2005 Subaru Legacy Review

Specifications

Taking the Competition to School

Putting their best foot forward is the best way to describe how automakers approach the motoring press. Rare is the occasion that I get a bare bones, base model test vehicle. Rather, the cars and trucks that come my way are loaded to the teeth with all the 21st Century bells and whistles, and more often than not the vehicle is the top-of-the-line trim model.

Sometimes it would be nice, Ill lament as I sit at the birds-eye maple steering wheel of still another $40,000 sport sedan breathing in that intoxicating mix of new car smell and newly stretched leather, if I could drive a simple car, an everyday-man car. Do they even build cars with hand crank windows anymore? Manual side mirrors?

That said, I was delighted to learn that this weeks tester, the 2005 Subaru Legacy, was the loaded-to-the-turbo-teeth GT Limited edition model, a vehicle I have been waiting to drive.

A decade ago it would be difficult to get too excited about a new Subaru, but the Japanese automakers foray into World Rally Championship racing has turned a rather staid brand into one of the sexier sport sedan manufacturers. And the new Legacy GT is the embodiment of that notion.

Powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer-style four-cylinder engine, the all-wheel-drive Legacy GT is quite simply a phenomenal performer, demonstrating the kind of handling, braking and driveability found in high-priced luxury sport sedans. Of course, with an MSRP of just under $30K the top-tier Legacy GT Limited isnt cheap, but others costing thousands more dont necessarily deliver more, unless prestige is what youre after.

For instance, BMW counters with the 2005 330Xi, by all accounts as superb an all-wheel drive sport sedan as last years offering from the Teutonic titan. Only thing is that the Bimmer gives up 25 horses to the new Legacy GT (225 compared to 250), and is nearly two full seconds slower in the zero to 60 mph dash against the Subaru (7.4 seconds for the 300Xi and just 5.7 for the Legacy). Kind of makes you rethink the pigeon hole youve put Subaru in, doesnt it? It should be said that a new BMW 3-Series is on the way this spring with 258-horsepower, but Subaru should still be a bit quicker.

It seems the five- and six-speed manual gearbox will go the way of the handcrank window very soon. While true shifting without having to put your foot on the clutch pedal does make for swifter gear changes, I still prefer having the ability to control the clutch manually, particularly in an all-wheel-drive vehicle. And much to my delight, my test Legacy GT came with a slick-shifting five-speed transmission.

As to one of BMWs strong suits, interior design and appointments, the 2005 Legacy GT is right on the German automakers
bumper. In fact, the Legacys cabin and dash layout reminded me of BMW workmanship.

I suppose a styling criticism could be leveled at the seemingly out-of-place hood scoop, but since the intercooled and turbocharged engine requires copious amounts of fresh air, the functionality of the opening should forgive its appearance.

In all honesty, I really couldnt find much fault with the 2005 Legacy GT. Maybe I should try the base model?