jey
02-04-2006, 05:45 AM
Just got Road & Track in my mailbox, and saw they did a SEVEN-CAR AWD Comparison This month:
Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
BMW 325xi
Infiniti G35x
Lexus IS250 AWD
Mazda MazdaSpeed 6
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B
Volvo S40 T5 AWD
So how did the Subaru compare with all the other $30-40k sedans? #1.
Here are some quotes:
"The Subaru proved to be just about every editor's fastest way around the (autocross) course, ahead of the second-place Audi A4 by 0.3 sec.... And, if really provoked, the spec.B can rotate with drop throttle - not a usual trait for an awd-er."
"While we admit the spec.B is a bit of a 'cheater car' since production is so limited, the suspension changes don't dramatically affect the car; we think Subaru should have been more aggressive with its tuning, actually. Point being that a regular (cheaper) 2.5 GT could easily be made into a better-handling spec.B by hitting the aftermarket, and would still end up thousands less than most of the cars in this test."
"It's rare that one car possesses everything in a comparison test. But in this case the choice was easy: the only one of the seven that combines real power, corner-carving handling, a manual transmission and good looks to boot is the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B. The fact that it can do 4-wheel-power-on drifts... yeah that's important too."
"The Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B wins me over with its combination of utility and sheer driving excitement. While I feel its relatively dull looks do not add anything to the face value, the looks on people's faces as you blow by them in this thing are priceless."
"Add the 'specs' up, plus the lightest curb weight of the group, and you have one awesome-performing awd sports sedan. It completely demolished the other six in every outright speed contest, scampering to 60 mph in just 5.1 sec."
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/image/1272003161938.gif
By the way, since there has been discussion about the Legacy vs. Mazdaspeed 6, the Mazda got 5th place. It finished 6th in the autocross, behind the Volvo S40 T5....
Another observation I have to make is that 3 of these cars came with summer tires - the Legacy, A4, and Mazdaspeed6. In fact the Mazda comes with the exact same tire and size as the Subaru. I can't ignore that this could contribute to the Legacy and A4 being the two most-loved cars in this test. Tires matter! This may not have been very fair to the other cars, that came with all-seasons.
Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
BMW 325xi
Infiniti G35x
Lexus IS250 AWD
Mazda MazdaSpeed 6
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B
Volvo S40 T5 AWD
So how did the Subaru compare with all the other $30-40k sedans? #1.
Here are some quotes:
"The Subaru proved to be just about every editor's fastest way around the (autocross) course, ahead of the second-place Audi A4 by 0.3 sec.... And, if really provoked, the spec.B can rotate with drop throttle - not a usual trait for an awd-er."
"While we admit the spec.B is a bit of a 'cheater car' since production is so limited, the suspension changes don't dramatically affect the car; we think Subaru should have been more aggressive with its tuning, actually. Point being that a regular (cheaper) 2.5 GT could easily be made into a better-handling spec.B by hitting the aftermarket, and would still end up thousands less than most of the cars in this test."
"It's rare that one car possesses everything in a comparison test. But in this case the choice was easy: the only one of the seven that combines real power, corner-carving handling, a manual transmission and good looks to boot is the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B. The fact that it can do 4-wheel-power-on drifts... yeah that's important too."
"The Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Spec.B wins me over with its combination of utility and sheer driving excitement. While I feel its relatively dull looks do not add anything to the face value, the looks on people's faces as you blow by them in this thing are priceless."
"Add the 'specs' up, plus the lightest curb weight of the group, and you have one awesome-performing awd sports sedan. It completely demolished the other six in every outright speed contest, scampering to 60 mph in just 5.1 sec."
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/image/1272003161938.gif
By the way, since there has been discussion about the Legacy vs. Mazdaspeed 6, the Mazda got 5th place. It finished 6th in the autocross, behind the Volvo S40 T5....
Another observation I have to make is that 3 of these cars came with summer tires - the Legacy, A4, and Mazdaspeed6. In fact the Mazda comes with the exact same tire and size as the Subaru. I can't ignore that this could contribute to the Legacy and A4 being the two most-loved cars in this test. Tires matter! This may not have been very fair to the other cars, that came with all-seasons.