You don't have to be snowbound to appreciate these all wheel drivers from Subaru in the form of their WRX wagon and larger Legacy. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable driving vehicle that offers this utility for the money. Of course, there is a downside and that is the fact that shift action on the highly recommended standard transmission does not fond of being rushed and, most importantly, Subaru's rising prices are pushing the Legacy into the near luxury field. (http://www.nada.com) Overall, these are immensely capable, truly enjoyable, and environmentally friendly family transportation. Indeed, if you had to sell your sports car when you started your family, this is a chance to get it back without anyone being the wiser.
It is no secret that turbocharging is an inexpensive way to get mid-range power increases, especially from small displacement engines. The added bonus is that fuel efficiency is not impacted as much as that from supercharging or building heavier, larger engineers to gain the same performance. The downside is that it is difficult for some manufacturers to build one that does not have what is called turbo lag which is a pause between the application of pressure to the accelerator and engine response. In the case of the manual transmission Subarus there is virtually no turbo lag. We don't know if that would be the case with the automatic, however we would recommend this transmission option if you make daily commutes in congested areas as the Subaru clutch and shifting linkage wear on you after a while. Of course you do sacrifice both in gas mileage and acceleration with the automatic. Our recommendation, get the manual transmission and move to the country because it is so much more fun.
In terms of concerns about these two Subarus they were limited to a metal gearshift handle in the WRX, and the lack of a fold down rear seat in the Legacy sedan. Of these, by far the most bothersome was the gearshift. Difficult to grip, almost always too hot to grab in the summer, and simply a poor ergonomic shape, the shift knob was at best an irritation and at its worst something that had to be covered with a tool on sunny days to keep it from being too hot to grasp. It would certainly be too cold in the winter, but gloves would mitigate the metal's harshness.
Mom's view: The WRX was a bit too small for my money, especially since it is priced just a few thousand dollars less than the larger, nearly as fast, Legacy GT. Of course, the racier WRX is more responsive to driver inputs, even when equipped with mud and snow tires that nullify some of its brilliant handling abilities.
The Legacy is more relaxed, although the steering is precise and its potential literally limitless. Let me explain in detail. A Subaru GT wagon or sedan is priced tens of thousands less than an Audi S4 and yet the Subaru in only a half second slower to 60 mph and has more room. That performance is amazing. This unobtrusive workhorse with its well proven all wheel drive feature can stay with such acknowledged sporty sedans as the Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS 300.
I especially liked the improved interior which has a modern look, although it could be more elegant considering its price. The red-and-white gauges are very easy to read and I love the way they sweep once the ignition is keyed. The seats are also comfortable, although the WRX's are a bit thin for me. Both cars have good interior space, especially in wagon versions, but I would have appreciated if the rear seats in the Legacy sedan folded down rather than just offering a ski pass-through. Neither car offers adequate cupholders and both could use more interior storage bins. The basic point that I am making is that this is a vastly better Subaru interior, but it is not a class-leading interior.
My biggest concern about the Subaru was its pricing. People who can afford entry level Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Jaguar, and Infiniti nameplates are probably not going to be looking for a Subaru even though they are similarly priced. In other words, those potential credit worthy buyers might pass on the Subaru for a more upscale brand. For example, a base model Jaguar X with all wheel drive you would have to pay more, get less power, and not nearly the handling of the Subaru. Of course the interior of the Jaguar is much nicer and the ride more pedestrian. Let's just put it this way, girls, would you rather tell the group you bought a Jaguar or a Subaru? Enough said.
Overall, the WRX is fast, handy, and almost cuddly. The Subaru Legacy GT is articulate, well mannered, and muscular. Either way they were perfect gentlemen during my test, but I would prefer the larger GT with its smother approach especially at my age.
It is no secret that turbocharging is an inexpensive way to get mid-range power increases, especially from small displacement engines. The added bonus is that fuel efficiency is not impacted as much as that from supercharging or building heavier, larger engineers to gain the same performance. The downside is that it is difficult for some manufacturers to build one that does not have what is called turbo lag which is a pause between the application of pressure to the accelerator and engine response. In the case of the manual transmission Subarus there is virtually no turbo lag. We don't know if that would be the case with the automatic, however we would recommend this transmission option if you make daily commutes in congested areas as the Subaru clutch and shifting linkage wear on you after a while. Of course you do sacrifice both in gas mileage and acceleration with the automatic. Our recommendation, get the manual transmission and move to the country because it is so much more fun.
In terms of concerns about these two Subarus they were limited to a metal gearshift handle in the WRX, and the lack of a fold down rear seat in the Legacy sedan. Of these, by far the most bothersome was the gearshift. Difficult to grip, almost always too hot to grab in the summer, and simply a poor ergonomic shape, the shift knob was at best an irritation and at its worst something that had to be covered with a tool on sunny days to keep it from being too hot to grasp. It would certainly be too cold in the winter, but gloves would mitigate the metal's harshness.
Mom's view: The WRX was a bit too small for my money, especially since it is priced just a few thousand dollars less than the larger, nearly as fast, Legacy GT. Of course, the racier WRX is more responsive to driver inputs, even when equipped with mud and snow tires that nullify some of its brilliant handling abilities.
The Legacy is more relaxed, although the steering is precise and its potential literally limitless. Let me explain in detail. A Subaru GT wagon or sedan is priced tens of thousands less than an Audi S4 and yet the Subaru in only a half second slower to 60 mph and has more room. That performance is amazing. This unobtrusive workhorse with its well proven all wheel drive feature can stay with such acknowledged sporty sedans as the Infiniti G35 and Lexus IS 300.
I especially liked the improved interior which has a modern look, although it could be more elegant considering its price. The red-and-white gauges are very easy to read and I love the way they sweep once the ignition is keyed. The seats are also comfortable, although the WRX's are a bit thin for me. Both cars have good interior space, especially in wagon versions, but I would have appreciated if the rear seats in the Legacy sedan folded down rather than just offering a ski pass-through. Neither car offers adequate cupholders and both could use more interior storage bins. The basic point that I am making is that this is a vastly better Subaru interior, but it is not a class-leading interior.
My biggest concern about the Subaru was its pricing. People who can afford entry level Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Jaguar, and Infiniti nameplates are probably not going to be looking for a Subaru even though they are similarly priced. In other words, those potential credit worthy buyers might pass on the Subaru for a more upscale brand. For example, a base model Jaguar X with all wheel drive you would have to pay more, get less power, and not nearly the handling of the Subaru. Of course the interior of the Jaguar is much nicer and the ride more pedestrian. Let's just put it this way, girls, would you rather tell the group you bought a Jaguar or a Subaru? Enough said.
Overall, the WRX is fast, handy, and almost cuddly. The Subaru Legacy GT is articulate, well mannered, and muscular. Either way they were perfect gentlemen during my test, but I would prefer the larger GT with its smother approach especially at my age.