Well I know this is bringing "it back from the dead" but, I don't care haha. Just recently purchased a 05 GT in Satin White Pearl with 82,XXX miles and was very nervous the whole week thinking about getting a "new" car and 'newer Subaru". My buddy that ended driving me back home to get it and was about to not help me out because I wasn't excited about it and I tried to explain why but he owns a GTI so that should explain that.
Some reasons:
Didn't want a car payment
had no intention of buying a car but it kind of fell in my lap
wasn't sure how the build quality was going to be
the car might be too big for me
did't want to deal with someone elses problems
Well, now I've had the car for just over 2 weeks and have driven it about 900 miles. A 5 hour trip from ATL-Mobile and a trip to Mobile-Panama City and back (3.5 one way) for a car meet with a big group of Subarus. I was the only Legacy of course haha. So I think I have driven a good bit so far.
First thing, I have wanted one of these for a while. I got a ride in one from jp233 several years ago and the torque scared the shit out of me. It just kept pulling and pulling me into the seat. Also I am not very good at being a passenger. This car is beautiful and in Satin White Pearl it really doesn't get any better than this. I had waited so long to get a new car and got everything I waited. I would have liked a Limited for the Leather and sunroof but hey I never have to deal with the leaky sunroof again haha. All of the cars Subaru produced in 04-05 are by far the best in my opinion, Forester, Legacy, STi.
Second, this car is way roomy. I am 6 ft and can't touch the rear seats. In the first gen I can reach the rear and pull the seat down while driving. With the seat at its lowest postion you fell pretty low down which is nice. I like to fell surround and not on top of the center console. If you move the seat to its most rear postion you or atleast I, cannot reach the pedals. I do tend to sit closer than probably most because I like to fell in control and don't want to be out of reach of the clutch. In this car this is a most since the clutch engagement is at the very last bit of travel versus at the top in the first gen which I prefer.
Third, the car is so quiet. No noise at all except for the wheel bearing that is going out haha. I think even at top speed I didn't hear anything, then again I was more focused on the road and RPMs at that point. The build quality is great too. There is vinyl on everything and it is padded. This was my biggest fear that they would have lacked on the padding and just used straight plastic or just put vinyl over the plastic. Great job Subaru! The car is equipped with dual climate ( i havent had A/C in over 7 years!), heated seats, mirrors, and windshield wipers. The instrument cluster is beautifully designed and with a great choise of color, red!. Not the old green we are used too. I highly recommend the red LED mod if you haven't done so yet. I was kind of let down that they didn't design an AUX jack because I hate the radio and I get tired of lessoning to my CDs. I mean come on, you guys put one in the 93! There are 2 12v plugins which is nice and the armest cubby is pretty deep and the cup holders are on the tunnel instead of blocking you A/C and stereo. Nothing like going to grab that cold energy drink that is now hot as crap because you have the heat on. The dash is simple and clean, no little tray thing which I kind of like even though I have never used it. I wish there were still auto belts and use I jusy said that. Everytime I get in the car and start the car I'm like why do I fell weird, oh yeah I have to put my seatbelt on. The trunk is still big so no complaints there. There is a readout that can display actual MPG, average MPG, miles till empty, and temp. I love this and find myself watching this more than the road on my long trips. How hight can I get it! So far highest has been 26.2 and this is without a tune. I think I can hit just under 30 once its tuned and on the highway with cruise.
Driving
The car does seem a little big but not to much. Visibilty isn't as good as the first gen and seeing out the rear window at night is hard sometimes because the defog seems to stick out so much more. Headlights are good and I can actually see at night, they are projector but don't have HIDs, I will switch at some point but I am very happy with the output. I love the fact that are the turn signals on the side view mirrors very classy and of course very safe. Sterring is pretty light and when kicking it into gear and stomping on it the car does move a little from the sterring, so I'll have to get used to that. The car is quick and it is hard to stay out of boost sometimes. Turbo kicks in a little late at just under 3K but it's diffenetly there. Again I still have to get used to the clutch. I catch myself riding it when leaving a stop light and shifting to 2nd takes a second. The hardest part so far has been remembering how each car fells when I switch. Got into the 90 this morning and was like what the heck is wrong with the clutch, nothing was wrong that is just how it is. Seems very easy to press in comparison to the GT. This car is a true sleeper and being it is basiclly de-tuned STi it has so much potential. Much rather have this than the STi, though I will get one some day but glad to have this first. Actually sat in a '11 WRX Limited and was like what the heck, plastic, plastic, oh and plastic.
Summary:
Great car all around and for sure worth the wait if you have wanted one of these. These can be picked up for cheap too, 12 will get you a pretty nice one but you can find a steal for 10 if you look real hard. Lots of potential and great if you just want a little power and care more about refinement. No one will say you should have gotten a "newer" car. If they do, they have no concept of money. Nothing like rolling with STi's but in style!
Pedals are little too close together and trying to heel toe has been hard so far. Rear window is a little hard to see out at night. No aux or Ipod hook up but there is a 6 disk. Other than those things I am very happy to be in another Subaru. It will be night and day if you waited as long as I did but well worth it.
Love, AWD, turbo, boxer, quirky, it's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru... Oh and if you catch your kids washing your car with the windows down, just get in the older Legacy and drive far far away.
