It has been a month since I changed my company car to a Legacy Touring Wagon TA-BP5 2.0GT 5MT, and I'd like to summarize my thoughts and feelings during that time.
What kind of car is it?
The Legacy was a car model manufactured and sold by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (now Subaru), which was founded on the basis of Nakajima Aircraft Company during the war, as a last resort to overcome the pinch that had prevented them from taking advantage of the bubble economy. The body types were sedan and wagon, and the model TA-BP5 was the early fourth-generation wagon, and came in two grades, naturally aspirated and turbocharged, with a DOHC version of the horizontally opposed 4-cylinder EJ20 engine.
The turbo version comes in two versions: the 2.0GT with 17-inch wheels, and the Spec B with 18-inch wheels and a shorter final drive. The third-generation commercial vehicle is the standard 2.0GT.
What's good about BP5
fast!
280PS+MT+vehicle weight 1,430kg.
There's no way it's too late.
The EJ20 has been criticized for oil leaks and metal leaks that have caused it to blow.
The matching with the turbo is like a match made in heaven.
From 3000 rpm onwards, there is no turbo lag at all.
It maintains a sense of torque and revs up to the 7500 rpm rev limit.
First gear is slow and second gear can reach up to 110km/h.
There is no opportunity to rev up on local roads.
convenience!
AWD, whose driving performance is less affected by weather conditions,
The rear seats can be folded down with the push of a button,
The rear seats and passenger seat can be reclined and laid flat by removing the headrests.
(Toyota and Mazda can't do this)
As mentioned above, the size of the luggage compartment is such that if you fold the seats flat, you can even fit a longboard inside.
Of course it is inferior to the 240, which has a huge loading capacity, but since there is no free space, loading luggage is actually faster.
Good fuel economy!
For AWD and unnecessary sporty performance
Subaru is famous for being "very fuel-efficient" ,
Even with the air conditioning on full blast in midsummer, this 2.0GT gets 12km/L on local roads and 15km/L on the highway .
It's no problem. Just cruise in 5th gear without turning the turbine.
Of course, it's inferior to today's eco-friendly and hybrid cars.
The fuel economy is sufficient for a 280PS turbo car.
If this were Spec B, the increased weight and final short would result in a drop in catalog fuel economy of about 1km.
The 3.0R (BPE), which is a rare car equipped with an extremely rare horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine, has even worse fuel efficiency.
As it turns out, ATs actually have better fuel economy.
The BP5 will likely be the last generation in which a manual transmission will offer better fuel economy than an automatic transmission.
For a while after purchasing it, I happily rode it to Mount Tsukuba even in the pouring rain.
My first time surfing at BP5 was at Hirai.
It may look like there's a lot of luggage, but since I'm usually alone it's no problem at all.
I bought a helmet and gloves and made my circuit debut.
After this, I even considered making my gymkhana debut.
Other things to do include cutting the limiter and installing adjustable suspension.
However, about a month after the introduction of BP5,
After going through most of the usage, I started to have some thoughts.
What's wrong with BP5
Dual mass flywheel (early model)
Did you think you could do something different when you changed from BH to BP?
Dual mass flywheel was introduced to DOHC vehicles,
Anyway, this makes it hard to tell the touch.
There is a squishy touch at the timing of the meet when starting from zero,
It will soon disappear.
So is it okay to just engage the clutch?
It's difficult to judge whether you should press the accelerator harder.
When shifting up, I can't feel the clutch connecting when I release it and then release it back.
Subaru quietly went back to a normal flywheel in the later models.
That would be all the answers.
In addition, even for the early model, aftermarket or genuine parts may be used at the time of clutch overhaul.
It is possible to install a normal flywheel.
The company car had been kindly replaced with a dual mass unit.
I deal with this by wearing driving shoes when I drive.
Electric Slot
This is also to optimize the intake and exhaust when changing from BH to BP.
The intake system is an electronic throttle that eliminates wires.
The exhaust system uses an equal-length exhaust manifold, eliminating the boxer sound.
The response of the accelerator pedal via this electronic throttle is unstable.
If you don't turn off the eco mode when the car is cold, the already small low-speed torque will be completely lost.
It turns into a storm of engine stalls.
In the article by Imasara Legacy, which is an homage to the title of this article,
Replacing the accelerator pedal will fix the problem.
Interior and exterior parts that are prone to deterioration
During development, we put all our efforts into making it as lightweight as possible.
In some places, materials are used without any consideration for durability.
It is well known that the interior parts of used Italian cars are sticky.
The BP5 dashboard is incomparable.
It's sticky and cracked spectacularly.
The stickiness is so strong it's like flypaper!
If you try to wipe it off with tissue, it will surely result in a disastrous mess.
Luckily, dash mats are available at bargain prices.
Once installed, it allows you to turn a blind eye to reality for the time being.
The exterior is also made of plastic parts such as the grille, turbo intake, and rear spoiler.
The clear coating is weak and the headlights generally turn yellow.
Regarding headlights, all models after the abolition of glass are the same,
It seems that the inspection items for vehicle inspections will become stricter, so measures will be necessary.
Future Policy
I think it's a big turning point to decide whether to run or not.
The driving performance can't beat the WRX
It exceeds the upper limits of both base performance and tuning.
Even the B4 is still heavy.
On mini circuits, the 86 & BRZ and below are faster.
When it comes to the infield area, the BP5 is heavy,
It will be a roll fest like you can't even experience on a mountain pass.
It would be improved if you put on height adjustable suspension.
Is it a chicken race to see how much money they can spend, including on tires?
It has a sunroof
Even though it has a good power-to-weight ratio
What are you doing with all this extra weight equipment?
It makes your hips feel heavy and with the current scorching heat there's no opportunity to open it up.
Taking these things into account,
From the current state of the business vehicle
Purely brushing up
Is that the best way?
I sometimes think that.
After all, this vehicle still has almost all of the inspection records from when it was new.
One can sense the passion of the previous owners there.
It would be a shame to just ride it out, but it is also important to properly understand the current situation.
So, first I'll get it inspected for a 12 month inspection.