Huh. I guess I'm the only one here who really likes this car. Though the "don't just share your opinion, vote with your pocketbook" crowd on the site should hang on my every word
because I'm a former Legacy owner who said "never again" after growing increasingly frustrated over time with a 2006 model.
Anyway, the exterior and interior design are nice enough. Not great, but not unpleasant. The wheel arches are nice. Still, it's a Subaru, and I don't think anyone buys Subarus for the nice looks. This is the company that once advertised its own cars as ugly, right?
What do I really like?
(1) It's a proper midsize car. If you want a compact Subaru, buy an Impreza. The previous-gen Legacy was a smaller midsize on the outside, but the interior packaging was so poor it was barely competitive with most compact sedans. Both the Focus and the Jetta give more useable interior space (based on sitting in them; I haven't looked up the EPA interior measurements). This change in size to a proper midsize helps distinguish the Legacy from the Impreza, and gives real useable interior space for people who want something more than a compact.
(2) Ride quality and steering are praised on page 3. Neither was particularly good with my 2006.
(3) Telescoping steering wheel. The 2006 Legacy didn't have one, and honestly, the wheel was always too close to me (relative to the pedals, so moving the seat around wouldn't help). Given the price of the 2006 Legacy, this was a major oversight.
(4) More comfortable and more supportive seats. Another major oversight of the 2006 Legacy, given its price. I didn't notice it on a half-hour test drive, but after two hours in the car, all I could say was "really?" Once again, barely competitive with compact economy sedans.
(5) Six-speed manual instead of a five-speed. Helps you make the most out of a base engine that never felt as powerful as its horsepower rating. Hopefully they improved the shift action too.
(6) Traditional window frames. Should help cut down on the excessive wind noise mine had.
Now, some will say that this car has lost its essential Subaru-ness. I couldn't disagree more. It's got a boxer engine, a longitudinal crank, and a Subaru full-time AWD system. It's still very much a Subaru, regardless of whether it's got a comfortable back seat or reduced wind noise.
In short, this is the Legacy that, conceivably, could bring me back to Subaru.
