'92 Leg turbo

[Mr. Nick]

Have a chance to buy a 1st gen Leg Turbo with 250 Kms. Are these cars reliable ? How many miles (Kms) will they do before a rebuild is required

( roughly :-) What specific problem areas should I watch for ? All help appreciated ! BN

[Platinum_Racing]

Depending on where you live the engines may vary. All the engines Subaru used in the first gen Legacy were very similar in design, some were larger in displacement than others. Either way, they're all based off the EJ series engine.

 

The turbo is a common item to watch out for. Other than that the engines are very reliable. 475,000+ Km's aren't uncommon for these cars. They are also non-interference engines. That means that should the timing belt break the engine won't destroy itself like other cars. In most cars there isn't any clearance between the valves and pistons if the timing belt breaks, which can cause massive engine damage. In this car that isn't a problem. In this car there is plenty of clearance between the valves and the pistons. If the belt breaks the engine just needs a new timing belt and its good to go.

 

Common leaks include the oil pan gaskets, the valve cover gaskets, and the cam seals. All are negligible items that are very cheap and relatively easy to fix. Most of the time these leaks are very slow and don't appear before 350 Kms.

 

Common rust areas include the bottom of the front fenders behind the wheels, the rear quarter panels behind the wheels, and the rocker panels in front of the rear wheels. The fuel filler necks have been known to get rusty and leak over time. Depending on where you live rust might not be a concern, but here in the northeast United States it is a problem we know all to well with older cars.

 

As with all cars, check the suspension bushings, tie rod ends, CV shafts, U-Joints, brakes, tires, and struts for wear or damage before committing to buy a used car. If the car is equipped with the optional air ride suspension make sure the struts don't leak. To the left of the steering wheel there is a switch that controls the ride height. Check to make sure that the switch raises and lowers the car and that the car stays level when raising the car. If the switch doesn't work or the car doesn't lift up evenly then there is probably a leak in the system somewhere.

 

 

For their time they were very advanced. They had MPFI, distributorless electronic ignition, electronic climate control buttons (Early models), full time AWD with active center differential (Very primitive, but still considered active), 4 wheel disc brakes, 4 wheel ABS, 4 wheel independent suspension, optional air ride shocks with adjustable ride height, and an optional CD player just to name a few features. They're a great value and make for unique, reliable, capable, and fun transportation for not a lot of money.

[Mr. Nick]

Thanks for a very complete answer. I'll be sure to check it out carefully. cheers ! BN

[sqc151]

1st gen turbo legacys are pretty much ALL the same. all turbo models used the same engine. they did not come with airbag suspension. as for engine life, yes... these engines can last a very long time. i have 3 1st gen leggys all with over 200k miles. when u go and check out this car, check for vaccum leaks, hub bearings are good, and theres no ticking from the engine. when you test drive it, make sure it pulls smooth and shifts smooth. all maint. stuff like suspension stuff can be upgraded to better stuff, so dont let that deter you from a turbo legacy. i could go on and on about these cars, but seeing you posted in KM. turbo legacys are probly not a problem to get. (here in the states, your lucky to find one within 500 miles every 6 months that is for sale)