Car Review 2013

Subaru has made its place in the automotive world the past 35 years or so by being the Japanese SAAB. Quirky, yet loveable...attracting a small but devoted following.

Attempting to go mainstream is part of what very nearly killed SAAB, so theres precedent for concern every time Subaru gets a bit more normal.

Except that Subarus managed it quite well...first with the Outback, then the Forester, and now with the Legacy.

The Legacy is stepping up in size and refinement, becoming for the first time a logical and direct alternative to Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.



And to show just how good the basic product is, Subaru sent us a no-frills Legacy 2.5i. Not a single option (but with 17-inch alloy wheels, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD, an auxilary audio jack, XM/Sirius capability, a multifunction trip computer, an outside temperature gauge, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, a remote keyless entry system, and map and courtesy lights all standard, its a complete package without any options).

Even though the Legacy is bigger now, its lighter than the competition...handles better...and dont forget...its a Subaru, so all-wheel drive is part of the deal.
And the power from the 2.5 liter engine (170 horsepower), teamed with a smooth 6-speed manual, is more than adequate.

That six-speed is a help for the fuel economy...the EPA says 19 city, 27 highway.

And the price?

Well, the price had me reminding myself to think Subaru for my next family sedan: $19,995.

Remember the deal about no options? Thats right...apart from $695 delivery charge, $19,995 is the base and the bottom line. Theres a Camry a few hundred bucks cheaper, but not as satisfying, and the least-expensive Accord is $21,055. Thats compelling math for a car that no longer has to be explained. The Legacy has arrived.

Japanese TV viewers got this commerical, with Robert DeNiro at the wheel of the new Legacy:



UPDATE: I chose to repeat the above review because the base Subaru Legacy is just so darn good.  But recently, I had a week in the top-of-the-line 2011 Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited.  And it, too was a revelation...just for different reasons.

Regular TireKicker readers know that I believe you can too easily goop up a good car with add-ons and lose the basic flavor. But Subaru swings for the bleachers with the 3.6R Limited and hits a home run.

First of all, the engine....the 170 horses of the base car jumps to 256 in all three flavors of the R (R, R Premium and R Limited)...which puts the performance of the Legacy into another league entirely. The six-speed manual gets swapped for a five-speed automatic, but the extra power, the lack of a clutch and one fewer gear end up extracting the smallest penalty...18 city, 25 highway (as opposed to 19/27 for the base model).

And then, the creature comforts: Dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 440-watt Harmon Kardon 9-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats (including a 10-way power adjustable drivers seat and a 4-way power adjustable one for the front passenger)....all standard. In fact, the only option on our car was a power moonroof ($995)...running the base price of $28,295 to an as-tested (with $725 delivery charge) $30,015.

There are absolute bargains. The 2.5i is that. Theres no other way to describe that much car for under $20,000.

And then there are bargains based on the comparison of content and price. And thats where, for a shade more than 8 grand more, the 3.6 R Limited earns its bargain status. Subaru has built a car that can run with a significantly pricier pack..and, as with the 2.5i, if it were my money...it would be an immediate contender.

1. Turn your ignition key in your BMW X5 so you can power electrical devices, but dont try to start your engine. Turn on your headlights and other electrical equipment. Check how bright the headlights are and how fast the heater-fan is turning. If the lights are dim and the heater-fan turns slowly you probably have a discharged battery.
2. Turn the ignition key further and attempt to start your car. If the engine doesnt turn over or turns over very slowly then your battery has little or no power.
3. Check the battery cables are securely connected on the battery terminals. Poor connections mean the power necessary to turn your starter motor cant pass through the connection and gives the same result as if the battery is flat. Undo the battery cables using a wrench then re-tighten them. Try to start your BMW X5. If it wont start, its not the terminal connections.
4. Get someone to give you a jump-start. Position the other car so the two batteries are close enough to attach battery cables. Use battery cables and attach the positive cable to the other cars positive battery terminal and then connect the opposite end to the positive terminal on your battery. Repeat the process by connecting the negative cable to the negative terminals of the other car, and then to your BMW X5.
5. Turn on the engine of the other car. Increase the revolutions slightly. Attempt to turn on the engine of your BMW X5. If it starts, your battery is dead. If it doesnt start you need to get it checked out by a professional. If it started, run the engine to charge the battery. Go for a short drive then leave your car off for several hours.
6. Check to see if your car starts. If it does your battery is fine. If it doesnt start, your battery isnt holding a charge so you should take it back and replace it.

1. Buy a Mercedes-Benz code reader from a website, there are many available. Make sure the code reader has a 16-pin OBDII standard socket port. The 16-pin port is what the diagnostic port on the C320 uses. 32-pin readers can be used, but an adapter and rather complex software is needed. It is simpler and cheaper to just get a 16-pin reader. No batteries are needed, as the code reader draws power from the car itself.
2. Start the car and wait for the reader to flash the name of the code reader, then press the Read button. It will be the green button to the bottom left. It will flash the error code three times; after the third time, press the erase button. Depending upon the model of code reader, you may have to press Erase after every code or only once for all the codes.
3. Disconnect the code reader and turn off the car. Then turn the car back on and replug the reader to check to see if the erasure took. If it has, you are done; if it has not, you will need to replace the SRS sensors themselves, which only a Mercedes-Benz mechanic can do.