Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i

[TheHire]

I certainly don't mind the looks. I'm happy that Subaru Canada is slowly bringing the prices more in line with the US with each passing year (but with a stronger dollar I wish they'd do it quicker!). I'm thankful a six speed manual is offered but less pleased that I can't get a power driver's seat without a CVT. In general, Subaru has gone mainstream which is a mixed blessing for those who preferred the more quirky ways of the old Subaru. But, if you live in areas where the winter driving can be dangerous, there are few substitutes for Sube's superb AWD.

Quattro. Or even modern Haldex systems [Volvo, etc. etc.] are really not that bad for 99% of the winter driving people do.

I think he meant few substitutes in the price range...

[ChaosphereIX]

I certainly don't mind the looks. I'm happy that Subaru Canada is slowly bringing the prices more in line with the US with each passing year (but with a stronger dollar I wish they'd do it quicker!). I'm thankful a six speed manual is offered but less pleased that I can't get a power driver's seat without a CVT. In general, Subaru has gone mainstream which is a mixed blessing for those who preferred the more quirky ways of the old Subaru. But, if you live in areas where the winter driving can be dangerous, there are few substitutes for Sube's superb AWD.

Quattro. Or even modern Haldex systems [Volvo, etc. etc.] are really not that bad for 99% of the winter driving people do.

I think he meant few substitutes in the price range...

I guess it could have been implied, but maybe it wasnt. You could always go slightly used CPO Volvo/Audi for Legacy money. No brainer for me. But I see your point. How about Ford, or other cheaper sedans with optional Haldex AWD? Those are in the price range...

[Fobroader]

I certainly don't mind the looks. I'm happy that Subaru Canada is slowly bringing the prices more in line with the US with each passing year (but with a stronger dollar I wish they'd do it quicker!). I'm thankful a six speed manual is offered but less pleased that I can't get a power driver's seat without a CVT. In general, Subaru has gone mainstream which is a mixed blessing for those who preferred the more quirky ways of the old Subaru. But, if you live in areas where the winter driving can be dangerous, there are few substitutes for Sube's superb AWD.

Quattro. Or even modern Haldex systems [Volvo, etc. etc.] are really not that bad for 99% of the winter driving people do.

I think he meant few substitutes in the price range...

I guess it could have been implied, but maybe it wasnt. You could always go slightly used CPO Volvo/Audi for Legacy money. No brainer for me. But I see your point. How about Ford, or other cheaper sedans with optional Haldex AWD? Those are in the price range...

Thing is, Subaru have their AWD down to a science, I dont know if I would trust anything other than Quattro as much.

[roundupready]

Pfft.  It's true that Subaru has never been particularly outstanding in any single item.  But that still doesn't stop me keep getting another one.  :p

I know everyone hates the current gen, but I have noticed even with the ultra soft/floaty suspension, this gen actually understeers less than the 2005 GT I used to have.

[TopGun]

I'm amazed at how clueless the general car buying public is.

My sis gave back her Merc C300 when the lease expired, and picked up one of these a couple of months ago.  Why you may ask? (Well, I asked anwyay).  No other reason other than she had a Legacy years ago and she liked it and this one had Bluetooth.

She didn't drive any other cars - her biggest decision was colour.

Makes me wonder why companies don't just keep making the "same old cars" and offer them cheap a-la Ford Ranger.  Would the general buying public know or care as long as it had all the latest do-dads on them?

[Fobroader]

I'm amazed at how clueless the general car buying public is.

My sis gave back her Merc C300 when the lease expired, and picked up one of these a couple of months ago.  Why you may ask? (Well, I asked anwyay).  No other reason other than she had a Legacy years ago and she liked it and this one had Bluetooth.

She didn't drive any other cars - her biggest decision was colour.

Makes me wonder why companies don't just keep making the "same old cars" and offer them cheap a-la Ford Ranger.  Would the general buying public know or care as long as it had all the latest do-dads on them?

I like your idea, getting a brand new Ranger, 4x4 with a fair number of options off the lot for under $20K was a great deal, the problem is, seems that most new sedan buyers want the cars dashboard to look like the Millenium Falcon.

[SaskSpecV]

I like your idea, getting a brand new Ranger, 4x4 with a fair number of options off the lot for under $20K was a great deal, the problem is, seems that most new sedan buyers want the cars dashboard to look like the Millenium Falcon.

Yeah, except my wife won't yell out "punch it Chewie!" when I mash the throttle...I guess I'm not hairy enough to be a Wookie.
And would the turbos spooling up be like going into hyperdrive?  I would make a gratuitous 1.6L Ecoboost joke here, regarding similar reliability to the hyperdrive on the Millenium Falcon...

[dave_b]

I would make a gratuitous 1.6L Ecoboost joke here, regarding similar reliability to the hyperdrive on the Millenium Falcon...

She'll hold together...

[robsaw]

Those "undersized 16-inch alloys" are going to save you a ton when it comes to putting winter rubber on.

I don't get the current obsession with bigger-and-bigger wheels  A few years back 15 wheels were typical on FULL size cars, now 16 is becoming the trendy minimum for compacts with little rationale other than "style".

[OliverD]

Those "undersized 16-inch alloys" are going to save you a ton when it comes to putting winter rubber on.

I don't get the current obsession with bigger-and-bigger wheels  A few years back 15 wheels were typical on FULL size cars, now 16 is becoming the trendy minimum for compacts with little rationale other than "style".

Cars have so much visual mass these days that smaller wheels simply get lost in the wheel arches.

I'd never run winters on the stock alloys anyways so bigger wheels don't bother me too much (within reason), as long as you can fit smaller steel wheels for winter. My car has stock 18s and my winters are on 16s, for example.

[johngenx]

One term comes to mind with the latest Legacy: Meh.

I too prefer the 2005- models.  How can an almost ten year old model have a more dynamic exterior appearance?  Also, the lack of wagon means the Legacy would never been considered by us.

[Canadiain]

Cars have so much visual mass these days that smaller wheels simply get lost in the wheel arches.

I'd never run winters on the stock alloys anyways so bigger wheels don't bother me too much (within reason), as long as you can fit smaller steel wheels for winter. My car has stock 18s and my winters are on 16s, for example.

The fact that the stocks are 16" means at least you can run those smaller rims.  On a Venza for example the stocks are something like 20".  To clear the brakes you need 18s, and that's serious money for winter rubber..

I guess I too dont get the need for bigger and bigger rims, my 07 Legacy has 17" stock alloys and looks OK to me, and we run cheaper 16" steelies in the winter which saves a bit of money on the rubber.

[Solstice2006]

Cars have so much visual mass these days that smaller wheels simply get lost in the wheel arches.

I'd never run winters on the stock alloys anyways so bigger wheels don't bother me too much (within reason), as long as you can fit smaller steel wheels for winter. My car has stock 18s and my winters are on 16s, for example.

The fact that the stocks are 16" means at least you can run those smaller rims.  On a Venza for example the stocks are something like 20".  To clear the brakes you need 18s, and that's serious money for winter rubber..

I guess I too dont get the need for bigger and bigger rims, my 07 Legacy has 17" stock alloys and looks OK to me, and we run cheaper 16" steelies in the winter which saves a bit of money on the rubber.

That was the 2nd biggest factor(tires) in not buying the Venza, the 1st reason was the weight.  It weights the same as the Highlander, a 7 passenger SUV!

[johngenx]

Those giant wheels and tires do nothing to enhance performance.  For 99% of vehicles on the road, going over a 16" wheel has little or no benefit.  It's all cosmetic.

[jyarkony]

One term comes to mind with the latest Legacy: Meh.

I too prefer the 2005- models.  How can an almost ten year old model have a more dynamic exterior appearance?  Also, the lack of wagon means the Legacy would never been considered by us.

Agreed, the Legacy Wagon 2.5GT of that generation was and still is a car I would like to own.

[dirtyjeffer]

I'm amazed at how clueless the general car buying public is.

My sis gave back her Merc C300 when the lease expired, and picked up one of these a couple of months ago.  Why you may ask? (Well, I asked anwyay).  No other reason other than she had a Legacy years ago and she liked it and this one had Bluetooth.

She didn't drive any other cars - her biggest decision was colour.

Makes me wonder why companies don't just keep making the "same old cars" and offer them cheap a-la Ford Ranger.  Would the general buying public know or care as long as it had all the latest do-dads on them?

hehehe...it's funny you mention this...i was thinking the same thing when i saw VW's latest Jetta commercial...you know, the one where the woman gets the steaks from the butcher, and buys a car??...i mean, can they stereotype a woman car buyer any better than that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWdAXw7ziOo

[dirtyjeffer]

This is somewhat KIAs philosophy. Kinda cheap but with all the newest included.

i bought my car (Rio5) because of that, but it's still a very good car...it has won Motoring's Car of the Year in its category, two years in a row now.