from SRT8 to 08 Legacy GT, will I be happy?

[sirrach]

I was contemplating whether I should trade in my 300c SRT8 for a new legacy gt. My main concerns are these:

 

1. Better in rain/snow (AWD)

2. Better gas mileage

3. Good in stop and go traffic (auto)

4. Performance

 

I guess my question is, have any other went from a high horsepower vehicle to a legacy gt and have been happy? Also, can the 5spd auto hold up to higher power levels?

 

thanks

[Guest heightsgtltd]

Welcome..

 

There are a ton of threads on high power 5eats so search.

 

Def bettter in rain/snow, gas mileage...unclear

 

Performance, if modded properly you should be a happy man

[docsmile71]

Going from a torquey V8 to a turbocharged 4 cylinder, especially the auto, you will be very disappointed with the low end grunt. On the highway or from a roll, it's great but around town, the car feels weak with the auto.

 

By the way, we (really the wife's car) went from a Infiniti Q45 to the Outback XT auto.

[underscore]

if he's talking about power levels then I assume he'd be modding to an extent.

yeah you get more turbo lag with the auto but going to stage 2 helps that out a bit

[tdoggydog]

Did you consider the 300 AWD? They did have that, right? I know the Magnum and Charger did (same platform), just obviously not AWD in SRT8.

 

PS: Funny, when shopping around I was contemplating one of the above-mentioned, but reports read that they were not great canyon carvers, and that's what I do a lot of on weekend.

[AKLGT]

with a few bolt ons and a tune, you will be happy and probably get better fuel economy.

 

btw, I have an 05 5EAT LGT and I've left a few of the Magnum and Charger R/T's and even the Hemi's staring at my taillights at the track. a stg 2.5 5EAT will probably get you low 13's, definitely inline with what you're most likely used to. When I was stg 2, my maps were pretty aggressive, so i had very little turbo lag (that later came to bite me in the butt). It surprised a lot of people who were expecting lag and find there was none.

[Detslider]

I think if you go from a stock SRT8 to a stock LGT you won't find them very comparable, but with a slight investment in the LGT and bringing it up to Stage 2 you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Sure the numbers of a Stage 2 LGT still won't match the SRT8's 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque but the LGT is considerably lighter and won't need as much HP/TQ to throw down the same 0-60 times.

I'm Stage 2 and pushing approx 345 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. If HP is more important to you on a different tune with the same stage 2 setup I had less TQ but was pushing 260 horsepower to the wheels, assuming about a 25% loss thats 350 on the motor. I'm sure with another $1K in parts I could get 420 on the motor.

Although that's probably pushing the limits of the 5eat.

As far as economy goes I get about 17mpg in the city with spirited driving and 25mpg highway cruising at 80mph

But what do I know, I've never even sat in a srt8....

[sirrach]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I went from a 400fwhp srt4 to the srt8, and my srt8 isn't stock right now either. But I think its time to settle down a bit since I'll be having a boy this summer

 

I was mostly curious about the limitations of the 5eat, but glad to hear that it isn't as bad as some of the other posts I've read.

[itsme]

Mike is running 400+whp w/meth with a auto in a I think '05 or '06 wagon and he is no having problems so far. You might want to upgrade your tanny valve body. For about $2500 you can be at about 350+whp(20G, TBE, fuel pump, injectors, and tune). That will put you close to your SRT8 plus our cars are like 500 or 600lbs lighter. Gas mileage will be alot better then SRT8 if you keep your foot out of it.

[LittleBlueGT]

A simple turbo upgrade will allow you to run away from (maybe quickly walk away) from a SRT8.

 

My LGT will handily take a friends SRT8 from a roll.

[spacejunkiehsv]

I was contemplating whether I should trade in my 300c SRT8 for a new legacy gt. My main concerns are these:

 

1. Better in rain/snow (AWD)

2. Better gas mileage

3. Good in stop and go traffic (auto)

4. Performance

 

I guess my question is, have any other went from a high horsepower vehicle to a legacy gt and have been happy? Also, can the 5spd auto hold up to higher power levels?

 

thanks

I went from a 2004 GTO 6-speed to my Legacy GT 5EAT (automatic). It was a big power hit, big! The LGT is a better daily driver to me though, mainly because of having 4 doors and an automatic transmission. The AWD also makes me not have to worry about kicking my rear end out. I used to get about 20.5mph out of my GTO. I get about 21 or 21.5mpg out of my LGT.

 

You will most likely not be satisfied with the power from even a stage 2 (305hp at engine) Legacy GT. The only reason I haven't upgraded my turbo, fuel pump, injectors, and intercooler is because I don't have the money right now!

 

The LGT is a MUCH more nimble car (stock suspension on GTO and LGT) than the GTO. I suspect that your SRT8 300C suspension behaves about the same as GTO. It's not that those cars handle poorly. You can just tell when you're driving a lighter car. You probably know what I mean. The steering feel in both of my Subarus (old 03 WRX) and current LGT is VERY good.

 

The 5 speed auto can handle a lot of power (a few are pushing 500hp I believe) and are doing fine. Some have started messing theirs up at about 400hp though, but I'm pretty sure they were doing lots of drag race style launches. From what I read, if you don't beat on your tranny much, it will hold a lot of power and torque.

 

I like my car, but a new Pontiac G8 GT might be worth looking at if you don't NEED the AWD. You could also buy a used LGT, and slap a 20g (moderately sized) turbo or a FP Green (bigger sized) turbo onto it. If you did that, you'd have a faster car than what you have now (assuming it is near stock), plus better fuel economy. You WILL MISS the sound of your V8 though. You can't do jack about that! You will also miss the low end torque.

[team23jordan]

I used to drive Ford Lightning

Dynoed at 389rwhp and 512rwtq

 

you'll love LGT

[GTTuner]

You can't compare the two. No way is a stage 2 LGT is going to "walk away" from a 6.1 car. No LGT with a stock turbo will even come close.

 

You will probably be disapointed by the MPG in the Legacy too. I have seen posts here of people getting 13 mpg, all city, with an EAT.

 

You will miss the "sonic boom" of that Hemi when you crack that thing wide open.

[welby]

But I think its time to settle down a bit since I'll be having a boy this summer

 

 

This is interesting, because the 300 is much bigger and better suited to fitting a car seat than the Legacy. The Legacy's really aren't that roomy inside. I don't know what to classify the things as. They're not a compact, but not really a midsized car either

[brandonGT]

if he's talking about power levels then I assume he'd be modding to an extent.

yeah you get more turbo lag with the auto but going to stage 2 helps that out a bit

 

that couldnt be any more wrong. transmission has NO influence on turbo lag. a turbo is exhaust driven

 

maybe you are talking about poorer throttle response with an auto, in which case i would understand

[sirrach]

This is interesting, because the 300 is much bigger and better suited to fitting a car seat than the Legacy. The Legacy's really aren't that roomy inside. I don't know what to classify the things as. They're not a compact, but not really a midsized car either

 

That actually has me worried (I saw the same complaints from the car seat thread). The thing is, even though the 300c is bigger, the rwd would be a big issue traveling with an infant in the snow.

[hutru01]

I have to admit that I love the SRT8. Its just a sweet car IMHO. Although, with mods, the LGT can be made much faster due the difference in weight. I would love to pull up to a SRT8 with my wagon. That would be quite funny actually........

[GTTuner]

No question a 400whp Legacy would crush one. But considering the SRT8's 4400lb curb weight,and a terrible 3.08 axle ratio, they effing fly. I love driving them.

Put in 3.73's or 3.90's gears you'd shave a second off the quarter mile. Car and Driver recorded a top speed of 173 mph when they tested the production car. That my friends is smack in the ball park of a modern day 1000cc sport bike. Impressive.

[hutru01]

^ I just really like the styling of the SRT8, 20 inch rims and that big fat grille....totally gangsta...

 

If I didn't have a legacy and I could afford a 50K car, it would be in my top 5 choices of cars...

[GTTuner]

^^ You could get a 1 YO, low low mileage car for 30-35K.

[itsme]

I went from a 2004 GTO 6-speed to my Legacy GT 5EAT (automatic). It was a big power hit, big! The LGT is a better daily driver to me though, mainly because of having 4 doors and an automatic transmission. The AWD also makes me not have to worry about kicking my rear end out. I used to get about 20.5mph out of my GTO. I get about 21 or 21.5mpg out of my LGT.

You forget the SRT8 has to pay a gas guzzler tax. He get about 11 to 15mpg combined street and highway. I get about 20 mpg in L.A stop and go traffic and 26 mpg on the hwy doing 75mph. If you stay off the gas and out the boost you will be ok.

[BigT]

My friend has the same car. I've got a stage II manual. On the parkway it is the same up to about 90+ If you know how to shift you should be all good. Definetely more responsive, better handling than the 300C. One disadvantage is that it is not nearly as large inside or comfortable. Although you will probably get less attention from the police. It is far superior in the rain as well, but I'm sure you know just about anything is. Anyway, hope this helps. They are both great cars, just depends on your driving needs/wants.

[underscore]

that couldnt be any more wrong. transmission has NO influence on turbo lag. a turbo is exhaust driven

 

maybe you are talking about poorer throttle response with an auto, in which case i would understand

it could easily be more wrong. I could say it's more likely to shoot monkeys out of the exhaust, for example.

 

have a nice day

[JOE_1985]

i still have no idea how you guys are getting horrid gasmilage

 

i average 22-24mpg and thats mostly city

 

even when i was in ga going up and down hills boosting i still averaged 18-20mpg highway i see 27-30mpg

 

and im not even using synthetic oil, just 10w30 gtx

[VXCL]

i still have no idea how you guys are getting horrid gasmilage

 

i average 22-24mpg and thats mostly city

 

even when i was in ga going up and down hills boosting i still averaged 18-20mpg highway i see 27-30mpg

 

and im not even using synthetic oil, just 10w30 gtx

 

impressive, i can barely average 24mpg on the highway at 80 running stage 2 cobb ots, and around town its 16-19.