGT... and I ended up buying a Forester XT.

MonkeePuzzle > Jay Lauer
01/14/2014 at 15:18

yeah, my bad, its only single turbo in the US of A, went and looked back at my friend's facebook. anyway, still rarer, and still apparently a pain.

but! I still say legacy GT is a fantastic choice

Jay Lauer > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
01/14/2014 at 17:12

It has a knock. I should have that all covered.

And all of those are better on cargo, yes, but if I could pay 1/4 of the price for this one, I'd be in better standings.

brakesnow > Jay Lauer
01/24/2014 at 10:13

Purchased mine in december with 89k on the clock and love it to death so far! Watch out for rust in the wheel wells and poorly done mods. Car is a real hoot to drive.

diamonddan > Jay Lauer
02/07/2014 at 02:08

These were fantastic cars - Audi A4 performance, interior, etc. without the maintenance headaches and $$$ (as well as half the insurance of a WRX for the same engine). 05-06s had turbo issues, so avoid those if possible. The car underwent revisions in 2008 (carried into 2009 obviously) that stiffened the chassis and suspension with additional braces and stiffer bushings. The 08s also got a different set of wheels (which look better than the ones above that were on the 05-07 models, IMO) and a revised rear end with smaller taillights.

I have owned a CPO 2008 for a year and a half/24,000 miles (purchased at 70,000 miles), and it has been amazing. Great looks, incredible handling and power, comfortable, safe, no repairs outside of normal maintenance, all-weather capable...I could go on and on about how much I love it.

Some key mods to do if you buy one are a short shifter kit (the stock shift throws are way too long for a performance car) and to get dedicated summer tires. I have Michelin Pilot Super Sports for the warm 8-9 months of the year, and they totally transformed the car from the way it handled on the performance all-seasons it came with.

Jay Lauer > diamonddan
02/07/2014 at 09:52

Well luckily, I've already bought the car. However it is an 05, exactly like the one pictured above, color and everything.

On the plus side, it already has the MOMO short throw and decently new tires.