Mr. M
Tire Trailblazer
I've always had an interest to go test-drive the Subaru cars - specifically the Legacy - but never got around to do it because my dad just didn't like Subaru. It has got something to do with how it is pronounced in Chinese (or Hokkien) - it means something like a 'loser's car' when translated loosely. Traditional, backward-thinking but yeah, it plays a big part of brands in Asian societies.
Nevertheless, I convinced my dad to head down to the new Subaru showroom located in the middle of housing estates - in Singapore we call them the heartlands (a little like suburban areas) - which was built at a cost of over SGD25 million dollars (about USD14.7 million). It looked awesome, and they had on display the Legacy GT, Impreza WRX STi, Outback 3.0R among others, including the superminis R1 and R2. They also have a outdoor driving track at the rooftop.
We first sat inside the Legacy GT, which had an interior that left us impressed. My dad had a bad impression of Subaru before but this left him changing his mind. Chrome accents in the cabin, soft-touch plastics and high-quality all play a part in making the interior feel really well-built. The seats are supportive and everything looked durable - something that we look out for especially. The frameless windows really bought my heart as I have a soft-spot for them.
The exterior is, I daresay, one of the better looking ones among Japanese sedans. Actually come think, it's probably the best of the lot - it can certainly take on the Mazda6 MPS's family sedan looks, the Honda Accord's unsorted rear design, the Camry's boring outlook as well as the Passat's safe exterior. I'd say the Subaru looks closest to the Passat, but it manages to pull it off by being fresh, unique and pleasing to the eye. No large chrome faces to stare at in this car.
Another appeal of this car - one of the largest in fact - is its engine. 245bhp on tap from the turbocharged 2L boxer engine is absolutely wonderful - top that up with 310Nm of torque, you're almost getting Cayman power for less than half the price. In fact, at its price, nothing really comes close... Even the GTI is more expensive.
We immediately requested for a test-drive, and the sales executive politely obliged. A turn of the ignition creates a low but audible rumble that won't grab attention but isn't anything to laugh at either. A little revs reveal that this car is certainly no ordinary family sedan... This car sounds like a Porsche.
A little of the details: 0-100km/h in sub 6 seconds and a top speed of 237km/h. 'Nuff said: driving this car was a joy. There's power when you want it, comfort's there and it feels good to be sitting inside it. The standard Macintosh sound system sounds like a premium setup that costs a lot more, the gauges are electrolumiscent and are visible at almost any light condition, and the red lighting of the buttons really accentuates the interior. Good stuff.
That said, there is a certain lightness to the way power is delivered in this car. It's quite hard to explain but let me try. When you're driving a high-powered Japanese sedan, you know you're going fast, but somehow it just doesn't push your body back and give you the exact sensation like German or Italian cars do it. Yes, it may have the power, but you can't feel it. A German car, on the other hand like the GTI, gives a surge of power that really pumps the adrenaline. You can literally feel yourself being rocketed as you press the accelerator. The weight of the car is being pulled forward and you can feel the inertia being overcome - in a Japanese car, you can't feel that 'weight' that gives authority and control. This sensation, you can't get in a Japanese sedan.
That said, I just love this car. It trumps the GTI on my mental list of 'cars-to-get-when-I-get-my-license' list for now, but I'll have to drive both cars back to back to decide.
In conclusion, Subaru has created a highly credible sedan that appeals a lot to the masses, including the European market - this car is distinctly different from the Accord or Mazda6 - try one today to try something different.
PS. I had a look of the Impreza and I didn't like it at all. A complete car, I feel, doesn't just have to need a powerful engine... It needs a good interior, it needs good looks and it needs practicality. The Impreza has a terrible interior, which is something I cannot live with at all. I also had a look at the Forrester as well as the Outback, both very very impressive cars.
I hope you guys enjoyed this little review - do ask me any more questions - I can't help but feel I've missed out on some details here, I just can't remember what.
Nevertheless, I convinced my dad to head down to the new Subaru showroom located in the middle of housing estates - in Singapore we call them the heartlands (a little like suburban areas) - which was built at a cost of over SGD25 million dollars (about USD14.7 million). It looked awesome, and they had on display the Legacy GT, Impreza WRX STi, Outback 3.0R among others, including the superminis R1 and R2. They also have a outdoor driving track at the rooftop.
We first sat inside the Legacy GT, which had an interior that left us impressed. My dad had a bad impression of Subaru before but this left him changing his mind. Chrome accents in the cabin, soft-touch plastics and high-quality all play a part in making the interior feel really well-built. The seats are supportive and everything looked durable - something that we look out for especially. The frameless windows really bought my heart as I have a soft-spot for them.
The exterior is, I daresay, one of the better looking ones among Japanese sedans. Actually come think, it's probably the best of the lot - it can certainly take on the Mazda6 MPS's family sedan looks, the Honda Accord's unsorted rear design, the Camry's boring outlook as well as the Passat's safe exterior. I'd say the Subaru looks closest to the Passat, but it manages to pull it off by being fresh, unique and pleasing to the eye. No large chrome faces to stare at in this car.
Another appeal of this car - one of the largest in fact - is its engine. 245bhp on tap from the turbocharged 2L boxer engine is absolutely wonderful - top that up with 310Nm of torque, you're almost getting Cayman power for less than half the price. In fact, at its price, nothing really comes close... Even the GTI is more expensive.
We immediately requested for a test-drive, and the sales executive politely obliged. A turn of the ignition creates a low but audible rumble that won't grab attention but isn't anything to laugh at either. A little revs reveal that this car is certainly no ordinary family sedan... This car sounds like a Porsche.
A little of the details: 0-100km/h in sub 6 seconds and a top speed of 237km/h. 'Nuff said: driving this car was a joy. There's power when you want it, comfort's there and it feels good to be sitting inside it. The standard Macintosh sound system sounds like a premium setup that costs a lot more, the gauges are electrolumiscent and are visible at almost any light condition, and the red lighting of the buttons really accentuates the interior. Good stuff.
That said, there is a certain lightness to the way power is delivered in this car. It's quite hard to explain but let me try. When you're driving a high-powered Japanese sedan, you know you're going fast, but somehow it just doesn't push your body back and give you the exact sensation like German or Italian cars do it. Yes, it may have the power, but you can't feel it. A German car, on the other hand like the GTI, gives a surge of power that really pumps the adrenaline. You can literally feel yourself being rocketed as you press the accelerator. The weight of the car is being pulled forward and you can feel the inertia being overcome - in a Japanese car, you can't feel that 'weight' that gives authority and control. This sensation, you can't get in a Japanese sedan.
That said, I just love this car. It trumps the GTI on my mental list of 'cars-to-get-when-I-get-my-license' list for now, but I'll have to drive both cars back to back to decide.
In conclusion, Subaru has created a highly credible sedan that appeals a lot to the masses, including the European market - this car is distinctly different from the Accord or Mazda6 - try one today to try something different.
PS. I had a look of the Impreza and I didn't like it at all. A complete car, I feel, doesn't just have to need a powerful engine... It needs a good interior, it needs good looks and it needs practicality. The Impreza has a terrible interior, which is something I cannot live with at all. I also had a look at the Forrester as well as the Outback, both very very impressive cars.
I hope you guys enjoyed this little review - do ask me any more questions - I can't help but feel I've missed out on some details here, I just can't remember what.
But I guessed it must have been intelligent. 
