Non-MB question My mother's new car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

LUVMBDiesels · #1 07-29-2007, 07:02 PM

My mother is currently driving a 1993 Subaru Legacy sedan. She is now considering getting a new car. Has anybody had experiences with the new 2006-2007 Legacy sedan? I mean the base model, not the 2.5 GT as she has no need for a turbo-intercooled engine

She is also thinking about a Saturn Vue. Does anybody have experiences with this Xover? I heard that GM is using Subaru all wheel drive technology in the Vue. Is that really true?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Hatterasguy · #2 07-29-2007, 07:48 PM

My dads friend just got a new one a few months ago. Its a good car about what you would expect from Subaru.

He ordered the base model, its totaly base I think the only option he got was the rubber floor matts. It has a manual and at the time I saw it, was to new to gauge MPG.

Ara T. · #3 07-29-2007, 08:03 PM

Only reason I'd get a Subaru is because of the turbocharged engine in the first place. Otherwise I'd get a Honda if she doesn't mind FWD.

LUVMBDiesels · #4 07-29-2007, 08:28 PM

My mother is over 70 and will never go above the speed limit. She only drives on local roads and has no need of the turbo. Hmmm I wonder if an OM616 will fit in a new Subaru

In any case she has had good luck with the '93 Legacy but after 14 years she wants a new car. We went to the Subaru dealer today but saw very few sedans and the ones we saw were GTs.

I had heard that the new Subbies were not built to the same quality as the older ones (sound familiar?) I had also heard good things about Saturn and so I am also considering getting her into a Vue if they are OK cars. Does anybody here have Saturn Vue experience?

Both cars cost about the same, but the Vue is a bigger vehicle. I wonder if it is reliable.

Chas H · #5 07-29-2007, 08:54 PM

I'm sure your mother has her reasons for AWD. You did say the magic word-reliability- and that would be more important to me than AWD.

Jim B. · #6 07-30-2007, 02:35 AM

Well, I have a 1995 Subaru Outback wagon with the AWD and it is really good for the light to moderate snow situations (which was why it was bought in the first place.) There are a lot of them around here.

With the little 2.2 Boxer engine, it's nobody's idea of a hot rod, and doesn't climb steep hills too readily, but is easy on Persian perrier, and overall seems well bought, as with 122k on it, dead reliable and no issues, and was well cared for. I bought it from a Subaru dealer in Sacramento in 2002 with 116,000 miles on it, and managed to track down the prior owner, who had no trouble with it, he said (except that when it had 4,000 miles on it the engine exploded and it was replaced under warranty.)

Evidently those Subarus back then were pretty bulletproof, and it was not uncommon for them to achiebve 250,000-350,000 miles on them.

They are fairly easy for mechanics to work on, too.

Even with Airbags and ABS though, this is NOT the car I would like to be driving in the Moter of All Accidents though. Especially compared to a Mercedes.

Perhaps she should contemplate just keeping it.

yal · #7 07-30-2007, 11:16 AM

I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy Wagon base model. Great car. Love it. I can carry more stuff in the back that most of the mini-Utes out there

The AWD took us through last years snow storms flawlessly. Average mileage has been 25-26 mpg, 70-80% city driving, on regular gas (FYI the Turbos use premium). On highway trips the cars easily tops 30 mpg. The new chassis is unbelievably save, its almost like sitting in a Volvo without the premium fluff. The pillars are as big and there are eight airbags and a ring structure safety cell that the jaws of life have a hard time cutting through. The 2.5i engine doesn't have all the fancy VTEC and VVT electronics of its Japanese competitors but its really a great engine.

Only gripes are the following....Subaru still insist on using a 4 speed automatic (yes you heard right, 4) while the rest of the world has moved on. Subaru has decided to discontinue the Legacy wagon and sell the Outback only for '08+, you can only get the Legacy in Sedan form and the Outback in wagon form thats it, no more Outback sedan and no more Legacy wagon except if you live in Canada and Europe

.

Bottom line is get her to test drive one (even the Outback) and she'll probably fall in love with it. They are leaps and bounds better than the old 2.2L Subaru's as great as they were.