First Gen Legacy for cheap commuter/gravel roads?

RusM · Aug 6, 2012

Subaru enthusiasts, how long could I expect a cheap first gen legacy to last as a commuter and gravel road/snow car? Any huge issues to watch out for? What does an auto awd get for freeway mpg driven grandpa style? Thinking about adding one of these to the fleet as diesel is getting spendy again and I don't think the dually on G rated commercial tires is going to be fun on the black ice by rock candy mountain this winter. :corn:

Dogboy · Aug 6, 2012

My cousin had a 91 legacy wagon. It was a 5spd and he drove it like he stole it, and he got 25mpg, highway mixed with a little city.

He drove that car on dirt roads and snow HARD. He blew apart a Shucks clutch after a week, and put a motor in it, but overall it held up really well for how hard he was on it.

Eric · Aug 6, 2012

:corn:

ZedMikey · Aug 6, 2012

The EJ-22 has a problem with the harmonic balancer coming loose from the crank. It can tear up the key and keyway in the crank, but there is (or at least was years ago) a kit to fix it even if the keyway is mangled.

If the bolt hasn't come loose, I'd imagine some thread locker and a retorque of the bolt would be suffient, though.

That's all I've got other than to say they are pretty easy to work on. I've never owned one, but I did some work on a '91 for a buddy of mine.