A h winter. And whom among us does not relish the thought of constant dreary days, the damp dark heart of the wet West Coast?
I think there's an untapped market for a Forty Shades of Grey coffee table book that's just pictures of North Shore scenery.
Well, that's what we get for living in a luscious greenbelt the rest of the year and, hey, at least rain galoshes have somehow become a fashion item for the ladies. Gore-Tex outfits from MEC for the rest of us, of course.
The mist turns to rain turns to drizzle, and everywhere you hear the familiar vroom-skid-throttle-cut of front-wheel-drive family sedans spinning their tires on slippery pavement until the traction control kicks in. No wonder, then, that we denizens of the wettest area code outside of Atlantis are awfully fond of our all-wheel-drive Subarus.
And yet, while the Forester and the Outback sell so strongly they're almost brands to themselves, the Legacy sedan is not quite so common, particularly the top-of-the-line 3.6R Limited. A shame that, because this might just be the hidden gem in Subie's AWD crown.
DESIGN
The Legacy - and its rugged tall-wagon cousin, the Outback - receive a fresh look for the 2013 model year. Strictly speaking, you'd be hard-pressed to notice.
In fact, only the grille, headlights and bumpers are really changed; the rest of the car re-mains the same, with new styles for the alloy wheels. Not that this is a bad thing.
On the contrary, while you'd have difficulty picking the Legacy out of a lineup as having any definitively Subaru-ish features, it's a fine-looking, if conservative, style that has aged well with time.
Somewhat tall when viewed from side profile, there's a frisson of WRX in the subtly flared wheel arches.
Other than that, it's handsome but forgettable. Like most Subarus, it's what's inside the Legacy that counts.
ENVIRONMENT
I'm not necessarily talking about the cabin, though.
Stepping into the interior of the Legacy isn't going to thrill, astonish or shock.
Is this a problem? Not really. Subaru fans are a conservative lot, on the whole, and Lord knows there is something of an annoying industry trend towards over-styling and the resultant weird button placement.
The Legacy's interior might have a little too much hard plastic to feel swanky, but it's sensible and sane - and how about this for a flashback - you actually get a knob to tune the radio station.
The seats are very comfortable. There's plenty of legroom in the rear, and with that high, boxy profile, plenty of headroom as well. The trunk, as now required for all modern family sedans, is large enough to smuggle an elephant (Indian, not African).
Visibility is excellent - nice to find especially in a market segment where engineers seem concerned only about the eyes looking at their design, rather than the eyes trying to look out of it.
In fact, all of the problems I had with the Legacy can be traced to one source - the cluttered touch-screen. It's not that it isn't functional, merely hard to decipher at speed. Also, many of the functions are locked out when you're on the move.
PERFORMANCE
Subaru has a new 2.5-litre engine this year, with very minor peak power improvements: the workhorse choice, and available with either a (rare) six-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission, which is ... well, it's efficient. We'll leave it at that.
On the other hand, optioning for the 3.6-litre horizontally opposed six-cylinder in the 3.6R gives you a traditional five-speed automatic and puts you in very lofty company. The only other manufacturer with this sort of motor is Porsche.
"Boxer" engines such as this are perfectly balanced, and the 3.6 has a turbine-like sound that's pleasing to the ear.
Horsepower output is sturdy at 256 h.p., but it's the instant torque that really surprises: switch off the traction control and you'll even get wheelspin!
Like all Subarus, the suspension in the Legacy 3.6R tends a little to the soft side, with moderate body roll. Don't let that dissuade you - this thing loves to carve up a winding road.
The steering is heavy and direct, with decent turn-in, and with all four wheels providing grip, it's maximum confidence at all times.
Push very hard, and the Legacy eventually gives up with some safe and predictable front-end push, but it provides a very willing dynamic overall.
FEATURES
Most notably, my tester came equipped with the new Subaru Eyesight system ($1,500). This unique suite of safety features is controlled by a pair of stereoscopic cameras mounted on either side of the rear-view mirror - peering through the windshield from the outside, you get the impression you're staring at WALL-E's long-lost ancestor.
Subaru's system detects obstacles and alerts you with a collision alarm if you aren't slowing down in time. Ignore an impending collision and it will even stop the car entirely if you're pootling along at less than 30 kilometres per hour and not quite paying enough attention.
Eyesight also chimes in if it notes you wandering over the line without signalling, and it's tied to the Subaru's adaptive cruise control.
The Legacy already shines as a long-distance tourer, and the ability to follow traffic without constantly adjusting your speed makes it even better.
Other features include the standard suite of Bluetooth, automatic climate control, heated seats and leather interior you'd expect from a high-trim Japanese sedan (price as-tested was $36,195). Notably absent was a keyless entry and pushbutton start option.
COMPETITORS
VOLKSWAGEN CC V6 ($48,475)
There's no doubt that Volkswagen's four-wheel-drive sedan is a costlier prospect than even the fully kitted-out Legacy. However, there are some advantages.
For one thing, this Euro-style Passat is exactly that: Euro-style, and really very nice inside. Looks quite stylish parked on the curb too.
While the 4Motion all-wheel drive can't claim the same absolute all-weather capability as the Subaru's symmetrical AWD, the CC is quite a bit quicker when conditions are good. Even so, the nod goes to the Legacy as the better all-round value.
TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 ($29,700)
Toyota doesn't build any thrilling cars anymore, or so goes the old auto-journo trope. Hmm, that may be true from the outside for this thing, but here's a little secret: the V-6 Camry runs 0100 km/h in six seconds flat.
That's not just quick, that's within a half-step of a BMW 535i! With 268 h.p. on tap and a quick-shifting six-speed automatic, it might just be the biggest sleeper-car on sale today.
On the other hand, 268 horses versus wet pavement equals front-wheel spin, which isn't cool in anyone's book.
Rain rain, go away.
See page 39 for more
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