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In ant event, while the rest of the seals are being looked at, it may be a good idea to look at the pump itself.
HTH
Larry
I currently own a 2005 Acura RL and while it's pretty awesome, I need to trade it for something more economical. My only requirement is AWD, so I was thinking about trading the RL for a base model 2.5i Legacy sedan.
I'm unfamiliar with the Legacy, and Subaru in general, so any advice you can provide is very helpful. Is the car reliable, are there numerous TSB's out there now, how about the resale, would you buy one again, etc.
Thanks again for your help.
Subaru has one of the best, and most efficient, AWD systems around, so you're definitely covered there.
Subaru has long produced reliable, good-handling, and durable vehicles (my '91 Legacy has 225k miles now), but hasn't been known for refinement or good looks. In the last several years, the company has set out to change that, aiming for a higher level of design and quality of interior materials.
Its first major effort toward that end was the 2005 Legacy, which instantly garnered much praise, including winning Car of the Year in Japan. It scored the highest safety ratings ever recorded in Australian safety testing at the time. Legacy received the highest marks in all safety testing in the US except for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's side-impact test, which was marginal (the middle rating), I believe. Subaru beefed up Legacy's already impressive structure even more and aced the IIHS test with its '06 Legacy model, becoming the only model in its class (mid-size, moderately priced) to achieve the highest rating in front, rear and side impacts. In fact, even when you add in the mid-sized luxury and near-luxury competitors, only the Saab 9-3 matched Legacy's performance.
It certainly won't match your RL feature-for-feature, but for the Legacy is a great value - well-equipped, extremely safe, reliable, decent performer, good looks and great AWD. Subaru is considered by many to have the most European feel of any Japanese brand, with an emphasis on driving rather than luxury.
I'd recommend the Legacy 2.5i Special Edition, which is essentially the base model for '06, or the 2.5i Limited. There is a true base model available, probably by order from the factory, if you prefer, but the 2.5i SE will be much more common and has a great set of features for the price, adding a power driver's seat and moonroof for under $300 more than the base 2.5i. Over the SE, the Limited adds dual zone climate control, 6-disc CD changer, leather, heated seats, heated mirrors and front-windshield wiper deicer for about $2000 more - again, a great value, and probably more of a similar feel coming from the RL.
Check out the Legacy page at cars101.com for a ton of Subaru and Legacy info, including invoice prices.
Good luck in whatever decision you make.
You're going from a $50k car to a $25k car, but I don't think you'll feel poor in a Limited model.
-juice
It is also possible that it is just brake dust or similar that is rearing up occasionally, in which case you could spray the assembly/rotor down with brake cleaner.
Finally, it could be something serious, but I very much doubt it at this point. It is worth checking if it is making you nervous - especially with some trips coming up! Wow... only 80.5K on it?! It is still just a baby! :P
I had rodents in my attick, and I read you can use ammonia to repel them. I plugged up the hole they were using the get in, and placed a bowl there to keep them from trying to get back in.
Of course you won't have the barrier that I placed, but I wonder if the ammonia would help?
-juice
The insulation is probably from your walls. Mice are known to build nests in nice warm places. They'll be back without a deterrent. My advice is get a cat.
I bought this car used in May 2003 with 75K on it for $10K. Now it has 105K and still seems to be going fine. I've done the usual maintenance stuff, had the timing belt changed, etc. She's going in to get scoped since I've never really had a full diagnostic, and I think the crappy additive-full gas has made the performance a little off. Probably have them clean up the fuel system. Mileage is consistently around 26.5 MPG, and I can't say that I've had any real trouble (knock wood). Is there anythign I should watch out for in a car this old with this much mileage? I really don't want another car, but in the event of a catastrophe, is it a good idea to keep investing in this one(like new engine or tranny, etc)?
I really like this car, but after reading about other folks having meltdowns after a certain mileage, I thought I'd ask.
Thanks!
You're getting 26.5 mpg, though. I'm not sure I would mess with a good thing.
I doubt it would hurt if you find a reputable shop.
-juice
Yes, watch out for bubbling in the coolant overflow tank, a sign of leaking head gaskets that are the bugaboo of this vehicle. If you don't catch it you'll fry the engine. If you do catch it it's about a $1,200 repair at a garage or $1,600 at a dealer.
Other common maintenance is replacement of camshaft and engine front seals, and the oring on the oil pump, along with the belt replacement that is due if the '99 is the same as a '97.
I had some assorted seals done when they did the timing belt last year, so I should be fine for a few miles after this latest batch of work. I'd been having some hesitation and idle hiccups, so hopefully this will take care of it and get my MPG back up to the 30 I got a year ago.
The grand total is suppossed to be about $550. A lovely Xmas surprise
1) Sensors kept failing and engine light kept coming on
2) Passenger side foot-well filled up with water from the air conditioner and they could not figure out what was wrong. Now my car smells awefull.
3) The interior electronics are flakey. The dimmer changes settings on its own. Once again, they said that there is no problem.
4) And recently the engine died, and subaru is refusing to cover it. There was no obvious leak of oil and the oil light never came on.
I love this company.
Were you checking the oil level? Did they say it was low? A lot of details are lacking.
-juice
But I don't find any listed on local dealer websites?
-juice
I'm going to look at the available colors tonight and see what it will cost me to order one. Dealer says it will probably take 3-4 weeks to get one.
Like the V6 Accord, this promises to be a great sleeper, once I remove the 3.0 badge. And no silly hood scoop like the '97.
I'm sure there are other explanations, but this is something to look for next time.
Karl
There are certainly other things that can cause this, but it could be an early warning sign that a larger problem looms. It would be good to have it checked.
Steve
Jim
One way to help 'burp' the system is to jack up the nose or drive up ramps. This helps to put the top of the radiator higher than the heater core. Rev it a bit to help push fluid thru all paths, and the air should find its way to the filler neck.
As long as there is no new source of air, it should stay purged. It is always possible that she just ran the coolant low and that this will be a one-time event.
But with the history of HG issues on the pre 2000 DOHC engines, I fear that "mommyof2girls" problems will return. I would strongly suggest a pressure test be done to confirm.
Steve
The 2.5l is very different, it's torquey and very linear in its power delivery. So it never feels slow or laggy, but then again it never presses you back in your seat the way a turbo does in full boost.
Oddly enough, most people prefer the linear route, and complain audibly about turbo lag, throttle lag, non-linear power, etc.
-juice
The 2006 models have variable valve timing and 175 peak hp. I've heard they are much more responsive at around-town and highway speeds, but won't have a chance to drive one until tomorrow.
I'm planning to buy a 3.0R (flat six) but that's a big price increase. I didn't seriously consider the XT because although quick they're thirsty. But I drive a lot.
The autos are geared tall for economy but they're relatively slow (still adequate for most).
-juice
However, neither the new 2.5 nor the 1.8T will come close to the performance of the 2.5 turbo.
I think the best match for you coming from an A4 Avant would not be the Outback, but the Legacy. Unfortunatley, Subaru no longer offers the Legacy GT wagon with 5MT in 2006 -- if you could find a used 2005 model, you'll probably have the best upgrade to your A4 experience.
Ken
What will yours do? My first two were both closer to 10 seconds. Most road tests recorded 0-60 for the Outback of 9+ seconds. And the numbers closer to 9 seconds are the 97-99 that weighed less than the 2000-2004 models. They ranged up to 10.7 seconds for a '97 at TheAutoChannel to 11.7 seconds for a 2005 at CR. A manual 2002 Legacy GT tested here recorded 9.3.
You'll have to decide what level of peformance you're looking for. The A4 1.8T's are all faster than the 2.5l Subarus. The XT has all the performance you could want, at the cost of higher purchase price and Premium fuel.
In fact I'd argue that the torquey 2.5l is better suited to an automatic. The 1.8T/auto took forever to build up the boost and get going.
My friend ended up chipping the engine, which helped some, but the Tiptronic was so slow that he chipped the transmission as well!
The 1.8T was best suited to a light, manual tranny car. If you're coming from an auto, I don't think the Outback will feel slow.
-juice
The 1.8T was 170hp @ 5900 RPM, 166lbs/torque @ 1950 RPM
The 2.5 is 175hp @ 6000 RPM, 169lbs/torque @ 4400 RPM
The 2.5 is 175hp 6000 RPM, 169lbs/torque 4400 RPM
I'm not an expert but that torque figure on the 1.8t tells you a whole lot. No need to ring out the gears to achieve greater velocity.
Again, for this car, I have decided to stick with all-seasons as I do not think I would get adequate return from investing in a set of dedicated winters.
After looking around town at what was available in all seasons at any vendor with whom I was willing to do business, I went with Goodyear Assurance TripleTreds - $90 each from Sears, plus a bunch of misc fees to up the total to $475 installed. :sick:
Oh well: With shipping, I would have paid about the same price for anything cheaper from tire rack, etc. (one problem with living in Alaska).
After having the tires on the car for 24 hours, I see a noticable improvement on snow/ice over the old Goodyear Allegras that came off it. Of course, those again were at 75K miles, so they were worse this year than in previous years as well. Stopping distance (at full lockup on snowpack/ice) is a good 1/3 less and I have to work pretty hard to break loose on the ice during acceleration. It likes to break loose on turns fairly easy, but it responds incredibly well to corrective actions when recovering so it is more fun than anything.
Overall, good impression so far. I just want them to wear well and last for close to the 80k treadwear warranty. That should keep them on the car for its remaining useful life.
But the previously referenced A4 Avant 1.8T was heavier, and you'd have to wait for a delay before the turbo built up some of that low-end torque peak.
The new VW/Audi 2.0T engine addresses a lot of these shortcomings, however. But that's a discussion for another forum.
Now, step up to a 2.5 turbo and you won't have any complaints. Sure it's heavier on the gas, and sure it takes premium. BTW the 1.8T and the 2.0T also take premium too.
The extra cost of premium should be under $20/month if you drive a typical amount.
Is this true? The brochures that I just picked up, which I acknowledge are not gospel, say it is only recommended.
Day two: I found what I would consider a big trade off (shortcoming?) with these tires! Going in reverse is not pretty. Perhaps it is just a matter of the difference in how good the traction is going forward, but last night I was trying to back up through my yard/forest (somewhat uphillish and uneven, sloped terrain with a few trees for a good slalom effect)last night in order to reach my shed, and while it scurried through the 10" of snow with ease nose-forward, it was having none of it in reverse. I eventually backed it about to where I wanted to go, but as I had to go back uphill before swinging down to get out, I was a little worried that I bit off more than the ol Subie could chew. I did the work I needed to do and exited with no problems at all.... not even a slip of a tire. So, the next time I put myself in a hairy situation I know that with these tires backing will not be the way out.
-juice