The generic-brand equivalent of a BMW?The latest variation of the
Subaru's Legacy has been a favourite within the walls of Auto123.com, a fact we have a hard time to hide. Turbo engine or not, every version of this mid-size sedan and wagon seems to offer a lot for the money.
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A car perfectly suited to the harshness of our great country. |
The spec.B model came along in the fall of 2006, and the performance level of the Legacy went one step up. But is it really worth the $45,000 asking price?
Same muscle, stiffer legsA turbocharged and intercooled, 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine powers the spec.B, and the same engine is found in the lower 2.5GT model. With 243 horsepower and 241 lb-ft on tap, acceleration is brisk: 0-100 km/h happens in just 6.0 seconds, and passing power is prodigious.
Unlike the 2.5GT and its 5-speed manual, though, the spec.B gets a 6-speed. With a slightly shorter first gear ratio (3.6 vs. 3.2), the spec.B is a smudge quicker off the line, but you'll be shifting more often.
Top-gear ratios are virtually identical for both turbo Legacys, which means the spec.B will not spin its engine at a lower revolution on the highway; it actually posts worst fuel consumption figures than the 2.5GT, and I'm averaging 12.9 L/100 km. An automatic is not available.
Another spec.B exclusivity is the addition of sport-tuned Bilstein shock absorbers all around. The result is a car that's a little more composed during sporty driving than the less-expensive GT. The spec.B feels more buttoned-down, has slightly less body roll and clings on in curves.
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The engine's growl is surprising at first. |