Overview:
This week I tested the 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited Sedan. The new year is in high gear and all cars will be jockeying for position in an incredibly competitive OEM marketplace.
The horseless carriage has matured in the past 100 years and most men have this irrational love of the automobile. Or is it? Consider that it could be because the car has done as much in the past 100 years as did the horse before it, to give men mobility and embellished his manhood. Men and women look at cars differently. In this they are more like men and men more like women. Women look at the car practically and men look at it emotionally.
And I fear we men fall in love too easily. But that is easy to understand because the cars of this generation have improved to be even less troublesome and thus friendlier. In short, they are easier to love. Gone, for better or worse, are the days of having to set the timing or adjust the carburetor or deal with sticky valves all of which were mechanical. Today’s engines are computer controlled and don’t really let you tinker and tune even if you wanted to.
General Info:
Parts –
Assembly – Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Class: – Compact
Cars: – Baja, Forester, Impreza & Wagon, Legacy & Wagon and Outback.
Handling & Performance:
This Legacy is unbelievably swift due to the Multi-point fuel injection TURBO. Some feel the delay in power is annoying, but that is a necessary characteristic of turbochargers and how they work. And because the criticism is accurate there could be a market for a Supercharger if it were an option to the Turbo. However, with the increasing fuel prices the Turbo is more fuel-efficient and I suspect it would win out in the end.
Styling:
Subaru Legacy is a competitive leap for them. It gives them a competitive product in the larger sedan market.
Fit and Finish:
Good.
Cost:
Fair, but if you don’t have to have a 5-speed auto trans with “Sportshift”, also referred to as “Tiptronic” you can save $1,200, bringing the MSRP down to $29,070.
Conveniences:
Although this Legacy is considered a Compact, it is roomy – front and rear – and has a huge trunk.
Consumer Recommendation:
For Subaru, the Legacy is the most mainstream in design to compete with the list below. It has a competitive edge in that it sports AWD that is the trademark of Subaru. They simply do it better because they have done it longer.
The Competition:
Subaru Legacy $21-29,000, Chevrolet Impala $22-28,000, Chevrolet Malibu $19-24,000, Pontiac Grand Prix $23-27,000, Nissan Altima $17-27,000, Chrysler 300 $23-34,000. 2004 models: Dodge Intrepid $21-25,000, BMW 3 Series $28-44,000, Acura TSX $26-28,000, Volvo S40 $24-29,000, Audi A-4 $26-44,000, Toyota Camry $18-25,000, Saab 9-3 $26-43,000, Honda Accord $16-29,000, Lexus IS 300 $29-31,000, Infiniti G35 $28-33,000, Mazda 6 $19-23,000, Volkswagen Jetta $17-24,000, Mitsubishi Galant $18-26,000.
Good News:
AWD safety and convenience, fast with turbo, clean lines, roomy for a Compact and huge trunk area.
Bad News:
Only fair fuel economy,
Standard Equipment:
2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine, active valve control, 5-speed auto trans, All wheel Drive, turbo, fuel injection, Variable torque distribution VTD, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, dual front, side and curtain Airbags, Child anchorage latch system, 17 inch alloy wheels, fog lights, 4-wheel independent suspension, dual zone climate control, all weather package (including heated front seats, mirrors, windshield wiper de-Icer), stereo with In-Dash 6-CD changer and speakers), tilt steering column, trip computer, leather wrapped steering wheel, Leather wrapped steering wheel and trimmed upholstery, power door locks and mirrors, power 8-way drivers seat, power 4- way passenger seat, power windows and keyless entry system with immobilizer.
Gas Stats:
19 City and 25 Highway MPG.
Pricing:
MSRP $30,270.
