Scooby Dooby DOO! (Subaru Legacy (1998 on) in general)

Member Name: josarah

Product:	Subaru Legacy (1998 on) in general
Date:	11/10/04 (1664 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stylish, Comfort, Good Handling

Disadvantages: Fuel Consumption

This review is based on the 2004 model Legacy 2.0 I Sport tourer.

Firstly some explanation, I do not profess to be an expert on cars, I just listen well when my better half starts to talk about things. What I do know is how it feels to drive this car, and the difference to my usual car, the mighty Fiat Punto.

The car was £16, 985, offered at the moment with 3 years free servicing (quite a substantial chunk of dosh).

Reliability

I think the number of old Subaru’s on the road speaks for itself, an ever growing customer base, and good customer loyalty would seem to suggest that these cars are as reliable as they come. As far as I am concerned we have not had any reliability issues with any previous Subaru’s and I would not expect any with this one. I’m sure there are techy reviews of why this is a reliable car, but I’m no techy!

Safety

I feel safe in this car, driving around the country lanes at speed I don’t feel as if I am going to lose control, probably something to do with the permanent 4-wheel drive. The brakes are good, and all models come with ABS as standard. Inside, it’s a case of Airbags all round. Standard kit includes front and side airbags with curtain air bags on other models.

Spaciousness

Sitting in this car, you appreciate how much space there actually is.

Front
The driving position is very comfortable, and the windscreen is slanted so that it feels as if you have a panoramic view. There is loads of headroom and little cubbyholes for storing stuff! As a passenger I also find this car very spacious, with plenty of room for leg stretching, even with someone in the back seat.

Back
Behind the driver there is adequate room for an adult to sit comfortably, again headroom is more than adequate, with at least 6 inches of air above my head

Boot
As expected in a Sport Tourer, the boot is large, I would say this boot is bigger than that in a Rover 75 estate, both in depth and length. The spare wheel (space saver) is stored under the floor, however there are also storage spaces above the wheel. Shopping bag hooks come in handy too!

Comfort
Having driven or been a passenger in almost all of the Subaru Range, I can honestly say that this car is the comfiest of the lot. The driving position is divine, and you could easily clock up big miles without having the need for a stretch break. The front passenger position is similar to the driving, loads of legroom, in an almost laid back position.

The back is probably comparable to any other car, however the extra headroom will make this a more comfortable car for the taller people amongst us.

Handling

This is where this car explodes out of the pack, it flies around corners like it’s stuck to the road. At speed it is able to be thrown around with confidence (not by me though, by the more confident other half) and is much sportier than the Forester, I have been told that driving this car is more like driving the Impreza, although not quite so scary! Even on a wet road you don’t lose any of the performance. I feel like I ought to mention the gearbox here, as it is possibly the smoothest gear box I have used, and as such this car drives smoothly, but accelerates quickly in lower gears if needed. Driving on a road that has subsided considerably, the car cruises easily, not jolting you out of the seat with each and every bump.

Customer Service

We have never had bad customer service from Oaken Garage, however if something does go wrong with one of these cars and parts have to be ordered, you may have to contend with a substantial wait as many parts are then ordered from Japan.

Security

Comes with good alarm system: Thatcham Category 1 alarm/immobiliser
(again I don’t personally know the techy bits but am reliably informed that it is!)

Looks

This car looks a bit like any other estate car, however I think it is stylish, and is not covered in badges and stuff. Understated might be the word!

Features

All of the Legacy range comes with electric windows and CD player as standard. In addition you get climate control, electric mirrors, with the option of a twin sunroof, 6 CD changer sat nav. and all the trimmings. Of course the more money you pay the more stuff you can get, like any car, however the basic model is quite well furnished, better than comparable cars in it’s class.

Fuel Consumption

Subaru are notorious in producing cars that guzzle petrol. This car however does on average 30 mpg urban mileage, and as much as 40 ish mpg extra urban. It prefers longer journeys in terms of fuel economy, but for a Subaru, the fuel economy is better than expected

Overall Impression

This car is lush, I love it. As a young (ish) female it may be an odd choice, however I think that it’s as suitable for me as it is for people who have decided to opt out of company car schemes and want a good car for big business miles. I showed it my dad and he was as impressed as me. All in all I think that this car is one that should be tried before you form a judgment, don’t take my word for it, try it yourself!

Summary: