Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Legacy GT Limited vs. Acura TSX and TL
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Interestingly they panned the Mazada Speed as well this time. It also seemed to out perform the others in terms of the stats but they didn't like the interior materials and the engine noise.
Anyway this time the TSX finished 3rd behind the Accord and the VW. I'm in a VW now and love how it rides and drives but its reliability just sucks. I can see how the GLI won but in the real world a great performer that is always on injured reserve starts to wear pretty thin! I'll wait and see if VW can get it's act together before I buy another one. I'm looking at Acura Honda or Subaru to find a fun car that is also more reliable.
The TSX is criticised in the recent article for a lack of power and I'd have to agree - I test drove one yesterday and found it had great handling and a stiff ride (which I like) reminded me of my 86 Prelude Si which was like a go-cart! The thing accelerates too smoothly though I never felt it press me back into the seat like the Legacy or even the Accord do. I doubt the TSX will get a big HP boost anytime soon as it would probably cut into sales of the TL if it did.
Frameless windows will rattle if you close the door with the windows half open. If the windows are up it doesn't do that.
It scares a few customers off, but the Legacy and Saab 9-3 are the only mid-size sedans to get the IIHS Gold award, so it's definitely not an issue of safety.
GLI won? It's way too overpriced for its size, IMO. VW owners already are having issues, too.
-juice
I looked at lots of other cars, including 2006 Acura TL -- no fold-down rear seat. But then, the Acura guy showed me the brochure on 2006 TSX (which does have the split, fold-down rear seat) before the actual car was available. When actual car came out, I found it had the same great handling as the 2004-05 TSX, but with improved power, better looks, better steering wheel and gauges, iPod interface, Bluetooth, neat, easy nav that doesn't screw up the excellent audio system or the climate control, enough room for my son, and excellent mileage for a quick (although slower, of course, than the Legacy GT) car!
Bottom line: I bought an '06 TSX last week, and I love it!
Go to the 2005 Legacy threads and ask, most people average 22-23 mpg or so, not sub-20.
You're stuck with the stereo, sadly. The HVAC controls are integrated so you can't swap out the head unit. You can on the base Legacy 2.5i or SE, but not any Limiteds or GTs. Subaru fell behing in this area, there's also nowhere to plug in an iPod, so people have crafted clever solutions to get around this.
Congrats on the TSX, sounds like you picked the right car for your needs.
-juice
For the Legacy, I know at least one dealer in NY that sold a kit and offered the option on new cars. Of course now it's also a factory option.
-juice
My impressions on the TL: Very smooth ride, good materials, sound system was above average. Quick vehicle, though it tried to hide that fact through the soft suspension which gave it a floating feel on the road. I set mt drivers seat to a good driving position, and sat behind it to get a sense of room. I'm 6 foot, and had plenty of space, and felt very comfortable. Highway driving was brisk and pleasant, but the stiffness of the pedals annoyed me in town. I took it to an empty parking lot to try some of its driving dynamics. I was able to spin the front tires with hard acceleration, and felt a tiny bit of torque steer, but nothing serious, and nothing that would be noticeable under normal driving conditions. The pedals felt a bit stiff, and gave me the sensation of a momentary bit of lag before the car rocketed from a standing position.
Impressions of the Legacy GT: In a word, FUN! Not as smooth as the TL, bumps on the road were more noticeable. Not as quiet as the TL, outside noises were audible, but not too intrusive. This car is a rocket on wheels, 65 MPH, and 90 MPH feel the same, and completely under control. More sporty feeling to the car, acceleration was instantaneous even though it is a turbo 4. Had that push you into the back of the seat feeling on take-off. This car felt more like a performance enthusiasts vehicle. Not as refined or smooth on the road, but definitely a rocket on wheels. I tried the same test with adjusting the front seat to a driving position and sat in the back seat on the drivers side. Definitely less room than the TL, but much better the the G35x I tried earlier that day. So a compromise would definitely be made in terms of space.
Conclusion: I like the refinement and space of the TL, but that sticking pedal almost drove me nuts. I don't know if all of them are like this, or if I just got a bad test car. In some ways I wasn't sure what the TL was trying to be, a sporty car, or a luxury car. As it was, it just wasn't working for me. The legacy, while not as refined, felt sporty, and under control at all times. Maybe this has something to do with the AWD? I prefer the connected to the road feeling that I received from the Legacy, and the raw power under the hood that just begged for more the harder I pushed it. For me, the Legacy was the right mix of power, and just enough luxury to win me over.
Bob
I've also considered looking at a BMW 3 series, but I'm not sure the nameplate is worth the extra costs. I just don't care about car status, and I'm not willing to pay extra for it.
I know this isn't a BMW comparison board, but I have to say that I've always thought that all the talk about BMW was just hype. I found out today that it is not. The 325i had a good feel to it, but the Legacy GT would blow its doors off. (Yes, I'm a bit of a speed junky.) Then I got behind the wheel of the 330i, and now I have a problem. The feel of the car was almost a perfect blend of luxury and performance. Now I have to decide if it is approx. $10k better than the GT. :confuse:
Hmm...maybe the Japanese have out-Germaned the Germans.
For now Legacy GT must suffice.
Krzys
Still, try one out and form your own opinion.
C&D's group was odd to me, they put an Accord and a G6 in the group?
-juice
Gotta weigh the opportunity costs...what items/experiences do I value more than a car, and vice versa.
I thought it was worth noting that in the recent MT comparo of the BMW 330I ($42.3K), the Lexus IS 350 ($45.5K) and the Mercedes C350 Sport ($40,795)only the IS 350 was quicker 0-60 than the Spec B they tested in the same issue. The Spec B was in a seperate article(compared against the Mazada Speed 6). Now the Bimmer did beat up on the Spec B in the slalom 67.5 mph vs. 66.5 but in their figure 8 the Subie put up 26.4 sec @ .66 g ave. versus the Bimmer's 26.5 sec @ .68 g ave.
I understand the feel may well be different in these cars but I think you could hang with any of these cars in an Spec B or LGT and not be "way" out of place. Also worth noting (since the fuel prices seem to be headed up again) MT observed 20.8 mpg in the Spec B compared to 19 in the BMW, 18 in the Lexus, 16 in the Benz and 19.8 in the Mazdaspeed 6.
-juice
AMAZING. Read about them anywhere
Yes, I've heard that the S-03's are excellent tires. However, I sold the Acura 8 months ago...
This in a field of Bimmers, Audis, and Lexus cars.
It took 2nd overall to the Audi, but it won their price-sensitive pick easily.
-juice
Next year it's supposed to get a 6 speed manual and some other minor upgrades. Probably this fall.
-juice
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/new-york-wrap-up-subaru-legacy-specb-167262.ph- p?server=46&id=128340189&secret=55d75d2144
-m
It got the 6 speed from the STI (near bullet-proof), the Torsen rear diff, and SI-Drive.
That last one sounds like a Honda model but it's basically a throttle mapping software.
That black/blue leather look and feel great. Grippy, too. I loved it.
-juice
Krzys
Ken
Better luck with the TSX.
-juice
Heated Seats
Heated Steering Wheel (do they offer this?)
Leather
Great Audio (how is the stock audio on a GT limited?)
Is there a specific package that you'd all recommend?
Were there any major fixes in 06 or 07 that would prevent you from recommending a used 05?
Thanks for your recommendations.
Heated steering wheel, no. You do get heated mirrors and windshield wiper de-icers, though. They call that the AWP, or All-Weather Package.
Audio isn't really a strong point, you could get a MacIntosh stereo on VDC Outbacks, but not on a Legacy GT.
06 had some safety upgrades that improved side impact scores measurably. 07s got satellite radio as an option plus an aux input for an iPod.
-juice
I've seen some pretty nice 05's 30-40K mileage range in the mid to upper teens.
Seems like a fun car for the money with a fairly luxury interior. Exterior looks just so-so but that seems to be true of most Suburu's. They truly are wolfs in sheeps clothing...
Any thoughts on reliability? Will I be making many visits to the Dealer? Do they use standard oil (every 3K miles) or synthetic? It's been nice visiting the BMW dealer once per year on my leased X3.
Absolutely true. I used to see a Legacy and not ever really focus on it - now that I know what's under the hood, I think it's got a geat, understated look.
Subaru had gasket issues up until about MY2002, but not since. The turbo engines (EJ257) have been great. Other issues (wheel bearings on 02 and earlier Foresters and 01 and earlier Imprezas) didn't affect the Legacy. It's a pretty solid car.
-juice