Used 2003 Subaru Legacy Sedan Consumer Reviews
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Amazing until 100k
I loved this car and would purchase another, because Subaru's are safe and handle amazing. Worse luck though, I had a blown head gasket at just over 100k and that was the beginning of all sorts of engine problems, resulting in eventual engine replacement; and this, despite faithful maintenance from the dealer since I purchased it at 14k.
This is the best car I have ever owned
Extremely reliable - even at 82k miles. The clutch is tight and acceleration with my manual 5 speed transmission is good. I have achieved 30 MPG on highway trips. I take this car on long trips and the seats are the perfect mix of firmness and luxury. I live in Minnesota, so the AWD has saved me numerous times while others are stranded. I honestly haven't had a single problem. I do keep up all recommended maintenance at the Subaru dealership.
- L Special Edition WagonMSRP: $2,995516 mi away
- 2.5 GT WagonMSRP: $1,400989 mi away
- L SedanMSRP: $2,750993 mi away
This car is OUTSTANDING
No problems. Great MPG. I have the special edition L series which includes a fantastic sunroof and upgraded wheels. I bought the 5 speed for better acceleration and good MPG. The best MPG I have gotten was 30 (highway). I baby this car and always have the routine maintenance done. I live in a snowy/icy area so the All wheel drive is definitely appreciated. I have never driven a more reliable car. I still get compliments on the car even though it is more than five years old now.
Not quite on top, but FAR from the bottom
Good all around car, but small things are lacking, or are just annoying. Don't like overdrive gear in it... it kicks into overdrive at 35 mph... which is the average speed I go (I live in the country... the physical speed limit of the roads here is 35 mph). When you let off the gas to coast, and then give it a little gas, the car jerks a little as it jumps back into the underdrive gears. Very annoying, but nothing actually wrong. Only does this at the 35 mph mark. Gas mileage isn't what I would like: 16-18 mpg. Would also like a few more horses under the hood. Don't get me wrong... this car is MUCH better than the 96 chevy lumina it replaced.
Reliable, uncomfortable seats
This is our 2nd subaru purchase with no regrets. Handeling and reliability consistent. DYI maintenance is easy to perform. Opted for the spoiler and leather seating to improve the "fun" factor. A little underpowered for the weight but as a daily driver, it fits the bill. No problems what so ever. If you are looking for exceptional reliability for commuting through snow, the balance of price and features (including AWD) if a good value
Reliable Vehicle
Very handy vehicle for getting around in snow and icy conditions; fairly comfortable on long trips, though not overly roomy inside, especially in the back seat. Gas mileage is ok, but would prefer it to be more fuel efficient; never had a breakdown, and no mechanical problems whatsoever; have had some trouble with replacement wiper blades staying put; also have a lot of wind noise while driving with the windows up; seems like a bad seal in the driver side window; all in all a fantastic vehicle and super to get around in bad weather
Good car, not great
Car is OK in most respects ( handling, ride, etc. AWD system shines in poor conditions. Car is only adequately powered (165hp) and the AWD system is heavy, making the car sluggish. 4 spd auto trans geared too steeply for engine power, hunts in and out of gears. Fuel economy awful, 16 mpg average and my wife is not a leadfoot. If you can find a 5 spd manual car, get it. Lack of power should be fixed with the optional 5 spd auto and 250 hp turbo 4 in the 2005 car.
Update
This is an update to an earlier posting. After 32k miles, the Subie feels much older. Mileage, at 17 mpg city, is still awful for a 4 cylinder, 165hp car. Once again, my wife is primary driver and she is not hard on the car. Car responds very sluggishly to throttle input, almost dangerously so. This car has had all required service done to date. I have taken the car to three Subaru dealers, all of them say the car runs normally. Maybe we got a bad car or one with some issues, but it has soured me toward Subarus. Once again, if you can find a 5 speed manual car, buy it over the automatic.
terrible perofrmance
This is a good looking, well appointed car but terrible performance. Sluggish acceleration coupled with terrible gas mileage. Doubtful if I would purchase again.
Great ideas, but rough around the edges
Purchased this car about five months ago for the AWD. AWD is great, but does add extra weight to the car. This slows acceleration, but worst of all, you can feel the shifting in the tranny much more so than a FWD. Tranny is the worst part of this car. You hit overdrive at 35 mph, and if you coast at 35-40, it kicks in and out of overdrive constantly for hills, as well as everytime you have to bleed off speed for curves, which makes for a jerky ride. Under normal driving conditions, the car will do a lot of shifting, and the tranny is not the smoothest shifter. Interior quality is good, but could have been a little better. The knobs for the AC and heater feel a little cheap.
Poor quality can't hide
Not happy with braking system, chews up rotors and discs, air conditioning system needs to be recharged yearly, heating system does not heat floor very well. Destroys tires, less than 20000 miles for tires. The entire undercarriage is rusted out after only 5 years; this is a major problem. Two pistons were replaced under warranty and now the remaining two are near failure and are not covered. I would not recommend this vehicle to another person.
Great looking date, but has to get loose
I find the look of the legacy to be attractive but my beef with the car is clear in the amount of HP it has. This car is built for safety first and that as the driver you certainly can tell. However, with safety comes alot of weight and this car needs at least another 25hp & also a 6spd tranny. On the bright side, I've never driven a sports car that handles better, the AWD is awesome and this car is just as sure footed on wet ground as it is on dry ground
My fourth Subaru
I haven't had this particular car long but it is my 4th Subaru and I know what to expect. So far, this vehicle has met all of my expectations of fit and finish and overall performance. I expect the winter driving experience to meet all of my expectations as well. I picked this car up on Tuesday and drove it 1200 miles to Ohio without a mechanical problem. There was some wind noise at speeds around 45 mph that I didn't expect and when I returned, I mentioned this to the dealer and they were able to correct that by adjusting the glass track and replacing a mirror gusset (?). It now has the quiet ride I anticipated.
One Great Car!!
I purchased this brand new 2003 Legacy L Special Edition Sedan this past summer (I could not stomach one more repair on my Jetta). My search lead me to Subaru, I remember my dad had a subaru (banana yellow) wagon when i was kid and here in New England living on a hilltop we need the AWD and he always mention how good that car was! Dad was right, Subaru and my new CAR ROCK! It's fun to drive an unbeatable value compared to other 4 door sedans out there.I got the special edition which came loaded with all the accessories you could want CD, sunroof, alloy wheels, leather wrapped wheel and shifter and fog lights.
AWD Awesome!
My son has owned 3 Subarus, including the sporty XT6, and sold me on the reliability and engineering of this car. I'm very pleased with the handling on mountain curves, and solidness of the body. The engine needed about 10 - 15 extra ponies, which I helped along with a cold air induction kit from Injen. Now, those wanting more power - look for the 2005 turbo! Ths is a fun car to drive, has great interior colors, and is a great engineering piece. Love it!
AWD Excellent
This car has done a great job. AWD is excellent in the snow, and we get 100+ inches each year. Gas mpg average 23 with a good amount of highway driving. Quality and reliability have been excellent, not one problem in almost 3 years! Could use a few more horses, and interior space is limited, basically a 4 seater.
It's ok and that's it!
I love the versatility of the car. I will say that it will get you where you want to go no matter what is true. If you can live with the lack of power, style, and mediocre gas mileage. The manual transmission is much better for passing and is more fun to drive. Gas mileage is the same if compared to any small SUV. I have 90000 miles on mine in four years of driving it and it has had a lot of work done to it some under the warranty and some by myself to save money (water pump, hug bearings, brakes and rotors twice, O2 sensors and a CAT, and just last week the viscous coupler and bearings went in the transmission). I do not beat on the car but I do drive it on the expressway 80 miles a day at 75 mph.
You may wish to consider other cars
We have owned our Legacy 2.5 GT for 6 months. It handles better than any car I have ever owned. However, it has some design problems. When the clutch is cold, the car will vibrate excessively and now it has begun to make unusual whining noises. If you don't slam the doors, they don't close, and when the doors are slammed it starts to rattle. Sometimes you can push the remote 30 times and only the driver door will unlock although you hear a beep with each push. Other times, two beeps is enough. A little more hp would be better. You have to be He-Man to put it into reverse. Look at other brands before you buy this Subaru.
Love my Subi
I have a 2003 Subaru Legacy, I love my and I will continue to fix whatever she needs fixed. I did have a bad head gasket, and some trouble with the radiator. I'm fortunate to have a husband who can do the repairs so for me the cost was minimal. It has been a great car, I bought it used about 8 years ago and even though she's had some issues, I'm still happy to own her. It's just a great driving car, almost 160k and running sweet.
The newest update on the 03 Subaru Legacy!
I have had this car for about a year now, It has been family owned its entire life and has only broke down once in its so far 21 year reign. While my Legacy has only a baby 74k on the odometer it is a great car. The car rides beautifully smooth and the power is on the weaker side. Maintenance has been done very regularly on the Subaru since 03 and about 10k has went to repairs. The a/c does die or will most likely need to be recharged for whatever reason so look out for that when buying. Also a great thing to mention is how large the trunk is on the sedan model. It is literally the exact same size in sq ft, but lacking in height where the wagon prospers in its space. Amazingly with a dealer tune up this car still pushes 22+ mpg daily and I could do better if I didn't love the "Sport shift" that comes in the automatic trans I have. THE HEAD GASKETS have not yet gone wrong, a little spooky to be lingering as it is almost inevitable but not even the slightest leak to this day and almost every part in the engine bay is original and functioning. RUST is a big thing with these cars as most have been bought for AWD in the snow, The rust on my car is mostly affecting my exhaust and hasn't even bothered the frame past some very spotty and light on the frame. Overall the car has held up beautifully and hasn't faltered on me whatsoever but works as a great daily you can trust for its AWD.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Faulty Head Gaskets Still - Buyer Beware
Clutch shudder 25K miles. Replaced under warranty. Both head gaskets leaking at 89K miles. Fixed at a cost of $2K. Reputation for reliability is based upon pre 2.5L models. These cars are prone to issues by design and are expensive when need to be repaired.
2003 Legacy Sedan - Excellent Family Car
I researched many cars, including Camry, and Accord, for my family with a max price of $20-21K. I was very pleased to see the Legacy sedan in this price range. I reviewed not only the specs of the car, including AWD, but the crash tests as well. If you do your homework, and you want the absolute most safe sedan under 21K for your family, pick this vehicle! We love it!
2002 Legacy GT
I drive about 5500 miles per month. My Legacy GT has performed well overall. Highway mileage exceeds 31 MPG with the manual transmission. The cabin is very quiet; wind noise minimal. The engine is somewhat underpowered; however the handling and control are exceptional with the AWD. Fit, finish and value are exceptional for a vehicle priced under $25K.
Alternative to Hondas and Toyotas
This is a vehicle that should be considered when car shopping. If you want the reliability and performance of a Honda or Toyota but don't want to have the same car as your neighbor,this is your car. I'm not big on 4 cylinder engines but this has impressed me. The AWD system is outstanding! Do yourself a favor and at least test drive one.
AWD Confidence with Style
Traded in '01 Subaru Outback Wagon for this car. It has so many great standard features. It was a tough decision between the L Special Edition and the GT but I was a sucker for the heated seats and mirrors and the leather seating. I also went from a straight drive to Auto so I like the Sport Shift on the GT. These cars look great with a spoiler on the back.
2.5 GT - Nice Ride
After 15 years driving VW’s and Audi’s, a friend convinced me to test drive his Subaru and I have to admit, the first mile had me convinced that this was a car to seriously consider. I was going to settle on another make and model but I am glad that I held off. Besides that, over the holiday season, I was stuck in two separate snowstorms and need to tell you, I was in by far the best car on the road. SUV’s were sliding off the road all around me, but the Subaru was sure footed my entire trip. The only guy to keep up was in an Outback!
Extreme Value and Performance
Recently traded in my 2000 Grand Cherokee, for what I thought was a step down, a 2003 Legacy Specail Edition Sedan. I thought wrong. This car clearly is out performing my Jeep. Solid on the "slick stuff", great interior harmony, tight to the road, great option package and a true driving experience. And not to forget, less standing at the gas pump. I shopped the 03 Accord, 03 Camary and 03 Passat, nice cars,equal performance, but can't touch the value of this one.
Quite Surprised!
This car gets looks galore when we are parked anywhere! We have the Special Edition L and it so far exceeds any expectations we could ever want in driving a new car! Handling on the highways in torrential downpours is enough to make you realize you can't do better with the handling of this car!
What a Car!
I could never have expected handling/ride quality PLUS all the other amenities from a car in this price range. The AWD by itself puts this vehicle a step ahead of the rest. Handling is GREAT in all types of weather, and it stops on a dime! The styling is sleek and sophisticated, and often draws a lot of attention since it doesn't look like every other car on the road. Bottom line - I love it and would highly recommend it to anyone!
SUPER VALUE & FUN, TOO
Here in L.A., this car is uncommon, and that's a nice thing. GREAT handling on city streets & canyon roads, smooth and solid ride, quiet and comfortable in most situations. There's none of the vibration when idling you often feel in 4 cylinder cars. AWD gives it a heavy, solid feel. If you like the feel of AWD, don't miss out on Subaru. The '05 Legacy design is one to watch for!
Supple Subaru
There is no harshness in the ride of this smallish car. The seats are great. My arthritic 57 year old back feels fine even after all day trips. I had looked at Accord, Camry, A4, etc before buying the SE and I like its distinctive appearance. Fit and finish are excellent, handling is fun and predictable, but the overall suppleness of its ride has really impressed me.
No Better Car Out There For The Money
Having parents that have owned two Subaru's for years and hearing how great a car they build, we decided to go out and buy one. After owning the car for a little over a year now, I can honestly tell you this is the best car I've owned. I am NOT a family car type of guy and I love driving this car. From the solid Subaru build quality to the All-Wheel drive and the suprisingly well cornering ability. The list goes on and on. At around $20,000 this car is a steal.
All the bells and whistles
Coming from an AWD Impreza, I thought the handling was good. My 03 Legacy GT far surpasses it. Because it sticks to the road like glue, I can keep up with Porsches and BMWs easily on mountain roads and fly right by clumsy SUVs. I test drove one with an automatic, and the complaints about power with this trans are warranted. I got a 5-speed and the sluggishness issues were resolved. I'm averaging 28 MPG in mixed driving. What's best is the '03 and '04 GTs have every option imagineable -- In-dash CD changer, heated leather seats w/side airbags, heated mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, fog lights, 16-inch wheels, moonroof, etc. Very hard to find a 5-speed.
uncommon sedan
We bought this car while visiting our daughter in Colorado as an alternative to a SUV. We also had owned a 93 Legacy fwd and still own an old 87 Brat. We drove the 1800 miles back to the east coast in three days in this car so we got a pretty good feel for it. All I can say is outstanding ride, handling. Fuel economy broke 29 mpg with three in the car and luggage day three. Just passed 30k in the car w/ no issues, just maintaince. 19k for a sedan w/ all wheel drive, sunroof and pretty 16" alloys I while pass on Camerys and Accords. We sold our 97 Mustang when we got home, though it was a V6 and straight line would out run the Legacy, the Sub has got the handling, rain or shine.
nice car!!
Just bought the legacy special edition. with only a thousand miles on it, too early to tell about reliability. I bought the car presidents day weekend for $18,200. The invoice was about that before destination charges. I believe I got a good deal. The amazing thing to me is that I purchased this subaru for only $500 more than my wife's Legacy sedan (L) in 1998!!! Look how much more I got! bigger engine, sun roof, leather wheel and shift etc.. I like the handling very much. I am getting about 25mpg right now, hoping for a little more after it is broken in.
2003 Legacy S E......awesome car
I bought my new 2003 Legacy Special Edition thinking it was a "so-so" car since it did not cost as much as my last 3 Acura Integra GS-Rs did. Boy, I was I wrong!....this AWD car is so awesome on the road.....you have so much confidence in wet/snow weather that you would not find in FWD cars. This car is built solid, inside and out. It could stand to use more power and a smoother shifter, but overall it is great value for the money, cheaper than an Audi A4 AWD.
'03 Legacy L S.E.
What can I say, my wife and I love this car! In shopping for her new car we didnt even look at Subaru until I drove a WRX. I expected it to be fast and handle well, but it exceeded my expectations and surprised me with it's quality. That test drive led us to the Legacy, a more practical car for her. We commute almost 30 miles one way with an elevation change of 1000 feet on curvy two lane roads. This car is great on those roads, especially when it's wet! We bought it in Aug '01 and here in May we have over 18,000 totally trouble- free miles on it. I've even been thinking of buying another Subaru - an Impreza 2.5RS or perhaps a WRX - for ME
You need a Subaru!
The best car dollar for dollar!!
great overall car
it handles well, fast enough for gettign around, gets the job done
This is the car of my DREAMS!
This is my fourth Subaru. After two Legacy wagons and an Impreza Sport Coupe, I was ready to go for the real style of the line. I have NOT been disappointed. I get comments all the time about how classy the car looks. As for performance, I get the most out of the 4 cylinder engine. And the handling is outstanding. I am loyal to Subaru through and through, and I've even converted several friends and family.
It Grips
Nice price for a nice handling good looking modestmobile. I really like its awd handling in the rain and in the mountains and hills where I live. Not fancy not frilly but very functional and quite comfortable. I wouldn't mind a little more zip at the high end or a little better mpg but I've been very comfortable and satisfied with this car from Day 1.
Trustworthy
The only problem I've had is the rear sway bar and linkage and the right rear tire studs breaking
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
raftery subaru
Absolutely teh best car for the money. Incredible handling and comes with all the options you would want.
this car is great
this car is great
Snow Angel
Overall this is a reliable and fun car to own. It looks great on the road and drives even better! The Legacy has a clean and classy look that stands out against other automobiles.