The Legacy has carried the flagship banner for Subaru since its introduction in 1989 (though in recent years glitzy six-cylinder versions of its Outback sibling have upstaged it). It has always been a competent car that provided value in an affordable all-wheel-drive package at a time when all-wheel-drive cars were not as common as they are today. By 1998, Subaru began equipping all its U.S. cars with all-wheel drive. Despite its sometimes funky image, Subaru built quite a reputation by consistently winning World Rally Championship (WRC) races with modified versions of the Legacy and later the compact Impreza. To capitalize on that success, Subaru later introduced the lightning-quick, 227-hp WRX. Combined with the segment-defining Outback and Forester, Subaru started to gain some credibility in the marketplace. The only problem was that the top-of-the-line Legacy (and Outback) started to pale in comparison to newer, sportier and fresher cars like the WRX and Forester. The 2000-2004 Legacy never really felt like a substantial car — one that could displace a Volkswagen Passat or an Audi A4 in the hearts and minds of consumers. Even the sedan offerings from Honda, Toyota and Nissan offered more in terms of comfort, performance and value.
So it is with great interest that we observe Subaru's attempt to remake the Legacy into a car that still offers more for the money while trying to compete directly with other all-wheel-drive sedans and wagons like Audi's A4, BMW's 3 Series and Volvo's S40 and V50. At first glance, comparisons to brands like BMW and Audi may seem shortsighted or just plain crazy, but look at the facts and the new Legacy deserves to be considered alongside such prestigious brands.
While it is possible for a loaded Legacy GT Limited wagon to cost well over $30,000, our test car is a lightly optioned GT sedan with a five-speed manual transmission that stickered at just $26,851. We feel that value is an important factor for the new Legacy so we didn't think loading it up with every option would be a fair representation of how most Subaru shoppers would equip their Legacys. Therefore, our Legacy does not have leather seats or a sunroof, but it does have plenty of comfort- and performance-enhancing features. Standard features include four-wheel discs with ABS; full-time all-wheel drive; a 250-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine; 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 all-season tires; foglights; heated seats and mirrors; a trip computer; a six-disc CD changer; and keyless entry. Our only option is an equipment group that includes an auto-dimming mirror, compass and security system.
In our full test of the Legacy GT wagon, we noted that the optional automatic transmission seemed to sap much of the turbo engine's substantial power. However, we've had the exact opposite reaction to the manual transmission in our long-term car. One editor compared the new Subaru Legacy to the well-regarded Mazda 6 stating, "After spending a weekend with the car, I've decided I like the Legacy more than the Mazda 6 — it feels smaller and the handling is sharper. If money wasn't a concern, I would take our Legacy over the 6 without hesitation. (If spending $26,000 to $27,000 was too much of a stretch, though, I would go with the 6 and have few if any regrets.)"
That same editor praised the engine and went on to say, "With minimal turbo lag off the line, the 2.5-liter engine has an intoxicating torque band that runs all the way to redline. And with the smooth-shifting manual transmission, it's hard not to want to wind it out every time. The clutch isn't quite as user-friendly as I'd like, but I still think this is one of the better manual gearboxes in this price range."
A road trip to Monterey confirmed the Legacy GT's fun factor and ride comfort. Road Test Editor Brian Moody wrote, "This is a very well-balanced car — comfortable and quiet when cruising but with plenty of power and grip when looking for a little fun. Plus, I got 25 mpg on the trip." Other comments in his logbook included, "Excellent driving dynamics, attractive interior design and very solid in terms of build quality and door 'thunk.' It's probably one of the better values in this market segment."
Even though our Legacy came in at just over $26,000, one of our editors still compared it to the venerable BMW 3 Series, stating "I'd rather have this car at $26K than a BMW 3 Series…." That's quite a statement, but many of us feel that the Legacy's interior combined with its 250-hp engine is enough to give some BMW and Audi shoppers something to think about when the bottom line is a priority. Think we're crazy comparing a Subaru to a high-line European brand? Senior Content Editor Erin Riches went so far as to say, "I even love the styling of the car. I parked next to an Audi A4 and it was apparent that the A4 was not far from mind when designers were working on the profile and tail end of the Legacy. A friend of mine swooned over the red/white electroluminescent gauges, which are also reminiscent of what you'd find in an A4 cockpit."
With a little more than 2,000 miles on the odometer, our experience with the Legacy GT has been mostly positive. Still, it hasn't been all good news. We do have a few complaints — none of them are "deal breakers," but they are annoying enough to leave us scratching our heads and asking "what were they thinking?" The first issue we have with the new Legacy is the lack of retained accessory power. Erin put it this way: "There's no retained accessory power after you remove the key (but before you open the doors). This isn't the 1980s, Subaru. People expect to be able to roll up the windows after shutting off the car."
We also found it to be a minor annoyance that the new Legacy is not available with steering wheel-mounted audio controls — it's especially annoying because the button for "track up" and "track down" is kind of a long reach for the driver. Another minor flaw we noticed is the climate control system's tendency to unexpectedly blow warm air. In 80-degree weather, the system seems to have a hard time maintaining a constant temperature. "The system took longer than I would have expected to cool down the car after startup," Erin noted, "and whenever I adjusted the temperature a mere one or two degrees, it would revert to blowing warm air again for a good 30 seconds. I've never been this annoyed with an automatic climate control system." Some of our editors have driven other Legacys and did not find the same problem with the climate control system. In fact, they thought the air conditioning worked fine and got very cold very quickly when not using the "auto" function. The lack of redundant audio controls and retained accessory power are mistakes in our mind, but the funky climate control system could be an issue with just our car.
Even with some minor flaws, the 2005 Legacy is still an exceptional car that could easily change the quirkiness factor that many people associate with Subaru. Enthusiasts already know Subaru's racing and performance heritage, but the new Legacy adds some class to the mix. Both a street-scorching hot rod and a comfortable tourer, the Legacy leaves little to be desired and is such an improvement over the previous car it almost seems unfair that they both have the same name. As our test car racks up even more miles and changes hands more frequently, we expect it to meet the high standards Subaru has set for its cars. Only time will tell if our fondness for this sport sedan will wax or wane.
Current Odometer: 2,067
Best Fuel Economy: 23.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None.
So it is with great interest that we observe Subaru's attempt to remake the Legacy into a car that still offers more for the money while trying to compete directly with other all-wheel-drive sedans and wagons like Audi's A4, BMW's 3 Series and Volvo's S40 and V50. At first glance, comparisons to brands like BMW and Audi may seem shortsighted or just plain crazy, but look at the facts and the new Legacy deserves to be considered alongside such prestigious brands.
While it is possible for a loaded Legacy GT Limited wagon to cost well over $30,000, our test car is a lightly optioned GT sedan with a five-speed manual transmission that stickered at just $26,851. We feel that value is an important factor for the new Legacy so we didn't think loading it up with every option would be a fair representation of how most Subaru shoppers would equip their Legacys. Therefore, our Legacy does not have leather seats or a sunroof, but it does have plenty of comfort- and performance-enhancing features. Standard features include four-wheel discs with ABS; full-time all-wheel drive; a 250-horsepower, turbocharged four-cylinder engine; 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 all-season tires; foglights; heated seats and mirrors; a trip computer; a six-disc CD changer; and keyless entry. Our only option is an equipment group that includes an auto-dimming mirror, compass and security system.
In our full test of the Legacy GT wagon, we noted that the optional automatic transmission seemed to sap much of the turbo engine's substantial power. However, we've had the exact opposite reaction to the manual transmission in our long-term car. One editor compared the new Subaru Legacy to the well-regarded Mazda 6 stating, "After spending a weekend with the car, I've decided I like the Legacy more than the Mazda 6 — it feels smaller and the handling is sharper. If money wasn't a concern, I would take our Legacy over the 6 without hesitation. (If spending $26,000 to $27,000 was too much of a stretch, though, I would go with the 6 and have few if any regrets.)"
That same editor praised the engine and went on to say, "With minimal turbo lag off the line, the 2.5-liter engine has an intoxicating torque band that runs all the way to redline. And with the smooth-shifting manual transmission, it's hard not to want to wind it out every time. The clutch isn't quite as user-friendly as I'd like, but I still think this is one of the better manual gearboxes in this price range."
A road trip to Monterey confirmed the Legacy GT's fun factor and ride comfort. Road Test Editor Brian Moody wrote, "This is a very well-balanced car — comfortable and quiet when cruising but with plenty of power and grip when looking for a little fun. Plus, I got 25 mpg on the trip." Other comments in his logbook included, "Excellent driving dynamics, attractive interior design and very solid in terms of build quality and door 'thunk.' It's probably one of the better values in this market segment."
Even though our Legacy came in at just over $26,000, one of our editors still compared it to the venerable BMW 3 Series, stating "I'd rather have this car at $26K than a BMW 3 Series…." That's quite a statement, but many of us feel that the Legacy's interior combined with its 250-hp engine is enough to give some BMW and Audi shoppers something to think about when the bottom line is a priority. Think we're crazy comparing a Subaru to a high-line European brand? Senior Content Editor Erin Riches went so far as to say, "I even love the styling of the car. I parked next to an Audi A4 and it was apparent that the A4 was not far from mind when designers were working on the profile and tail end of the Legacy. A friend of mine swooned over the red/white electroluminescent gauges, which are also reminiscent of what you'd find in an A4 cockpit."
With a little more than 2,000 miles on the odometer, our experience with the Legacy GT has been mostly positive. Still, it hasn't been all good news. We do have a few complaints — none of them are "deal breakers," but they are annoying enough to leave us scratching our heads and asking "what were they thinking?" The first issue we have with the new Legacy is the lack of retained accessory power. Erin put it this way: "There's no retained accessory power after you remove the key (but before you open the doors). This isn't the 1980s, Subaru. People expect to be able to roll up the windows after shutting off the car."
We also found it to be a minor annoyance that the new Legacy is not available with steering wheel-mounted audio controls — it's especially annoying because the button for "track up" and "track down" is kind of a long reach for the driver. Another minor flaw we noticed is the climate control system's tendency to unexpectedly blow warm air. In 80-degree weather, the system seems to have a hard time maintaining a constant temperature. "The system took longer than I would have expected to cool down the car after startup," Erin noted, "and whenever I adjusted the temperature a mere one or two degrees, it would revert to blowing warm air again for a good 30 seconds. I've never been this annoyed with an automatic climate control system." Some of our editors have driven other Legacys and did not find the same problem with the climate control system. In fact, they thought the air conditioning worked fine and got very cold very quickly when not using the "auto" function. The lack of redundant audio controls and retained accessory power are mistakes in our mind, but the funky climate control system could be an issue with just our car.
Even with some minor flaws, the 2005 Legacy is still an exceptional car that could easily change the quirkiness factor that many people associate with Subaru. Enthusiasts already know Subaru's racing and performance heritage, but the new Legacy adds some class to the mix. Both a street-scorching hot rod and a comfortable tourer, the Legacy leaves little to be desired and is such an improvement over the previous car it almost seems unfair that they both have the same name. As our test car racks up even more miles and changes hands more frequently, we expect it to meet the high standards Subaru has set for its cars. Only time will tell if our fondness for this sport sedan will wax or wane.
Current Odometer: 2,067
Best Fuel Economy: 23.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 20.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None.
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chuckzul says:
08:04 PM, 12/11/2009
Do not purchase this car!!!!. I bought my 05 Legact GT Ltd new and drove it for 4.5 years. It was meticulously maintained. All maintenance schedules and procedures were strictly adhered to. Promptly and coincidentily, at 62,000 miles, just slightly beyond the warranty period, the #4 exhaust valve burnt. The original dealership's advice was "pay us $1400 to just figure out the problem or trade your car in". Calling Subaru of America was no better. I am in the process of trading this awful car in for something else. I also have a Subaru Impreza which has, conversely, exceeded all my expectations. Apparantly, this particular model suffers from the same problems, i.e., burnt valves (especially #4 cylinder), failed fuel injectors (again #4), broken piston rings, blown turbos....all relatively expensive fixes. I've been a mechanic for nearly thirty years, and from my perspective, this car was not mechanically engineered or designed well. No car should be disposable after only 62000 miles. Look at Honda, Lexus, or even the higher end Hyudai's. Leave the Legacy's to rot on the dealer's lot.