What do I need to know about the 3rd gen

[Regardie]

So having the superstorm crush my 2nd gen has given me an opportunity to replace the 97 L with something else. I'd like to stay with Subarus. If I go 2nd gen, I want the 5 speed GT sedan.

If I go 3rd gen, I don't know enough about them to even start other than GT sedan. 00-02 should be the 5 speed because the auto is still the 4EAT I think. But 03-04 add some weird shifting thing to the auto and change up the front / back split to a more rear bias. This from a quick read at cars101.

I'd like some opinions from 3rd gen owners about what's good and bad and what to look out for.

Regardie


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[Dead91silvia]

Not too much of a differance, just interior layout and cosmetics.

The 3rd gen runs a 2.5 SOHC rather then a DOHC, but the power is close to the same, unless you go get yourself an H6 Outback, those are a bit faster and a lot more smooth.

Rear suspension is completely different, but the front is the same.

I really enjoyed driving my 2000 GT wagon I had! The 5 speed was a blast, I'm just not that much of a wagon guy. I also love my BD to much. My H6 I havent got to drive much, but I do like the power, but the MPG sucks...

[chuckthefuk]

Dead91silvia summed it up well but here is some OCD info.

Gen 3 - Legacy includes
Sedan = BE
Wagon = BH
Baja = BT

The build quality and saftey rating for the Gen 3 was much much higher then the Gen 2. The Gen 3 was built using the same process as the 02+ Imprezas. The B-Pillar is the strongest structural part of these cars.

The Gen 3 is heavier but the feel of the interior and closing the doors is much more luxurious then the tin can sound of the Gen 2.

The Gen 2 feels more nimble.. The Gen 3 feels more planted.

The Brighton / L / L SE / GT are the exact same chassis with the exact same motor just with different shocks / transmission gearing / wheel options / interior options / all weather package.

If you spend most of your time on the highway.. then the Brighton or L / L SE is the car for you since the 3.90 Final Drive gearing will be at lower RPMs at the Speed Limit. If you are looking for some spirited driving then get the GT. The GT's hav the 4.11 with LSD and feel more peppy with the shorter gears.

-Chuck

[Wiscon_Mark]

The GT and Outback didn't add a whole lot in big features over the L except for:

Slightly stiffer suspension (raised on the Outback of course)
Nicer 16" wheels (over the 15s on the L - until 02, in 03/04 they got 16s as well)
Headlights with separate high/low bulbs and lenses
rear LSD
And lots of other small features on the interior & exterior like paintmatched trim, upgraded stereo, etc

There weren't any hoodscoop options on the USDM models except the Baja Turbos unlike the 2nd gen Legacys.

In 03, they added larger front brakes to all models. They were the same fronts as the 02-03 WRX got. The "H6" rears (which were available on all models) were the same from 00-04. 05+ was the first year for vented rear rotors.

[amgarrety]

The GT and Outback didn't add a whole lot in big features over the L except for:

Slightly stiffer suspension (raised on the Outback of course)
Nicer 16" wheels (over the 15s on the L)
Headlights with separate high/low bulbs and lenses
rear LSD
And lots of other small features on the interior & exterior like paintmatched trim, upgraded stereo, etc

There weren't any hoodscoop options on the USDM models except the Baja Turbos unlike the 2nd gen Legacys.

This may be different on the '03 and '04 models. I bought my '03 as a stock L and it came with 16" snowflake rims.

[Wiscon_Mark]

You're probably right. I know more about the early (00-02) models and they came with 15" steelies w/ hubcaps.

I'll edit my original post.

edit: I believe it's because they changed the size of the front brakes in '03 from 10.8" to 11.3" making 15" wheels too small. I'll add that in too.

[Regardie]

What about the sport shifter thingy in the 03's? Does it make the auto better or is the 5 speed still the way to go?

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[amgarrety]

I honestly don't think sport shift came in the US '03s. I believe it was only on select late production '04s, Bajas, and Japanese late model 3rd gens. I've only driven an auto H6 in comparison to my manual H4, so I can't give you a comparison there, but if it is anything like the 4th gens, automatics seem peppier than manuals. That being said, I'd still only take a manual if I were in the search for another.

[Dead91silvia]

I have driven a 4th gen GT with sport shift and a 5 speed XT Outback. The auto was slow as hell and the 5 speed is pretty fast.

[amgarrety]

I have driven a 4th gen GT with sport shift and a 5 speed XT Outback. The auto was slow as hell and the 5 speed is pretty fast.

Thats odd (from my experiences). I've driven three different BLs and a BP, including an automatic '06 2.5i (BL), an automatic '07 2.5i (BP) an automatic '08 2.5i (BL), and a manual '06 2.5 GT (BL). In my experience, in the low end where they are somewhat comparable, all three autos were peppier than the manual BL and my own car. Now of course, the high end would've definitely been different because the only manual I drove in a 4th gen had a turbo. But all three automatic 4th gens, when compared to my manual 3rd gen, seem like they have a ton more behind them.

[Yamazaki]

The sportshift was in '04 35th anniversary editions, and '05~'06 Bajas. Japan got them for the entire span of the 3rd gen. However, I've driven a sportshift Baja here and it was waaay more responsive than the sportshifts I drove in Japan. Now that was something Subaru finally got right by the time it came to us. Having said all that, I'd still get a manual.

[1996Battlewagon]

Chuck (as usual) pretty much hit the nail directly on the head. My second gen, albeit modded and a manual, feels like a ready-to-go rally car that wants to jump over a bridge backwards while on fire in order to stop the planet and turn back time. That being said, it's bouncy and loud.

My third gen is an H6 and it feels like a marshmallow that has been left out on the counter for a few hours. It's still soft and supple but firm enough that it feels tough. It is the most effortless Subaru I have ever experienced ever no matter what and probably always will be. The 4EAT isn't lazy, but it does shift more efficiently than other automatics. While on the highway, flicking the shifter down to third and dipping into the throttle is pretty cool and can get you into a momentum that would be very expensive.

[chuckthefuk]

... My third gen is an H6 and it feels like a marshmallow that has been left out on the counter for a few hours. It's still soft and supple but firm enough that it feels tough.


HAHAHAAHAHAH best subaru analogy ever!

[98legwag]

My 3rd gen Outback just feels soft. It needs new struts, among other things. I like the way my 2nd gen drives better. It has always felt more connected with the road. I think it gives better feed back through the steering as well. But I've always thought my 3rd gen has a less harsh ride quality. I also think things are easier to get to and work on in the 2nd gen too.

[chuckthefuk]

BE/BH was the start of Subarus attempt at a luxury model.. That being said the steering u-joint (intermediate joint) is not the standard style. It has a rubber dampener inside it . Below you can see a 04' Sti joint on the left and the legacy joint on the right.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/884/img20120905195334.jpg

[Wiscon_Mark]

But all three automatic 4th gens, when compared to my manual 3rd gen, seem like they have a ton more behind them.

The 4th gen was lighter than the 3rd gen.