BE from MT

[unsullied_spy]

Hi all, just a new guy checking in. I bought my 04 L SE about 2.5 years ago with 47k on the clock and now have 80k on it. It's been a good car and seen a lot of good times but it is definitely running off with my wallet! In the last few months I've done timing belt, timing belt tensioner, water pump, upper and lower radiator hoses, thermostat gasket, head gaskets, pretty much re-sealed the whole engine (during HG fix), clutch, and a rear wheel bearing. All in 3 months. I grew up on Subarus (old 1.8s and 2.2s) and have never seen this many problems with a Suby, but I'm told I've fixed everything that ever goes wrong so hopefully I can finish paying it off before the next big failure.

Anyway it's a pretty standard Legacy that I have done a little work to (aside from fixing) and mostly just kept it maintained. The rear windows came tinted, I believe the back glass is 35% and rear sides are 25% and it has a 4" 25% eyebrow on the windshield. It came with 17" TSW alloys which looked pretty bad when I bought it so I have since painted them black. I wrapped the wheels in Michelin Pilot Sport Plus A/S tires, which I highly recommend for an A/S tire. I mostly own the car for the Winter so I have some 90s Outback wheels with Michelin X-Ice tires (Awesome snow/ice tires!). I bought a pair of factory L.L. Bean tweeter pods and put Boston Acoustics SE60 components in the front with Rockford Fosgate Punch series 3 way coaxials in the back powered off a Rockford Fosgate PBR300x4 and a pair of Kenwood KFC-3012s in the trunk with a Boston Acoustics GTA-800m and a Rockford Fosgate 10 farad cap. I added some custom fog lights under the bumper, thread is here: https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?t=24340. It's pretty much all stock, but it needs to be as reliable as possible so I'm not touching the engine.

Some pics:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/DSC00221-1.jpg
Just cleaned it and had dirt coming down out of the doors, looks terrible

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/DSC01080-1.jpg
Playing up in the mountains

Then my Summer driver/fun car/what I drive when the Suby breaks down:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/DSCN1951-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/04/DSC02306-1.jpg

[chuckthefuk]

"when the subie breaks down"..

hmmm.. those don't sounds like problems.. they sound like you did your maintenance and are ready to go for another 250,000 miles..

I am sure your Lego will out last and out perform (in the corners) then your Mustang :-D

Welcome to SLi and enjoy our little community of Legacy nuts.

-Chuck

[unsullied_spy]

Thanks for the welcome. My Legacy was rock solid for the first year I had it, since then there's been something wrong every 1-3 months and that gets old fast. Each time it breaks down I keep telling myself that's normal stuff for these and I fix it right each time (quality parts and attention to detail on everything I fix and I'm not too proud to take it to a reputable Subaru shop if I'm over my head). Keeps giving me problems so part of the reason I came here was to mingle with the Legacy folk and try to get into the culture of the car, it's paid off and does everything I need it to, I just need encouragement not to sell it and buy another Protege or Ranger!

As for the handling, it's definitely different. The Legacy feels more nimble around tight corners and such, the Mustang feels lower, better planted, and the steering feels more "connected". I bought into the "Mustangs can't handle" belief and kept away from corners in it for a long time, but the more I drive it and the more I push it harder and harder the more I write that off to internet drivel. The sway bar end links appear to have been replaced at some point in the past, but otherwise I'm rocking 100+ around some corners on a stock 10 year old American car with a live rear axle and it doesn't disappoint. I've got some friends with a Porsche 928 and an old DeTomaso Pantera and I'm faster in a straight line as well as through the corners so I don't mind one bit!

[Yokosilver]

I'm originally from great falls. It's awesome to see someone from MT on here. Welcome!

[unsullied_spy]

Awesome. The drive to Great Falls is great, especially once you get north of Helena. Thanks for the welcome!