Jerboa113 Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 This article appeared in my local newspaper (Augusta Chronicle) on 11/3/06. The article is by Ann M. Job. She apparently has praised the legacy and other AWD vehicles before (a google search says so ) Heres the article: Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT does it all well Subaru's Legacy is a compact car that has been around for years, has its fans and loyal owners and yet never generates a big buzz. storyPhotos(); But it should. Competing amid a sea of small- to medium-size autos, the Legacy differentiates itself with its standard all-wheel drive. It's also one of the few in the segment to offer an uplevel turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy ratings for many Legacy models are respectable - as high as 23 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway - and the car has been a recommended buy of Consumer Reports magazine for years. If that's not enough, the 2007 Legacy earned the top five stars for driver and front-passenger protection in U.S. government front crash tests. Sold as sedans and wagons, the Legacy carries a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $21,120 for a 2007 base sedan with 175-horsepower, nonturbo four-cylinder and a manual transmission. A 2007 sedan with optional automatic transmission starts at $22,120. The lowest-priced Legacy wagon, with manual transmission, also starts at $22,120. The real "sleeper" models, however, are the uplevel GTs. They're pricier, with window stickers starting at $28,920, and generously equipped: leather-trimmed seats, moonroof, agile handling without a too-harsh ride, high-tech systems and a zippy, 243-horsepower turbo engine. Base Legacy models have pleasant, mainstream looks that are neither showy nor too plain. The GTs include a working hood scoop, but before you cringe, realize that it's not an exaggerated, boy-racer thing. The scoop's rise in the middle of the Legacy hood is mild and doesn't detract from a pleasing, overall appearance. Alloy wheels and low-profile tires on the test, 2.5 GT Limited sedan were sizable 17-inchers, but they, too, didn't look that big and blended well into the car's tidy package. The interior was welcoming, with seats that are good-size buckets in front with wide side bolsters to accommodate nonfitness buffs. Notably, both front passengers get lumbar adjustment. Passengers in all Legacy cars do settle down into their seats as they enter. Thus, they look out and up at the rear ends of higher-riding trucks and sport utility vehicles. I liked that I could drive the Legacy 2.5 GT Limited with five-speed automatic in a leisurely or aggressive manner, and it was happy to oblige, either way. Rack-and-pinion steering with engine speed-sensing power assist was quick to respond to moves of the steering wheel, but not so much that it felt twitchy or nervous. With all-wheel drive and grippy tires on the Legacy, I tracked confidently around curves at good speeds and even managed an emergency maneuver around road debris and never bobbled. The 2.5-liter, turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder spoils a driver with its quick power, and thanks to the automatic all-wheel drive system, there's no tugging of the steering to one side or the other, as happens in some other turbocharged cars. Maximum torque is 241 foot-pounds at 3,600 rpm. Pricey premium gasoline is used in the turbo. I didn't notice much road noise from the tires, but the car didn't keep out sounds of nearby vehicles whooshing past or the rattle of a truck's diesel engine in the next lane. Surprisingly, despite the performance personality of the Legacy GT Limited, the ride was mostly smooth. I felt bumps and heard loud suspension "ba-booms" only on potholes and really rough pavement. I appreciated the way Subaru officials integrated technology into the car. There's a nifty SI-Drive system - for Subaru Intelligent Drive - that lets the driver easily change engine shift points. Thus, the generously equipped Legacy 2.5 GT Limited with automatic readily upshifted when I focused on fuel economy, and it held gears for high-rev power when I wanted sportier performance. I hewed to the sporty shifting and got only 20 miles a gallon in combined city/highway travel. The government rating for this particular model is 19/25 mpg. The navigation system screen includes more than just mapping and directions. It has a display with neat fuel economy graphics arranged in three dials that I hadn't seen in other cars. Unfortunately, though, to get the navigation system, GT Limited buyers must select a $3,700 package. It includes stability control and the five-speed automatic transmission, too. Standard safety equipment includes front, side and curtain air bags and head restraints for all five passengers. The last safety recall for the Legacy was more than two years ago, when 1,987 cars from the 2005 model year were recalled for curtain air bags that might not deploy quickly enough in a side crash. Consumer Reports magazine lists the Legacy reliability as above average. SPECS THE VEHICLE: 2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited sedan, an all-wheel-drive, five-passenger compact sedan BASE PRICE: $28,295 DESTINATION CHARGE: $625 PRICE AS TESTED: $32,924 POWERTRAIN: 2.5-liter, double-overhead-cam, turbocharged and intercooled boxer four- cylinder making 243 horsepower; five-speed automatic transmission EPA MILEAGE: 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway FUEL CAPACITY: 16.9 gallons LENGTH: 186.2 inches WHEELBASE: 105.1 inches CURB WEIGHT: 3,485 pounds BUILT IN: Lafayette, Ind. OPTIONS: Navigation system, automatic transmission and stability control, $3,700; security system upgrade and automatic-dimming rear-view mirror, $304 "The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy_Otaku Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Definitely a nice review . Ann Jobs has written hundreds of reviews for Cars, and is pretty "mainstream" in that sense. I hope this gets our beloved Legacy a little more awareness and love out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STG Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I heard Opra recommended the Legacy 2.5i. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrescoGT Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I heard Opra recommended the Legacy 2.5i. ha, now I wonder if her future audience members all get a 2.5i instead of a Pontiac G6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNeeder Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Oprah!?! Oh man, that cat is definitely out of the bag! My other car is a 1993 Chevy S-10 Tahoe! (Currently being driven to failure by my nephew) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longitude Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Oprah!?! Oh man, that cat is definitely out of the bag! Yea, wowzerz Really though, I enjoy teh mystery of teh Legacy. Shhhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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