tbogan wrote:
As far as alternatives, Kuro, i gotta pick a nit with you, the legacy just won't do it. From a practical, it's got AWD and holds it's value standpoint yes, its a good choice. In driving terms I really wanted to like the 2012 holdover Legacy I test drove. It was a tarted up 2.5L 4 and it was great as far as creature comforts and I could even buy it for less than my my 2012 SLS AWD but it drove like a big, clumsy car. Seats were very soft and unsupportive and it was just too much car for the engine to pull along.
I know on paper this car and ours are nearly identical and I was surprised myself at the difference between the two. If you could swing a good deal on the 3.6R it might make a difference but I have to say if you think you're going to lose your Kizashi for a Legacy and get the same sort of driving dynamics it aint gonna happen. Maybe the Dodge Dart in high trim or a Jetta GLI. There's so little out there in this price range that really stacks up, it's a shame.
I know that the new Legacies are bloated and not as good as the previous generation. The older ones from around 2008 or so handle better and drive better, but probably not up to Kizashi level. I've had two Subarus in the past and I think they are overall the best brand. I really like Subaru. I just have a thing for smaller Japanese brands so I wanted to try other cars.
Also, I generally don't like to compare the Kizashi to cars like the Dart and the Jetta because they are considered compacts. The Kizashi is more of a midsize with smaller dimensions. One of the main reasons I got my Kizashi was that I was getting tired of driving compacts. The compacts' tighter space, noisier cabin, rougher ride, etc. was tiring me out. Every time I drove someone else's midsize whether it was an Accord or Camry, it was just a more pleasant experience for overall comfort. I was glad to find that the Kizashi had the sporty handling of a good compact with the comfort of a nice midsize.
The Kizashi got a lot of flak for it's small midsize proportions from the press, etc., but I thought it was prefect for someone like me. I didn't care for a larger size of a midsize, but wanted the chassis refinement and comfort they generally have over compacts. The smaller size also keeps the weight down a bit and helps the car's performance. The smaller size and lighter weight is actually one of the contributors to the Kizashi's driving prowess over nearly all others in its class and price range.
I plan to keep my Kizashi a while, but I wonder what car will fit my criteria in the future as I am picky. I was thrilled to find that the Kizashi offered a manual transmission throughout its top trims all until the current model year. I am sick of brands treating manuals like some oddball, bargain-level offering and putting them only in the lowest trim. Some cars like the Altima did away with manuals completely. I was really drawn when I learned that the Kizashi was the opposite of the mainstream in this regard.
When I found out I could have 3 pedals AND have a 425 watt RF system with the 18 inch alloys, I was sold.