Two Unicorns...

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
06/22/2015 at 21:11 • Filed to: None

During today’s stop at my local Subaru dealer, I happened to find some interesting vehicles in the used lot. Two of them are a bit rare; unicorns, you might say. The first one is pretty obvious.

The performance oriented Legacy GT Limited was not the primary seller of the fourth generation Legacy lineup. Especially so with the 5-speed manual. Although I cannot seem to find production numbers for 2006, only 1,912 Legacy GT Limited sedans with the 5-speed manual were sold in 2005.

This Obsidian Black Pearl Legacy GT looks like it has had an interesting past (like a lot of the LGTs). The painted wheels are a big tip-off. So is the foggy driver’s side headlight (the passenger side headlight is crystal clear.) It does have ~122,000 miles, which seems to be on the low side for these.

This other unicorn is a bit less obvious. This 2010 Outback 2.5i Premium features a somewhat rare color, Sky Blue Metallic. Sky Blue Metallic was offered on several models between 2010 and 2012, and was never really popular (at least in Pennsylvania). I believe I’ve seen 2 or 3 Subarus in Sky Blue Metallic out on the road since the color was introduced.

The rarest part is had to see in this picture, but this Outback has a 6-speed manual transmission.

I don’t have solid numbers, but out of the 2,288 2010-2014 Outback 2.5i Premiums listed for sale on Autotrader, only 88 have the 6-speed manual transmission. Only one is Sky Blue Metallic (this one).

(Bonus Sky Blue Metallic 2012 Forester 2.5X, something else rare I didn’t expect to see today)

While I like the LGT a lot, unintentional unicorns like this Outback are some of my favorite vehicles on the road. I’ll be looking forward to seeing how many I may see in the years to come.

DISCUSSION (13)

SaveTheIntegras > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 21:16

mmm that Legacy is calling my name...sadly my bank account is also calling me

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 21:19

WOah buy the Legacy! I heard the Legacy motor is better because it didn’t have the restrictions for racing homologation or something. That could be certain years thought. Its pretty in any case, I want to rub my body against its wheels.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 21:32

I owned one of those 2005 Legacy GT Limited sedans. One of the most fun cars I have driven, let alone owned... despite some of it’s issues.

Subaru has lost so much, since.

Boxer_4 > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
06/22/2015 at 21:44

I would if I was in the market.

I’ve never heard of the Legacy motor being better due to homologation or lack of. I do know that the EJ255 found in the 05-06 LGT, 05-06 OXT, and 04-05 FXT is more closely related to the EJ257 of the 04-06 STI. More so than the later EJ255 is to the later EJ257. It’s still debated as to how closely related they are. Some say it’s just intake manifolds, turbos, intercoolers, etc. that are different. Others say that that the pistons and heads are slightly different in addition to the above.

Later EJ255 engines had the compression ratio increased, while the later EJ257s had various upgraded variable valve timing systems through the years. Having never torn down either engine, nor sifted through parts catalogs to compare part #s, I can’t say how valid any of this information is.

Boxer_4 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
06/22/2015 at 21:48

A friend of mine has a non-GT 5-speed of that generation, and it is a fun car.

Subaru is going after the demographic that is paying the bills. Unfortunately, they are starting to forget more and more about some of their most loyal fan base in the process.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 21:54

Kinja'd!!!

ITS ALMOST MY CAR!

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 21:59

Also, you missed a third unicorn. http://www.cioccasubaru.com/used/Subaru/20…

Boxer_4 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
06/22/2015 at 22:03

Not sure how I missed that. I’ll be back on Wednesday, so I’ll have to try and find it.

Autofixation > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 23:14

Were there any manual Subaru Legacy GT wagons from that same generation?

Boxer_4 > Autofixation
06/22/2015 at 23:30

GT wagons with the 5-speed manual were only built for the 2005 model year, as far as I can tell. The GT wagon was also built for the 2006 and 2007 model years, but only with the 5EAT automatic. The 2005 model year was the only year for both Limited and non-Limited trim levels. The non-Limited trim level was discontinued starting with the 2006 model year.

There were 923 GT Limited wagons built with the 5-speed manual, and 648 non-Limited GT wagons built with the 5-speed manual.

Of course, there were no GT wagons, let alone 5-speed manual GT wagons, on the lot.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Boxer_4
06/22/2015 at 23:38

Their bills are more than paid, they are selling more cars than they ever have.

They are forgetting almost ALL of what made them a unique name.

I am not sure how long the AWD-alternate-toyota thing can go on... they have no 7-seat CUV, most of their other cars are boring, bland, under-equipped, and uninspired.

Subaru is becoming an appliance manufacturer, but other companies make better appliances.

I owned a Garnet Red over black leather Legacy GT Limited 5-speed sedan. It was fantastic, but I couldn’t find a new or used one within 500 miles, I ended up buying used from a subaru forum member half way across the country.

It was wonderful to drive, but became harder to live with. The rear seats didn’t fold down, and the trunk lid was small, so cargo was a problem. The audio system was impossible to input other audio into, if it wasn’t AM/FM or CD, and impossible to replace.

Suspension bushings started failing, the paint was very vulnerable, the turbos on the cars were prone to oil starvation if the supply line got plugged, the timing belt service was REALLY expensive, in addition to having any mechanic actually deal with the spark plugs... it just started to really cost a bit of money to maintain more often.

After owning a poor, mistreated, rescued SVX, I began to really prefer the atmospheric flat-6, but really despise the 4-speed automatic gearbox.

I traded the Legacy for a more cargo versatile 5-seat CUV with a V6 that gets the same gas mileage, and much less maintenance intensive, while being MUCH smoother, and I sold the SVX to a local guy who I think flipped it again after doing a little more work than I could afford to do to it, since it was the third-car, last priority.

Now, aside from those, and other ‘old’ Subarus, nothing new or nearly new even turns my head from Subaru anymore. After the WRX Design Concept bait and switch, and utter lack of a turbo on XV Crosstrek or BRZ... they have nothing for me anymore, and I am not happy about that fact. I want to like Subaru.

Autofixation > Boxer_4
06/23/2015 at 00:06

Thanks for the info. Would you be so kind as to tell me where I can find info like this for future use?

Boxer_4 > Autofixation
06/23/2015 at 09:03

I found this info on one of the Legacy forums from a Google search. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be one spot where all of the production numbers can be found.