Legacy or Outback ?

[enthropy8r]

I am thinking about buying a car. Which car, Subaru Legacy (Liberty) or
Subaru Outback gives a better fun ? Provided the cars are equally
powered and will be used predominantly in the city. Thanks.

 

[Bryan Lee]

if you go off-road get the out back if you only stay on the street get the
Legacy.

 

[mark jb]

I am thinking about buying a car. Which car, Subaru Legacy (Liberty) or

Subaru Outback gives a better fun ? Provided the cars are equally
powered and will be used predominantly in the city. Thanks.

Fun, Liberty 3.0RB.
Anything offroad / luggage hauling, Outback.
-mark

 

[worzacct]

I've owned both a 95 Legacy wagon (2.2 liter with auto trans) and 2000
Outback with auto trans). An Outback may be better off-road as it has
more clearance, but on the highway the Legacy wins hands down. Even
though my 95 Legacy had 30 less hp than the Outback it handled so much
beeter because it is lower to the ground. If you enjoy having fun on
a curvy road, I'd definitely choose the Legacy. I put on about
125,000 miles on the Legacy and gave it to my son and I have about
75,000 miles on the Outback. Both have been very reliable (other than
headgastket on the Outback that was replaced under warranty.)

 

[Tim Reeve]

It partly depends on your definition of fun. The Legacy is lower to the
ground and lighter. Therefore, on the road, it will have better cornering
and acceleration. The Outback is more capable for unpaved conditions, due to
higher clearance.

My wife and I have disagreed about this for years. I prefer the Legacy since
we almost never venture off pavement. She prefers the Outback, since it sits
a little higher, giving better vision of upcoming conditions, as well as
slightly easier access getting in and out.
Cheers,
Tim

 

[Tim May]

It partly depends on your definition of fun. The Legacy is lower to the
ground and lighter. Therefore, on the road, it will have better cornering
and acceleration. The Outback is more capable for unpaved conditions, due to
higher clearance.

My wife and I have disagreed about this for years. I prefer the Legacy since
we almost never venture off pavement. She prefers the Outback, since it sits
a little higher, giving better vision of upcoming conditions, as well as
slightly easier access getting in and out.

Here's a vote for the "Outback Sport," which is the sole Outback based
on the Impreza.

I picked it, the 2006, as it had some decent cargo capacity, enough
headroom for me (6'1.5"), and was "sporty," meaning, "nimble."

The full Outback Legacy models didn't seem to have significantly more
features that I would want and cost $8-10K more. (For the L.L. Bean
Edition vs. my Special Edition (SE) of the OBS.)

In the past 25 years I have been driving: Mazda RX-7 (12 years), Ford
Explorer (10 years), Mercedes-Benz 300SE (5 years), and now this. And I
can say it's the most fun I've had driving the whole time, including my
RX-7 years. Very nice on curvy, mountain roads (the Santa Cruz
Mountains, where I live).

A great car. And almost as much indoor storage space as my Explorer,
for all but the largest of items (I only loaded my Explorer "to the
gills" one time).

Around town and on the highways, I'm averaging 27 mpg.

And Yakima bike holders on the roof.


--Tim May

 

[Tom Reingold]

I am thinking about buying a car. Which car, Subaru Legacy (Liberty) or
Subaru Outback gives a better fun ? Provided the cars are equally
powered and will be used predominantly in the city. Thanks.

I test-drove the Legacy Outback station wagon (estate) and ended up
buying a Legacy L wagon (estate). It wasn't because I prefer this model.
It just happened to be the right price at the right time. I didn't
notice any difference in handling characteristics. I'm sure there is
one, but it's probably fairly subtle for most people. If you are that
discerning, I guess the Legacy non-Outback would handle a bit better. I
do know that this is the best cornering car I have ever owned. If you
want to go off-road or expect to hit deep snow, the Outback is probably
a better choice.

What city are you in?

 

[rt8]

I am thinking about buying a car. Which car, Subaru Legacy (Liberty) or
Subaru Outback gives a better fun ? Provided the cars are equally
powered and will be used predominantly in the city. Thanks.

Another DUMB question. Get the vehicle that suits your needs

Do you haul a lot of cargo? Get the Outback

Or just people? Get the Legacy.

Jeez, can't you figure this out yourself!?

 

[dirk dierickx]

Provided the cars are equally
powered and will be used predominantly in the city. Thanks.

well, if you're going to use it mostly in the city, isn't your question
already answered? i have the legacy, and it is great, mostly driven in the
city or sometimes dirt road and it handles itself just fine in both
conditions. don't even think comfort is less in the legacy, everybody who
drives along is just blown away by the comfort of this car. also as a
european i have the manual shift so i have the high/low gear stick which
makes it even better for towing stuff around!
i really like this car so much.

 

[worzacct]

The Legacy and Outback are identical in size -- 97.4 cu. ft. for the
wagons and 33.5 cu. ft cargo capacity (without moonroof) for the
wagons. Thus an Outback can't haul any more than a Legacy.

 

[Tom Reingold]

well, if you're going to use it mostly in the city, isn't your question
already answered? i have the legacy, and it is great, mostly driven in the
city or sometimes dirt road and it handles itself just fine in both
conditions. don't even think comfort is less in the legacy, everybody who
drives along is just blown away by the comfort of this car. also as a
european i have the manual shift so i have the high/low gear stick which
makes it even better for towing stuff around!
i really like this car so much.

What high/low gear stick? Mine just has a five-speed stick.

 

[dirk dierickx]

What high/low gear stick? Mine just has a five-speed stick.

i have a 5 speed gear, as well as a high/low gear ratio stick, much like
you have in jeeps. this is handy in several situations, going up a steep
hill, when heavily loaded or towing a lot of stuff and also in 'muddy'
situations

perhaps the legacy in the US does not come with this feature? all manual
sticks in EU have it though...

 

[tom klein]

the biggest difference is the ground clearance.

with a trailer hitch on the back of my legacy wagon, i actually "bang
the tail" on some (not particularly abrupt) ramps. but it has nicer
ride and better cornering with the low centre of gravity.

otherwise, the outback version looks a lot "tougher" with the higher
ground clearance, bigger tires, and off-road look.

 

[Victor Roberts]

Another DUMB question. Get the vehicle that suits your needs

Do you haul a lot of cargo? Get the Outback

Both the Legacy wagon and the Outback wagon have the same
cargo volume.