Topic: 2010 Subaru Legacy Wagon Coming to Canada?

[Trainman]

Maybe, if this article is to be believed.  But not the US....

http://www.leftlanenews.com/subaru-unveils-legacy-touring-wagon.html


Subaru unveils Legacy Touring Wagon
05/20/2009, 1:37 PM
By Andrew Ganz

Subaru has unveiled the wagon version of its upcoming 2010 Legacy. Looking much as you’d expect - a blend between the Legacy sedan and the Outback wagon that were unveiled in New York earlier this year - the Legacy Touring Wagon is not expected to reach the United States market, though it will probably be sold in Canada.

Subaru discontinued the Legacy wagon variant for the United States for 2008 and it is not expected that the automaker will bring back the versatile bodystyle without Outback trim.

Available in the Japanese market (other market specifications will be announced later) with either a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated boxer four or a turbocharged version of that engine, the Legacy Touring Wagon mates to either a CVT or, in turbocharged models, a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual.

The 3.6-liter six-cylinder offered in the Outback and sedan will not be offered in the standard wagon. A turbodiesel variant is expected to be unveiled later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show when the European-specification 2010 Legacy is introduced.

[sailor723]

It wouldn't surprise me if they did. The wagons always did better here than in the US.

It will be interesting to see if Subaru Canada stays aggressive on pricing. With the dollar getting quite a bit stronger they may start running into the cross border shopping issue again.

[Giant Dwarf]

Well I sure hope Subaru Canada does bring it here.  There's definitely a shortage of practical wagons that can still offer a reasonable helping of fun-to-driveness too with a stick shift.  Still, I also see by those pictures that Subaru maintains its tradition of building really unattractive cars.  Hopefully it drives better than it looks.  What a frumpy, odd-looking wagon.

[goodsonr]

While I think the previous versions are much nicer to look at - my bigger worry is the new CVT.  It would be nice to have some history on longevity/reliability before purchase given how expensive it would likely be to repair (just my expectation being a Subie).

At least the manual is up to 6 speed - throw in a hill-holder feature to cover-up my lously steep-hill-start skills and I should be OK with that... especially important since I read somewhere the car would come with an electronic parking brake - so throw that technique out-the-window.

ron

[Mitlov]

Well I sure hope Subaru Canada does bring it here.  There's definitely a shortage of practical wagons that can still offer a reasonable helping of fun-to-driveness too with a stick shift.  Still, I also see by those pictures that Subaru maintains its tradition of building really unattractive cars.  Hopefully it drives better than it looks.  What a frumpy, odd-looking wagon.

Repeat after me: The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car.  The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car.  The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car...

The Legacy is often treated on forums as a budget 3-Series, a real enthusiast-oriented sedan.  It absolutely does not deserve that treatment.  It may look better on paper because of the full-time AWD, but I wouldn't say it's any more enjoyable to drive than a previous-gen Accord, and I'd say it's significantly less fun-to-drive than a Jetta Sportwagen (which used to be nearly comparable in size, if not anymore).  I've never driven a Mazda6, but I suspect it walks all over the Legacy on driving experience.

[sailor723]

Well I sure hope Subaru Canada does bring it here.  There's definitely a shortage of practical wagons that can still offer a reasonable helping of fun-to-driveness too with a stick shift.  Still, I also see by those pictures that Subaru maintains its tradition of building really unattractive cars.  Hopefully it drives better than it looks.  What a frumpy, odd-looking wagon.

Repeat after me: The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car.  The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car.  The Legacy 2.5i is not a fun-to-drive car...

The Legacy is often treated on forums as a budget 3-Series, a real enthusiast-oriented sedan.  It absolutely does not deserve that treatment.  It may look better on paper because of the full-time AWD, but I wouldn't say it's any more enjoyable to drive than a previous-gen Accord, and I'd say it's significantly less fun-to-drive than a Jetta Sportwagen (which used to be nearly comparable in size, if not anymore).  I've never driven a Mazda6, but I suspect it walks all over the Legacy on driving experience.

Have to agree with you on this one Mitlov

Subaru wagons have lots of good qualities in my opinion but I wouldn't call them "sporty" or "fun to drive".


edit

You know,when I stop to think about it, Legacy wagons can be "fun to drive". All you need is a 20+cm snowstorm

[mmret]

Legacy GT uses a different suspension setup though, does it not? I imagine that would be a rather fun ride.

[Ice]

While I think the previous versions are much nicer to look at - my bigger worry is the new CVT.  It would be nice to have some history on longevity/reliability before purchase given how expensive it would likely be to repair (just my expectation being a Subie).

At least the manual is up to 6 speed - throw in a hill-holder feature to cover-up my lously steep-hill-start skills and I should be OK with that... especially important since I read somewhere the car would come with an electronic parking brake - so throw that technique out-the-window.

ron

I was briefly reading that Subaru isn't new to the CVT technology...it sounds like they (or Fuji Heavy) license CVT technology to others.  So it sounds like the CVT shouldn't be a huge problem.  CVT's are fairly simple in many ways as I understand so repairs and the need for repairs probably wouldn't be a big problem either. I'm more worried about how it makes the car feel.

I hope they bring the Legacy Wagon to Canada.  Be good to have a few wagons around.

[Mitlov]

Legacy GT uses a different suspension setup though, does it not? I imagine that would be a rather fun ride.

You'd think that, wouldn't you?  It still felt very heavy to me when I test-drove it.  Its handling, while objectively competent, lacked a certain "eagerness."  And don't forget that it's also got a much higher price than the 2.5i and is up against some pretty tough competition in that price class.

[sailor723]

While I think the previous versions are much nicer to look at - my bigger worry is the new CVT.  It would be nice to have some history on longevity/reliability before purchase given how expensive it would likely be to repair (just my expectation being a Subie).

At least the manual is up to 6 speed - throw in a hill-holder feature to cover-up my lously steep-hill-start skills and I should be OK with that... especially important since I read somewhere the car would come with an electronic parking brake - so throw that technique out-the-window.

ron

I was briefly reading that Subaru isn't new to the CVT technology...it sounds like they (or Fuji Heavy) license CVT technology to others.  So it sounds like the CVT shouldn't be a huge problem.  CVT's are fairly simple in many ways as I understand so repairs and the need for repairs probably wouldn't be a big problem either. I'm more worried about how it makes the car feel.

I hope they bring the Legacy Wagon to Canada.  Be good to have a few wagons around.

Subaru was offering a CVT in the Justy in the '90's

I don't remember them having a huge amount of problems but they did feel pretty weird.

[canuck_driver]

Isn't this Legacy platform the same as the Toyota Camry; it would make sense for manufacturing purposes?


Thanks

[Hank Horsey]

What a frumpy, odd-looking wagon.

I have a strange affection for frumpy and odd-looking, at least vis-a-vis Legacy/Outback wagons, and I love that they didn't sacrifice rear visibility for fashion. But I'm really choked that they backed off the 2010 Legacy concept. That car was hot.

[Ice]

Isn't this Legacy platform the same as the Toyota Camry; it would make sense for manufacturing purposes?


Thanks

No I don't think it is.  Toyota and Fuji Heavy do have some partnerships but I didn't think it extended this deeply.  Subaru does their own platforms I thought.

[toolatecrew]

Well you can be sure if it does come to Canada Canadian Driver will be the first to review it (12 times in every conceivable model and manner)

[drivelikenoother]

We've developed a great website called Drive Like No Other that features a virtual test drive of the 2010 Subaru Legacy. Check it out to feel the Legacy experience!