Maybe, soon to be 1/2 owner by proxy....!

[TLS]

My girlfriend has been looking for a replacement for her '01 Volvo S-40 for the past year or so. Really serious the past month.

We looked at Altima, Mazda 6, TSX, TL, and even the raw SRT-4. She wanted to stay in the $26-30K range, and coming from a fully loaded Volvo, had a list of "must have options".

Most of the looking was through internet, then on to their respective fourms such as this one, then on to a test-drive on most.

18 months ago, I was all hyped about the WRX Imprezza. She hated the big hood scoop though. Then we drove one.....Not good when your coming from a $30K+ Volvo. It was harsh, loud, and cheap feeling.


Anyways....

She commented the other week about the new Legacy....I said...."Geeze, I guess we could look at them" Then I went online and saw that they finally re-designed them, AND added some power!

Well, last night, we went for a 20 mile test drive by ourselves. We switched drivers 1/2 way through.
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NICE CAR!!!! :P

It was a Regal Blue/Taupe Leather GT Limited (58 miles on the clock). She really doesn't want another "light" colored interior, and really likes the Atlantic Blue Pearl (both of which the dealer didn't have).

Out of all the Legacy types on their lot, (25+ were wagons of some type, and just 5 sedans!!! :?: ) of the sedans, there were only 2 GT Limited's. One Auto, one Manual..........OH, and she WANTS a Manual!!!! :wink:

Are the wagons that popular???


The dealer is going to try to locate EXACTLY what she wants. If not, she'll likely order one.


Well, I'd better stop here. Don't want to bore you guys!

[Gumby]

18 months ago, I was all hyped about the WRX Imprezza. She hated the big hood scoop though. Then we drove one.....Not good when your coming from a $30K+ Volvo. It was harsh, loud, and cheap feeling.



Welcome to the board TLS. I actually did the reverse swap, '00 Volvo V40 for '03 WRX Wagon and couldn't be happier. I just couldn't stand the numb steering, vague handling and all the little problems the Volvo kept having. Obviously there's no comparison performance wise. You will notice a vast improvement in the GT over the S40.

Yes the wagons are that popular, Subarus are designed as wagons and then chopped into sedans :wink:

[TLS]

Gumby,

Well, the steering on the S-40 isn't really THAT bad, and as for performance, the turbo on such a little car, and with the 5 speed Auto (yours was a 4speed) its pretty peppy.

But the nickle and diming that it has been doing lately (luckily all under warranty) has been rediculous. It had a "clunk" when going over bumps, a CEL that would stay on. Couple that, with state inspection/emissions, it took them 9 working days to fix!

Plus the thing goes through brakes like they were made of marshmallows! Only car I know that needs rear brakes just as often as fronts!

Spark plugs....I replaced the factory ones @ 40K and just when we got it back after that 2 week inspection/warranty work, it SEVERELY hesitated at WOT and the CEL came on AGAIN. Back it went and they said that a spark plug was totally destroyed!?!


We knicknamed it the "Dutch Treat"!