Even the driver gets one. Very nice. So even the disabled can enjoy 250hp and AWD. :-)
Note the SRS logo for the standard side curtain air bags, but it's too blurry to see the very nice fabric covering the headliner, nor can you feel the plush padding behind it.
Seat belt anchors adjust up and down, too. I think it already had that feature.
The extensions are new I believe. Both vanity mirrors are lit, plus you have individual map lights. The moonroof is one touch open/close! Much better than having to hold the button.
Visors are covered in the same quality padded fabric as the headliner (identical to the $68,000 VW Phaeton). Not bad.
Check out the cool back-up lights, they're not seperate and blend in nicely with the silver. Logo is high up and now blue, they'll all get this new look.
This is the 2.5i, by the way.
Note the details: bumper protection standard, dual exhaust even on the 2.5i.
I really think the 168hp (+3hp) comes from the free flowing exhaust.
Now you're seeing what we saw. Seems like they nailed a lot of details, doesn't it? Well, they did. When you add up all the small stuff, you see they sweated those out, it makes the whole more complete.
Wrong, look closely and you'll see the nice fabric texture on the headliner. A very minor detail, but notice they matched the texture on the B-pillar plastic to this so they blend better. Classy.
Or you could go back to cheap peach fuzz/mouse fur on the headliner (no thanks!).
Looks pretty clean, mostly flat. Exhaust splits just aft of the rear diffy, but you have 2 seperate mufflers, even on the 2.5i model.
Note the spare tire well is small, hence the donut. I'm pretty sure the Outback will not get a full size spare, I doubt it would even fit. Here it might, just maybe, fit.
Bob - missed this until now - check out the grommet plugging the hole in the center of the spare tire well. That is for a trailer hitch harness! So they thought of that, at least.
Suspension looks familiar.
Just a guess, 18mm sway bar, looks like? I say that because it looks to be the same size as mine, which is 18mm. Maybe the Outback will get a thicker one since it's heavier?
Nothing unusual here. You can see the bumper guard. I wish it extended to the edge of the bumper. Maybe they thought cosmetically that would not look good.
juice: I won't comment on all the pics, will wait to get home and look at the lot of them at once.
I do notice however that the rear bumper cover (step) on the wagon curves up with the bumper like so ); I don't think it does on the current Legacies. Nice touch; I wonder if it'll be an extra-cost option along with mudflaps.
Check out the subtle white strips on the tails, which you only see from some angles. Also note the badges on the GT sedan. This was a LTD, in fact I think they all were.
If you hit a curb the tires will save the rim bead. Neat. This tire sure looks a whole lot different than the RE92s on my wife's car. Plus those are H-rated, here they are Z. We also have no such protection on our H rated RE92s.
Maybe these are different, even in their construction? I'm sure the rubber is softer.
It's an EJ20, a WRX minus the turbo basically, with the hybrid system added. We're pretty sure that inch thick layer added between the tranny is the electric motor, at least that's how Toyota does it.
NEC makes the battery, I believe it's Lithium Ion.
One thing about the horn - I like to be able to "rest" a finger on the horn with both hands on the wheel for those moments I feel I might need it. It looks like I won't be able to do that as the horn does not reach out to the wheel. Did that make sense?
For gas tank and trunk. Hey, this small stuff matters, I can't tell you how many new Chevys and other cars had no locking gas caps.
And you can lock the sedans trunk and give them the valet key, so what's in there is safe and secure. Another upscale touch usually saved for luxury cars.
They served dinner the night before. We went indy after the Subaru presentation. Bob and I ate at a cheesy snack bar. The Cobo Center's food was AWFUL.
Ken: food for thought. And pardon the pun. The restaurant at the Marriott Courtyard is 3 blocks away and the food is excellent. So is the Rattlesnake Club, but it's farther.
Greg: cool, but keep in mind our Legacy does not have those things (except the rear cup holders), so they *may* be new to the Legacy line.
Very neat how the cargo cover snaps in perfectly here. I would LOVE to have this feature on my '98 Forester, I'd use it very often. Instead the cover clutters up the car port or shed, ugh.
Bet if they didn't use a donut it might not fit. Ah, don't you love trade-offs?
Note the fit and finish on the edges of the carpet. No loose ends. These put Ford and Mitsubishi to shame.
At least they squeezed the cargo cover compartment, plus the two little storage areas.
I think maybe you could fit one in if you took those things out. That's what I did with my wife's Legacy, a 205/60R15 tire fits easily. Maybe this will? Dunno, shape is different.
Why couldn't they have done that moonroof in my GT instead of the two that are in it, when you look closely it is essentially the same style of roof with the centre removed between the two roofs.
Again, the lights are among my favorite features so I focused a lot on those.
Notice how pulled back the lights are, very swoopy. You also might notice there is a blister where the projector is. The bumper's dimple to match. It looks great in person, very sporting.
That's it for Legacy pics!
Tonight, if I get the chance, I'll upload B9 pics and other show pics. They'll be in a different album, most likely.
Dave: I bet the Outback still gets a cover. We'll see.
I bet it also comes pre-wired for towing. I did not see a harness for the Legacy.
Pat: that moonroof is just about ideal. In fact I bet the much bigger front "spoiler" hopefully will eliminate any kind of buffeting. In fact that may be why it's one touch to open all the way, and doesn't stop in the middle.
I thought about buying a GT wagon or OBW Limited instead of the base OBW but didn't care for the "cheesy" dual moonroofs. I really like the new setup though.
i know the battery was disconnected and it probably was bright around the car but did ya notice the location of interior lighting. that is the weakest part of my xt pp with the dome light almost in the trunk area.
Comments
Even the driver gets one. Very nice. So even the disabled can enjoy 250hp and AWD. :-)
Note the SRS logo for the standard side curtain air bags, but it's too blurry to see the very nice fabric covering the headliner, nor can you feel the plush padding behind it.
Seat belt anchors adjust up and down, too. I think it already had that feature.
-juice
Body color plus break-away. Remember, the key competitor, Mazda 6, does not break away.
The GT adds the turn signal light, but even this one it nice IMO.
-juice
Blurry pic again, sorry.
The extensions are new I believe. Both vanity mirrors are lit, plus you have individual map lights. The moonroof is one touch open/close! Much better than having to hold the button.
Visors are covered in the same quality padded fabric as the headliner (identical to the $68,000 VW Phaeton). Not bad.
-juice
Check out the cool back-up lights, they're not seperate and blend in nicely with the silver. Logo is high up and now blue, they'll all get this new look.
This is the 2.5i, by the way.
Note the details: bumper protection standard, dual exhaust even on the 2.5i.
I really think the 168hp (+3hp) comes from the free flowing exhaust.
-juice
OK, this pic seems pointless, right?
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/p6ce655379245dfcdfb55- - 10cda8dbad6e/fa03fc60.jpg
Wrong, look closely and you'll see the nice fabric texture on the headliner. A very minor detail, but notice they matched the texture on the B-pillar plastic to this so they blend better. Classy.
Or you could go back to cheap peach fuzz/mouse fur on the headliner (no thanks!).
-juice
They copied Mercedes here, same exact idea - just cover it up, nicely finished, and noone will mind.
I still prefer a neat multi-link hinge, but this probably cost less and is just as effective.
-juice
Lots of folks wanted to see this.
Looks pretty clean, mostly flat. Exhaust splits just aft of the rear diffy, but you have 2 seperate mufflers, even on the 2.5i model.
Note the spare tire well is small, hence the donut. I'm pretty sure the Outback will not get a full size spare, I doubt it would even fit. Here it might, just maybe, fit.
Bob - missed this until now - check out the grommet plugging the hole in the center of the spare tire well. That is for a trailer hitch harness! So they thought of that, at least.
Suspension looks familiar.
Just a guess, 18mm sway bar, looks like? I say that because it looks to be the same size as mine, which is 18mm. Maybe the Outback will get a thicker one since it's heavier?
-juice
Nothing unusual here. You can see the bumper guard. I wish it extended to the edge of the bumper. Maybe they thought cosmetically that would not look good.
-juice
OK, I took 20 pictures of the moonroof because I love it. Get over it juice. ;-)
Note the upper half is light gray, lower half dark. The contrast breaks up the monotony in most interiors.
The seatbelts are the new, thinner kind.
-juice
I do notice however that the rear bumper cover (step) on the wagon curves up with the bumper like so ); I don't think it does on the current Legacies. Nice touch; I wonder if it'll be an extra-cost option along with mudflaps.
Ed
900 lbs payload is same. 35psi in the Z rated tires! Wow, that's high.
Even the donut gets 17" rims, LOL.
-juice
Auto Focus on this DSC-75 stinks, eh? :-)
850 lb payload is actually less than current model I believe.
-juice
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/p302333a260512e3bcc54- 27790b1b10b2/fa03fcb8.jpg
Look at the little fog lamp button, integrated into one stalk.
This plus the cruise on switch means two fewer buttons cluttering the dash up.
-juice
Sorry, I don't think Jamie comes with the sedan. ;-)
The M/R on the sedan is a lot smaller, i.e. NORMAL, ha ha. The wagon's is just huge. The Forester's is just absurd.
-juice
Check out the subtle white strips on the tails, which you only see from some angles. Also note the badges on the GT sedan. This was a LTD, in fact I think they all were.
-juice
Guess who was voted Best Looking at their High School Prom?
Did you say Jamie? Well, you'd be wrong. That would be Mr. Bob Holland himself.
Check out the 5 speed shift knob, and the stitching on the steering wheel.
Note that it did *not* have an auto dimming mirror, it was a plain manual one. I'm sure that'll be on the options list.
-juice
See the white stripes now?
-juice
If you hit a curb the tires will save the rim bead. Neat. This tire sure looks a whole lot different than the RE92s on my wife's car. Plus those are H-rated, here they are Z. We also have no such protection on our H rated RE92s.
Maybe these are different, even in their construction? I'm sure the rubber is softer.
-juice
Here is the B9 (non-malignant) powertrain:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/p31bbf0ab57b097bb2972- 05a9949582bc/fa03fd23.jpg
It's an EJ20, a WRX minus the turbo basically, with the hybrid system added. We're pretty sure that inch thick layer added between the tranny is the electric motor, at least that's how Toyota does it.
NEC makes the battery, I believe it's Lithium Ion.
-juice
You probably forgot to change the link...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/pfbfed3926f106f13b506- c016fd610e06/fa03fd29.jpg
The AWD is big, but you still hardly notice it, it's so subtle. That's the sedan's CHMSL BTW.
-juice
and I prefer Jamie's sweater-- no offense intended, Bob.
-c
-juice
Did that make sense?
Greg
This is minor but Hey, people asked about this stuff!
I guess it's cool. I'm fine with manual seats but if you drive your gramma around a lot I guess she'd love it.
You can see a hint of the soft, wrinkly leather on the GT. Those seats rock.
-juice
-juice
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/pf5b1dea930029aefe04f- 9773488a83cf/fa03fd65.jpg
I'm am 6' tall. OK, 5' 11 1/2" with no shoes, and it clears my head with 3-4" to spare. So anyone but a B-Ball center should fit.
I looked tired by then, didn't I?
-juice
First time I noticed but the lumbar adjustment looks like the one in the Forester.
Map pocket (singular) is neatly integrated into the back of the seat.
Another view of the perforated leather.
Rear cup holders are like the Foresters, but a little sturdier.
-juice
Greg
Greg
For gas tank and trunk. Hey, this small stuff matters, I can't tell you how many new Chevys and other cars had no locking gas caps.
And you can lock the sedans trunk and give them the valet key, so what's in there is safe and secure. Another upscale touch usually saved for luxury cars.
-juice
Ken: food for thought. And pardon the pun. The restaurant at the Marriott Courtyard is 3 blocks away and the food is excellent. So is the Rattlesnake Club, but it's farther.
Greg: cool, but keep in mind our Legacy does not have those things (except the rear cup holders), so they *may* be new to the Legacy line.
-juice
Very neat how the cargo cover snaps in perfectly here. I would LOVE to have this feature on my '98 Forester, I'd use it very often. Instead the cover clutters up the car port or shed, ugh.
Bet if they didn't use a donut it might not fit. Ah, don't you love trade-offs?
Note the fit and finish on the edges of the carpet. No loose ends. These put Ford and Mitsubishi to shame.
Note also the aluminum scuff plates, nice touch.
-juice
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/p62fdabadc6ad82f396eb- 3f1354729a59/fa03fdab.jpg
I like it. Note the split in the middle.
-juice
Greg
Here's the new logo in the grille. I like it, the surround sort of "frames" it more. But I'd still prefer a mesh grille, at least for the GT.
-juice
At least they squeezed the cargo cover compartment, plus the two little storage areas.
I think maybe you could fit one in if you took those things out. That's what I did with my wife's Legacy, a 205/60R15 tire fits easily. Maybe this will? Dunno, shape is different.
-juice
Hood scoop up close. Ramana is talking to the #2 guy from i-Club, I forget his name.
-juice
The current Legacy and last gen Legacy / OB have / had covers affixed to the top of the bumper.
DaveM
But this is a much better execution.
Cheers Pat.
Again, the lights are among my favorite features so I focused a lot on those.
Notice how pulled back the lights are, very swoopy. You also might notice there is a blister where the projector is. The bumper's dimple to match. It looks great in person, very sporting.
That's it for Legacy pics!
Tonight, if I get the chance, I'll upload B9 pics and other show pics. They'll be in a different album, most likely.
-juice
I bet it also comes pre-wired for towing. I did not see a harness for the Legacy.
Pat: that moonroof is just about ideal. In fact I bet the much bigger front "spoiler" hopefully will eliminate any kind of buffeting. In fact that may be why it's one touch to open all the way, and doesn't stop in the middle.
-juice
DaveM
DaveM
Just about all my cars have had a moonroof either OEM. or aftermarket.
Cheers Pat.
I love the picture of the headlight from up top -- the curves make it look, oh so sexy!
Ken