1997 Subaru Legacy 4D L Wagon review from North America
"Ahead of its time, but behind now"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Some seat adjustments broke off.
The right-hand side view mirror broke off.
The rear windshield cracked for no apparent reason.
I had some seals replaced.
I needed a new radiator.
The driver's seat belt locks up when you pull it to buckle yourself in.
I burn about a quart or two of oil each 3000 miles.
Transmission clunks beginning to develop.
Reverse lights go out about once per year.
General comments?
Seats are and have always been flat.
The back seat is huge!
The defrost is very slow.
The AWD is a nice touch.
Somewhat economical. I get about 24 MPG.
Can be difficult to parallel park.
I recommend the Legacy. It has been mechanically reliable (engine, drivetrain), and most of the stuff that has broken has been aesthetic. Not too bad for a 12-year-old car with almost 199,000 miles!
Recommended reviews
| 1997 - Legacy GT 2.5L (EJ25) Phase 1 Wonderful car, marred by mediocre dealers |
| Pain to fix, but still great |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | Base Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 132 miles |
| Most recent distance | 198674 miles |
| Previous car | Subaru Legacy |
| Date of Entry | 23rd October, 2008 |