What are people's opinion on the new boxer diesel in the legacy tourer. I see it as a possible alternative to the superb estate in a couple of years time. They seem a bit cheaper than I expected them to be, especially compared to audi and bmw, or are they a mor direct comparison to vw passat and mondeo?

Cheers

Subaru Legacy 2.0TD - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

To quote

The Scooby’s only significant price-point rivals' date=' the VW Passat 2.0 TDI 4Motion estate can’t match the Subaru for ruggedness or fuel economy – and Volvo’s V70 D5 AWD is far more expensive. The diesel Legacy estate is the best reason yet not to buy an SUV.

[/quote']

Hmmmmmmmmmm, may be worth a look what with a Scooby dealer 5 mins up the road............

Yep, supposedly a very good unit, with the edge on refinement and quietness because of the boxer layout. Makes you wonder why nobody's selling one already

Due to come to the Impreza later in the year I believe, with the possibility of a performance varient too. Certain very interesting :rubchin:

Steve

Hello imprezza

That's quite interesting, thanks tavia

I'd also thought of the V70, although it doesn't depreciate quickly enough at 2 years old for me to afford it. My plan is usually to buy them at 2-3 years old at lowish mileage and trade them in at 55-60k 2-3 years later so they have some perceived value left, and the mileage doesn't look too high for the age of vehicle.

Cheers

OK not a legacy but not much difference - I drove an Outback 2.0 diesel (REn Spec) at the weekend, here is a quick rundown on what I found:

Engine:

More refined than Skodas 140TDI & smooth too, but I wouldn't say it was that quiet, even after 20miles or so it was only a little quieter when pushed - I don't know what the press are singing & dancing about, however it had nice progressive power & noticeably more torque than the VAG 140 diesel.

Cabin:

Dash layout looked nice at first, but on closer inspection the switch gear & dials felt & looked cheap - the digital clocks look like they are out of the eighties!

Wasn't that keen on the dashlights - mix of colours was too much.

Leather seats were comfortable & standard kit like electric drivers seat/folding mirrors & sunroof made you forget about the switch gear.

The centre console between Driver & passenger is much higher & cacoons you in - like that of BMW3/5 series/V70 etc..., thats what Skoda should do with the next Octavia, gives you a sense of premium quality.

Space:

About the same as in drivers knee space & rear knee space.

The boot looked to be slightly smaller but really nothing in it compared to the Octi II combi, lowering the back seats gives a completely flat loading bay. Seemed to have more headroom.

Handling:

The same as the Octi Scout, but for those VRS owners I am sure you would think its like a barge, then again this was the Outback, the Legacy would hold a much tighter line being closer to the weeds.

ICE:

For those of us who have moaned about the Stream MP3 system in the Octavia II - don't moan anymore, this one was like listening through a cup & string, I got back into my car & realised just how fussy I was being!

It looked fantastic, really nice looking car (well in my opinion) The depreciation is not great & would probably make a great used buy in a year or 2.

Would I have bought one instead of a Scout......hmmmmm.....NO, I'm glad I managed to blag a test drive & now I know I made a good decision!

Edited 16 July, 200817 yr by wilkopilko

What sort of MPG does it deliver??

Nice review Wilko

What sort of MPG does it deliver??

Didn't get the chance to really look at the figures, there didn't seem to be any sort of Maxidot equivelent to the Skoda only a MPG dial (analogue needle) that shows you how un-economical you are driving - scale was just from - to +.

But reading the specs they reckon you are looking close to 50mpg average.

Edit: Oh apparently you can read it on the same 80's style clock that I mentioned:

....Anyone remember Astro Wars from the 80's?.......

Edited 18 July, 200817 yr by wilkopilko

Thanks for the review. Will likely wait for the superb estate in 09. I hear it comes with 4wd, be interesting to see if its as good a system as the scooby.

Would you say the ride was set up softer than the standard octy, ie similar to whats expected of superb class?

The Outback is very similar to the Scout as in it sits about the same height & also handles quite well, there really isn't much travel in the suspension when you push it through the twisties & this is exactly what made me look at the Scout originally. I can't really comment on the Legacy simply because I didn't drive it but I'd imagine going by Subaru's reputation it probably is set up much sharper than a standard Octavia.

I like you will be waiting for the Superb estate when mine is up for replacement sometime in 2010!

Having driven petrol lecacy which I know ahs an slightly different spring to the diesel due to weight the handling is superb. Acres of grip and if you push it beyond limits just a slight sideways slip. The 4 wheel drive system is brilliant for road driving and was it not for the service cost and frequency vs VAG cars I would probably consider one. Rear leg room is not that great but a cavenous boot. All round a nice car.I haveent driven a 4 wheel drive ocavia so n cant compare for grip but the lecacy manages to comine grip with comfortable criuising. In comparrison with a 5 series on sporrts suspension it has more grip through the corners with a far smoother ride in general.

That's a truly awful digital clock display! :eek: :thumbdwn:

Subaru should be ashamed.

Steve

It certainly doesn't look like that in the brochure (top spec?), so surprised they are allowing base model as a demo car.

Edited 23 July, 200817 yr by Burnsey

My boss has an outback (3l V6) and it is a fantastic car. So well made and very comfortable. Very good off road too. We are quarry surveyors and so get the opportunity to hit the bumpy stuff sometimes.

Now that there is a diesel i will seriously be considering on on a couple of years time.

My boss has an outback (3l V6) and it is a fantastic car.

Nice, my only prob with getting the outback is that someone is perhaps going to have rallied it before me. There are rumours of a more powerful diesel unit coming later in year, early next.

Anyone remember Astro Wars from the 80's?.......

Yep, still got mine at home in full working order too!

Yep, still got mine at home in full working order too!

Man they were cool, my mate had Firefox & I was dead jealous - so I threw it down the stairs when he wasn't looking - I never told him.

They must be worth a few quid now?