Flew to Chicago yesterday and drove home a new '05 Outback (Legacy) Wagon 5 speed and the suspension is unfathomably bad. We really like the rest of the car and the deal we got but this thing must be improved. The sprung weight is simply constantly moving in roll, pitch and yaw almost all of the time with the least bit of input and getting very disconnected from the road, it is hard to believe that this is acceptable to most people. I admit being a high level suspension snob but this thing is truly pathetic and potentially one of the worst I have ever driven and that is with brand new dampers at under 500 miles and their internal frictions not yet even worn in.

I know there are a lot of WRXers in this forum, can people suggest some decent sites that could provice leads for finding out what is available? I've already checked with Eibach and they have no springs planned for this car and will need to check the other companies as I am desperate. I think lowering the car about 2 inches would help the CG but the rate increase is more the goal. If I need, I guess I will go the GC sleeve direction and sort out some stiffer spring options but would prefer a fixed perch, performance lowering spring set if they were available. I guess I'll be custom making some dampers as well since Koni doesn't have anything for the Outback on the horizon.

 

http://www.progressauto.com/pa...u.htm

 

Subaru ABS is woeful too - pull the fuse.

Scott, who says it's not just shitty - it's dangerously life threateningly shitty - I'm not kidding.

 

Since the outback is a jacked legacy, what about using a stock legacy suspension?
The Japanese have actually taken on to modifying the new legacy... might want to look across the pond for what kind of lowering springs are available for the car.

 

What about Legacy GT stuff. Sits lower than Outback, have no clue about spring/damper rates and sway bar sizes. Sounds like its time to surf the Subie forums

 

Lee,
I would suggest contacting Steve @ Auto Innovations. Link in my signature. Prodrive & APS dealers. They can probably get you the leads you will need.

Mike

 

It wouldn't surprise me if there are common parts borrowed from the Impreza line, Subaru seems to do as much/more parts bin swapping as Honda. Call the contact listed later to find out... if so, that REALLY opens up your options, as there are a bunch of companies that make good springs and swaybars for the other models already. Dampers are in short supply, the Koni Sport insert kit is obviously pretty popular there both for quality and well, because it's basically all that's available.

I second the suggestion for Legacy GT parts... If you want lower/stiffer than that, the STi catalog offerings usually offer a good increase in spring rate without a huge drop. Talk to Dale Teague at Boxer4Racing.com, he's a Subaru guru and his customer service has been nothing short of exceptional in my experience.

 

If your wallet doesn't have a smoking hole large enough after the initial purchase, check out STI. They've got springs and dampers (and bars) for the Legacy from the B4 sedan or whatever it's called. Those might be your ticket.

The 2.5GT isn't pillowy from what I recall from the test drive. It's no Miata, but decent enough.

 

Thanks for the leads and info.

Mine is the Lagacy Outback and not the Impreza Outback. I hadn't known that Subaru was as "parts binny" as Honda but that might bode well for us if Impreza/WRX stuff were to to cross over to Legacy/Outback but I rather doubt suspension parts would cross over due to the vast size difference. Powertrain yes but I would be surprised about the suspension.

There seem to be a number of small on-line places to talk about Subarus but those that I have found seem to all be extremely shallow. I need to find a place like H-T that has some substance and real knowledge base. Of course the salesmen kept saying how the Outback has a tougher suspension but I don't know if that is real or spin and if the Outback height comes from all spring or spring and different spring perchs from the other Legacys. With the Legacy GT being a rockin' power car, I am hopeful that the aftermarket will come up with some parts that can be shared to the Outback as well. If I can't find performance aftermarket Outback springs, then stock GT parts might do but even then it is softer than my tastes.

 

I did a little reseach on the new Legacy a few months ago and found (I believe) that all of the stock STi suspension parts are direct bolt-ons... may be worthwhile to try and pick up some take off parts from the STi guys?

If you decide to go the stock STi suspension route, let me know as there are quite a few of them running in my region and I'm sure there are some stock parts taking up space.

Christian

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Subaru ABS is woeful too - pull the fuse.

Scott, who says it's not just shitty - it's dangerously life threateningly shitty - I'm not kidding.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Subaru ABS coupled with the Fat Guy on a Sled understeer is like driving a derailed freight train. Pull the ABS fuse (or install a switch) and get a gigantic rear sway bar. Tires of course make a huge difference.

STi suspension, if it will work on an outback, is a good idea. I'm not so sure it will fit though, you might need to change wheels. I think the outbacks have a +45 offset or so, while the WRXs/Imprezas/Non Outbacks have around a +50 +52. Not 100% accurate on that though...It is based on the older Legacy Outbacks.

 

question for Lee

Why did you go for an outback instead of a legacy/legacy GT?

 

The legacy and impreza (and forester) are actually the same platform, stretched and mushed around for the different vehicles. Although the new Legacy is a new platform it may not be as compatible with the current impreza.

My suggestion would be Legacy GT Wagon springs and "pink" STi struts if they fit, if not then the regular GT wagon struts.

btw- Ive never had a problem with my ABS. I think the guys who whine about it just dont know how to drive

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why did you go for an outback instead of a legacy/legacy GT?</TD></TR></TABLE>
This is the wife's real estate agent car that needs to be a mileage pig as it can get 100-150 miles in a day showing houses and still be as reliable and economical as possible. It needs to eb able to do country roads, gravel driveways on farms, etc. AWD was important as it needs to be able to work in any weather. Having a station wagon body was also important for our family needs as well.

The turbo in the GT was awesome but as an expensive option, premium gas sucking engine that gets 20% lower fuel mileage made no sense for our needs. Since we were skipping the big power of the GT, we were unwilling to accept the the power drain and low performance of the automatic transmission so the 5 speed was acceptable. We drove a regular Legacy wagon but they are a big tough to find in 5 speeds and dealers would not budge on pricing. We found a dealer in Chicago that had three brand new, black Outback 5 speeds that he would sell at $5000 under window sticker whereas the local dealer is selling at or above sticker. The Outbacks have a lot more standard equipment than the normal Legacys as well.

We drove a large number of other used sedans and wagons and could not find a better value than this new Outback at this deal. We came close on the used Mazda6 wagons but decided on the AWD and 5 speed of the utback plus the Outbacks are holding resale values better as well. Although we were hesitant to take the new car depreciation, the $5000 saving sure gives us a leg up on it when we do eventually sell it.

We do like this Outback other than the suspension and the legroom on the passenger front seat and the 20% off price deal made it too good to refuse.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The legacy and impreza (and forester) are actually the same platform, stretched and mushed around for the different vehicles. Although the new Legacy is a new platform it may not be as compatible with the current impreza.

My suggestion would be Legacy GT Wagon springs and "pink" STi struts if they fit, if not then the regular GT wagon struts.

btw- Ive never had a problem with my ABS. I think the guys who whine about it just dont know how to drive </TD></TR></TABLE>

My wife has made a few comments about the brakes being not the best yesterday in her initial drives but I have only driven it on the interstate coming home and never really used them.

I did drive the Forester turbo and non-turbo models as I had more initial interest there than in the Legacy but Forester was a completely unacceptable platform and some poor ergonomics to boot. I could not have disliked the Forester more and felt that even though the Legacy Outback was floppy, at least it was fixable and worth dealing with. For me the Forester was not even worth messing with. Driving the powerful turbo model just further exacerbated the Forester's chassis shortcomings.

 

Lee,
check out this forum. supposed to be pretty good.
<U> http://www.i-club.com/[/U]

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Subaru ABS is woeful too - pull the fuse.

Scott, who says it's not just shitty - it's dangerously life threateningly shitty - I'm not kidding.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldn't say it's life threatening but I do have to say that the ABS calibration in my '03 Legacy GT is no where near as good as it was in my '01 GSR. That is kind of the one big letdown of the Leggy to me so far.

Hopefully they remedied this with the new Legacies....

- Markus

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicrr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lee,
check out this forum. supposed to be pretty good.
<U> http://www.i-club.com/[/U]</TD></TR></TABLE>
i-club was changed to nasioc.com a couple years ago

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda318dx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">question for Lee

Why did you go for an outback instead of a legacy/legacy GT?</TD></TR></TABLE>

hehe. I asked him the same question.

Lee- I work with Prodrive. Let me know if they have anything for it. Or, I can see if they have any suggestions if you wish.

 

Lee,

it's a little late now to change, but my wife wanted to buy a Forester, and I convinced her to get a WRX wagon, a special Canadian edition called the Spec-R1, 5 speed, that came in a nice yellow with BBS RK lightweight wheels and Bridgestone S-03's (now Pilot Sport PS2's!). She loves it, in any weather. Don't know anything about the car you got for your wife, but WRX suspension is not bad.

 

if in fact the outcrack can accept sti suspension, i highly recommend 05 USDM sti struts matched w/ jdm pink springs.

this is a stellar combination but you need to be sure they swap between platforms.

I do know the forester can run the sti suspension so hopefully you can too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by descartesfool &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it's a little late now to change, but my wife wanted to buy a Forester, and I convinced her to get a WRX wagon, a special Canadian edition called the Spec-R1, 5 speed, that came in a nice yellow with BBS RK lightweight wheels and Bridgestone S-03's (now Pilot Sport PS2's!). She loves it, in any weather. Don't know anything about the car you got for your wife, but WRX suspension is not bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

We thought about the WRX wagon a bit but needed the bigger size of the Legacy for capacity. It needed to be able to fit the kid, dog and holiday load for the regular 10 hour one way over the river and through the woods trip to Grandmas. Also it needed to be able to hold real estate signs inside and not leave the 4 year old by the curb. The WRX wagon wouldn't do that. Plus this was cheaper than the WRX wagon also. My wife would have killed for the yellow (her prefered car color) and BBS though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i-club was changed to nasioc.com a couple years ago</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope, they're two different sites:

http://www.i-club.com/forums/

http://www.nasioc.com/

I think i-club has more info about the legacy range tho....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elgorey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

btw- Ive never had a problem with my ABS. I think the guys who whine about it just dont know how to drive </TD></TR></TABLE>

Uh huh. Sounds great guy!

 

I always went to this site when I was still considering a Legacy last year:

http://legacygt.com/