[Shotimes] Re: turbos and stuff ...

[Ron Fleshman]

<<And my Subie has a single turbo on the "pancake" four.>>

I don't know which Subaru Ron got, but all this talk got me so curious that
I test drove both the STi and the Legacy GT today.  Both run like crazy with
the STi being much faster.  Both shifted nicely and both had significant
turbo lag with the STi being the worst.  However, both are a ball to drive
and I'd own one in a heartbeat, BUT...

I checked the stickers.  The STi I drove had a sticker of $33K plus the
dealer had added on a $750 market markup plus a protection package (wax,
paint protectant--all BS) which made it nearly $34K.  The Legacy listed at
over $28K plus the extras, putting it near $30K.  For that you get
non-leather seats (I know, it's not important) and the single worst stereo
I've ever heard in a modern production automobile.  I saw few improvements
in the car itself to tell me that the same $22K car of last year now costs
nearly $30.  That's a $8,000 engine, folks.  I think the Neon SRT5 is
probably just as fast for $20K, so I don't really get it (the STi is an
entirely different matter, BTW--it's a race car plain and simple).  The only
difference in the SR5 and the Legacy GT is that the SR5 seems faster because
it makes more noise.  NO matter what anyone says, Chrysler still makes some
crappy cars and a Neon is a Neon.

For $34K I can have an Acura TL 6-speed with leather, navigation, all the
bells and whistles, and great (almost unreal) stereo and still go 0-60 in
about the same time as the STi.  I guess it's a matter of priorities or AWD
or something.  

I enjoyed both cars immensely, for that matter and agree they are a blast,
but the price Subaru put on these cars just doesn't make any sense at all.

JMO


Ron
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