Subaru Legacy/Outback 2005+

10833 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2013 at 5:40 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Sedan, Wagon




Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

#701 of 10833 Styling by spinaker

Feb 18, 2004 (2:34 am)

Ok forgive the really long post.....Like I mentioned in my original post I DO like the styling of the new Legacy. In fact here are some of the best pics I have seen:
 
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?lp=ja_en&ur- - - - l=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carworld.jp%2Fcar%2Fsubaru%2Flegacy%2Fhtml%2Fi- - - - ndex.html
http://www.carworld.jp/car/subaru/legacy/html/index7.html
 
(Note most of the pics show the Spec B which is only avail in Japan shown with the beautiful bumper and 18" alloys, my Subaru all I want for christmas list is getting too long!)
 
I think Subaru has done the right things:
 
1) revamped the interior - world of difference with the previous gen
2) beefed up performance
 
To make the car physically outstanding and memorable Subaru has to take more chances with styling cues which also increases the risk of acceptance. I guess this is not something Subaru could afford at this point. I think we will see more radical designs later (see more below).
 
To me (and I am entitled to my opinion!) the car still has a very Japanese style to it. In my opinion I see some of the best styled cars coming from Europe (excluding the Bangled BMWs). One of the things that they all have are characteristics easily identifiable with the brand e.g.:
 
Rolls Royce - Flying lady and that huge vertical grill
BMW - Dual kidney grilles
Mercedes - Dual round/oval headlamps
Aston Martin - Classic grille
etc
 
Audi - is trying to create the new face:
 
Concept Coupe: http://www.autoshow21.com/autoshow/data/3125959audi_nuvolari01.jp- - - - - - - - - g
New A6: http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/uploads/a6_front2.jpg
 
Now for example I don't like the look of the new A6, probably because the style of the grille is so different and radical. Then again I didnt like the old E-Class mercedes when it first came out as it was the first to use dual oval headlamps but we are so used to seeing that now. So will the new Audi look be accepted? time will tell, this is the risk car designers take. I don't like it when they over use the look though, look at the A6 steering wheel:
 
http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/uploads/a6_interior.jpg
 
This brings me to the new Subaru face and the B11S and B9SC concept cars. Juice, Do I like them? The answer is No, BUT I do see potential. Why? What do the following cars have in common and which is the odd one out?
 
1) http://www.subdriven.com/artman/uploads/leg25.jpg
2) http://www.carmily.org/storage/set_img/car/alfaromeo/GiuliettaSpr- - - - - - - - - intCoupe_01_fs_la.jpg
3) http://www.subdriven.com/artman/uploads/subarub9scfront3.jpg
4) http://www.northeastasia.net/qcbl/cmsj/ppch/images/alfa_nuvola_1.- - - - - - jpg
 
The answer is obviously the first one is the odd one out. It was designed by Subaru's Japanese led team. The others are either Alfa Romeo's or designed by Andreas Zapatinas (newly appointed chief designer at Subaru ex-Alfa Romeo). The Legacy design was actually completed before he joined so he could not influence the design of that car.
 
The center grille of Alfa Romeos has always been a triangle. I think Subaru is trying to put the center grille as a rhomboid. Now if you see some of Alfa Romeo's latest designs they really good, now if Andreas can run the same magic at Subaru, the design future looks VERY promising and we will see some of that European flavor shining through. Imagine designs similar to these:
 
http://www.alfacentro.com/features/kamal/images/kamal1.jpg
Possibly Subarus 7 seater?: http://www.italiancar.com.au/images/Alfa_Kamal_01_lg.jpg
http://users.skynet.be/alfaromeo/pics/alfa156-2003-06-n.jpg
 
http://users.skynet.be/alfaromeo/pics/alfa166-2003-03.jpg
 
The 3 part grilles work for Alfa Romeo especially in the SUV listed above. In my opinion doesn't quite work on the B11S and B9SC yet.
 
- spinaker

#702 of 10833 Re: Dual Sunroofs by rob999

Feb 18, 2004 (5:30 am)

The new sunroof opens up completely over the front seats and is quite a nice design. The front section is only about 6" wide and pops up to become a wind deflector, and the back section is a more traditional sunroof. The net result is that the driver gets a wide open view above. Very nice!

#703 of 10833 pics of the new dual roof on the Outback by subearu

Feb 18, 2004 (6:41 am)

From my visit to the Chicago show last week:
 

 

 

 

 
The full size photos can be seen here, along with a few other Subie pics: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287729491
 
(You need to be a member of imagestation to view the album, it's free to sign up)
 
-Brian

#704 of 10833 by ateixeira

Feb 18, 2004 (9:30 am)

That Alfa SUV would be the most stylish on the market if they produced it. I love it.
 
Here is another moonroof pic:
 
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid103/p5cefb644cffbbb1d31e- 81bcbac4e17d9/f9a00bf5.jpg
 
My daughter is in the back seat and pokes out through the opening easily. That's a stranger in the front seat, but you see the coverage the moonroof has.
 
The new Legacy has to be seen in 3D, really. Check out this pics to see what I mean:
 
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid98/p4a63209fad65bf705d96- 8a4994ed1df6/fa03fdef.jpg
 
Look at how pulled back the headlights are, the front is sort of V-shaped. You don't see that in a full frontal pic, those look 2 dimensional.
 
-juice

#705 of 10833 spinaker. in my opinion by 6thbeatle

Feb 18, 2004 (10:44 am)

the problem with the corporate grill design of the more recent italian-designed subaru concept cars is that while the alfas traditionally use a "superman crest" type opening, the new subarus must differentiate themselves with an inverted, "pyramid" style opening. design-wise, this bottom heavy geometric shape does not convey as light and balanced an appearance as the other shape.
 
the easiest way to picture this difference is to imagine joe weider or charles atlas "before and after" photos. the first man is usually pear-shaped, with his weight hanging around his middle section (greater mass towards the bottom), while the second photo will invariably show a man with a strong "V" shape with broad straight shoulders tapering down to a slim waist. this design shape has universal appeal, unlike the dunce cap/pyramid/jabba the hut/hershey kiss/soft coil of something shape. you be the judge.
 
btw, i absolutely love the new legacy and outback styling. that light metallic blue outback looks stunning. i think mercedes is going to have a hard time justifyng the price of a C-class wagon with that piece of machinery beside it. and don't forget the awesome mackintosh stereo deck with the retro 70s tuner dials. subaru has hit a home run with these babies, that's for sure. can't wait!!!

#706 of 10833 2005 photos by otis123

Feb 18, 2004 (12:36 pm)

Here's a good shot of the 2005 nav, radios - reg & Mac, and sunroof opened...(Japan version)
 
http://www.carworld.jp/car/subaru/legacy/html/index6.html
 
Ralph

#707 of 10833 2005 Outback Sedan by otis123

Feb 18, 2004 (12:41 pm)

SOA would be smart if they put the rear wiper on the 2005 Outback sedan like the Japanese Legacy sedan. Looks very cool and all-weather. Enhances the image...
 
Ralph

#708 of 10833 Wiper by hondafriek

Feb 18, 2004 (2:30 pm)

The rear wiper on the sedan is the law in Japan, and i don't why our legislators think a wagon needs a wiper and a sedan does not, granted a wagon gets dirtier quicker, but a sedan driver needs as much rear vision as a wagon, so I would be in favour for rear wipers on sedans.
 
  Cheers Pat.

#709 of 10833 I agree Pat by rsholland

Feb 18, 2004 (2:40 pm)

I wish USDM sedans had a rear wiper. The only sedan with a rear wiper sold here is the Mitsu EVO.
 
Bob

#710 of 10833 RLSD on 2.5i and 2.5iLTD??? by glycinemax

Feb 18, 2004 (9:26 pm)

Neither http://www.need-desire.com/main.html nor the 3rd Gen. OB press release http://www.media.subaru.com/ mention the availability of a rear limited slip differential on the the two NA H4 OBWs. It is available on the turbo and H6 models. Is SOA dropping this feature or is this just an omission on these preliminary spec.s?
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