Lake Placid, New York, is Subaru country. Everyone in that Adirondack town (famous for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics) seems to drive a Subaru. They're as ubiquitous as racks of antlers, stuffed trophy fish, pine trees and snowmobiles. It's like Beverly Hills and Mercedes-Benzes, Palm Beach and Cadillacs or Des Moines and pick-up trucks. Every region seems to naturally select the car most practical for its environs. So, when folks in upstate New York want an all-wheel-drive sedan, they seem to select the Subaru Legacy most often.
But why Subaru and not one of the other AWD sedans in the market, such as the Audi A4 quattro, Volkswagen Passat 4Motion or BMW 325xi?
We drove one in the dead of winter to find out. Previously, we did a road test of the 2000 Subaru Legacy GT, but that was on the sunny, dry roads of Los Angeles and not in the snow and frigid environs of the hilly northeast. This time, we decided to test the Legacy's all-wheel-drive system, which is its most distinguishing feature, in the appropriate locale.
The first, most obvious difference between the U.S.-built Subaru and its German rivals is price. A similarly equipped (to our test vehicle) Passat costs about $30,000, the A4 is approximately $31,000, and the 325xi is a whopping $39,000.
Why the disparity? It's not due to a lack of amenities. In terms of standard equipment, the Subaru is loaded. For its comparatively low $26,393 sticker, the Legacy GT comes equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission; fully independent suspension; AWD; four-wheel ABS; dual front airbags; front seatbelt pre-tensioners; 16-inch alloy wheels; foglamps; six-way power driver seat with lumbar; tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel; heated seats; cruise control; power door locks, mirrors and windows; remote keyless entry; power moonroof and air conditioning. Our tester was the top-of-the-line Limited trim level, which includes side airbags, leather interior, CD player with upgraded speakers and a weather band on the radio.
The other three AWD sedans may have base prices close to the Legacy's MSRP, but once you load them up with equal amenities, their stickers go skyward. For buyers with limited funds, but the desire for a relatively upmarket AWD sedan, the Legacy GT Limited immediately takes the lead.
One area in which the Subaru will not eclipse its rivals is exterior styling. It's not ugly, but it's not muscular and sculpted like the Bimmer, sleek and tidy like the Audi, nor avant-garde and distinctive like the Volkswagen. In Lake Placid and many rural outposts, where pragmatism and subtlety are virtues and ostentation and individuality are considered big-city follies, the Subaru's workaday exterior styling likely suits people just fine.
The Legacy GT Limited's interior styling won't impress too many people, either. It tries too hard to look upscale by including a lot of shiny, fake wood trim, and the rest of the dash is made of hard plastics and other rigid materials, so it comes off looking cheap and flimsy. And the gathered styling of the leather upholstery reminds us more of an Oldsmobile than a sporty sedan. This is a mistake for Subaru. The automaker should embrace its utilitarian image instead of trying to tart it up with cheap cosmetics.
The fact that most of the switchgear can be easily operated while wearing gloves shows that Subaru does recognize who comprises the majority of its market, as does the inclusion of a weather band radio. This gadget works surprisingly well. When you push the separate weather band button on the radio, it immediately finds the local weather service so you can be apprised of current and imminent weather conditions. This is especially important in a rural area like Lake Placid where people travel long distances on desolate mountain roads prone to sudden rain, snow, sleet, hail and fog. Even if you don't need the weather report, the emotionless monotone of the weather station announcer is strangely calming.
The Legacy's 165-horsepower, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is sprightly enough, providing good acceleration and smooth delivery of power on the highway. However, we felt that an automanual transmission would allow drivers to squeeze more excitement from the 2.5-liter engine. Better yet, go for the five-speed manual and save the $1,000 cost of the optional automatic tranny.
By far, the most compelling reason to buy the Legacy GT Limited is its "Active" AWD system. For vehicles with automatic transmissions, the system splits power 90 percent to the front and 10 percent to the rear wheels during normal driving conditions. When the system senses slippage, it makes corrections via its Transmission Control Module (TCM). So, if the front wheels slip, the TCM increases hydraulic pressure on the AWD multi-plate clutch, sending power to the rear wheels. As the front wheels regain traction, the TCM reduces pressure on the clutch, transferring power back to the front. The TCM also monitors speed sensors on the front and rear output shafts and the throttle position and transmission to decide where to direct power. For example, during starts, weight transfers to the rear, so the system responds by transferring more power to the rear wheels to maximize traction. During hard braking, when the car's weight is thrown forward, power is concentrated at the front wheels for maximum control and to help reduce stopping distance. In turns, when you lift off the gas and apply the brakes, the system transfers power to the front wheels for greater steering control. As you exit the turn and accelerate, power transfers to the rear wheels for added traction.
None of this is perceptible to the driver. We spent a lot of time on snowy, icy or otherwise slippery roads trying to get the Subaru to understeer or oversteer, both of which can lead to dangerous skidding or spinning. Instead, the Legacy held its line on straightaways, during long curves and during hard braking on snow-covered roads. All we were aware of was that it never wavered from its course, regardless of the conditions.
In an area of severe, unstable weather patterns and long, lightly traveled roads, knowing that you can trust your car to stay on the road is of paramount importance. It's also comforting for those waiting at home.
For folks in rural regions like Lake Placid, this is reason enough to choose the Subaru. It may not provide the luxury, status or driving experience of its competition, but when you consider it gets the job done for thousands less and includes a whole raft of extra features, the case for the Legacy is even stronger.
Maybe it's the pure mountain air that makes people in Lake Placid so pragmatic and smart.
But why Subaru and not one of the other AWD sedans in the market, such as the Audi A4 quattro, Volkswagen Passat 4Motion or BMW 325xi?
We drove one in the dead of winter to find out. Previously, we did a road test of the 2000 Subaru Legacy GT, but that was on the sunny, dry roads of Los Angeles and not in the snow and frigid environs of the hilly northeast. This time, we decided to test the Legacy's all-wheel-drive system, which is its most distinguishing feature, in the appropriate locale.
The first, most obvious difference between the U.S.-built Subaru and its German rivals is price. A similarly equipped (to our test vehicle) Passat costs about $30,000, the A4 is approximately $31,000, and the 325xi is a whopping $39,000.
Why the disparity? It's not due to a lack of amenities. In terms of standard equipment, the Subaru is loaded. For its comparatively low $26,393 sticker, the Legacy GT comes equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission; fully independent suspension; AWD; four-wheel ABS; dual front airbags; front seatbelt pre-tensioners; 16-inch alloy wheels; foglamps; six-way power driver seat with lumbar; tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel; heated seats; cruise control; power door locks, mirrors and windows; remote keyless entry; power moonroof and air conditioning. Our tester was the top-of-the-line Limited trim level, which includes side airbags, leather interior, CD player with upgraded speakers and a weather band on the radio.
The other three AWD sedans may have base prices close to the Legacy's MSRP, but once you load them up with equal amenities, their stickers go skyward. For buyers with limited funds, but the desire for a relatively upmarket AWD sedan, the Legacy GT Limited immediately takes the lead.
One area in which the Subaru will not eclipse its rivals is exterior styling. It's not ugly, but it's not muscular and sculpted like the Bimmer, sleek and tidy like the Audi, nor avant-garde and distinctive like the Volkswagen. In Lake Placid and many rural outposts, where pragmatism and subtlety are virtues and ostentation and individuality are considered big-city follies, the Subaru's workaday exterior styling likely suits people just fine.
The Legacy GT Limited's interior styling won't impress too many people, either. It tries too hard to look upscale by including a lot of shiny, fake wood trim, and the rest of the dash is made of hard plastics and other rigid materials, so it comes off looking cheap and flimsy. And the gathered styling of the leather upholstery reminds us more of an Oldsmobile than a sporty sedan. This is a mistake for Subaru. The automaker should embrace its utilitarian image instead of trying to tart it up with cheap cosmetics.
The fact that most of the switchgear can be easily operated while wearing gloves shows that Subaru does recognize who comprises the majority of its market, as does the inclusion of a weather band radio. This gadget works surprisingly well. When you push the separate weather band button on the radio, it immediately finds the local weather service so you can be apprised of current and imminent weather conditions. This is especially important in a rural area like Lake Placid where people travel long distances on desolate mountain roads prone to sudden rain, snow, sleet, hail and fog. Even if you don't need the weather report, the emotionless monotone of the weather station announcer is strangely calming.
The Legacy's 165-horsepower, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is sprightly enough, providing good acceleration and smooth delivery of power on the highway. However, we felt that an automanual transmission would allow drivers to squeeze more excitement from the 2.5-liter engine. Better yet, go for the five-speed manual and save the $1,000 cost of the optional automatic tranny.
By far, the most compelling reason to buy the Legacy GT Limited is its "Active" AWD system. For vehicles with automatic transmissions, the system splits power 90 percent to the front and 10 percent to the rear wheels during normal driving conditions. When the system senses slippage, it makes corrections via its Transmission Control Module (TCM). So, if the front wheels slip, the TCM increases hydraulic pressure on the AWD multi-plate clutch, sending power to the rear wheels. As the front wheels regain traction, the TCM reduces pressure on the clutch, transferring power back to the front. The TCM also monitors speed sensors on the front and rear output shafts and the throttle position and transmission to decide where to direct power. For example, during starts, weight transfers to the rear, so the system responds by transferring more power to the rear wheels to maximize traction. During hard braking, when the car's weight is thrown forward, power is concentrated at the front wheels for maximum control and to help reduce stopping distance. In turns, when you lift off the gas and apply the brakes, the system transfers power to the front wheels for greater steering control. As you exit the turn and accelerate, power transfers to the rear wheels for added traction.
None of this is perceptible to the driver. We spent a lot of time on snowy, icy or otherwise slippery roads trying to get the Subaru to understeer or oversteer, both of which can lead to dangerous skidding or spinning. Instead, the Legacy held its line on straightaways, during long curves and during hard braking on snow-covered roads. All we were aware of was that it never wavered from its course, regardless of the conditions.
In an area of severe, unstable weather patterns and long, lightly traveled roads, knowing that you can trust your car to stay on the road is of paramount importance. It's also comforting for those waiting at home.
For folks in rural regions like Lake Placid, this is reason enough to choose the Subaru. It may not provide the luxury, status or driving experience of its competition, but when you consider it gets the job done for thousands less and includes a whole raft of extra features, the case for the Legacy is even stronger.
Maybe it's the pure mountain air that makes people in Lake Placid so pragmatic and smart.
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