adwolf1

I'm not an expert by any stretch, but I just got 28 Mpg mixed on my 2.2 L auto ... best tank ever after 110k. The only difference was that i got the car seriously tuned up -- replaced plugs, PCV valve, etc. I also drive like a grandma.

Winter is coming & i'm thinking about getting snows for the legacy. It's a 2003 L, runs on 205/55 x 16 stock. I was thinking of getting 195/60QR15 blizzak revos, mounted on some crappy 15x6.5 rims. Not being familiar with 'minus-sizing', would these look OK? is the total circumference different than the stock 16" wheels? (I can't tell if the higher sidewall makes up for the lower rim diameter.) Thanks!

Juan -- are you saying that the 05 OBW feels -slower- than your 98L? my 96L is pretty darn leisurely (i don't mind of course, b/c i can still get 30mpg out of it) i know what you mean about "fly by wire" -- we have a lexus ES that has a gas pedal that feels like it's bathed in molasses. Plant your foot in it, and you wait a couple of (anxious) seconds before anything happens. Toyota says its "normal". Sigh. I think i'm going to keep the 96L until it turns to a pile of red dust in the driveway.

interesting observation about the seats; my 96L's seem more comfortable than my wife's 03L, with a "softer" material & better shape. And the seats in my ancient GL10 were a lot like the 96L's. Not sure why subaru seats are getting less comfortable over time... I also noticed that in the latest gen legacies there are no place to put your feet when you sit in the back. (ie, the space beneath the front seat is too small to stick your feet under comfortably.)

have prices gone up that much? i paid $17k for my '96 L 2.2/4EAT/power everything what would the equivalent "base" legacy be today?

Is there some sort of a problem with new subarus? I love my 96 and 03 Legacies, i'm just wondering what's going on here -- http://www.cnn.com/2005/AUTOS/09/21/jdpowers_apeal/index.html The new forester & legacies look really nice, why are folks in the survey so down on them? any theories?

cosmetically looks like it's in great shape! if the last owner took care of it at all, it should last for another 7-10 years easily. have fun

Hi, My '96 Legacy L is being checked out by a (very good) sube mechanic. Told me yesterday that the drivers-side CV joint up front & right rear wheel bearing were looking worn and needed replacement. He didn't give me an estimate yet, just wondering how much those jobs cost for R&R.. I'm not sure if he's planning on using rebuilt vs. new parts. I trust him, he's got a great rep, but i'd just like to get some confirmation b4 I go ahead. Thanks

I can only re-iterate what everyone else has said. My '96L 2.2 refuses to die. It seems like every 3rd car here in vermont is a 2nd generation legacy of some kind. If you are super-concerned about the engine, have a mechanic look over it with a fine toothed comb. Do a compression test, check for leaks everywhere. Make sure the guy who did the timing belt & h2o pump wasn't a baboon. See if the car has the original alternator, i think that it may have been subject to the recall (not sure), so you can get it replaced on subaru's dime if it hasn't been.

plugs were changed maybe 30k ago. I did seafoam in the tank a while ago, but that's been it. The engine has been bulletproof up until this point, but maybe the facts that I came from the flattest place in the world (florida), and drive like a granny were masking the problem.

'96 Legacy L with the 2.2L engine & 105k miles. Just moved to Vermont, and since getting here, the sube is having some issues with the hills. When climbing hills (or when the engine is under at least moderate loads), the engine is making a knocking sound. It's at a constant frequency, occurs at half-throttle or more, and as soon as I back off the throttle, goes away. I put a few tanks of 93 Octane in, just to make sure it wasn't a fuel issue, but it didn't help. The engine has never caused me problems before (it still uses almost no oil between changes!), and no CEL has come on. I've owned it since new, oil changes every 3k. Thanks for any & all suggestions.

Thanks everyone for the great advice, i'm sure vermont is going to be a blast. I was thinking of getting the snows from the Tire Rack & just letting them mount them for me on some steels. I know zip about snow tires (being from florida and all). What's the latest & greatest out there? Can I expect them to last more than a season?

moving to the montpelier area, my Legacy is very excited about it Is the thing to do once winter hits is get snow tires mounted on an extra set of steel rims? I haven't needed snow tires in years, so this should be very amusing! (hope i remember how to drive in snow..)

thanks for the advice! the timing belt was done i think about 30k ago, it's my understanding that they need to be changed at 60k intervals on the EJ22 (at least i hope so!) cheers

Me & my 96 Legacy are moving from Florida to Vermont (a much better home for it, wouldn't you say?) The car has 100k, and its the first long trip its taken in a while. I won't have time to take it into a mechanic for a full inspection, so i've just eyeballed it myself. Obviously, once I get to Vermont, i'll have my choice of mechanics that understand Subarus. The car has no mechanical problems that I can detect now, the tires are good, oil just changed, and the battery, alternator & belt was just changed about 3k miles ago. In addition to the obvious (like re-upping my AAA membership & keeping my GPS device at the ready, and carrying oil & antifreeze), what should I look for in terms of mechanical stuff that could stop the car dead on the trip? The alternator was my big concern which is why i'd preemptively replaced it a while back. Thanks!

96 legacy 100k miles, still going strong after 10 years. Repairs: * alternator replacement * new struts/tires (if you are keeping it, replace the struts.. world of difference in handling) * camshaft angle sensor replaced other than that, i've just done the routine maintenance. (oil every 3k, timing belts when needed, etc..) exhaust still rust-free, interior in good shape. the legacy seems like a pretty durable car to me; i'd expect mine to last at least another 5 years before disaster strikes (though if the 5EAT goes, the car is going to the junkyard, as it is very expensive to replace.)

i can't speak to the reliability of the AT on newer cars, but my 96 legacy with AT has 100k and still shifts as it did when new... i guess having a not-so-high-strung engine to work with (the 2.2) helps longevity.

thanks, handtool! i'll give it a shot this week i guess (well, first i'll try to loosen the one that's already in there...) what tool do you recommend to do it? (i see that they have a special socket for these things at oxygensensors.com)

I'm planning to try to replace the front O2 sensor in my '96 2.2L legacy (it's got a ton of miles, smells like gas when it starts, and the MPG is going downhill.. so i figure this may be the cause.) Before I give this a shot, just a couple of questions: 1) i understand that this is easy to replace, even for the lesser skilled. Just bend over the fender & you'll see the O2 sensor, no need for jacking/getting under the car. is that correct? 2) I noticed on oxygensensors.com they actually list 3 different OEM sensors: Walker 250-23088, Denso 234-3088, Bosch 13702 Which is the best/easiest one to use? (my criteria is that it fits without any hassle... which one is the one that subaru actually uses on the cars from the factory?) 3) is there anything else i should know before attempting this? Thanks!

Driving a 96 L since new, i'd whole-heartedly recommend one. It's had very, very few problems in 10 years, and because it's not an outback, you can pick one up for almost nothing. (I've seen scary-low prices on ebay, like $3k or less. A real steal.) If you're worried about being stranded, then replace (or VERY carefully inspect) the following things when you get the car: 1. timing belt 2. water pump 3. alternator 4. battery 5. CV joints -- they tend to get ratty or split, they are easy to replace though. 6. wheel bearings Those are the major things that can up & die without too much warning, and fortunately they are very easy to replace on this car. also make sure that there are minimal oil leaks when checking out the car. (mine has 100k and still doesn't even use a quart between changes. the 2.2 is a really great engine if well cared-for.) Mine is an auto, can't speak about any MT issues, sorry! good luck with your hunt

I've got a 96 legacy with the 2.2, and an 03 with the 2.5. The 96 is (obviously) 10 years old, 100k+ miles, and the engine is as close to bulletproof as I can imagine. I've just done the routine maint. on it, and it's been fine (amazingly, still no oil leaks). I can't speak to the reliability of the 2.5 since mine is so new, but the difference in general that i can perceive: * the 2.2 is less refined/more raucus, especially when you rev it * the 2.2 makes less power * my legacy with the 2.2 gets significantly better milage (i still get about 30mpg on the highway, not bad for a car with AWD) the newer legacies (ie, the current & the previous generation) with the 2.5's are much more refined, polished cars. That said, it seems to be common opinion that the mid-90's vintage (gen-II, i believe) were more durable, even though they look/felt cheap on the inside relative to the new cars. Time will tell i guess! I don't plan on getting rid of my 96 until the wheels fall off.

yeah, i think some of the shake is inherent, but it's gotten way worse over the lifetime of the car (ie, the glovebox door rattles loudly, as does the steering column.) I can't help but wonder what exactly is going on...

anyone find out anything definitive yet? my '96 legacy 2.2l has the same symptoms -- shake at idle in gear, but pop it into N and the shake goes away.

hi again '96 legacy auto 2.2l with a problem at idle. when i'm at a stoplight with foot on brake, if the AC is on the car vibrates, fairly violently (ie, the glovebox shakes badly enough that i can hear stuff rattling in it.) Interestingly, if I turn the AC off -or- if I put it into park while sitting at the light, the vibration goes away. Once I start moving again, the vibration goes away. Any ideas? thanks!

thanks! i didn't realize it was a two-pice part that snapped together. it fit right back in after taking off the bolt. I question how much that piece of plastic can do though -- one end goes into the fender, the other points straight down into the engine bay... i don't quite get it!