Subaru Legacy 2015

[subarudreamer]

since i'm a newbie to this turbo thing, can i ask the experts here about the difference between a forester's 2.0l turbo engine vs the contis which are churning also around 237bhp and 350Nm e.g. ford mondeo and others like Volvo's T5 engine which have up to 250bhp and similar 350Nm torque?

[Ake109]

Back when the Rex first came out in the early 90s, it was about 220 hp, the Golf Gti was like 115hp, Civic Vti 160hp, 200SX/Silvia 170hp, E36 325i was 192hp. The little Subby could outpull anything short of a real sports car.

 

Now everyone has caught up. Subaru used to outperform all the hot hatches and tune a bit, can stand its ground against some supercars, Nowadays, it is just mainstream performance (if turbo, NA lagi jialat). To me, it has lost that special budget performance sparkle it used to have.

[Quantum]

since i'm a newbie to this turbo thing, can i ask the experts here about the difference between a forester's 2.0l turbo engine vs the contis which are churning also around 237bhp and 350Nm e.g. ford mondeo and others like Volvo's T5 engine which have up to 250bhp and similar 350Nm torque?

Singapore version Ford Mondeo also 237bhp, and Volvo T5 241bhp,

due to weather reason, normally export to Singapore (tropic) turbo, to ensure engine's lifespan, tuned a bit lower of output power,

so 237, 241 even 250bhp, in general driving you cannot feel any significant difference, actually performance wise drivetrain play a more important role than engine in this class vehicles

[subarudreamer]

thanks for info. if so, does subaru's AWD drivetrain have any advantage over the contis which r not offering AWD here?

 

Singapore version Ford Mondeo also 237bhp, and Volvo T5 241bhp,

due to weather reason, normally export to Singapore (tropic) turbo, to ensure engine's lifespan, tuned a bit lower of output power,

so 237, 241 even 250bhp, in general driving you cannot feel any significant difference, actually performance wise drivetrain play a more important role than engine in this class vehicles

 

[Eyke]

even 1.2L & 1.4L turbo are used to power small sedan and mini suv liao

 

Ford offers Mondeo with 1.0L 3-cylinder turbo engine

[Quantum]

thanks for info. if so, does subaru's AWD drivetrain have any advantage over the contis which r not offering AWD here?

 

 

Talk about AWD Subaru Symmetrical and Audi Quattro lead in this area,

nowadays road condition get better and better and FC as priority, indeed AWD will be gradually out of standard package, unless those off road enthusiasts particular requests

[bsswan]

thanks for info. if so, does subaru's AWD drivetrain have any advantage over the contis which r not offering AWD here?

 

 

 

Personally, I like the balance provided by most AWD systems.

 

I have a dislike for FWD typical understeer and having front wheels both steer and provide momentum, whilst dragging round two at the back that do squat. Okay, so the theory is you do away without a prop shaft, but woopdi-do. Torque steer with FWD units can be a problem when there is too much power.......let's rephrase and say too much power for the tyres because, you can never have too much power.

 

RWD can come with good, predictable oversteer if engineered correctly. With the front steering and the rear providing the momentum there is a shared responsibility for getting you where you want to go.

 

AWD provides the middle ground in terms of balance, the problem is though the system can be heavy and in actual fact, more power is needed to get you where you want to go. So, on this front, for Subaru to drop the turbo out of the Legacy yet keep AWD will hamper it......and then balance isn't so much a problem because there isn't a huge enough amount of power in any case.

[Ake109]

 

Personally, I like the balance provided by most AWD systems.

 

I have a dislike for FWD typical understeer and having front wheels both steer and provide momentum, whilst dragging round two at the back that do squat. Okay, so the theory is you do away without a prop shaft, but woopdi-do. Torque steer with FWD units can be a problem when there is too much power.......let's rephrase and say too much power for the tyres because, you can never have too much power.

 

RWD can come with good, predictable oversteer if engineered correctly. With the front steering and the rear providing the momentum there is a shared responsibility for getting you where you want to go.

 

AWD provides the middle ground in terms of balance, the problem is though the system can be heavy and in actual fact, more power is needed to get you where you want to go. So, on this front, for Subaru to drop the turbo out of the Legacy yet keep AWD will hamper it......and then balance isn't so much a problem because there isn't a huge enough amount of power in any case.

 

Agree. There are times where I think I might have liked my Legacy to be a RWD car instead since there is no snow and dirt/sandy roads here for me to drive on. But when it is raining hard and I want to floor it round a corner, I appreciate the AWD. My previous few cars, even though much lower powered, will tyre squeal/skid on such situations.

thanks for info. if so, does subaru's AWD drivetrain have any advantage over the contis which r not offering AWD here?

 

 

 

Just my opinion. I think Subby's AWD drivetrain is a bit lighter than the Conti 4wds. The disadvantage is that to accommodate the engine and gearbox layout of their AWD system, the engine needs to be ahead of the front wheels so the car can end up quite nose heavy and you get a longer front overhang.

 

 

Another thing, I think Subaru's AWD system is basic but very reliable. Don't give you problem one. Compare to cars like the legendary Vauxhall/Opel 4wd turbos (e.g. Calibra turbo), one tyre slightly more botak than the rest and your differentials will rosak.

Edited March 31, 2015 by Ake109

[Kevin613]

only the manual non-STi Subarus AWD system are basic. There's quite a few variants for the A/T and the newer ones are actually quite complex, and they all behave/react differently.

http://www.awdwiki.com/images/SubaruSymmetricalAWD2.doc

also, i remember reading the owner manuals about the tyre thread and wear should ideally be the same to prevent differential damage, no idea how sensitive it is to the difference though.

 

 

Agree. There are times where I think I might have liked my Legacy to be a RWD car instead since there is no snow and dirt/sandy roads here for me to drive on. But when it is raining hard and I want to floor it round a corner, I appreciate the AWD. My previous few cars, even though much lower powered, will tyre squeal/skid on such situations.

 

Just my opinion. I think Subby's AWD drivetrain is a bit lighter than the Conti 4wds. The disadvantage is that to accommodate the engine and gearbox layout of their AWD system, the engine needs to be ahead of the front wheels so the car can end up quite nose heavy and you get a longer front overhang.

 

 

Another thing, I think Subaru's AWD system is basic but very reliable. Don't give you problem one. Compare to cars like the legendary Vauxhall/Opel 4wd turbos (e.g. Calibra turbo), one tyre slightly more botak than the rest and your differentials will rosak.

 

[Ake109]

only the manual non-STi Subarus AWD system are basic. There's quite a few variants for the A/T and the newer ones are actually quite complex, and they all behave/react differently.

 

http://www.awdwiki.com/images/SubaruSymmetricalAWD2.doc

 

also, i remember reading the owner manuals about the tyre thread and wear should ideally be the same to prevent differential damage, no idea how sensitive it is to the difference though.

 

 

 

Hmm, I always thought my LGT has no rear LSD. Maybe that article is for US models only? I think the LGTs brought in by MI are quite bare bones. e.g. steel instead of alum suspension. Made in Malaysia paper speakers etc. Any idea?

[Jjchsg]

too bad that japan car maker focus in "efficiency" not "performance" ...

 

 

 

Many Japanese brand has performance car as well - Supra, AE86, Silvia, Fairlady, NSX, Lancer 2000 turbo etc. They are not super-car but very good performance as a road car. But many years ago, in order to stop the race on horsepower, there is a gentlemen's agreement within the Japanese not to produce any car over 280 hp. Even the WRX STi, Evo and GTR are have maximum 280hp even though both are able to make higher power car.

[Quantum]

 

Many Japanese brand has performance car as well - Supra, AE86, Silvia, Fairlady, NSX, Lancer 2000 turbo etc. They are not super-car but very good performance as a road car. But many years ago, in order to stop the race on horsepower, there is a gentlemen's agreement within the Japanese not to produce any car over 280 hp. Even the WRX STi, Evo and GTR are have maximum 280hp even though both are able to make higher power car.

last century 90s is Japanese TC era, now Japanese already abandoned high performance TC in family cars segment, Subaru is the only one still insists, and their major market is U.S and Mid-east, which only apply big capacity NA engine and don't care FC,

now Japanese domestic market emphasis on Hybrid and efficient cars, Conti just caught up TC and used it in every models,

Edited March 31, 2015 by Quantum

[serenade]

I kept my 2005 LGT till it was 10 years old. That model was classy with McIntosh sound system, then cool dark instrument panel and factory fitted leather seats. It was an upgrade in all areas from my previous ride which was a Volvo 850T.

 

Never regretted my purchase and each time I started the engine, it was a joy. Never in those 10 years was I tempted to change cars due to the drive and its reliability. When the next LGT was launched, I looked at it but was not at all impressed. The car had gone backwards in most areas.

 

My daily thrill was to exit expressways without slowing down from 90km/h in wet or dry conditions. My car was shod with the best Falkens, Toyo and Goodyears. The LGT had plenty of grip in reserve when I took those bends at 90km/h in 3rd gear. Thanks to the AWD and the tyres. On trips up north, overtaking on dual carriage-ways was a breeze with the torque, and I could take those bends confidently at speed.

 

The end only came last year when petrol prices climbed and the LGT's 7.5 km/l consumption became painful to feed. Furthermore parts were breaking from wear and tear. By which time, my good and faithful servant was at its end of 10 years. With sadness, I traded her in for something Ah Pek and comfortable but only after a few trips to MI to see if the 2015 LGT will make it here in time. I even drove the Forester to see if the LGT's driving DNA was there. Sadly it was not.

 

So I am sad to hear that the 2015 NA is non-turbo, and one of Subaru's better cars has lost its uniqueness.

[subarudreamer]

that's a great tribute to the old legacy. :) what was your mileage when the parts started to break?

I kept my 2005 LGT till it was 10 years old. That model was classy with McIntosh sound system, then cool dark instrument panel and factory fitted leather seats. It was an upgrade in all areas from my previous ride which was a Volvo 850T.

 

Never regretted my purchase and each time I started the engine, it was a joy. Never in those 10 years was I tempted to change cars due to the drive and its reliability. When the next LGT was launched, I looked at it but was not at all impressed. The car had gone backwards in most areas.

 

My daily thrill was to exit expressways without slowing down from 90km/h in wet or dry conditions. My car was shod with the best Falkens, Toyo and Goodyears. The LGT had plenty of grip in reserve when I took those bends at 90km/h in 3rd gear. Thanks to the AWD and the tyres. On trips up north, overtaking on dual carriage-ways was a breeze with the torque, and I could take those bends confidently at speed.

 

The end only came last year when petrol prices climbed and the LGT's 7.5 km/l consumption became painful to feed. Furthermore parts were breaking from wear and tear. By which time, my good and faithful servant was at its end of 10 years. With sadness, I traded her in for something Ah Pek and comfortable but only after a few trips to MI to see if the 2015 LGT will make it here in time. I even drove the Forester to see if the LGT's driving DNA was there. Sadly it was not.

 

So I am sad to hear that the 2015 NA is non-turbo, and one of Subaru's better cars has lost its uniqueness.

 

[serenade]

that's a great tribute to the old legacy. :) what was your mileage when the parts started to break?

 

 

At the time car was scrapped it had only 105k km on it. Most of my driving is city so that must be why the last thing that broke at around 100k km was my radiator. The rest of car was remarkably hardy and trouble free except for the small ignition boxes that needed to be replaced at around 80k km.

 

Also the turbo needed servicing which I hesitated to do in the 9th year. The turbo was not spinning as freely resulting in slow acceleration. That resulted in me getting 12 demerit points.

 

The Legacy was reliable, so different from previous Volvo that was breaking down all over from the 8th year.

[Little_prince]

at 137,800, it is trying to underprice vs the now 150k+ 2.5l versions of teana and camry. i'm sure some pple will bite? :)

nett price looks good.

 

but the low OMV and lack of gadgets compared to equivalent models is a turn off.

[subarudreamer]

slow acceleration caused 12 demerit points? lol. meaning had the turbo worked well, u would have beaten the red light?

 

this is only acceptable in a subaru thread. lol.

 

 

At the time car was scrapped it had only 105k km on it. Most of my driving is city so that must be why the last thing that broke at around 100k km was my radiator. The rest of car was remarkably hardy and trouble free except for the small ignition boxes that needed to be replaced at around 80k km.

 

Also the turbo needed servicing which I hesitated to do in the 9th year. The turbo was not spinning as freely resulting in slow acceleration. That resulted in me getting 12 demerit points.

 

The Legacy was reliable, so different from previous Volvo that was breaking down all over from the 8th year.

 

[Ake109]

 

At the time car was scrapped it had only 105k km on it. Most of my driving is city so that must be why the last thing that broke at around 100k km was my radiator. The rest of car was remarkably hardy and trouble free except for the small ignition boxes that needed to be replaced at around 80k km.

 

Also the turbo needed servicing which I hesitated to do in the 9th year. The turbo was not spinning as freely resulting in slow acceleration. That resulted in me getting 12 demerit points.

 

The Legacy was reliable, so different from previous Volvo that was breaking down all over from the 8th year.

 

Did you suffer from the famous BL/BP crack dashboard syndrome?

 

Mine spiderweb liao but 2+ years to go, very heartpain to spend nearly 1k to fix it.

 

For Subaru radiator to go, 100k is not bad liao. Let me guess, it was crack at the top plastic part right? Most go from 60k onwards. Famous Subaru design feature!

 

Yalor, I knew 5th Gen was coming so I didn't buy the 4th gen when COE was rock bottom and the LGT was going for near 100k flat. By the time the 5th Gen was released and I saw how bloated it was, too late liao. Had to go buy used 4th gen!

Edited March 31, 2015 by Ake109