Do I have an Outback wagon, or a Legacy wagon??

[M. Baker]

Hi all. I just got a pre-owned 2003 Subaru wagon. I am confused as to
whether it's a regular Outback or a Legacy Outback, however. The
TITLE and dealership I bought it from say it's a Legacy Outback. When
they punched up the VIN for the title, it stated it's a Legacy. But
shouldn't there be a "LEGACY" namebadge on the exterior of the car on
the back? There isn't - all it says is OUTBACK on the back hatch.

It's got the winter package (heated seats, side mirrors and wiper
blades), single CD player, no sun/moonroof, cloth seats (no leather),
and wood grain console trim. I see no mention on the car itself of
LEGACY.

I'd like to know what I got, as I want to order some accessories, and
you have to choose what vehicle you need parts for, and some places
have both Legacy and Outback when I got to 2003 Outback section.

 

[Todd H.]

Hi all. I just got a pre-owned 2003 Subaru wagon. I am confused as to
whether it's a regular Outback or a Legacy Outback, however.

The answer to your either/or question is "yes."

The TITLE and dealership I bought it from say it's a Legacy
Outback. When they punched up the VIN for the title, it stated it's
a Legacy. But shouldn't there be a "LEGACY" namebadge on the
exterior of the car on the back? There isn't - all it says is
OUTBACK on the back hatch.

It's got the winter package (heated seats, side mirrors and wiper
blades), single CD player, no sun/moonroof, cloth seats (no leather),
and wood grain console trim. I see no mention on the car itself of
LEGACY.

I'd like to know what I got, as I want to order some accessories, and
you have to choose what vehicle you need parts for, and some places
have both Legacy and Outback when I got to 2003 Outback section.

This was confusing to me as well.

Subaru basically made only 2 vehicles that year, a Legacy platform,
and the shorter wheelbase Impreza platform.

Your "Outback" is a higher riding, option rich version of the Legacy
wagon.

The "Outback Sport" is a similar trim packaged vehicle on the impreza
platform. The WRX is also a flavor of impreza, as is the RS.

If you think of "Outback" sort of as a trim line, it makes more
sense. Subaru just dropped Legacy from our vehicle's names for
marketing reasons. But they are Legacy based vehicles.

 

[nobody >]

Hi all. I just got a pre-owned 2003 Subaru wagon. I am confused as to
whether it's a regular Outback or a Legacy Outback, however. The
TITLE and dealership I bought it from say it's a Legacy Outback. When
they punched up the VIN for the title, it stated it's a Legacy. But
shouldn't there be a "LEGACY" namebadge on the exterior of the car on
the back? There isn't - all it says is OUTBACK on the back hatch.

It's got the winter package (heated seats, side mirrors and wiper
blades), single CD player, no sun/moonroof, cloth seats (no leather),
and wood grain console trim. I see no mention on the car itself of
LEGACY.

I'd like to know what I got, as I want to order some accessories, and
you have to choose what vehicle you need parts for, and some places
have both Legacy and Outback when I got to 2003 Outback section.

There are TWO Outback lines, one's the Outback based on the Legacy
(full-size) and the Outback Sport based on the Imprezza compact.

Both are just trim/option packages.

 

[isquat]

The answer to your either/or question is "yes."




This was confusing to me as well.

Subaru basically made only 2 vehicles that year, a Legacy platform,
and the shorter wheelbase Impreza platform.

Your "Outback" is a higher riding, option rich version of the Legacy
wagon.

The "Outback Sport" is a similar trim packaged vehicle on the impreza
platform. The WRX is also a flavor of impreza, as is the RS.

If you think of "Outback" sort of as a trim line, it makes more
sense. Subaru just dropped Legacy from our vehicle's names for
marketing reasons. But they are Legacy based vehicles.

You're joking? Legacy is still on subaru.com
even for 2008 there is a preview
And if you're to believe the configurator on carsdirect.com
legacy can be even had with a manual for no extra charge

What's nice is that by default there are no splash guards on Legacy.
On a legacy based outback I believe you'd get those and would have
to remove. Small beans but $100 wasted.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hi all. I just got a pre-owned 2003 Subaru wagon. I am confused as to
whether it's a regular Outback or a Legacy Outback, however. The
TITLE and dealership I bought it from say it's a Legacy Outback. When
they punched up the VIN for the title, it stated it's a Legacy. But
shouldn't there be a "LEGACY" namebadge on the exterior of the car on
the back? There isn't - all it says is OUTBACK on the back hatch.

It's got the winter package (heated seats, side mirrors and wiper
blades), single CD player, no sun/moonroof, cloth seats (no leather),
and wood grain console trim. I see no mention on the car itself of
LEGACY.

I'd like to know what I got, as I want to order some accessories, and
you have to choose what vehicle you need parts for, and some places
have both Legacy and Outback when I got to 2003 Outback section.

you might enjoy looking around at www.cars101.com

Carl

 

[M. Baker]

So, I DO have a Legacy Outback wagon then? So if forced to choose, I
would look under Legacy Products rather than Outback Products (as it's
separated on subaru-parts.com)?

When I looked in the owners manual (which was for both Legacy/Outback,
so that didn't tell me anything substansive either), it had the specs
for each car. It said the Legacy Wagon has a shorter ground clearance
and shorter overhall height than the Outback Wagon. So judging from
that, they are TWO different things - an Outback Wagon, or a Legacy
Outback Wagon - isn't there an easy way for me to tell, by the color
and/or options I have, etc.? If I measure ground cleance, where do I
measure to on the car, the bottom of the side/bumper moldings?

I still don't get why, if I do have a Legacy, my car doesn't have the
LEGACY namebadge anywhere on it.

 

[Todd H.]

You're joking?

No joking.

Legacy is still on subaru.com even for 2008 there is a preview

Not on the Outback pages, and besides, the OP and I were discussing
2001 and 2003 model years.

I didn't say the Legacy didn't exist. I said "dropped Legacy from our
vehicles' names." And the OP and I own Outbacks.

 

[B A R R Y]

I didn't say the Legacy didn't exist. I said "dropped Legacy from our
vehicles' names." And the OP and I own Outbacks.

My 2001 OBW was registered by the dealer as, wait for it...

A 2001 Subaru Legacy Station Wagon. <G>

It said Outback on the outside, but Legacy on the manual cover.

 

[Todd H.]

My 2001 OBW was registered by the dealer as, wait for it...

A 2001 Subaru Legacy Station Wagon. <G>

It said Outback on the outside, but Legacy on the manual cover.

Yes indeed.

Interesting that Legacy is left out of all marketing materials though,
and hence the confusion.

 

[B A R R Y]

Interesting that Legacy is left out of all marketing materials though,
and hence the confusion.

Agreed!

I had a very interesting conversation once with the owner of a 2001
Legacy GT wagon. This guy SWORE his car was totally different than my
'01 OBW. We had identical owner's manuals in our respective gloveboxes.
<G>

 

[M. Baker]

Agreed!

I had a very interesting conversation once with the owner of a 2001
Legacy GT wagon. This guy SWORE his car was totally different than my
'01 OBW. We had identical owner's manuals in our respective gloveboxes.
<G>

Yes - it's very confusing. The title says Legacy - that's how it
punched up when they put the VIN in at the dealer. But the car says
Legacy on it nowhere.

So....do I look under "Legacy Products" or "Outback Products"?

 

[Todd H.]

Yes - it's very confusing. The title says Legacy - that's how it
punched up when they put the VIN in at the dealer. But the car says
Legacy on it nowhere.

So....do I look under "Legacy Products" or "Outback Products"?

Yeah, I ran into this same issue at a place that was doing my
alignment. Alignment done, drove off, car was just not right... turns
out the tech set up angles for the first Outback looking thing he
found on his computer's list (Outback Sport) vs going under the
Legacy menu to find the flavor of Outback.

Got it right the 2nd time finally.

 

[B A R R Y]

So....do I look under "Legacy Products" or "Outback Products"?

Both! <G>

 

[nobody >]

Yes - it's very confusing. The title says Legacy - that's how it
punched up when they put the VIN in at the dealer. But the car says
Legacy on it nowhere.

So....do I look under "Legacy Products" or "Outback Products"?

Both.

Some things show up both places, some in one or the other. There are few
(if any) pieces that are only specific to the Outback. If you aren't
sure, email the vendor or use the provided form on some sites.
http://www.subaruparts.com/parts.php is one of those.

 

[isquat]

There are TWO Outback lines, one's the Outback based on the Legacy
(full-size) and the Outback Sport based on the Imprezza compact.

Both are just trim/option packages.

The bright bulbs in marketing could have called one Outback and
another Outfront or Outsmart or something to disambiguate