Engine swap
I have a 2001 Subaru Legacy GT Limited that needs a motor, would one from a Forester be a plug and go swap?
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2001 Subaru Legacy Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Targeted at consumers who want a combination of safety, reliability, and interior comfort, the 2001 Subaru Legacy decides to ditch its base Brighton wagon, which carried only the bare minimum of features. That leaves the L and GT for wagon choices. Trim lines for the sedan (L, GT, and GT Limited) remain the same this year. All feature full-time all-wheel drive, with the GT models adding limited slip differential for better performance. Though the 2004 Legacy lineup shares the same 2.5-liter, 165-hp H4 engine and choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, the GTs have a sport-tuned suspension for a sportier ride. The engine has been rated as low emission.
Both sedans and wagons come with ABS brakes and dual front airbags, with the GT Limited including side impact bags as well. New for the 2001 Legacy is 24-hour road assistance. The L wagon and sedan gets a temperature display and an intermittent rear wiper for the wagon. Though the L is decently equipped with full power features and cruise control, both the GT and GT Limited add on a power driver's seat, sunroof, and halogen headlights. Rear seats in the wagons split-fold 60/40 to expand the trunk area to 68 cubic feet, and they also come with a roof rack. Sedan seats do not fold down, but the trunk holds a good-sized 12.4 cubic feet.
Drivers of the 2001 Legacy are amazed by the AWD performance and how it moves like butter through snow and ice. Handling and a smooth ride also get high marks. Storage room is ample in the wagons and decent in sedans. Gas mileage is on the cusp, with some owners liking the 22/27, but others feeling it should be better. Other complaints mention the lack of horsepower and some wind noise. Legroom is still cramped and the tailgate on the wagons is heavy.
Published Aug 8, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 2001 Subaru Legacy
Write a reviewUser rating:
by Bryan B
Jan 11, 2014
I like the way it handles and its functional, however the inside is very noisy and it isn't the most stylish thing to be driving around. It is pretty much a home and work car for me and has been that way for about a year and a half, as my first car I'm defiantly attached to it.Jan 11, 2014
by Anonymous
Jan 11, 2013
I really enjoy how great this car runs, especially in the snow. no matter what, you wont be able to get this car stuck, the AWD is just great. All around awesome car, could make a great first car for your son or daughter.Jan 11, 2013
by Nick K
Jul 27, 2012
I am still in love with this car after 6 months of ownership. It is fun to drive, it handles great, and it has the ability go nearly anywhere and haul about anything. Now is the time to snag one of these cars that sold new for $30 to $40k+. $5000 is a fair price for a daily driver in good condition with around 200,000 miles; the head gasket and timing belt should be replaced already. Keep the fluids up. Maintain the brakes and tires. This is a car for average to small folks. Over 6 foot tall folks may find it difficult to enter and exit the driver seat.Jul 27, 2012
User rating:
by Bryan B
Jan 11, 2014
I like the way it handles and its functional, however the inside is very noisy and it isn't the most stylish thing to be driving around. It is pretty much a home and work car for me and has been that way for about a year and a half, as my first car I'm defiantly attached to it.Jan 11, 2014
by Anonymous
Jan 11, 2013
I really enjoy how great this car runs, especially in the snow. no matter what, you wont be able to get this car stuck, the AWD is just great. All around awesome car, could make a great first car for your son or daughter.Jan 11, 2013
by Nick K
Jul 27, 2012
I am still in love with this car after 6 months of ownership. It is fun to drive, it handles great, and it has the ability go nearly anywhere and haul about anything. Now is the time to snag one of these cars that sold new for $30 to $40k+. $5000 is a fair price for a daily driver in good condition with around 200,000 miles; the head gasket and timing belt should be replaced already. Keep the fluids up. Maintain the brakes and tires. This is a car for average to small folks. Over 6 foot tall folks may find it difficult to enter and exit the driver seat.Jul 27, 2012
by Anonymous
Jul 25, 2012
At first i wasn't in love with the exterior of my car its two colors, but learned to like it after i saw the interior. :) perfect for colorado crazy weather and am very glad of my purchase.it's now at 171,000 miles so it's starting to worry me. Jul 25, 2012
by Chad W
Oct 25, 2010
not much power. handles good. chicks dont really dig it but it happens. saves me money. inexpencive car. it would be good for my grandmother, not really for a 16 boy. but take it as it comes. wish it had more power.Oct 25, 2010
by Mathias S
Sep 23, 2010
162 hp really nice look, and dont need repairs, 35 km/g but driving fast, like 25 maybe, dont know. this is a rellay fun car to drive, its comfortable and dont listen to anything, instead the engine ! YEAH ! YEAH Sep 23, 2010
by Dave W
Aug 26, 2010
Performance is ok, breaks and handles well, but not as good as Impreza
Build Quality is fair
Good looking for a wagon with lots of room for gear
Cost of ownership can become expensive past 180,000km
Car rode a lot smoother than Impreza on longer trips with about the same fuel economy could be a decider for potential customers Aug 26, 2010
by Arda N
Jul 07, 2010
It is a JDM spec Legacy B4, with factory HID's . I applaud Subaru for offering a Factory HID in 2001. Great car , will do a follow up as i get to know it better. As of right now i am pretty satisfied with my purchase.Jul 07, 2010
by Chris D
Apr 28, 2010
Best all around car to drive in. Fun on road or off road. with the bored ej25 to a 3 thing hullsss. all the repairs made on this car were cheap and easy to fix. this thing is a blastApr 28, 2010
by Wayne K
Nov 15, 2009
havent driven it in like 3 months as having 4 others to choose from to drive , sits on 19" wheels and goes well handles well and is cost effective, should use it more than I do , good all round car Nov 15, 2009
by Sam R
Oct 01, 2009
beast for a 4 cyl. fun in snow and rain. accelerates alright. does nice burnouts. wish it wasnt white. also wish it had a turbo. also wish i had some fat ass rims. rocking the poped off hubs for nowOct 01, 2009
by Geoff C
Sep 07, 2009
This has to be one of the best cars i have owned.even though i am a ford supporter thru and thru,i will not hesitate to but a legacy gtb again,but even an impreza would sacrifize.
the only bad thing is that its guzzles like a drunkSep 07, 2009
by Grant D
Sep 04, 2009
acceleration is good, braking is good, handles well.
build quality is good enough, blitzen body kit and interior styling, cost heaps on gas, maintenance is cheap, pretty fun to dirve all year round, 4wd is good in the wet or on ice.Sep 04, 2009
by Lauren C
May 05, 2009
I love this car overall. It handles really well. THe wind noise is really really loud on the highway and that is very annoying. Some stuff in the trunk has broken for me but I don't think thats my fault I think it was the previous owner mostly. overall love this car.May 05, 2009
by Daniel A
Mar 26, 2009
I love my car but I'm definitely ready to upgrade. The
performance is nothing special. Even thou it is really
underpowered it still is fun, it handles quite well as long as
you get it set in the corners. If you don't get the
suspension rolled up in the corner you better pack your
bags, understeer!!. I can surprisingly hang with some
decently fast cars. Mar 26, 2009
by Michael M
Jan 28, 2009
I love my car because it is to me a perfect blend of performance and reliability. Build quality is very strong and durable. Gas milieage could be better but not bad. Fun to drive? HELL YEAH! I LOVE MY SUBARU! Jan 28, 2009
by Hjörtur G
Nov 01, 2008
Performance:
acceleration: average
braking: okay
handling: good
Build Quality:
Needed no repairs during the three years i owned it!
Appearence:
interior: pretty darn good lots of space
exterior: station wagon...
Cost of Ownership
gas mileage: good
mainteance low maintenance car
Fun Factor:
i could do whatever I wanted off-road driving, washboard track etc. snow drifting whatever, extremely fun car Nov 01, 2008
by Joel T
Sep 20, 2008
It's a great car all year long!!! The drive is smooth in the mountains, great on the highway and comfortable for long trips (well 2 or more hours). I haven't done any road tripping for sure for a long time. I have to fill eight more words so that's what I'll do. If Subaru can install hybrid technology on a car that already gets 28-30 on the highway, look out Toyota, that's the only reason I wouldn't get a Subaru again.Sep 20, 2008
by Jake S
Jul 30, 2008
0-60 extremely quick. I'd say under 6, maybe even under 5.
Need some bigger cross slotted rotors and STI calipers in the front.
Handles like a dream.
As far as the body goes. It's perfect
Interior-all leather.
7 disc CD changer.
I Love It.
Its great to have a car that has 4 doors but handles like it could have two. Plus it has Subaru's AWD system so you know that no matter where you go or what time of year you go there, you'll always make your destination.
With 225/45/18 SpecB wheels on it, you know it looks damn sexy with the all black exterio/interior.
The transmission goes through all 5 gears like smooth sex.
If anyone is planning on buying a Subaru anytime soon. Definitely go with the GT Limited. It's incredible.Jul 30, 2008
by Leif L
Jun 15, 2008
She`ll go through anything, carry dogs, cats and hopefully babies in comfort, and is popular among the British Aristocracy. What more could you want... Jun 15, 2008
by Anonymous
May 27, 2008
Nice in the winter, but heavy on gas for me. May 27, 2008
by Alan M
Mar 17, 2008
great reliable vehicle. it always handled well and probably would still if i hadn't been irresponsible and wrecked it. at it's untimely demise it had 126,000 on the ticker and was still running greatMar 17, 2008
by Dave A
Dec 08, 2007
Overall its a great car. Handles like a wet dream, but needs stiffer springs to match the shocks. The rear sags the minute you put more than groceries in the back seat or trunk. Needs more suspension travel. The motor has decent power, the auto tranny is fairly smart, but needs another gear or two to make up for the modest power of the engine. Nice simple mechanically speaking. Any stereo guys out there: avoid the car the way the dash comes apart is a huge PITA. I've lost like half of the screws and only took it apart twice. Dec 08, 2007
What users have asked
Engine Replacement on A 2001 Subaru Legacy Station Wagonwith 100,00 miles
My timing belt malfunctioned and appears to have damaged the engine valves in the process. I am being advised to replace the engine with a used 54,000 mile replacement engine. Should I pay 2700 to fix it or scrap the car and replace it? Is it worth investing in a replacement engine f I want to keep the car foe another 3 years while y son finishes college and then sell it? Will it be worth the investment in terms of resale value? I am the original owner of the car. I do not drive it very much as we live in the city and work within a few miles of where we live.
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subaru legacy 2001 drivers window
my subaru legacy 2001 drivers side window doesn't work anymore. It was working perfectly before but started playing up. It didn't wind up, i pushed the button no power to it what so ever. However all other windows are good.
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2001 Subaru Legacy GT STI Motor Swap
Hello everyone I've got a 2001 Subaru Legacy GT 4 door manual transmission and one of the rods is knocking so I am wanting to replace the motor and I'm wanting to put in an STI motor is there a certain year or certain motor that I can put in it I'm wanting to build this motor for racing as well as an everyday driver can anyone help me as far as what motor to look for or what will fit looking to be somewhat cost conscious thank you everyone in advance for your input.
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What engines are plug and go for legacy
I own a 2001 subaru legacy gt limited and I need a new engine. I would normally be fine buying the same engine from the same car but I can't find any. I was wondering what engines would be plug and go.
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Top Comparisons
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2001 Subaru Legacy Pricing
Original MSRP
$19,790 to $24,890Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: rear
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: trunk release · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: split-bench
Roof
Moonroof: dual power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Front side airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
Limited slip differential: center
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: electrochromic
Rear Seats
Type: bench
Roof
Moonroof: power
Seats
Front seat type: bucket · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent