New-To-Me-Legacy

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Subtle
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Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

New-To-Me-Legacy

Post by Subtle »

On Wednesday, bought a 2005 2.5 GT Wagon--I'm calling it a Turbo Wagon.

Acceleration is better than I expected, and the 5eat sports shift is versatile . "Drive" provides shifting with economy in mind. "Sport" is just that--fully automatic.

The manual control with the +, or - positions is very good when, say, going through a set of second, or third gear twisties. :-D

However, as the owners book advises revs increase to the fuel cut and that is unpleasant. There must be a rev-limiter with a shift light that can be installed.

It is quiet and smooth riding with creature comforts that I could soon get used to. Seat warmers, and warmers for the base of the windshield and rear view mirrors. 8)

Automatic air and CD player-- I didn't know such luxury could be so essential. :shock:
Last edited by Subtle on Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
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kleinkid
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Post by kleinkid »

Good choice. I think you will like it. Much more refined than the older Legacy.
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Subtle
Third Gear
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Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Performance

Post by Subtle »

A few more weeks of use confirms that this is a very nice ride.

The auto-box versatility continues to impress, but in "Sport" mode it does not kick down as fast as the old , but built, 4eat. Perhaps that is left to the manual mode.

However, the launch from first in the manual mode has not been as good as the old Leg--even without the old high-stall converter. :cry:

Talked to the guys at Rocket Rally and it is not that low gear is taller. The diff is 3.5 compared to the 3.9 of the old Wagon.

Ordered a Cobb chip thing that will give about a 20% increase in torque :-D .
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Drove the 40 miles to visit the guys at Rocket Rally yesterday.

They are busy on team cars as well as customer cars. One of the latter with what seemed to be a very strong engine was being broken-in on the dyno. Even with the dyno's silencing stack to the outside it was loud :-D

Bought a used AccessPort at a good discount--installed for the drive back to Vancouver. Took it easy for the first 15 minutes to allow the computer to sort itself out. Traffic was too much for a fast run, but did have some quick sprints and the car goes well. :-D

It adds more torque and HP from around 3000 to 4500.

Tuned for 91 octane--sometimes on summer trips its hard to find 94.
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
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Adam West
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Post by Adam West »

Cool. What's the Cobb torque chip thing? Can you post the link to it?
93SS 5MT White, TD05-16G, TMIC, 3"Turboback, Magnaflow, Alu Rad, H&R Sports, AGX struts, F/R STBs, Whiteline Sways, ALK+Endlinks, Odyssey 925, AC delete, Evo8 Recaros, Sparco 4p, 3.9 LSD, Hellas+air horns, IPD short throw, 99RSrims, s03's
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Subtle
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Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Google: Cobb AccessPORT

Should work :-)
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
MacNews
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:57 am
Location: 2010 Vancouver

Post by MacNews »

Nice man, throw up some pics!
1992 Legacy SS -stock
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Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Tranny 05 GT Wagon

The AccessPort moves the waste gate opening from around 11.5 to 15 and manages the ignition curve such that I can run with 91 octane. :-) :-)

Something I didn't know about the Sportshift is that when shifting at 6000, line pressure is increased making for a very solid thunk as it completes.

This is different to the old "built" 4eat, which had higher pressure all the time. It thunked at low throttle positions and was smooth on the hard shifts.

So far, so good :-)

Just got back from a border -run with a new master cylinder for my very old Alfa. :-D
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Ooops :shock: Learning about the 5eat.

Turned right from one thoroughfare to another, but had used the manual shifter to gear down to the red light.

With the old one--in any range- when floored it would shift at 5800.

Not on this one. I forgot it was in first, floored it to get around an aggressive transit bus--accelerated up to the fuel-cut and it literally died.

The slowdown was impressive and no harm done.

Thinking even more about a rev-limiter. :-) :-)
Last edited by Subtle on Thu Mar 05, 2009 6:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
SILINC3R
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Location: Charlotte, NC

Post by SILINC3R »

man i rode in a Sedan version which kind of scarred the hell out of me cause it wouldnt stop putting me in the seat. great fun. this engine is the same as the WRX i belive so you parts are readily available which im sure you already know
Tony
90 LS Spec rio red sold
91 SS rio red R.I.P
90 Mazda Miata
2005 GT SWP
92ss satinsvoice wrote:LOL! that block was like F*** THIS! IM OUT!
mike-tracy wrote:Word. I'd love to get my hands on one of those trannies, but I just can't stomach the cost
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Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Handling:

It's a very good compromise between comfort and performance. :-)

Been taking it through some of my favorite twisties and--- :-D

Needs some harder brake pads, though. Had Ferodo DS 2500 on the old Leg.
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Weird

When I bought the car in January I looked under the hood and only noticed that the battery hold-down bar was showing some corrosion.

Saturday was a nice day and got to cleaning up the battery and in the good light saw that the lower row of fins on the intercooler were bent down.

So, with a small knife blade started to straighten them up, when I realized that most of the rows had been pressed down. :cry:

The only way it could have happened is that before installation, one had been stacked on top of it. Looks only 20 percent functional.

In poor light it is difficult to see.

Went to the sales manager at the dealership and it will be remedied. :D
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

The head service guy pointed out that the fins had been flattened in the shape that conformed to the rubber gasket that guides the air flow through the cooler.

The PO had driven into a severe snow storm and it packed in.

Obviously, driving too slow. Enough boost would have kept melting it. :shock:

Just kidding :-)
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

5 eat

Post by Subtle »

I guess I could have read the manual more thoroughly, but then I wouldn't make any "discoveries".

I thought the up and down shifter would only function in the
Sport" position.

Anyway--while going down a long grade in "Drive" I pushed the "minus" button on the steering wheel and it shifted down to fourth, then third etc.

Now I use this when just approaching a stop sign. No matter what range it is in when the accelerator is re-applied it goes back to "Drive".

I like it. 8) 8)
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
Top
Subtle
Third Gear
Posts: 981
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 3:52 am
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Post by Subtle »

Dealers now seem keen for business.

New I/C arrived and I asked to book a specific time. It was 4;30 on Tuesday.

Just bring it now, leave it for tomorrow and we'll have a car for your use.

09 Impreza hatch back, Service dept says it is based upon the old Leg chassis--didn't know that.

They phoned at noon on Wednesday--all done no charge. :-) :-)

Heading up into the Interior Friday morning, coming back on Sunday.

Some 4.5 hours of mountain roads each way. :-D
Subtle (normally aspirated engines suck):
05 Legacy GT Wagon with Cobb chip.
62 Alfa Romeo Spider- had a 1.6 L with 80 hp, now 2 L with 160 torque. Curb weight 2050 lbs.
93 Leg Twgn fmic, vf34, etc. ((sold))
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