Two problems related to manual transmission have been reported for the 1998 Subaru Legacy. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Bought my Subaru Legacy 2. 5 gt last month, I brought the car in for the first servicing complaining of clutch, and transmission difficulty. When car goes over bumps, transmission twists and lurches. 5 speed manual transmission, third gear is difficult to enter, reverse grinds.
Car out of alignment, car pulls to the right even when in alignment. Ride is very rough like something is out of kilter; the transmission doesn't operate smoothly between 2nd and 3rd gear. . . Like hesitation, and acts like there could be something wrong with the gas lines or parts controlling the fuel to car; cup holder is designed so that everything wants to tip out!! it is not deep enough which could be a definite safety hazzard if something hot tips out onto passenger. I previously owned a 1993 Subaru Legacy wagon that also pulled to the right!! and the transmission (standard) was sooooo poorly geared in 1st and snd that it ate tires continually, would not move on snowy or inclined surfaces, and posed a major safety hazzard in wet or snowy conditions,,, this was a standard, non-awd model. . . And the transmission went out on this vehicle at 93,000 miles and Subaru woudl not take responsibility for any of these problems!!! that vehicle was clearly defective as this one is,,, and none of the corrections they (the dealership) has made have corrected or held so far! as for the gearing . . They say it is the nature of the beast!! as is the pulling,,, I think I have another Subaru lemon,,, and I do not want to have the same problems or worse that I had before!!!.