I've owned Subarus for 30+ years, and by Spec B 3.0 litre for 15 years. It is by far the best all-round car I've owned. Having driven in my father's RR, plus many a Mercedes and Bentley as a review journalist - this Subaru is peerless. It is quieter than any Mercedes and its build quality and effortless ride is equal to the best of Lexus. Living in a hilly area I've often been asked by neighbours with big Mercedes and other 4x4s to pull them out of the snow, which I'm happy to do. It looks good at both Royal Ascot and a farm shop car park - a cavernous boot that will absorb a voluminous load - of picture hats or sacks of potatoes. The ever-so-long sunroof is a delight on sunny days, and passengers in the back love to get the sun that so often only the front passengers get. Touch wood, nothing big has ever gone wrong with my Subaru in its 110,000 miles - the only expense in 15 years has been replacement of brakes and calipers up front. Not a spot of rust. The interior knobs and buttons are all in the right place except for the slightly annoying 'cruise' stick on the steering column that can clash with my thighs when going round corners. Visibility - an essential for me - is unrivalled. Personally I hate cars with high backs that make it difficult to see clearly rearward - essential for European m-way driving. Security is 100%. It's triple lock and physical keys make it far more secure than the latest electronic equipped vehicles, and how would you sell so distinctive and rare a car as a Subaru? I saw one owned by a Scottish elderly couple with only 5k on the clock and was sorely tempted to buy it and put it in the garage for my latter years - I never want another car - modern ones are a nightmare by comparison.

Still driving Subaru legacy 3.0r spec b for the past 7 years 😊still in love with this machine

Hi Nigel, thanks for your top review. I'm glad you enjoyed the legacy. I can happily confirm that the door closing sound of the legacy/outback is identical to that of the Subaru Forester (SF generation at least). In 20 years of subaru ownership I am of the opinion that this sound is one of the most satisfying things about Subarus. And pillarless doors. And anonymity. And load space. And drivetrain. And ground clearance. And fuel economy. Oh no. That's never, ever been a strong point of subaru ownership. Nor head gaskets. .. well, you takes your pick, as they say! Cheers!!

My father in law has a Subaru Legacy Estate. But he has the newer one, the one that looks like it was designed by a child who had seen this one and was trying to draw it from memory, but they are not very good at drawing. It’s only a 2 litre, and an auto, so isn’t very exciting. But that was the point, he drives like a madman who’s always very late.

Nice video. Also i have such a car. For ten years already. It is practical that is looking nice and is fast. I already drove it to Charkiv and back and to many othe far places. The fuel consumption is now at 10.4 at 100 km, and that is okay to me. i can buy fuel in Luxemburg anyway. Tow weeks ago i changed the rear brake pads and also the original exhaust (the middle and the y-piece) have been replaced. I also replaced the bonnet/hood keep it closed spring. I think that the glove compartment is not high enough and collegue missed a bluetooth connection possibility for his mobile, to play music on the car radio. I can put pipes or plastic profiles in the car that are up to 3 meter and the loading floor is big. Also do i like the wiper defrost possibility and the butt-grip (seat heating). And there is no belt to change. The sunroof is very big but best useable when the sun stands lower. You can notice a Spec B by its blackend headlights and the pedals. This is what the dealer told me once. I like the car very much. next week i will drive to the Netherlands with it and in April i go to Mannheim in Germany so i can drive on the Autobahn with it. In the summer it will take me to Croatia. I have a black on black station model. First thing is to fill the A/C again. ye, it is a great car. Regards from Belgium.

Had the previous model H6 to this one, and currently a 2.5 turbo Forester XT. Subarus arn't about styling, they're about probably the safest handling reasonably fast car you can have on a normal persons budget, they come into their own in wet and poor conditions, you have to do doing something really stupid to lose grip in a Subaru, light and pleasant to drive, reliable if maintained sensibly. Not great on fuel, but the bomb proof full time 4WD system isn't going to go hand in hand with good economy, more efficient systems out there in other makes but they'll go wrong and cost more in the long run.

It's my dream car, i hope i can find the facelift model, they improved it quite a bit more feature wise, telescoping steering wheel, xenon headlights and other things alike. Its pretty much the perfevt car for me and i dont mind of it needs a bit more fuel, plus i am confindent i can keep it economical on calmer trips unless engone tempts me to press on a bit more 😅

Still driving a Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT sedan for the last 14 years and hopefully more good years to come

My dad had a 51 plate Legacy import, it just went on forever and everything was super tight and over engineered, even better than the sum of its parts, it was fantastic to drive and the engine sounded awesome. Couldn't believe he sold it in the end.

someone get this guy his own show on the bbc. incredibly entertaining

Bought a manual 3.0 saloon last Nov as a tide me over. Fell in love with it.

The last estate car I drove was an Ital. That looks just a tad better. I get what you are saying about the styling - at first glance it's a featureless silver box but, if it's not a contradiction in terms, a closer wide-view inspection shows it to be extremely graceful. A really nice car all round and an enjoyable review.

I had one of these from new (2006) and thoroughly enjoyed the Q car vibe, mostly, "what just passed me?", fast, stable, understated. The SI drive feature was a bit scary, better on paper than in real life. The last Legacy gasp in the UK, the new ones are soft, fat and sluggish with grim gearboxes. I had a new S4 Avant after the Spec B and I think the Legacy handled better.

I had a freind who had one of these he liked it but didn't keep it long. I thought the build quality would have let it down over the year's. But I seem to be wrong. The mpg would put me off buying one. Outtakes brilliant 😂😂

I have a MY08 6 speed manual 3.0 Spec B, for 7+ years. Easily the best car I've owned and I have had loads, It's reliable, handling is ridiculously good and it's quick, very quick and overtaking is all too easy. It's a unicorn car nowadays as saloons are next to non existent

Wow - what a glowing review! Thank you. I feel like a proud dad watching this ☺️. This is going to make even more difficult for me to decide whether to sell. Forester XT next 😉

I have one just like it (looks identical) but with the 2.5 and auto. Love it, and I agree with your observations, it’s a great quality car!

You did mention the word 'focus' several times when standing in front of the car ... yes, it does look like a Mk2 Focus! Can't say I much like the Vauxhall Zafira rear lights it seems to have. However, sadly this was one of a number of cars to outclass the Rover equivalent in just about every way by 2004/5, especially the post 'project penny-pinch' models. Subaru always had a good reputation for driving well. I expect most bearded ladies would agree! 😁

One of my favourites the legacy

legacy 4 and first tribekas are designed by an greek designer (cheef of design back then) from alpha romeo if i am not mistaken😊 and the 3.0 engine is done with porsche's help😅

My brother also got one of these too!!

Part of the test drive would be to reverse at speed into post office 😄 very nice car. Mg zt estate 🤗

I had one of these, they are near perfect

Some of my friends cald it a ris cooker, but when push came to shove they always bite the dust, yea I loved my 3,0 legacy.

Love this series. Our extended family has a bunch both four and six cylinder series 3 Outbacks, as we live in Tasmania with its dirt roads, snow etc., as well as older RX 2.5s and so on. I agree entirely with the sense of consistent and integrated design, inside and out. The subsequent series 4? Appallingly poor design - would never own one, which is really sad. Apparently Subaru thought that it was fine to release it, relying on a loyal customer base who’d be happy driving, well, a series 4…

Very weird, I now own this exact car!

Subaru Tribeca next please

My first legacy was a 3.0 im on my third the other two jdm twinscrolls

Such a shame these never came to the U.S. as a wagon in manual.

Best sounding door shut is a g wagon

Is the automatic gearbox with paddle shifters also good on these?

Its the best of them all, i had a 07 and I want a new model 07 the car the engine i loved it 👍👍👍💪💪💪♥️♥️♥️☀️☀️☀️its the good stuff. I actually hate the new models they look like 💩💩💩

That doesn't sound like the stock exhaust.

Best car I ever owned. By a mile. Could use another 100 ponies though!

Nice car. The 24 mpg average means its not for me.