Why are B4's so cheap?

[Guest]

I am looking into getting a subi from trademe, right now the B4 seems like the best bang for buck deal, are they cheap because they have most likely been thrashed all their life? Also how reliable are the EJ208 engines, think it's worth purchasing one at this point?

[Guitar_Guy]

Cheap because they are an older car, often high Kms and people are more interested in WRX's or anything with a single turbo over twin.

I owned one, it had 185000kms on it and ran like a dream, it was manual with the ej208 twin turbo setup and couldn't fault it, fricken quick once the secondary turbo kicks in too not as quick off the line.

If you get an auto you will have the ej206 motor which is only 260bhp, less than the 280bhp of the manual ej208 version.

The market is just really hard at the moment for those trying to sell them so be aware if you buy one it will more than likely be hard to sell on again unless you drop the price to something ridiculous.

[Andy_Mac]

Engines are just as reliable as most subaru engines, its the tiny turbo's that chew themselves to pieces if they see to much overboost. Most sellers probably don't like strangers doing this but when test driving do a pull most of the way to redline to make sure the secondary does in fact work as it should.

And with the simple vacuum hose mods by marky and rosssub the VOD region can be greatly reduced giving a completely different driving experience. Also if you want to get it tuned in future you have to get a rev d, a-c make tuning quite a bit more difficult

Edited May 2, 2015 by Andy_Mac

[Guitar_Guy]

^forgot about the ECU thing which was one reason I sold mine (rev C). I wanted something I could get re-flashed or tuned depending on mods but I wanted a change from the Legacy so didn't buy a rev D. Jumped up into the beautiful land of STi single turbo-ness.

[lachlan]

because it will cost more than the car is worth in gas to run it

[Guest]

Really? The energywise rating isn't too bad for them. (No idea how accurate that is). Perhaps it will use a lot if you boost it everywhere you go. Didn't think it would be too bad if kept low revs.

[Andy_Mac]

Most of the reason they are so bad is because its bloody hard to stay off boost. Even with medium throttle at like 2500rpm its on the verge of building quite a bit of fuel sucking boost.

Don't let that deter you though, wish my 4th gen legacy had the same low rev responsiveness my b4 had.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Andy_Mac

[Subaru4Life]

It is possible to stay off boost (as my secondary isn't working so whenever I have to drive it to get looked at I don't boost at all) you just gotta baby it. I'll probably get 500kms to this tankif not a little more I think. When I first got it I drove it pretty hard (even though I think I bought it with the secondary broken) and it got 400km on a tank at least (which I don't think is terrible)

But like the others said MAKE SURE THE SECONDARY WORKS. haha. if it rattles at all when the secondary boosts coming from right in front of the steering wheel and under the hood... something is wrong, and hopefully ill soon have the solution!!!

The sedans are cheap because people normally want the massive wagon when they buy a legacy. If they don't want the wagon, they buy an impreza because they are faster.

[GorGasmSpecB]

They are cheap because there is a lot of them and they are not really a good car.

[lachlan]

yeah that also . it will put a smile on your face . if you are not interested in comprehending they vac diagram for the tt system then stay away

[Jay09]

Cheap because there a ticking time bomb. .. like most subarus

[Joker]

bull crp only when people try & mod them

[Andy_Mac]

^exactly. And especially in the case of twin turbo's when people add big fat arm swallowing exhausts without a tune and think hitting 18psi is hella cool.

[Guest]

Good car for the money. Get an rsk whatever one rather than stock gt equivalent. Pay jack**** more for a heap better car. People have good and bad runs with them. If you have issues its easier to burn it if not youll be smiling as per above.

[Joker]

ppl told me my GTB was a grenade when I bought it : > 10 years later never had motor out [until heater hose split = BHG]

not bad lifespan I reckon, most people blow em up or put them in ditches in the first two months of owning them

I DONT wonder why

[kris_pran]

I cant speak for the other models but the BE5 i had oh god, never again.

[B4 I was 250T]

Funny as. I love my BE5. I don't find her too bad on gas either.

[Percy]

 B4 I was 250T said:

Funny as. I love my BE5. I don't find her too bad on gas either.

Aye laddie!

Mine ain't as bad on gas as my last Valiant was... also actually goes around corners.

[B4 I was 250T]

Lol Thanks James

[iphillipnz]

 kris_pran said:

I cant speak for the other models but the BE5 i had oh god, never again.

Mine has sure been a learning curve. If I had to do it again I'd just buy STI.

[GorGasmSpecB]

I think at this time the BL/BP is a far better car and totally worth the difference in price.

The engine and drivetrain(auto) is far superior

Handling is improved

Quality and age of design

Reliability has improved

The only good point I can think of for the BE/BH is the lols top end power once they have been tickled a bit. The BL/BP can be tuned for great success though.

[B4 I was 250T]

I'd still take my manual BE over an auto BL/BP any day of the week. Now a black or white BL in manual is a different story...

[Andy_Mac]

Don't fully agree on handling, My BP has a hell of alot more body roll than the BE ever had but atleast the BP has some steering feedback, the BE was just way too light and didn't give all that much back

[Dairusire]

One of the great things about BE5's and BH5's especially the Rev.D models is they're god damn comfy. They're a Sedan remember, literally a family car with near 300HP. It's even tempting to go back to a nice one from my Type Ra. I love the Ra but a nice tidy Rev.D Legacy with Low KM's re-work on the VAC hoses etc and a tune would be very nice.

[Joker]

cruiser not a fighter

People forget that part