Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

+1 Legacy Outback BP for me

I did send in the V5 very early after ULEZ was first implemented. It was pretty much based on assumed Euro rating based on age. Since our 2002 Skoda Fabia met Euro 6 emissions requirements by chance, it was exempt. But I think they have slowly updated the database based on factory emissions reports, so we might not have needed to bother now.

Surely these vehicles should be raised, not lowered.

Leafs are great. We love ours. It's not fun to drive, but it is an extremely practical lump of car. Mainly because running and servicing the thing is so cheap. We also have a factory subwoofer in the boot and a heated steering wheel which is surprisingly great. And 360 degree cameras are extremely unnecessary yet somehow magical.

The only downside is the weird pluralisation of Leaf.

I really love ours too, especially when charging it from solar panels. Feels like the future. Mid range shove is also excellent.

Legacy would be my choice. Foresters are undeniably cool but can bit a bit 'raw'. From my very limited experience the Legacy would make a better refined cruiser/sleeper, but no idea if that's what you're going for.

They're not that compact actually, it's an illusion. They're always just a bit further away than you think. The proportions are off because there's not much stuff under the bonnet.

Yours is a bit newer than ours, we get a 100 mile projected range out of the 24 kWh battery, maybe about 60-80 in the real world. I would have thought that bike on the roof would cost us about 40 miles. How do you find it?

Further to the cat thefts, I've become aware of a theft of a hybrid battery, which is about 80cm long, sits behinds the rear seats and can only be accessed through the boot..

Ours is 30kWh, interestingly the newer Leaf batteries (40 and 62 kWh) are meant to be plug and play compatible.

I have seen people doing upgrades online.

So my plan is to buy it and drive it as is for a while (also hopefully purchasing a house at the moment and it requires extensive renovation so won't be doing any work to car for a while) and thereafter I'd like to strip back to the bare shell and rebuild with engine and transmission swap which will require a bit of fabrication work anyway so tidying up a bit of rust won't deter me.

Yeah definitely going for a JDM fast shed type of vibe.

I love that Forester, there's a red one near me that looks very much like that one... I think it beats the pants off that Legacy lookswise...

yep another vote for the forester here. though that is as much to do with it being blue rather silver. i have no idea how either of them handle. but sounds like you are going to be changing that anyway

either way will be more interesting than the mini.

hope you find a good one dude

Having had the 2.5 xt Forester turbo and 2.5 Outback I think the Outback is the more capable and robust of the two cars. I have had my Outback for 8 years.

If autodoc sent you the incorrect items, why are you paying postage back?

Take it up with your credit card if autodoc aren't being forth coming.

Which was the red one you had? Remember feeling tempted when you put it up for sale.

Team Forester here. Albeit the 2006, 2.5l facelift version. Love it. Huge boot, plenty of power. Rust spots are the rear strut towers apparently.

Feedback on Outback and Forester owners groups on Facebook seems to be pointing in favour of Forester too actually!

Surprising amount of love for the Forester in all camps and a few people who've owned both saying the Forester is much nicer to drive, feels more car like despite size.

Forester was certainly fast (after a full rebuild, turbo rebuild, full exhaust and other upgrades).

Outback just has stiffer ARBs front and rear and a Hayward and Scott car back exhaust.

100bhp less but 10mpg more and a much more reliable engine.

2.5 turbo Subaru's can fail in lots of expensive ways.

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Basically both great cars but I feel like the 2.5 forester turbo has a lot more weaknesses that need expensive fixes.

When built right they are as fast as a WRX of the same age.

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So sick!

excellent Forester, love that you kept a moderate exhaust and not a massive cannon.

Do absolutely love the Forester!

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