On the surface, the Subaru Legacy Spec-B is as attractive as it is curious. This odd beast was devised by the engineers at Subaru years ago as an answer to a question it seems painfully few had the pause to ask; where is my rice-racer from Subaru? Well, ask no further. Though the bygone models so lauded from the 90s are gone, this is a fair compromise, but I still have to ask, even with its spectacular performance, who would want to buy this thing?
It's a great car all around, and that should come as no surprise. Subaru makes a killer car, whether in terms of safety, comfort or performance, it's no matter. Well, maybe not "no matter", but surely a matter of course. The Legacy comes with 5-star safety ratings all around, except for rollover, where its paltry four-star rating will just have to do. Sure, it beats the class, but I'm being a cynical sort, which by now I'm entitled to be at least once per article, this would easily be my example.
The styling is undeniable, and it's hard to disagree. We're not talking about the looks of the entry-level cars from ten-years ago, or even some of the premium offerings from the brand as recently as five-years past, when all the critics could say was, "My, this is a fine car, were it not for its sorry looks." This is a fine looking ride, whether curbside or flying past you in the fast lane, and in either case it's capably qualified.
The low-profile rims speak more to handling than styling, but the bottom-level trim in chrome says more than that. It's a pretty car, even if you don't like pretty cars. Though it's priced like a 5-series BMW or entry-level BMW, the brand and styling are more understated, without compromising handling and comfort. Handling and comfort? Yep, let me address those factors individually.
The Subaru Legacy Spec-B lacks for much in terms of marketing save for perhaps a smarter name, aims less to tackle the BMW and Mercedes market, but rather capably usurps the Acura and Honda markets, and still does so with an understated magnificence.
It's got 250hp with 250lbs torque, with a full-sized chassis at just 3,391 to the curb, and a redline at 6,500. Top that with the six-speed manual, and if you can tell me you're still at a want for power, I'll tell you that you need to step up to super-car.
In past years it's been an absurdly limited production vehicle (only 500 for 2006), with little promise of a wider production. The embrace from the consumer market has all but forced Subaru to ramp it up, and even make the model a tad better.
New for 2007-2008 is the 6-speed stick, the only choice, and an improvement over the previous year when it was a 5-speed version of the same. The gears are long, with wicked kick off the line (5.3 seconds zero-to-sixty), and the turbo delivers all the torque you'd want from such a conservative ride. The manual stick-6 is a smart improvement over past years, giving that extra ounce of option in low-speed traffic (complete with reverse-gear lock), but I'd still love to see an automatic, at least as an option, especially for ease and efficiency.
It's all stick these days for the sheer sake of the purists who still cling to the notion that they can somehow shift more efficiently or effectively than an auto-tranny can. The engineers are so much smarter than us, and I can admit that, which is why I'd beg an automatic, but for now I'll take what I can get.
The exterior styling is as lovely as a geisha grown up a bit, specifically from that kind of awkward phase she just grew out of. The interior is elegant, refined and soundly built, but doesn't quite match the glory of models like the Tribeca.
If you're trying to compare this to a BMW, Mercedes or lesser model sport Caddy, you're going to find your comparisons ill-fitted and out of place, because I don't see this attacking those markets. It's a fantastically Japanese ride, and patently so. It's a full-sized, five-seat, safety-loaded, full-weight, wickedly powered, stick-only Jap ride. That means it's aimed (in my opinion, however far from humble it may be) at the Acura, Nissan, Honda and too-big-to-be Hyundai markets. It doesn't match the Germans, and it shouldn't, it's that different, but it attacks its rival easterners and smokes them out with an uncommonly divine wind.
It takes the legendary Subaru handling and kicks it up a notch (Bam!) by ratcheting its 300' skid-pad performance from a respectable .6 to a stunning .87+. Not that this should matter, what with 20+mpg, since I hope to high hell nobody in their right mind will test it. The stick (which I still don't much care for, on a personal level) still affords easy skipping of gears from 1-3, 2-4 or any rolling speed to any reasonable gear.
When the Japanese invasion came about thirty years ago, the Subaru was the sleeper of the fleet, since it wasn't "import cheap". What it was, was "import great", but back then it was in competition with Europe, rather than Japan. It took literal decades for the American market to catch on that the traction was unrivaled the world over, that the safety was on par with Volvo, that the performance was every bit as good as you were willing to pay for it, and the cost of maintenance was as low as you'd find from any import, even the modest likes of Toyota. Those days of doubt are gone, and Subaru now makes legendary cars of exceptional quality with performance unsurpassed by much else in the price range. If that's not good enough for you, you need an ego-mobile, and you can have them for less money up front, but don't be surprised when the safety and performance disappoint, despite the premium badge on the overpriced back bumper.
The quantities on these cars are limited, so if you're looking for a more grown up alternative to your rice-racer, or a lightning fast rocket that your wife won't realize isn't a conservative family-man car, this is the beast to buy, easily, in a heart beat. The styling is undeniable, the comfort is appropriate for the price-bracket, and the performance is just about change-your-panties impressive, even if you've been about anything short of the specialty cars in the past. Even the Spec-B can be had in the mid-30s, assuming you can find one. If your local dealership has one in stock, take it out for a test. Don't be afraid to get on the throttle, since that's where the rubber will invariably meet the road… unless you turn off the traction control and punch it down into "sport" or "sport-sharp" mode to discover what secret, super powers the Legacy Spec-B really has to offer.
I'm not saying you can't handle it or anything. No, what I'm saying is that you CAN handle it, and that if you don't at least give yourself the chance to try it out (assuming it's in your price range,) why THEN you might be a coward… okay, maybe not so extremely so, but still, it's a wild ride if you let it be, an economical one if you're sensible, and a fine value otherwise.
