Well here it is:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/rp/05legacy_gt.htm

Except for the Author not knowing where the Legacy is made, it starts off good. One little mix up between the sedan and wagon at the end about the fold ing seats, but overall not a bad review. Too bad we didn't get it 6 months ago.

great review - makes me want one even more!

good review; interesting comment about the tires doing well in snow

Yeah I wonder about that. Everyone knows how good RE92's are. Although I have to admit they are quiet.

In the past few months I've had 3 friends pass on the Legacy GT sedan and settle for either the TSX or Mazda6. All 3 loved the Legacy far and beyond the other two cars, but the deal breaker for them was the non-folding rear seats. Being snowboarding fans and an engineer consultant, the ability to fold down the rear seats to increase cargo space was really important to them.

Yes they could've went for the wagon, but they either already have a bigger car (SUV/truck), or just don't like wagons.

So what's the deal with Subaru and sedans not having rear-folding seats? Are they trying to push their wagon sales instead? Why are other manufacturers able to provide fold down seats and not sacrifice safety and or structure integrity?

That's a good question. Possibly the answer is that since they make wagons the sedan doesn't need to have folding seats. Does seem foolish though.

As for "already have a bigger car (SUV/truck)" the Legacy wagon is virtually the same size as the sedan; that seems like a silly reason not to get a wagon. I really don't understand why people prefer sedans; wagons drive almost exactly the same and are much more practical.

It's a matter of appearance and status somewhat, I think. Hatches and wagons are so anti-USA in their styling, that I think the stigma of a wagon makes it less appealing.

Which, in my opinion, is completely ridiculous. I'd sell appendages for a white LGT Ltd. wagon with a bunch of JDM/STi goodies, or an Audi R/S4 Avant.

Trends are meaningless. :)



As for the rear folding seats, I also agree that it's stupid not to have them, in the sedans.
Word on the street, back in '99 or '00, was that the removal of folding seats was done as a cost-cutting measure. Imprezas lost the folding seats, locking gas caps, trunk lights and maybe one or two other niceties. Maybe some of that logic has carried over, even with a brand new vehicle lineup.



And the RE92s? Most other reviewers don't like them. Can't imagine why. ;) They're not the godawful, spontaneously-combusting garbage most people think they are--they do have a nice highway ride, and decent winter grip for the first 1-2 seasons. But when you mass-produce a single tire for several brand names and their vehicles, you're bound to hit faults.

The RE92 has several! I think those who can afford an LGT can pony up $5-700 or whatever for a decent set of tires. Even some Bridgestone RE950s would be a huge improvement (or a Dunlop SP5000, or................)

=S2=

In the past few months I've had 3 friends pass on the Legacy GT sedan and settle for either the TSX or Mazda6. All 3 loved the Legacy far and beyond the other two cars, but the deal breaker for them was the non-folding rear seats. Being snowboarding fans and an engineer consultant, the ability to fold down the rear seats to increase cargo space was really important to them.

Yes they could've went for the wagon, but they either already have a bigger car (SUV/truck), or just don't like wagons.

So what's the deal with Subaru and sedans not having rear-folding seats? Are they trying to push their wagon sales instead? Why are other manufacturers able to provide fold down seats and not sacrifice safety and or structure integrity?

I wish I knew the answer to that. I thoroughly enjoy having folding seats in my GT, the last generation to have that feature. There isn't a week that goes by when I don't find a need for it- I once fit a handtruck and an 8 foot carpet together in my sedan. Its an awesome feature. And Subaru is also missing the boat on the Imprezza too- every small sedan has 60/40 split folding seats except Subaru's.

Sure, wagons are great, but a lot of times its nice to have the security of a trunk, plus lower weight/better handling nature of a sedan. And not everyone wants a wagon, so Subaru could get the best of both worlds by adding this feature. Sometimes a pass-through just doesn't cut it.

A pass-through barely EVER cuts it, in my opinion. :)

As for weight, ehh there's not much difference with the Legacy, much like WRX. Yes there's some physics/dynamics change going on, but I personally think it's not enough to fuss over, considering the long-term benefits of a wagon.

As for "already have a bigger car (SUV/truck)" the Legacy wagon is virtually the same size as the sedan; that seems like a silly reason not to get a wagon. I really don't understand why people prefer sedans; wagons drive almost exactly the same and are much more practical.


Yeah, I agree... and I have the wagon myself... but if they already have an SUV I guess I can understand not wanting to have a whole driveway full of the same type of vehicles(SUV/wagon/pickup). It would be nice to be able to drive an SUV one day and hop into an STi the next, eh? It's nice to have variety-if you can afford it.

In the past few months I've had 3 friends pass on the Legacy GT sedan and settle for either the TSX or Mazda6. All 3 loved the Legacy far and beyond the other two cars, but the deal breaker for them was the non-folding rear seats. Being snowboarding fans and an engineer consultant, the ability to fold down the rear seats to increase cargo space was really important to them.

Yes they could've went for the wagon, but they either already have a bigger car (SUV/truck), or just don't like wagons.

So what's the deal with Subaru and sedans not having rear-folding seats? Are they trying to push their wagon sales instead? Why are other manufacturers able to provide fold down seats and not sacrifice safety and or structure integrity?

I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing this. Ive convinced two couples to look at the leagcy before purchasing other similair vehicles and both ended up voiding the legacys for the exact same reason.

Take a look at the Baja and you will know that a Folding seat is not impossible. Although I'm satisfied with the pass through, I do miss folding seats.

btw the RE92s on the new Legacy may not be exactly the same as the ones that come on the WRX. Also, mine were fine in snow their first year.

Yeah, RE92s always do pretty well for their first 10-20k miles, on average (from reading countless NASIOC/i-Club threads about it).

The compound is probably a bit different on the 17"s though, yes. Lots of OE tires change a bit from one "version" to another.

As for "already have a bigger car (SUV/truck)" the Legacy wagon is virtually the same size as the sedan; that seems like a silly reason not to get a wagon. I really don't understand why people prefer sedans; wagons drive almost exactly the same and are much more practical.

I don't think it's the idea that wagons are heavier or don't drive as well. Speaking personally, wagons just don't look good to me. Like USDM Legacy bumpers vs JDM ones. With one of my friends, her parents owned an old wagon w/ those wood trims lining the outside. I think she's been scarred for life! :P

It just seems backwards to me for Subaru to not provide rear folding-down seats. I don't know how else to put it. :confused:

I'm actually in the same spot. Legact GT or TSX...?! Rumours in another thread about the 06 Legacy getting a 6speed tranny, here's hoping that we get rear fold-down seats too.

Sedan or Wagon? Personally, I think the 05 Wagon looks better than the Sedan - and is a whole lot more usable in day to day living. I always get the feeling that Subaru designs the wagon and then comes up with the sedan derivative -somehow their sedan styling is never quite as good as the wagon.

Sedan or Wagon? Personally, I think the 05 Wagon looks better than the Sedan - and is a whole lot more usable in day to day living. I always get the feeling that Subaru designs the wagon and then comes up with the sedan derivative -somehow their sedan styling is never quite as good as the wagon.
Generally the largest vehicle built on a platform is the original design.. at least from a structural standpoint. The 98-01 Forester being a probable exception.