From: paul@eye.com (Paul B. Booth)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Subaru Legacy??
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 17:20:14 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: 3D/EYE, Inc.  Ithaca, NY

In article <livctmINN7um@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:
>qazi@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Aamir Hafeez Qazi) writes:
>> 
>> Amazingly, for $12,000 plus TTL you can get a new '92 Subaru Legacy L
>> with air, cassette, cruise, and power windows/locks/mirrors - a fully
>> loaded, reliable Japanese sedan the size of an Accord which sells poorly,
>> but is nearly as good as the Accord LX, which is the comparable model.
>> Forget the Sentra and the Mazda - this is the car to be looked at.
>
>Consumer Reports liked this car, because it "isn't like a Subaru" [Legend].
>The Legacy is not often compared with Accord/Taurus/Camry, though perhaps
>it should be.  If you test drive one, please let us know what you think.
>My wife rejected the Legacy because it has motorized seat belts.
>
>The general consensus on Subarus seems to be that they're OK if you need
>4WD but can't afford a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Ford Explorer.  However, I'm
>not sure that the Legend is available with low range, which is absolutely
>essential for off-road driving.
>
I've never understood the lukewarm reception that the Legacy seems to always
get.  In the company you mention (Accord/Taurus/Camry), the Legacy IMHO, is
clearly equal or superior to the rest.  I think that for Consumer Reports to
validate the Legacy on the basis of a comparison with the old-style Loyale
shows a basic lack of understanding of this car.  A Legacy is a completely
different beast than a Loyale (I've owned both).  While a lot of folks looked
to the old Subaru's as a poor-man's 4x4, you would not want to do this with
the Legacy; the wheel clearance just isn't there.  The AWD system on the Legacy
is meant more to improve on-road handling in _all_ weather, ala the Audi Quattro
or even the Porsche 911 C4 (the Subaru AWD system, BTW, is nearly identical to
the P-car's, except that it's rotated 180 degrees ;-)).  Power automatically
kicks in to the rear wheels only when the fronts start to slip.  Sure, it's
great in the snow, but throw this car _hard_ off the line or into a slippery
corner, and you'll be amazed at how the AWD responds to hold things together.
All in all, I'd say that the Legacy easily outhandles any of its peers.

In addition to the handling, several other plusses for the Legacy:  The boxer
engine design is very smooth and quiet, plus I believe it's stronger (120 hp)
than the Honda and Ford (no idea re. the Camry).  Fit and finish is definitely
better than the Honda.  Reliability for me anyway has been excellent - 1
prematurely warped brake rotor is the only glitch I've had in 1.5 years.
Downsides?  The seats are too stiff for my taste and, yeah, it's got attack
belts.

Regards-
-- 
Paul B. Booth  (paul@eye.com)
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