With the 2006 Legacy Subaru moves closer to "near luxury" status, offering a boost in performance, handsome new styling, and the considerable advantages of all-wheel-drive as standard equipment. The 2.5 liter 4-cylinder boxer engine layout is unique among family sedans, producing 175 hp in non-turbo guise and 250 hp in the turbocharged GT Limited. My test car came with a 5-speed manual, though a 5-speed automatic is optional. Price $28,795. EPA mileage (manual) 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway.
First glance: Off to a rough start...
The Legacy and I got off to an inauspicious beginning. I'd just completed a 6-hour flight with a 5:45 AM departure. Subaru's people had kindly left the test car at the Toronto Park-N-Fly but the attendants couldn't find it. Then, when a phone call to Subaru sorted out the parking lot's record-keeping, I was trapped behind an automatic gate because the computer wouldn't recognise the exit code. After a dozen tries and considerable shouting we finally got through. Meanwhile I was coping with a heavy manual shifter and an "instant on" clutch that suggested the ride to the hotel might be as tiring as the flight.
Less than a mile down the road traffic came to a halt. A truck had rolled on its side and spilled a load of plate glass, which was spread all over the pavement. This test drive is not going to be fun, I thought. But as the days passed and the Legacy and I became accustomed to each other my mood changed, until I developed a genuine affection for the car and even began to appreciate the feel of the transmission and clutch. The GT may not be the hottest sports sedan you can buy but its plenty quick enough and with the beefed-up suspension and all-wheel-drive offers handling that is both willing and safe.
Continued below...In the Driver's Seat: The Legacy's not German... is it?
Dropped into the driver's seat blindfolded, you might think yourself in a German car when the blindfold came off. The interior is restrained, with a minimum of faux-titanium brightwork and a business-like panel featuring large instruments. All controls are round, as nature intended, and easily managed. Deeply-contoured sport seats provide support in turns without sacrificing comfort, which my ex-wife approved as we drove to our son's wedding; Maggie suffers from back problems so seat comfort is important. Unlike many sedans these days, entry to the Legacy does not involve gymnastic contortions, a fact appreciated by her ex's ageing 6-foot frame.
Thus we were a happy (if no-longer-married) couple and in a way, squiring Maggie in a manual transmission sports sedan reminded me of our younger days when such trips were a pleasant routine. Seeking faults, which is part of this job, I found the steering wheel, though nicely-sized and leather-padded, to be too close for my arms-out driving style and noted a lack of storage spaces; most that exist are too small. Sightlines are generous, though not outstanding, while passengers benefit from large windows (unlike those of the competition in its absurd dedication to the aerodynamic wedge).
On the Road: At its best when driven hard
To be frank, I think the inclusion of a 5-speed manual shift in a family sedan of luxury pretensions is out of place. I'd have been happier with the 5-speed auto, especially when negotiating Toronto's notorious traffic. And for reasons I don't understand, having driven hot Subaru Imprezas, the Legacy GT's manual is anything but smooth. Add the instant-on clutch and you've got a car that needs to be manhandled. So when I upgraded my technique from subtle to aggressive, everything changed. The 250 hp turbocharged engine growled its approval. The shifter felt like a baseball bat hitting a home run. The clutch obeyed instructions from a sensitive toe.
If only the steering was playing the same game. While responsive enough, it had the peculiar habit of needing to be corrected after completion of a turn. I'd call it oversteer, even though that term normally relates to high-speed cornering, because tight turns in the Legacy GT required backing off. Not unlike lining up the runway when flying an aircraft and having to adjust for a too-late bank into final. Nevertheless handling is precise, especially when guided by full-time all-wheel-drive. And I must praise, for those of you who know how to heel-and-toe, the pedal location: Ideal.
Journey's end: There's more to the Legacy line than the GT...
You'll note that most of my comments relate to the Subaru Legacy GT Limited's performance. But I'd like to deviate for a moment, for the Legacy is a legitimate contender in the mid-size family sedan category, the only one with standard all-wheel-drive plus a boxer engine. The former improves handling on dry pavement, adds security on icy roads. The latter (cylinders laid flat, opposed) creates a lower center-of-gravity; helpful in roadholding.
Subaru justifiably boasts of high crash test ratings, aided by driver and front-passenger front air bags, side-curtain air bags protecting front and rear outboard occupants and seat-mounted front side-impact air bags. The family car buyer will feel safe and secure in a Subaru Legacy. His and her children and mom-in-law will be comfortable in the back seat, which is easy to access although short on conveniences. They'll find the trunk deep but not high.
But this is about the Legacy GT Limited with 5-speed manual. And for those family drivers to whom "adequate" is not enough, rest assured it is a true driver's machine. If the driver takes hold and manhandles the GT it will respond like a vintage sports car. That's how the Legacy GT and I made peace after six days in Toronto.
