Subaru Legacy

[jdrrco]

You asked about fuel consumption on the ML270 CDi. We manage 30mpg-ish on a motorway cruise (keeping pace with traffic), 26mpg-ish towing, and 27mpg-ish general driving. Not bad IMHO.

I should have said, a large part of the reason I swapped so quickly was the constant niggle that for the same (or less) money, I could have been driving something that didn't look or feel like a modded Vectra estate - eg ML, E, Lexus RX, even a diesel Range Rover. So now I am!

 

[Ashley]

How about a Volvo XC70 AWD and what I have seen of them a very good car. A friend of mine has one and he likes it very much, although I have never been in it so can not comment on comfort etc.

 

[dougal74]

How about a Volvo XC70 AWD and what I have seen of them a very good car. A friend of mine has one and he likes it very much, although I have never been in it so can not comment on comfort etc.

Watch out for early XC70s they do not like mismatched tyres...a friend of mine had the diffs and transmission wear out because the previous owner put on non-OEM tyres at different times on each corner.

 

[jeremytaylor]

At the risk of throwing a spanner in the works, do you really need a 4x4 all year round for those 3-4 days of snow/ice?

The only reason I ask is that often it is tyres rather than driven wheels which make the difference. A front or rear drive car with ESP and winter tyres gives almost as much grip as a 4x4. Earlier in the year we went to Switzerland in convoy with a Subaru Forester, I had winter tyres on our E320. After a week of snow, we had to reverse both cars uphill a short distance over ice/snow to reach the cleared road. Both cars spun their back wheels briefly and both took a matter of seconds to clear the snow/ice. Driving the Merc on fully snow covered roads, the tyres had so much grip that the ESP light was never troubled once.

Oh, and earlier in the thread there was talk of Subaru economy (or lack of it). On the drive to Switzerland the 2.0 litre auto petrol Forester needed refueling at twice as frequently as my E320 which, fully laden and with a roof box, was giving just under 40 mpg on the motorway. Don't know the size of the tank on the Forester, so can't say what mpg it was doing.

Subarus seem reliable but parts are not cheap.

Not just for the economy, I would stick to a diesel, mainly for its superior driving style (e.g. torque at lower engine speeds - ideal where grip is poor).

Don't know about XC70 diesels, but I know our friend's XC90 is underpowered.

 

[jdrrco]

At the risk of throwing a spanner in the works, do you really need a 4x4 all year round for those 3-4 days of snow/ice?

I live up a farm track in the Yorkshire Dales and that was one reason I bought an Outback. But, as pointed out above, I realised this was a silly decision and have now invested in a set of Autosocks instead!

 

[jgevers]

Hi,

Looking at all the different opinions, it shows that different people have different priorities as well as different driving styles looking at the fuel consumptions people are getting.

I would try to get extended test drives with the cars on your shortlist and pick the car that suits you best.

Regards

 

[GrahamC230K]

I realised this was a silly decision and have now invested in a set of Autosocks instead!

Have you tried them? An experieince report would be great - there have been other posts about them but they seem to generally get laughed out the water in principle, but I don't know anyone who has actually tried them.

 

[Piff]

All coments received are really helpful.

Just had a price to change my Audi A6 1.9TDi SE Avant multitronic 2005/05, 10,000miles, 2 years warranty heated leather, rear parking sensors, cd changer - from Tollbar Coventry (Volvo Main dealer) I enquired about a Volvo XC70 D5 SE Lux geartronic 2003/03, 25,000 miles, 1 year warranty. Their advertised price £18,850 - Price to change £4,600 I know they have to make a living but that offer is taking the p**s.

Comments ref 2 wheel drive + auto socks or winter tyres suddenly make economic sense.

I'm still interested in a 4 x 4 but I obviously need to take the test drives and find out a sensible value for my car before making any decision.

I tried the What Car site for a valuation on my car but too new for them to offer a valuation Any pointers to other valuation sites?

 

[jdrrco]

Have you tried them? An experieince report would be great - there have been other posts about them but they seem to generally get laughed out the water in principle, but I don't know anyone who has actually tried them.

Not yet - hasn't snowed since! I've only heard good things from people who have tried them and couple of engineer friends said they could see why they should work better than chains even. Certainly very simple to put on - even come with a pair of James-Herriot-cow-gloves to keep you clean when putting them on and off.

 

[Piff]

Just had a price to change my Audi A6 1.9TDi SE Avant multitronic 2005/05, 10,000miles, 2 years warranty heated leather, rear parking sensors, cd changer - from Tollbar Coventry (Volvo Main dealer) I enquired about a Volvo XC70 D5 SE Lux geartronic 2003/03, 25,000 miles, 1 year warranty. Their advertised price £18,850 - Price to change £4,600 I know they have to make a living but that offer is taking the p**s.

Sent an e-mail to volvo dealer last night comlementing their sense of humour! Today the price to change has improved to £2500. A little better but values my car at £16,350 and nothing off their car. Parkers valuation site only go up to 2005/54 for my model but suggest a trade in price of £16,865 and that's without options such as leather, etc.