ej20-'t' reliability vs the rest of the turbo world.

[R.D]

So obviously the top end turbo material subaru puts out is not the most reliable/ cheapest to maintain (lets forget about rotangs here), but how bad is it really?

Eg, Subarus weaknesses seem to be BEB's, and their so called 'glass' 5MT's breaking. (yes its to do with how you treat it bla bla, not getting into that story). But those two weaknesses alone are pretty dam major. Along with the likes of spark plug replacement being a mission and a half etc etc.

However, how does this stack up to the competition- late 90's turbos: Silvia, skylines, evo's... you all know the list.

Lets not debate which cars are 'sick azz ow', strictly talking mechanical weakness.

Cheers!

[Koom]

Never really thought that they were any less reliable than similar powered EVO's and Sylvia's etc.

[kingersman]

I've had enough of this spark plug replacement being a mission... i can do my plugs faster than my mate can do on his rb25...

know which things to remove and which tools to use and your sweet

[driftrex]

 kingersman said:

I've had enough of this spark plug replacement being a mission... i can do my plugs faster than my mate can do on his rb25...

know which things to remove and which tools to use and your sweet

yea i agree, dont know why some people seem to think its so hard.

personally i think subarus are really easy to work on.

[Guest]

when i first got my legacy, it seemed to but so confusing under the hood, now everything is a breeze to work on. Changing spark plugs is easy once you have done it once.

[Guest boostcut]

 R.D said:

So obviously the top end turbo material subaru puts out is not the most reliable/ cheapest to maintain (lets forget about rotangs here), but how bad is it really?

Eg, Subarus weaknesses seem to be BEB's, and their so called 'glass' 5MT's breaking. (yes its to do with how you treat it bla bla, not getting into that story). But those two weaknesses alone are pretty dam major. Along with the likes of spark plug replacement being a mission and a half etc etc.

However, how does this stack up to the competition- late 90's turbos: Silvia, skylines, evo's... you all know the list.

Lets not debate which cars are 'sick azz ow', strictly talking mechanical weakness.

Cheers!

jesus, really?

[Guest]

 necsis said:

when i first got my legacy, it seemed to but so confusing under the hood, now everything is a breeze to work on. Changing spark plugs is easy once you have done it once.

+1, even someone not very mechanically minded like me can do it.

[Swindog]

I agree. Subs are easy as to work on compared to evos etc. Reliability comes down to ownership and is all relative i think.

People told me when i bought mine i was going to have endless probs and i shuold buy a cheaper car...in saying that, they said that about my ra, my accord, my prelude, my starlet, my mazda and my holden....all of which i never had any problems with.

The subaru split a side tank years ago and i replaced a wheel bearing...and the turbo...but whose fault was that? It was the way it was driven at the time it gave up.

Subarus are no more worse off than evos and euro trash and ozzy tanks alike...including the glass box- which i dont think is that glass.

If i can stand in front of my legacy and describe how to do the plugs and then my missus does it without help, and right first time...they must be easy to work on.

[R.D]

 Swindog said:

I agree. Subs are easy as to work on compared to evos etc. Reliability comes down to ownership and is all relative i think.

People told me when i bought mine i was going to have endless probs and i shuold buy a cheaper car...in saying that, they said that about my ra, my accord, my prelude, my starlet, my mazda and my holden....all of which i never had any problems with.

The subaru split a side tank years ago and i replaced a wheel bearing...and the turbo...but whose fault was that? It was the way it was driven at the time it gave up.

Subarus are no more worse off than evos and euro trash and ozzy tanks alike...including the glass box- which i dont think is that glass.

interesting, yeah ppl do tend do have the 'everything is bad' approach haha.

thanks for actually answering my question

[kingersman]

same with mine... i gave my car shit.. blew a head gasket which in turn put pressure onto my turbo making that give way..

treat it good.. do constant maintenance and it should last...

gearbox = glass??? 10-15 5k launches and still got my box! they are bad but not that bad

[R.D]

 kingersman said:

same with mine... i gave my car dagnabbit.. blew a head gasket which in turn put pressure onto my turbo making that give way..

treat it good.. do constant maintenance and it should last...

gearbox = glass??? 10-15 5k launches and still got my box! they are bad but not that bad

im not making this claim, i do a hell of a lot of reading on many subaru fourms, and have seen the theme of the 'glass box' through out them all.

[R.D]

 matdaymon']

[quote name='necsis said:

when i first got my legacy, it seemed to but so confusing under the hood, now everything is a breeze to work on. Changing spark plugs is easy once you have done it once.

/quote]

I agree in full with your thoughts on that matter., even someone not very mechanically minded like me can do it.

Is their a Spark plug replacement guide on our forum? Never come across it yet? Would be very helpful

[kingersman]

should i do 1???

also a lot of people i know don't even know how to gearbox oil replacement so i guess some of them won't know either..

[subieboy]

 Koom said:

Never really thought that they were any less reliable than similar powered EVO's and Sylvia's etc.

+1 + 1

Any car can be unreliable if the owner/previous owner was a f*cktard...

[EJ20T]

You do have to factor the amount of turbo subarus on the road vs others in the turbo 4 pot brigade, theres now 5 gens of turbo legacy from 200 to 280hp, theres 3gens of turbo impreza 220-320hp, 3 gens of turbo forester 210-270hp, where as there is 4 gens of evo, but in evo 1-6 they only made about 5k of each in that era, much more in the 7-9 about 40k each world wide. but nothing like the numbers subaru made turbos in.

all you need is a few drop kicks and poorly maintained cars then things look bad

[swiftbrad]

 R.D']

[quote name='necsis said:

when i first got my legacy, it seemed to but so confusing under the hood, now everything is a breeze to work on. Changing spark plugs is easy once you have done it once.

/quote]

I agree in full with your thoughts on that matter., even someone not very mechanically minded like me can do it.

Is their a Spark plug replacement guide on our forum? Never come across it yet? Would be very helpful

So how long then to change sparks on a TT?

approx?

[familyman]

In regards to he "glass" 5mt, I'm not saying they ate prone to breakage or not, still haven't killed one, but isn't the design aspect a little off?

In the owners manual of wife's B4, it even states:

If reverse gear cannot be engaged, release clutch, depress clutch again and attempt gear selection again.

Why wouldn't they just fix the prob?

[Guest keltik]

Half hour should do it. Maybe an hour if your feeling a bit sluggish

[Guest keltik]

 familyman said:

Why wouldn't they just fix the prob?

Because its a fundamental flaw in the design of reverse gear in 90% of manual transmissions. Why re-invent the wheel for a problem thats easily solved with a bit of left leg action

[familyman]

Fair enough. And I guess cheaper to print disclaimer too.

[Koom]

 familyman said:

In regards to he "glass" 5mt, I'm not saying they ate prone to breakage or not, still haven't killed one, but isn't the design aspect a little off?

In the owners manual of wife's B4, it even states:

If reverse gear cannot be engaged, release clutch, depress clutch again and attempt gear selection again.

Why wouldn't they just fix the prob?

Better than having syncros on reverse that would allow it to be engaged while moving forward. The way reverse engages is completely different to the rest of the gears. Its probably also left that way as more of a safety measure than a bad design.

The design flaw was the weak split casings of the 5-speeds. But I wouldn't call them glass boxes. They can handle a fair amount of abuse, just ask the vice president about how he treats his box.

[swiftbrad]

 keltik said:

Half hour should do it. Maybe an hour if your feeling a bit sluggish

your taking the piss yea?

[Guest keltik]

 swiftbrad']

[quote name='keltik said:

Half hour should do it. Maybe an hour if your feeling a bit sluggish

/quote]

your taking the piss yea?

....Nope. 10 mins to whup the air box and windscreen washer tank out. 5 Mins to crawl underneath and undo engine mount nuts. Then jack 'er up and have the plugs done in no time.

[R.D]

 keltik']

[quote name='keltik said:

Half hour should do it. Maybe an hour if your feeling a bit sluggish

/quote]

your taking the piss yea?

....Nope. 10 mins to whup the air box and windscreen washer tank out. 5 Mins to crawl underneath and undo engine mount nuts. Then jack 'er up and have the plugs done in no time.

Im with Swiftbrad, your completely missing the point that some of us arent half mechanics haha. If i was to try this. Im sure it would take a whole afternoon haha.\

When you've never done something, the lack of confidence eats time!

[kingersman]

oi no need to jack engine!!! i can do it without!!!

also around 30min for beginners... takes about 5min for airbox and washer.. battery is always good out as well...

ill make a guide tomorrow... gives me a chance to check my plugs any way