2000 Subaru Legacy is roomier and more refined than the previous model. 2000 Legacys have a revised SOHC 2.5-litre horizentaily cpposed fcur-cylinder engine, revised manual transmission, a new rear suspension, and redesigned interior. The Legacy GT, shown here, has 16-inch HE W mt larice of AS pA wion ease.” tires and alloy wheels, a sportier suspension, and a leather upholstered interior. Teast drive the Legacy GT et Speciality Motors, 1235 Marine Dr. N. Van. Sul SUBARU’S ali-wheel- drive Legacy sedans and wagons have undergone their first snajor redesign since 1995, The 2000 Legacy and Outback models are bigger and roomier with a revised four- cylinder engine, a new rear sus- pension, and 2 redesigned interi- “~~ or. The Legacy’s base 2.2-litre engine has been discontinued — all Legacys now have a 2.5-linre horizontally opposed four- cylinder engine. Asa result, base prices start higher than they did last year, although they’re still comparable with °99 models equipped with the 2.5-litre engine. Thie 2000 Legacy Brighton Wagon starts at $23,995, Legacy L sedan $26,995, Legacy GT sedan $29,995, and Outback Wagon at $31,395. The Legacy’s new styling is distincdy European — the nose is tower, the tail is higher, and the whole car looks more athletic without any superfluous add-on body panels. Fron some angies, the Legacy sedan looks fike a1 BMW 3-Series sedan — perhaps this was intentional as the GT raodel is about the same size as a BMW 323i sedan, has the same size engine, and is about $5,000 cheaper. Compared to the previous Legacy, the new model is about ar UnVE 90 mm longer, 30 mm wider and 10 mm higher with a wheel- base that is 20 mm longer. Its ionger wheelbase and extra width contribute to a roomier passenger cabin, and a more comfort- able, stabie nde. . Revised Powertrain The standard 2.5-litre horizontally opposed four-cvlinder engine has the same horsepower as last year (165) but now has single overhead camshaits instead of dual overhead camshafts. While chis may seem Bxe 2 step backwards, it was part of a design change co improve fuel economy and reduce emissions without reducing horsepower. The new Legacy has about the same tue! consumption as the previous model even though it’s couple of hundred kilograms heavier. A revised manual transmission with shorter throws and easi- er operation is now standard on all models (except the GT Limited model), and all 2000 Legacys have a redesigned rear suspension, now a nyulti-link design rather than a MacPherson strut layout. The compact, independent multi-link design is mounted on 4 separate sub-frame to isolate vibration from the cabin, and because it’s more compact adds trunk space in the sedan and cargo space in the Wagon models. Test Drive This week’s test drive is a Legacy GT Limited, the top-of- the-line GT sedan equipped with leather upholstery and a stan- dard four-speed automatic transmission. Though the Legacy GT has the same engine as the basic sat . “On the voad, the Legacy GT feels like a well-built car. Its body feels solid, the suspension offers an excellent combi- nation of ride and bandling, and it drives with uncom- Legacy sedan, there are some differences which improve perfor- mance. The Legacy GT has larger 205/55R 16-inch radials and alloy wheels, stiffer spring rates and shock absorbers, a rear lim- ited slip differential, and a different final drive ratio. And both the GT and Outback have larger rear brakes for improved brak- ing. Compared to the previous Legacy GT, the new madel is quieter, more refined, and has better ride and handling. Acceleration from a standing start is lively because of increased engine torque, but as the new Legacy is heavier, its 50 co 80 km/h and 80 to 120 km/h highway passing power is slower. Once you get up to speed, however, highway cruising is com- fortable and quiet with the engine turning over just 2,700 p.m. ata steady 100 km/h. Handling is stable and predictable, although there is some initial body lean during cornering. Its cornering limits are high and it feels entirely predictabie right up to its limits. It doesn’t handle as well as a rear-drive BMW 323i, but then, most cars don’t. I tried both the manual and automatic transmissions, and found that the GT’s perfermance and acceleration is significant- ly better when equipped with the manual transmission. The manual -cquipped sedan was quicker, more fun to drive, and setter suited to this car's GT (Gran Tourismo) designation. However, for everyday driving chores, [ would probably rec- omuinend the four-speed automatic transmission (optional on See All-wheel page 50