SO the Legacy GT press car just showed up today, black/black Limited (or a base car with leather, heated seats, and moonroof). Took it out for our quick loop on our usual test route and am pretty impressed. First, interior seems a big step forward -- esp. interior door panel design, center console, and dash materials.

Ride is VERY well done. Well damped at all times, and handles mid-corner bumps without fuss or changing the chosen line. Steering feel and ratio is FAR better than my 2003 WRX on 18-inch P1s, and is really sweet. Best Subie steering I've felt -- though still not quite Evo-good.

Power is a bit disappointing. When we had the Forester XT, that felt fast to the point of being socially irresponsible (musta been the suspension/tires?), but maybe it's also expectations at work. Our Art Director thought it felt fast, though.

Sadly, my "Honda Accord" fears are slightly confirmed. There is no comparison in terms of sporting appeal, but there is a step towards mainstream here that the WRX somehow manages to avoid completely. Where the WRX feels like the new E30 M3, the new Legacy mixes in a (very) little bit of Camry. Nothing a set of 18-inch Prodrives, a new shift ****, and a few other details wouldn't fix...

DEFINITELY get the short shift, as the standard one is lame.

Of course, all this in a short time, I'm supposed to get it for a week in two weeks, then maybe I'll have a better understanding of the car.

Overall, I won't trade up to a sedan, but I may still consider going for a wagon...

pete

 

Thanks for the info, very much. Can you elaborate more on the power being disappointing? As far as I know it has the same tranny and gear ratios as the Forester, but with more HP and torque. What did you feel was lacking? Or better yet, what do you think would make it feel better? Just flat out more power, or more like a change to the power curve? I imagine the torque curve on that motor looks very flat from a fairly low RPM through most of the powerband.

What did you think about the seats? Also, in comparison to your WRX, is your rex modded at all? I know when I drove a Forester XT, I thought it lacked pull compared to the WRX because the Forester doesn't have any high end grunt like the WRX does. I've seen reports that say the Legacy GT runs the 1/4 mile in the low 14s at 98 MPH, which would make it faster than the WRX at least.

 

Let see, GT wagon 5 speed does 0-60 in 5.8 sec. if that's slow for a $27,000 car that weights 3345lbs your in the wrong market. That's fast enought for my money and it sure beats my 98 and 00 GT wagons. Go buy a new bimmer that will do that time for $27,000.

 

I'm making mine a Black GT Wagon 5-speed, I pick it up this Friday July 2nd.

 

Okay, so I have been spending too much time on other boards since my wife stole the WRX. When a Legacy GT press car was finally supposed to come to me for a week, they called and said something went wrong with the black sedan I drove above -- would I mind a silver GT wagon limited 5-spd? That's what I wanted in the first place!!!!

SO we spent a week with it and both my wife and I are in love with the new GT. I think the black sedan was missing a beat or two, as I have ZERO complaints about power in the silver wagon we had -- and that's heavier! As said above MAYBE a Stage 1 reflash, but I wouldnt do anything else. Not even sure I would do that. And this 2.5 "sings" like the STi motor does (which sings like 2/3s of a 911) -- something I wish my smaller, 2.0-liter WRX motor did...

Took the GT for a long run on a favorite back road with a good mix of surfaces, speeds, and elevation changes. It was very, very impressive considering its price, size, and wagon-hood. If a 996 or E55 is a 10 on this road and a stock WRX is an 8.5, the new Legacy GT is maybe an 8.0 -- which is shockingly good. We were able to keep a pace that would give our WRX a hard time, and with a lot more comfort. Seats aren't quite as good for skinny people, though.

Brakes eventually showed some fade, but it was minimal, gave plenty of warning, and serious fade was easily avoided without slowing down too much -- the chassis will carry plenty of speed through turns. Also agree ABS is better. I don't like RE92s either, but these 17-inchers are definitely better than the 16s WRXs (and everything else save STi) comes on.

Ditto on all the interior observations above, though the rear view didn't bug me. The new interior is leagues ahead. Leagues.

I think you got it right above: Subaru got this one right and there's not much worth changing. Wouldn't want to lower it and lose the fantastic ride/handling compromise (and it's DAMN good, even compared to BMW for twice the price) and the nose is pretty long. Maybe a shift ****, a Stage 1, and, well, that's about it. Even the wheels look great. For fun, we threw two of our 18-inch P1s (anthracite) on one side and...it didn't really look that good. You'd need to lower it, but then you get into all of the above...

Finally, for all but audiophiles, the stereo is really, really good. Got out of a Cayenne the week before that had a great Bose system and was figuring on a real step down in sound systems, but it wasn't that much of a step down! Also, the huge sunroof is AWESOME -- and airflow is well managed. A no brainer if you like open air.

Take all the above for what it's worth. Our dilemna now is do we spring for a GT wagon now (a few years before kids) and get it mostly paid off, or do we keep the 2003 WRX (which we still love) and wait to get a wagon until we really need it.

pete

 

I'm almost 50 y/o. I have a blast driving mine. This is my third Legacy GT Wagon since March 1998. This is without a doubt the car I have been hoping Subaru would someday build.

Even my 17 y/o son with a 240HP Honda Civic enjoys the Subby for what it is.

 

I've had my Legacy GT now for about a month--got it the tail end of June--the 1st one sold in the area I guess--and so far am very happy. I traded in an 02 wrx for it, and though I was hesitant at first thinking I might be missing some performance, I am happier all the time I made the switch.

As far as power--I think the Legacy is deceiving to some degree and can feel slower than it actually is, because it makes its power so much differently than the wrx--you don't get the noise and commotion and the sudden turbo surge as much--its more of a big engine feel with a more even powerband. My butt dyno says its about the same or even slightly faster than my wrx was, but like I said the power delivery is in a different way. Much better low end torque, much smoother, and you use much less pedal to get the same results. I am also averaging a little over 25 mpg around town with spirited driving thrown in, which is better than I expected. I've gone over 26 mpg on the highway.

 

I've had the car for over a week now and its has been great fun so far, its tough not to wind it up yet but its almost through the break in so fun will be had soon enough. The only think I'm looking for to get onto this car is an exhaust that can be heard over the engine itself and a chip to get it up to atlesat 275 hp and torque boost of the same size would be nice too. The interior is nice, definetly not as nice as the 330Ci but its better then its fellow Subs. I do wish though the moonroof was available without getting the Limited model but oh well can't have everything. Gas mileage is a little disappointing I was expecting better from a 4 cylinder as the 330 got 30mpg + on the highway all the Legacy manages is 25.5 to 26 at best. Also another annoying this is the windows don't work after you turn the car off you have to retun the car to the on position when for most vehicle the windows work with the accesories postion in the ignition, pehaps I'm doing somethign wrong but whatever it is I don't like it. The car does handle great though for what it is, its confident but the steering it still responsive if not a touch too light. The brakes work wonderfully which I unfortunately had to find out just a few hundred miles into the ownership because of an emergency stop to avoident an accident. The tires aren't so good though I would love to put on a set of Pilot Sports once this wear out.

 

I have no idea how you get that great gas milage. The best I have gotten with any of my GT's is may be 24mpg. This is my 3rd one. The power windows have all worked the same. The key must be on to get power. Today driveing in to work I was trying to figure out the benefit to Automatic Temp. control. It's 4:45AM 73F and HUMID. When I leave my A/C in the house and get into the car I want it to cool as quick as possible. Then I'll adjust the temp up to like 68F. I have no problem doing that. I guess may be over time I'll learn to like the Auto setting, but for now I don't see the value of it. It' not that hard to reach over and adjust the ****. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it as a option.

The tires have been the weak spot in the GT for years. When Subby sent me the first owners survey with my 98' I told them that in the comments section. A lot of good that did.

 

I have the '05 Legacy GT Limited Wagon. The car is very quick and feels great for a wagon. I would like a little more power and I would like to lose a little of the turbo lag that is present until 3,000 RPM. I have spoke with the guys at Cobb Tuning and they tell me that they will have this car putting out 319 HP with a cat-back exhaust and tuning. I plan on going with the turbo-back kit when it is available.

If you are interested check them out at: http://www.cobbtuning.com. They said that the more people that call the quicker they will get the upgrades produced.

John

John

 

Did you check out there Forum? They have taken there GT to the strip, mid to high 14's.

 

^^ Yah I saw that and the dyno and the it had 195whp and 216wtq and the guy was saying that equates to 260hp and 270 tq at the crank but I don't know what equation he was using I was using xxxwhp / .85 = chp and I was getting 230s hp and 255 tq.