The generic-brand equivalent of a BMW?
The latest variation of the Subaru's Legacy has been a favourite within the walls of Auto123.com, a fact we have a hard time to hide. Turbo engine or not, every version of this mid-size sedan and wagon seems to offer a lot for the money.
The spec.B model came along in the fall of 2006, and the performance level of the Legacy went one step up. But is it really worth the $45,000 asking price?
Same muscle, stiffer legs
A turbocharged and intercooled, 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine powers the spec.B, and the same engine is found in the lower 2.5GT model. With 243 horsepower and 241 lb-ft on tap, acceleration is brisk: 0-100 km/h happens in just 6.0 seconds, and passing power is prodigious.
Unlike the 2.5GT and its 5-speed manual, though, the spec.B gets a 6-speed. With a slightly shorter first gear ratio (3.6 vs. 3.2), the spec.B is a smudge quicker off the line, but you'll be shifting more often.
Top-gear ratios are virtually identical for both turbo Legacys, which means the spec.B will not spin its engine at a lower revolution on the highway; it actually posts worst fuel consumption figures than the 2.5GT, and I'm averaging 12.9 L/100 km. An automatic is not available.
Another spec.B exclusivity is the addition of sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers all around. The result is a car that's a little more composed during sporty driving than the less-expensive GT. The spec.B feels more buttoned-down, has slightly less body roll and clings on in curves.
The latest variation of the Subaru's Legacy has been a favourite within the walls of Auto123.com, a fact we have a hard time to hide. Turbo engine or not, every version of this mid-size sedan and wagon seems to offer a lot for the money.
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| A car perfectly suited to the harshness of our great country. |
The spec.B model came along in the fall of 2006, and the performance level of the Legacy went one step up. But is it really worth the $45,000 asking price?
Same muscle, stiffer legs
A turbocharged and intercooled, 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine powers the spec.B, and the same engine is found in the lower 2.5GT model. With 243 horsepower and 241 lb-ft on tap, acceleration is brisk: 0-100 km/h happens in just 6.0 seconds, and passing power is prodigious.
Unlike the 2.5GT and its 5-speed manual, though, the spec.B gets a 6-speed. With a slightly shorter first gear ratio (3.6 vs. 3.2), the spec.B is a smudge quicker off the line, but you'll be shifting more often.
Top-gear ratios are virtually identical for both turbo Legacys, which means the spec.B will not spin its engine at a lower revolution on the highway; it actually posts worst fuel consumption figures than the 2.5GT, and I'm averaging 12.9 L/100 km. An automatic is not available.
Another spec.B exclusivity is the addition of sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers all around. The result is a car that's a little more composed during sporty driving than the less-expensive GT. The spec.B feels more buttoned-down, has slightly less body roll and clings on in curves.
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| The engine's growl is surprising at first. |