View Full Version : Hate to do it, but...
I hope no fellow Legacy owners take this as offensive to our cars, but here goes:
I think I'm going to sell the Outback. For what I bought it for, it just hasn't delivered. As much as I like the car in its own right, it's just not what I need/want right now. Fuel economy with the AWD is crappier then expected (it only gets 3 mpg more, on average, than my Explorer), it's too small for my 6'3" body, and maintenance is much more of a bitch than other vehicles.
Soooo....I'm probably going to use the money I get from selling it to buy something like this:
http://bellingham.craigslist.org/bar/915199582.html
Granted, my Outback needs a lot of work until it's ready to be for sale, and I need a vehicle to drive while I work on the Explorer I've got now. Once the Explorer's done, I'll work on the Outback, then put it on the market.
So yeah, that's the epiphany I came to today while sitting in study hall.
97legacygt
11-14-2008, 03:24 PM
What gas mileage do you get with your outback? Because with my bd sedan, an Explorer wouldn't even come close to matching the same gas mileage of my car, especially a 4x4 Explorer. I get about 25 with my car and I cannot see a the Explorer getting any better than 20.
Huffer
11-14-2008, 03:35 PM
See ya.
decke48
11-14-2008, 03:46 PM
See ya.
harsh
What gas mileage do you get with your outback? Because with my bd sedan, an Explorer wouldn't even come close to matching the same gas mileage of my car, especially a 4x4 Explorer. I get about 25 with my car and I cannot see a the Explorer getting any better than 20.
I get average 20 with the Outback, 17 with the Explorer, though I've heard of people getting up to 22 in Explorers (I highly doubt that would ever happen, or even get close with me).
dodik
11-14-2008, 04:18 PM
stop flooring it you'll see an improvement my H6 get 20 on average and that is 50/50 on pure highway the best i've seen was 26.7
2.5GT
11-14-2008, 04:18 PM
i'm averaging about 22-23mpg.
Huffer
11-14-2008, 04:21 PM
See ya.
harsh
Not really. If people are going to sell up, no worries. People are always welcome to stick around, but if the interest is primarily the car, and the car isn't there anymore, then there's no impetus to stay.
jakmobile and VR4ownzu were the previous owners of my wagon, and they're not here anymore. Nick (VR4ownzu) pops in every now and then, once a year.
*shrug*
SilentRacer
11-14-2008, 04:26 PM
I'm not sure what kind of drastic mileage gain you were expecting but the outback only weighs 200lbs less than the explorer and has 50 more hp (same tq).
d1giPhux
11-14-2008, 05:55 PM
i average about 20mpg as well.. and i have a 99 legacy gt sedan.. MPG sucks in these things, so i can feel you on that one. Good luck with whatever you get next!
peugoby
11-14-2008, 08:00 PM
See ya, enjoy whatever you get!
Not really. If people are going to sell up, no worries. People are always welcome to stick around, but if the interest is primarily the car, and the car isn't there anymore, then there's no impetus to stay.
Totally! If I didn't own a Subaru, I wouldn't be on this site. Ever.
Grafton
11-14-2008, 09:42 PM
what maintenance is worse than other vehicles?
by a huge amount my subaru is the easiest car i have ever worked on, easier than my nissan 720D king size pickup, easier than my hyundai accent a hell of a lot easier than my chevy lumina and also easier than my grandparents dodge 1500 ram and honda accord
as for working on an explorer i dunno never worked on one
but whatever suits yours needs, is what you need. sorry to see you going.
decke48
11-14-2008, 10:18 PM
get a 3.0r it has more ground clearance than a explorer. plus they have more leg room then the 3 gens and its a legacy :wink:
but yes it is hard to drive a car you dont fit in. i work on ford most of the day and there not real easy cars to work on. but then i do major repair most of the time
rougeben83
11-14-2008, 10:28 PM
I guess it depends on what youre used to working on.
Fords (especially their FWD cars) can be a pain to work on. I've found the Subaru to be easier to service.
decke48
11-14-2008, 10:30 PM
i work on anything from chevys to subaru. i think subaru are easier cars to work on then most cars
HeresMyMind
11-15-2008, 06:09 AM
shiaaaat, just get a baja turbo and call it a day. best of all worlds
-B
LunchBox04V
11-15-2008, 08:14 AM
How are you guys driving? lol I get around 29 mpg average, 35 highway, and about 25 city (99' L Wagon)..... I was kinda blown away when it was said the the mpg was only 3 to 4 better than and Explorer. If you need the room, do what you gotta do.
97legacygt
11-15-2008, 09:00 AM
If I baby my car and do only highway I may get 27 if I am lucky. But I also have 190,000 miles on it so that probably decreases the efficiency a little bit. It would probably get better if it had less miles on it.
decke48
11-15-2008, 11:07 AM
i get 25 city 29 highway and i dont ba by
1996Battlewagon
11-15-2008, 11:18 AM
Dude, what the hell!??! You're going to get another explorer? Why? If you say your Outback isn't fuel efficent, stop driving like an asshole. And if maintenance is too high, stop driving your car over stumps, ditches, or what ever you do. I like offroading just as much as you do (recovering Jeep kid), just don't go out jumping your DD. Show some restraint and maybe your maintenance won't be so high. The reason your Outback needs work before you sell it isnt' the Outback's fault; (sorry for sounding like an asshole here) it's your fault.
Don't get a explorer, just trade your Outback for a first gen 5sp Outback. Better MPG yo.
Dude, what the hell!??! You're going to get another explorer? Why? If you say your Outback isn't fuel efficent, stop driving like an asshole. And if maintenance is too high, stop driving your car over stumps, ditches, or what ever you do. I like offroading just as much as you do (recovering Jeep kid), just don't go out jumping your DD. Show some restraint and maybe your maintenance won't be so high. The reason your Outback needs work before you sell it isnt' the Outback's fault; (sorry for sounding like an asshole here) it's your fault.
Don't get a explorer, just trade your Outback for a first gen 5sp Outback. Better MPG yo.
See that's the thing, though. I'd like a vehicle that I can do that kind of thing with; something that doesn't have to be babied and taken only in easy off-road areas. Plus, it comes down to the vehicle's interior size. IIRC, the other gen. Legacys are about the same when it comes to headroom.
Anywho, keep in mind that I will still have the Outback for a while (and for the record, the frame was bent when I bought it :razz: ) and I'll be fully enjoying the car for what it is while I have it. I'll still be doing the NW Washington off-road meet as well as other things like that, but when the time comes, she'll be getting the boot.
I guess I shouldn't have dropped this bomb so early, huh?
1996Battlewagon
11-15-2008, 02:23 PM
So you want a car that can be taking offroad, in heavy stuff, but still be used as a strong, comfortable DD? Good luck. In all honesty, an Outback would be a good candidate. You'd just have to build on to it to make it better offroad, and as you and I both know, it's hard to find offroad parts for an Outback. Most stuff would have to be custom fadricated; which means time, and mainly, money.
Look, offroading is one of the hardest things you can do to a car. Hell, it's one of the hardest things you can do to a Jeep. Stuff breaks offroad, that's simply unavoidable. That's why most serious offroaders trailer there rigs. If you're out stump jumping your stock Outback and are fed up with stuff breaking, that's what's going to happen. Now, if your out stump jumping your 4 inch AA lifted, skid plated, mud terrain cladded Outback, then stuff won't break as much. The Outback is one tough car stock; give it some credit. Your car hasn't had any serious mechanical catastrophes because of offroading, has it?
Dude, just don't leave Subaru for a freaking Ford! Because, you'll get the Explorer, and either you'll get stuck, it will break, or you'll put money into a SUV that's a lame duck. It won't be as reliable as an Outback and they are not that great offroad. Get an older Outback and get it fitted for offroad duty. Or, if you have to leave, get something that was actually designed for and good at offroading........i.e. a Jeep.
rougeben83
11-15-2008, 02:29 PM
Dude, what the hell!??! You're going to get another explorer? Why? If you say your Outback isn't fuel efficent, stop driving like an asshole. And if maintenance is too high, stop driving your car over stumps, ditches, or what ever you do. I like offroading just as much as you do (recovering Jeep kid), just don't go out jumping your DD. Show some restraint and maybe your maintenance won't be so high. The reason your Outback needs work before you sell it isnt' the Outback's fault; (sorry for sounding like an asshole here) it's your fault.
Don't get a explorer, just trade your Outback for a first gen 5sp Outback. Better MPG yo.
See that's the thing, though. I'd like a vehicle that I can do that kind of thing with; something that doesn't have to be babied and taken only in easy off-road areas. Plus, it comes down to the vehicle's interior size. IIRC, the other gen. Legacys are about the same when it comes to headroom.
Anywho, keep in mind that I will still have the Outback for a while (and for the record, the frame was bent when I bought it :razz: ) and I'll be fully enjoying the car for what it is while I have it. I'll still be doing the NW Washington off-road meet as well as other things like that, but when the time comes, she'll be getting the boot.
I guess I shouldn't have dropped this bomb so early, huh?
Get an old Jeep then and modify it. There's a lot of literature about making it offroad worthy while still keeping it relatively ok for on road use.
addiction102
11-15-2008, 05:10 PM
Get a lifted Brat!
Wiscon_Mark
11-15-2008, 11:21 PM
Get a lifted Brat!
Yeah, because that's going to have enough headroom when an outback doesn't...
I would suggest a Jeep if you want a capable offroader and good space.
As far as the maintenance goes - the most common thing you'll do is an oil change and I haven't seen a car that's easier than a Subaru to change the oil on...
A1Fiddler
11-16-2008, 02:00 AM
Get one of these!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/11/trail06-1.jpg
I love my Bronco. It's a tank, and indestructible off-road. It can drive over anything, but it gets 8mpg... Plenty of head room though! :wink:
ShadowGT
11-18-2008, 03:43 AM
what maintenance is worse than other vehicles?
by a huge amount my subaru is the easiest car i have ever worked on, easier than my nissan 720D king size pickup, easier than my hyundai accent a hell of a lot easier than my chevy lumina and also easier than my grandparents dodge 1500 ram and honda accord
as for working on an explorer i dunno never worked on one
but whatever suits yours needs, is what you need. sorry to see you going.
I feel the pain. The car I replaced with my Legacy was a 97 Chevy Lumina. I wanted to cry every time I opened the hood. I mean seriously to change the back row spark plugs you have to loosen the motor mounts take a long pry bar and stick it behind the engine and have somebody rotate the engine forwards so you can reach between the side of the engine and the firewall.
That car was in no way a user friendly experience to maintain. Plus being forced to use Dexcool in the radiator which would gum the system up so it made flushing the system out a regular deal.
This Legacy is so much easier to work on. Yes, it's not running right yet but I live in an apartment complex and with minor tools like my trusty 10mm ratchet I've been able to do major overhauls on the motor without too much stress.
My wife has a Hyundai Tucson which I'm convinced I want nothing to do with under the hood. We had a Sonata before that and it was the same. As nice as they were as cars, they were complete fiascoes to work with.
Seriously.. you have to remove the entire head light assembly to change a bulb. That's not a shortcut.. that's manufacturer recommended.
I'm not saying you're bad at working on cars and I'm also not saying the Legacy is God's gift to automobiles. But in the long line of cars I've owned.. The Scooby is by far the easiest thing I've ever had to rip apart and get into.
Mr. Sociable
11-18-2008, 11:24 AM
What makes you think you don't fit in your outback? I have a 2003 GT, I'm 6'6" and I fit just fine.
Or, if you have to leave, get something that was actually designed for and good at offroading........i.e. a Jeep.
My response is simple...
http://img114.imageshack.us/img114/6459/exploreroffcamberik6.jpg
And bear in mind that this is a second generation model. As generations passed, Explorers got more mild and worse off road. Important to note that the Explorer I have now will be my off-road vehicle and the one I'll be getting is my daily driver. I won't be doing a lot of off-roading with it, but I'd like to have a little bit of stock off-road ability (who knows, maybe I'll trim the fenders a little and run a bigger, slightly more aggressive tire, but that would be the extent of it).
decke48
11-18-2008, 02:12 PM
torsion bars are horrible for offroad :shock:
torsion bars are horrible for offroad :shock:
Torsion bars are pretty much horrible for just about anything, that much I won't deny ya!
For the record, it'll be the entry level kit here that I'll be installing on my '91:
http://camburg.com/fords1P4x4.html
1996Battlewagon
11-18-2008, 03:43 PM
Independent front suspension FTMFL off-road.
At least most 1st gen explorers had live axles in the front, didn't they?
Independent front suspension FTMFL off-road.
At least most 1st gen explorers had live axles in the front, didn't they?
The x1 Explorers were twin-traction beam. VERY simplified, it looks like this:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/5310 ... ck-ttb.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/531058/fullsize/stock-ttb.jpg)
Here's a good pic of a real setup. This is a Dana 44 ttb setup from an F-150, but the design is the exact same.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_li ... 44ttb1.jpg (http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/d44ttb1.jpg)
Perdue
11-18-2008, 05:25 PM
I got news for you...no matter what you get, you're going to have to put some real work and money into it to be able to go jump it and really abuse it offroad without tearing things up left and right. You've gotta be kidding me if you think an explorer is going to be the best thing going to do that with...my best friend had one before we made our transitions into the subie crowd and I know what that thing was like offroad.
Further, having two 4x4 offroad vehicles doesn't really make sense to me. You want to take your current X and make it a dedicated offroader...fine. You want to buy another X for a daily driver and occasional offroad ventures...this makes no sense to me whatsoever.
But, if that's what you're set on doing, go for it.
And IFS with torsion bars can be ok offroad if you know what you're doing.
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