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1997 Subaru Legacy Outback |
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1997 Subaru Legacy Outback |
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In Oregon and Washington you see them everywhere, zipping around in the snow, ice and mud with an aplomb that makes the sport utilities look clumsy and awkward. The attention grabber is the Subaru Legacy Wagon and it only comes one way: with all-wheel drive. While traveling in the Northwest recently, I asked a few Legacy drivers why they chose it over, say, a 4x4 sport utility or 4x4 truck. All said they needed a lower-priced, comfortable sedan with 4-wheel drive to handle the winter conditions, and this was the only one on the market. At just over $20,000 it beats the sport utilities by around $10,000. Some of the Legacy owners also owned 4x4 trucks for rough hauling and as a second vehicle. None of them, however, having bought the Legacy, would ever part with it. I came away with the feeling that there was tremendous brand loyalty with the Subaru. Subaru is clearly a niche player in the game of big car manufacturers. It also is an American-built car, manufactured in the Subaru/Isuzu joint-venture plant in Lafayette, Ind. In 1996 and 1997, a model known as the Legacy Outback was offered, and comprised most of Subaru's 1996 sales. It is essentially the same as a well-equipped Legacy Wagon, with larger tires and a change to the roofline. (The roofline change, by the way, excludes the possibility of a moonroof.) This is a big vehicle inside: Front and rear leg room is greater than most sport utilities, and cargo volume, at 36 cubic feet, is more than most minivans.
Driving the Outback is fun. This car is no slouch: You can throw it around on twisty roads, and with its on-all-the-time four-wheel drive, the handling is impeccable. Power with the larger 2.5-liter engine is quite good and will transport you from point A to point B in a hurry. The four-wheel antilock disc brakes are fabulous, bringing you to rest with enormous, smooth retarding power. The suspension gobbles up the road with no fuss while feeling firm on corners. This wagon is really quiet, comfortable and smooth. The fuel consumption, as reported by the EPA and Consumer Reports, is excellent for this size of vehicle, 21/27 mpg, city/highway EPA, and 23 to 26 mpg for Consumer Reports' overall averages for city/highway trips. These figures are for the larger 2.5 engine. The 2.2 engine, which is marginal on power, returns 23/30, city/highway EPA mpg. Every time I talk to owners about reliability problems, I hear "bulletproof," or some such comment. No one I talked to reported a major problem. That is, of course, a very small sample. Consumer Reports' predicted reliability index shows a "red ball," its best rating. Subaru has been making this vehicle, with few changes, for a number of years and has earned a fine reputation for durability. The all-aluminum 2.2- and 2.5-liter engines are "flat-fours," with two cylinders lying flat on each side of the engine, similar to the arrangement used by Volkswagen in its Beetle and van models. In Subaru's case the engines are liquid cooled, whereas the Beetle engine was air cooled. These engines are coupled to a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive or a very smooth 4-speed automatic. A tremendous variety of models is available: the Brighton, a stripped version, $16,985; the L $19,895; the 2.5 GT, $23,495; and a fully loaded Lsi, $25,695. Dealer cost on these models is $15,788, $17,898, $21,073 and $23,024, respectively. In addition, the Outback lists for $22,495 and the loaded Outback Limited for $24,195. Dealer cost for these models is $20,187 and $21,694, respectively. The overall warranty is pretty standard - 36,000 miles or 36 months - while the power train warranty is better than most - 60,000 miles or 60 months. The various equipment packages available are too many to cite; however, a five-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on all models except the Lsi, a four-speed automatic is an $800 option. All the usual perks, such as air conditioning, power door locks, windows and mirrors; cruise control; map lights; moonroof (not Outback); leather; remote security key; fancy wheels; CD player; tinted windows; etc. are standard on some models and available on others. Some extras are more unique to Subaru: roof rack, ski, kayak and bicycle carriers, front and rear power outlets (standard), trailer hitch, engine underguard and differential protectors, heated mirrors, battery heater, block heater and fog lamps. My choice would be the 2.5 GT Legacy Wagon with the 5-speed transmission. I am a 5-speed kind of guy; however, the 4-speed automatic was very nice, and as long as I had a 5-speed vehicle of any type in my stable, I could comfortably live with the Legacy automatic. This car is a sleeper and one of the best vehicles and best values I have come across for some time. I might even buy one. Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 54 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. |
