I just got back from a trip up to Minneapolis, and since I recently crashed my MP5, my buddy let me borrow his 2005 Subary Legacy GT. I was shocked by how badass this car really is ... I dunno if it's because MP5s are way underpowered and FWD, but the Subaru hauled ***!!! It has the same tiptronic automatic transmission, except it's a 5 speed instead of 4 speed, which was pretty cool, but it was still surprisingly quick for a 2.5L! The only thing I have to complain on is the gas mileage ... I used up a 15 gallon tank on the way over there, and I only live 3 hours away in Waterloo, Iowa. So it was gettin about 20mpg on the highway ... but besides that, that car really impressed me. Plus, I have to admit that I got a LOT of glances from people I passed or got passed by ... lots and lots! I felt special ...

 

Legacy's are very quick rides in stock form. You will need a couple of mods to beat one in your MP5.

 

I don't plan on being able to compete with one of those ... that's too much money for me hehe

 

they're fast, but theyre too dang heavy.

 

i'd have to say u are wrong, you definitely need more than a couple mods to beat one. They are rated at 250 hp at the engine and our proteges are 130.. couple mods will come up with 120 hp i'm sure..

 

If you really want to be stunned compare the sticker price of the Protege 5 and the Legacy.

I don't know what Subaru's go for where you are but here it's like they stuck some gold bars under the seats or something...

 

Subaru=expensive
Subaru=nice.

 

They had a few of the legacy GT's at the last Subaru Challenge AutoX I went to, it was quick, but it was like driving a tanker truck to me. I mean I come from the MKI Toyota MR2 world though, so...

 

I will agree with you that the new turbo Legacy GT is a nice ride. It is one of the cars that I would compare against the Acura TSX, if I was in the market for a mid-sized sports sedan in the 25-30K range.

Actually, a friend at work just picked one up recently, a 2005 turbo wagon with the manual trans. He was originally in the market for a WRX, but drove the Legacy and decided that was the one for him. The turbo Legacy is nearly as quick as a WRX (or at least it feels like it), costs about the same, and has a much nicer interior and a lot more room.

 

Dont forget 4WD is always fun too

 

in all actuality the Legacy GT is the direct and sole competition of the new Mazdaspeed6. Mazda has said the GT was their main target. Sure the MS6 has AWD and 279bhp but it's weight and portly size make it only .1s faster than the V6-5spd 6S. The MS6 isn't designed for speed but it has some good pull to it for a 2.3L four cylinder....just the same way the Legacy GT has good pull but it's not a sports car.

 

On a slight side note, doesn Mazda have much experience (overseas?) with making AWD cars? I'd love a Speed6 but Subaru has been doing AWD for eons and, while the engineering of AWD systems is common, the Speed6 has a new setup. Just wondering about reliability. But I suppose it's a Speed version so I'm sure they made it beefy enough. Just a thought, since I had an original Legacy way back and I loved it.

 

Let's just say I love the speed6, but I would NEVER buy one the first year it was out.