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Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive

6 messages,  Last post on Jun 24, 2008 at 1:40 PM

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First Drive: 2008 Subaru Legacy STi S402 - First Impressions: The best-handling Subaru Legacy that you can't buy.(more)

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#1 of 6 Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive by KarenS HOST

Jun 19, 2008 (11:35 am)

There's not too long to go before the introduction of a face-lifted generation of the Subaru Legacy, but the rally specialists at Subaru STi just can't wait. The 2008 Subaru Legacy STi S402 is their vision of what a mature, high-performance Legacy can be, the best-handling version of Subaru's mainstream sedan.
 
Read the rest and post your comments here!
 

First Drive: 2008 Subaru Legacy STi S402

#2 of 6 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive [KarenS] by merrycynic

Jun 19, 2008 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: KarenS (Jun 19, 2008 11:35 am)
$53K? No mention of front and rear LSD's, solid brakes. Of course I haven't experienced it myself, but, for that kind of coin, I'd expect more.
I sure hope the next generation Legacy comes to the US with a real STI wagon!

#3 of 6 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive [merrycynic] by paisan

Jun 19, 2008 (4:49 pm)

Replying to: merrycynic (Jun 19, 2008 3:24 pm)
Sorry but the article is so ridden with mistakes I must point them out...
 
Some 95 percent of peak torque is available at just 1,800 rpm and it also pulls strongly right up to 6,000 rpm. As a result, you can now take 2nd-gear corners in 3rd gear thanks to the beefy bottom-end torque and instant throttle response, so there's more traction and more control.
 
How does a wider range of power translate to more traction and more control?
 
The S402's unique mesh grille is complemented by flared front fenders that have been widened an extra inch to enclose wider BBS rims and 235/40R18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires.
 
I run 235-45-17 Yokohama Advans from an EVO on my stock Legacy Wagon from 05, so the fender flares aren't needed, and you could run those tires and rims on a stock Legacy.
 
For some strange reason (well, maybe not that strange) we found ourselves flicking the SI-drive to the Sport Plus position and testing the upper reaches of the gutsy power curve.
 
It's Sport # for Sport Sharp, not Sport Plus.
 
Subaru might think the S402 is a simple GT-style sedan, but we beg to differ. It's got a Momo-built steering wheel with an STi logo, a leather-trimmed S402 shift knob, aluminum-covered pedals, an STi speedo calibrated to 260 km/h (150 mph), carbon-fiber-style trim, cupholders with special red illumination and a bright red ignition button. This car is plainly built to be punished with speed.
 
All the Legacy GTs have a Momo steering wheel. How does a shift knob, alum pedals, STi speedo to 150mph (same as the regular LGT speedo) carbon fiber trim and red illumination in the cup holders have to do with being punished with speed?
 
It's a nice car, but it is in no size shape or form a $53,000 car. I'm probably the biggest Subaru fan around, having owned tons of them, road raced and auto-xed them, and this car isn't worth $53k.
 
-mike

#4 of 6 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive [paisan] by merrycynic

Jun 19, 2008 (5:02 pm)

Replying to: paisan (Jun 19, 2008 4:49 pm)
Though I welcome the Subaru reviews, the recent ones have been carelessly mistake ridden, and perhaps even worse the mistakes aren't just typos, they come with feeble editorial hooey that tries to rationalize the nonsense. Perhaps the writters should know their audience better, Subaru followers are not only going to notice, but, perhaps even resent the notion that they can be duped with such sloppy journalism.

#5 of 6 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive [merrycynic] by paisan

Jun 19, 2008 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: merrycynic (Jun 19, 2008 5:02 pm)
Exactly!
 
-mike

#6 of 6 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Subaru Legacy STI S402 First Drive [merrycynic] by ateixeira

Jun 24, 2008 (1:40 pm)

Replying to: merrycynic (Jun 19, 2008 5:02 pm)
Tell us how you really feel.

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