These are only a year apart

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
06/26/2016 at 15:45 • Filed to: Wagons

To be fair, that generation of Taurus was at the end of its life, and my Legacys generation was at the beginning.

Still, for being very similar in purpose, and in the same segment, they're very different cars. I don't imagine they were cross-shopped much...

DISCUSSION (24)

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 16:26

2003 Taurus and 2004 Legacy? I’ll take the legacy every time.

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2016 at 16:28

Only a couple years off, 2005 Taurus and 2006 Legacy. Having driven both lots, I’m glad the Legacy is mine and not the Ford

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 16:30

Have owned both. Taurus sucks in 95% of fields, but beats the Leggy hands down for comfort.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 16:30

So there was at least 2 full years where you could pick between the two. Why would anyone pick the taurus?

gmctavish needs more space > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
06/26/2016 at 16:42

For most people, I assume price. Looks like a Legacy was 21,695-33,995, whereas a Taurus was 21,200-23,545. Other than that, I don’t know about people buying new, but my dad got that Taurus wagon when it was a year old demo car, for 18,000 if I remember correctly. There may have been similar deals to be had on a Legacy, but it has a smaller interior volume and the Taurus was already almost too small for my dad, leaving his only other options to be a Dodge Magnum, which he hates, or a minivan, which he hates. He’s had a Ford wagon of some sort since 1987, which also swayed his decision.

gmctavish needs more space > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/26/2016 at 16:45

My dad’s doesn’t beat my Legacy in comfort unless the back is fully loaded. He had cargo coils and KYB shocks put in the rear, and empty it rides like a pickup. But if it was still stock, it would for sure. Also I think my seats are better, but my dad likes the Taurus seats better.

Boxer_4 > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 16:52

Reminds me of this . I’d rather have the Legacy in both cases.

DipodomysDeserti > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 16:56

They're both just as ugly. Subaru is usually a decade behind in the styling department, and about half a decade behind in the engine department.

gmctavish needs more space > Boxer_4
06/26/2016 at 16:59

Good lord those are clean. having experienced that generation of Taurus as well, I would hands down pick the Legacy in that pair

gmctavish needs more space > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:02

I dunno, I think the Subaru has aged a hell of a lot better than the Taurus. I don’t like everything about it, but I like most of it. The Taurus is a bit of a mess to look at... The 2.5 in my Legacy is definitely not modern, but it does what it’s meant to do. It’s more modern than the ancient Vulcan in the Taurus

Dusty Ventures > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:08

Personally I think that generation of Legacy is a very handsome car

DipodomysDeserti > Dusty Ventures
06/26/2016 at 17:22

I love it, but I’ve owned three Subarus and feel I’ve become comfortable with bad styling. I know you’re a Subaru guy too. If Subaru people think something looks good, that means it probably looks pretty bad, rather than terrible.

DipodomysDeserti > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 17:24

Problem is they used that EJ25 up until 2013 in certain cars. I’ve owned three Subarus (WRX, FXT, and a Loyale wagon), and like their styling. However, you know if Subaru people like the styling of something, it means it is probably still fairly bad styling.

gmctavish needs more space > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:32

That’s a somewhat ridiculously long time to use an engine, but it’s not like it was without updating. They’re not the only ones to use engines for long periods, either, that’s a pretty common practice. I don’t exactly know what you mean about it being bad styling if Subaru people like it. Is there a midsize wagon contemporary to these two that you prefer?

DipodomysDeserti > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 17:35

You think that’s a long time, the 4 speed automatic transmission in my FXT was from the ‘80s. As far a contemporary wagons go, pretty much every European offering looks better, you just can't get most of them in the states. You can get the BMW wagons in the states and they are much better looking than anything Suabru has ever put out.

gmctavish needs more space > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:40

The engine and transmission in the Taurus are from the 80s too. Same with the 4.3 and 4L60E in my friends moms 2013 Silverado, essentially. BMW wagons are better looking, yes. They also were and are considerably more expensive.

DipodomysDeserti > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 17:42

Yes, they are more expensive, but paying more for a BMW doesn't make a Subaru look better.

Dusty Ventures > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:45

I dunno. A lot of the other Subarus I like despite knowing they're on the ugly side (or in some cases because of it). The Legacy in my opinion is genuinely a good looking car, particularly for a mid-2000's wagon

gmctavish needs more space > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 17:49

I didn’t say it made the Subaru look better, just noting that they aren’t quite level for comparison, due to price. Regardless, I like how my Legacy looks.

DipodomysDeserti > Dusty Ventures
06/26/2016 at 18:17

It’s definitely the best looking Subaru, but is only considered good looking next to a Taurus.

DipodomysDeserti > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 18:22

Yes, but price shouldn’t dictate style, just tech and engineering. There’s plenty of good looking cheap cars out there. For the record, I like your legacy too. But as a fellow Subaru enthusiast, don’t take Subaru too seriously. The Subie community benefits when we embrace our goofy, but very capable cars. Subarus should be ugly. Subaru has started to forget that and we are being stuck with beige mobiles.

Boxer_4 > gmctavish needs more space
06/26/2016 at 20:01

It’s times like that where I wish I lived in Canada. I still can’t believe how easy it can be to find cheap, low mileage cars in Japan.

gmctavish needs more space > Boxer_4
06/26/2016 at 20:07

It’s a bit crazy. I’m not in a position to capitalize on it, but there are many that do

Dusty Ventures > DipodomysDeserti
06/26/2016 at 22:51

I’d put it’s looks up as being on par with any 2000's wagon, short of the Magnum and the high end luxury brands. Actually I’d even put it up against some of the luxury offerings, what with how uninspired and conservative some of them are.