Which Legacy should I get : 94 Turbo Wagon or 97 GT Wagon ?

Legacy · 09-26-2001, 02:31 PM

This is will be my first Subaru either way, I'm looking for a wagon with winter capability and the subie sounds like the right one for the job

1]
- 94 2.2 Turbo wagon $8000
- 44k's
- Comes with [street legal, has cat] custom 2.5 or 3 inch stainless exhaust and blow off valve
- great shape, engine is clean as a whistle. Appears to have been very well taken care off
- Has a ton of little extra's like bed liner, tint, heated seats so it appears the owner cared about it.

2]

- 97 2.5 GT Wagon $10,000
- lease takeover ending in spring
- 13k's ONLY ! ! Elderly lady driving it
- will inspect later this week

Both cars are automatic and the same color so one less thing to compare. I'd like a 5sp but the turbo doesn't come with one and the GT is SO low on miles its worth the sacrifice... this will be my 2nd car anyway.

Which would you advise picking up ? I have no real intention to modify , I just want reliablility and somethign that's going to last 6-8 years.

ort5 · 09-26-2001, 03:53 PM

Hello,

I would say take the GT. I am the owner of a 94 Legacy Turbo Wagon and I love it, but I don't think that it is what you are looking for. The GT will be much more reliable and you can't beat the price. Also, you need to run premium fuel in the turbo and that just plain sucks....trust me.

Dave

Robin2 · 09-26-2001, 04:15 PM

I'd get the GT wagon too.... since you won't be modding it .....

THe 97's are based on the newer platform, bigger car, etc...

Robin

DO · 09-26-2001, 05:39 PM

I'd go with the 97 GT, the automatic tranny in the turbo wasn't known for it's reliability, same thing for the air suspension. That was on the older models(91-92) for sure, but I don't think they fixed it on the newer(93-94) models. The gt will have a better fuel mileage as well.

Stanley · 09-26-2001, 07:12 PM

If you want reliability, get the newer one with a N/A engine! It sounds like a used car dream to me (of course you'll have to be the judge when you inspect it)...Elderly owner, super low miles.
I hear you on the automatic vs. stick thing, but it is my understanding that the automatic AWD system is more sophisticated than the 5 spds...

Jgrahn555 · 09-26-2001, 09:23 PM

Turbo. All the way. More torque, better for mountain pass.

-Jason

Matt · 09-26-2001, 09:57 PM

Turbo, baby!

You have no idea how fast that engine can be with just a little work.

GT is ok, but Turbo offers real performance. Premium fuel isn't cool, but it shouldn't make you break the bank. Hell, my Brat takes premium only, but I don't count it against it.

Besides, I'd kill for the Legacy!

Jon [in CT] · 09-26-2001, 10:23 PM

You can trust that the turbo has been mod'd in ways which are no longer easily visible (i.e. boost controller, etc. have been removed). If you're serious about it, have someone inspect the ECM wiring harnesses for "splices." If observed, avoid it like the plague. The GT, on the other hand, has amazingly (unbelievably?)low miles. Go with that one unless it's been wrecked or in a flood.

AZ-GT · 09-26-2001, 10:36 PM

If you want a car that will be fun and is performance oriented I'd go with the turbo. I have a 91 sedan and love it. $8,000 is definetely steep though I'd think it shouldn't be more then $7,000.

JC · 09-26-2001, 10:38 PM

Turbo!

More fun, more power.
JC

eastbaysubaru · 09-29-2001, 03:31 AM

I've got a '93 Legacy Turbo Wagon with 105,000 miles. The tranny hasn't given me any problems yet, but I'm taking it in for a major inspection on Monday. I love the car, MUCH quicker than the GT and it'll take a lot of power reliably. Definitely get it checked by a mechanic and like Jon [in CT] said, check for splices. It is the best mountain car I can think of, total sleeper and will work SUVs till the cows come home. Hope this helps.

-Brian

DO · 09-29-2001, 09:33 AM

Best thing to do is go out and test them. If you want power buy the turbo, if you want a little more refinement but the 97 GT. I doubt that you'll be disappointed with any of these machines!

09-26-2001, 02:31 PM	#1
Legacy Scooby Specialist Member#: 10188 Join Date: Sep 2001 Vehicle: 2007 Forester XT	Which Legacy should I get : 94 Turbo Wagon or 97 GT Wagon ? This is will be my first Subaru either way, I'm looking for a wagon with winter capability and the subie sounds like the right one for the job 1] - 94 2.2 Turbo wagon $8000 - 44k's - Comes with [street legal, has cat] custom 2.5 or 3 inch stainless exhaust and blow off valve - great shape, engine is clean as a whistle. Appears to have been very well taken care off - Has a ton of little extra's like bed liner, tint, heated seats so it appears the owner cared about it. 2] - 97 2.5 GT Wagon $10,000 - lease takeover ending in spring - 13k's ONLY ! ! Elderly lady driving it - will inspect later this week Both cars are automatic and the same color so one less thing to compare. I'd like a 5sp but the turbo doesn't come with one and the GT is SO low on miles its worth the sacrifice... this will be my 2nd car anyway. Which would you advise picking up ? I have no real intention to modify , I just want reliablility and somethign that's going to last 6-8 years.

09-29-2001, 03:31 AM	#11
eastbaysubaru Scooby Specialist Member#: 4110 Join Date: Feb 2001 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: No. So. Co. Vehicle: 04 FXT PSM	TURBO! I've got a '93 Legacy Turbo Wagon with 105,000 miles. The tranny hasn't given me any problems yet, but I'm taking it in for a major inspection on Monday. I love the car, MUCH quicker than the GT and it'll take a lot of power reliably. Definitely get it checked by a mechanic and like Jon [in CT] said, check for splices. It is the best mountain car I can think of, total sleeper and will work SUVs till the cows come home. Hope this helps. -Brian

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09-26-2001, 03:53 PM	#2
ort5 Scooby Newbie Member#: 3706 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jaffrey, NH Vehicle: 2000 VW Golf TDI 5mt Red	Hello, I would say take the GT. I am the owner of a 94 Legacy Turbo Wagon and I love it, but I don't think that it is what you are looking for. The GT will be much more reliable and you can't beat the price. Also, you need to run premium fuel in the turbo and that just plain sucks....trust me. Dave

09-26-2001, 04:15 PM	#3
Robin2 Scooby Specialist Member#: 390 Join Date: Oct 1999 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Vehicle: 1999 Impreza 2.5RS Silver	I'd get the GT wagon too.... since you won't be modding it ..... THe 97's are based on the newer platform, bigger car, etc... Robin

09-26-2001, 05:39 PM	#4
DO Scooby Specialist Member#: 5553 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Vehicle: 2002 impreza wagon silver	I'd go with the 97 GT, the automatic tranny in the turbo wasn't known for it's reliability, same thing for the air suspension. That was on the older models(91-92) for sure, but I don't think they fixed it on the newer(93-94) models. The gt will have a better fuel mileage as well.

09-26-2001, 07:12 PM	#5
Stanley Scooby Specialist Member#: 7374 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SF Bay Area Vehicle: 1998 CraptasticCamry A baby poop shade	If you want reliability, get the newer one with a N/A engine! It sounds like a used car dream to me (of course you'll have to be the judge when you inspect it)...Elderly owner, super low miles. I hear you on the automatic vs. stick thing, but it is my understanding that the automatic AWD system is more sophisticated than the 5 spds...

09-26-2001, 09:23 PM	#6
Jgrahn555 Scooby Newbie Member#: 3224 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Seattle, FL Vehicle: 06	Turbo. All the way. More torque, better for mountain pass. -Jason

09-26-2001, 09:57 PM	#7
Matt Allergic to turbos Moderator Member#: 181 Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: MAIC & Southeast Vehicle: Two Subarus and a truck	Turbo, baby! You have no idea how fast that engine can be with just a little work. GT is ok, but Turbo offers real performance. Premium fuel isn't cool, but it shouldn't make you break the bank. Hell, my Brat takes premium only, but I don't count it against it. Besides, I'd kill for the Legacy!

09-26-2001, 10:23 PM	#8
Jon [in CT] * Banned * Member#: 2992 Join Date: Nov 2000 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Connecticut, USA Vehicle: 02 WRX Sedan Silver	You can trust that the turbo has been mod'd in ways which are no longer easily visible (i.e. boost controller, etc. have been removed). If you're serious about it, have someone inspect the ECM wiring harnesses for "splices." If observed, avoid it like the plague. The GT, on the other hand, has amazingly (unbelievably?)low miles. Go with that one unless it's been wrecked or in a flood.

09-26-2001, 10:36 PM	#9
AZ-GT Scooby Specialist Member#: 192 Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Prescott, AZ USA Vehicle: '04 WRX STI '88 BMW M3	If you want a car that will be fun and is performance oriented I'd go with the turbo. I have a 91 sedan and love it. $8,000 is definetely steep though I'd think it shouldn't be more then $7,000.

09-26-2001, 10:38 PM	#10
JC NASIOC Supporter Member#: 692 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: RS25.com	Turbo! More fun, more power. JC

09-29-2001, 09:33 AM	#12
DO Scooby Specialist Member#: 5553 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Moncton, NB, Canada Vehicle: 2002 impreza wagon silver	Best thing to do is go out and test them. If you want power buy the turbo, if you want a little more refinement but the 97 GT. I doubt that you'll be disappointed with any of these machines!