i'm looking at 96 and 97 subaru legacy's (sedans..not wagons) and i need some info...i noe their basic power ratings but do the 97 use a totally different engine or just a better tuned one? also has anyone driven any of the gt or lsi versions? i dont really care about the L version...but how do they handle and does anyone noe the percent power that is given to the front and rear wheels? do any models come with lsd and if so, wat type? thanx

96 and 97 as far as i know both have same engine (2.2l)... i have a 95 ls which as far as i know is pretty close to an lsi (lsi i think just has more bells and whistles leather, etc.). i love mine. i haven't been blessed enough to drive a gt :( but i know the stock hp of an l, ls, lsi is 135 while the stock of a gt is around 165 hp. as far as the other questions you have, i'm not sure. hope this helps.

Originally posted by legacy2003
96 and 97 as far as i know both have same engine (2.2l)... i have a 95 ls which as far as i know is pretty close to an lsi (lsi i think just has more bells and whistles leather, etc.). i love mine. i haven't been blessed enough to drive a gt :( but i know the stock hp of an l, ls, lsi is 135 while the stock of a gt is around 165 hp. as far as the other questions you have, i'm not sure. hope this helps.

kool..but wat gives the 97s the ten (i think it was ten) extra hp over the 96...also the lsi and gt versions hav the same engine..the L is the one with the more economical engine

i was just gonna say that... lsi and gts both have a dohc 2.5

-PJ

so how do u guys like how your sedans handle? is their any issues with oversteer or understeer? how hard is it to whip out the back end of the car?

btw..anyone hav info on lsd or the power ratios?

Good info here:

http://www.cars101.com/subaru_archives.html

handling is great in my opinion... i didn't know the lsi came w/a 2.5 dohc wish i had gotten one of those :( ... or a gt... ah well.

The Lsi and GT with the first DOHC 2.5L had 155HP while from 97-99 had 165HP. Also, the SOHC 2.2L in the L, LS & Brighton had 135hp until 97 where I'm 99.9% sure they went up to 142hp (though Joe Spitz says other wise, I'm mostly sure it's 142hp from at least 98-99)

Handling is great especially with upgraded endlinks and a rear swaybar. Going bigger on an adjustable R. Swaybar you can dial-in how neutral or how much oversteer you want.

Also, the 2.5DOHC are prone to headgasket failures and if not caught early enough = dead engine.

//M

kool..so is the car more prone to oversteer or understeer (stock i mean) ...i noe this can be fixed with th rite size sway bars...also i would really like to noe the front and rear power ratios...

btw...juss checked up stats on autotrader..97 legacy L hav 137 hp..so do 98...

This winter was a pretty nasty one in Pittsburgh and i have a 96 LS and had NO problem doing donuts in parking lots (so, that should answer how hard it is to get the back to spin out) and i believe the front and rear power difference is 60-40, but don't quote me.

ic kool thanx guys..i mite be considering one if i can't find a decent 240sx

I recently bought a 97 Legacy GT to replace my ford Probe. How crap the suspension is increible for stock! It eats hard corners alive and if they are banked you won't have to back off the throttle! I would love to lower mine, but I can't due to the roads I drive on, but I can only imagine how insane it would be with shocks struts sway bars and tower struts....I would bet it would take a lot to loose traction.