First Drive

My name is Paul, and I am one of the three winners to Motor Image's "1-Week Date with Subaru Legacy" facebook contest. I collected the car at the Toa Payoh showroom today, along with 4 colleagues.

First Surprise - Seating Capacity

We went there in 2 separate cabs, and returned in just one car (the Legacy) as planned. However, we were all pleasantly surprised that we could all fit into the legacy comfortably and with lots of room to spare still. Moreover, there were 2 tall adults among us - I am one of them and standing 1.93 meters tall.

Second Surprise - Not the GT

"Eh....boh turbo one ah..." exclaimed my surprised colleague. Well, I already knew this at the briefing held the day before.

Third Surprise - How to Drift?

So off we went in the Legacy, heading to Balestier for lunch. Along Balestier road, I had to perform a u-turn to get to the other side of the road. I was immediately surprised when my left hand reached out for the handbrake....it wasn't there! I made the u-turn nevertheless and I must say, the Legacy's turning radius is surprisely small despite its large body. Maybe that's why the handbrake wasn't incorporated? Well, I later discovered that the Legacy uses an electronic-parking brake system after I parked the car. And so our next thought....how to drift in the Legacy? Just kidding, I am not intending to find out.

I did more driving in the Legacy after work, and had a better look inside and outside of the car. At quick glance, the overall Legacy bears some resemblance to the current Camry. From a distance, its rear look a little like one of the older BMW 7 series. What it did not resemble was its predecessor which I kind of fancy actually. My ex-boss had one and I ever sat in it. The current Legacy seemed higher above ground but of course, still very much lower than my own Forester XT. The dash board and information dials are elegant. and very pleasing to the eyes. I thought I had turned on the headlights by accident but no, I did not. The dials are innocently illuminated even during the day. And check out the "spines" on the bonnet, which gives the Legacy its menacing yet cool style!

Fourth Surprise - Honk Honk

The Legacy's horn is excellently loud alright....when successfully activated that is. I was surprised (shock in fact) when I wasn't successful at activating the horn with my right thumb on 2 occasions tonight (thank goodness the brakes on Legacy are responsive). You see, I needed to rest my palm on a large part of the steering wheel's centre and push hard to be able to activate the horn. I guess the roads will be quieted for the next 1-week as the usual horn-trigger happy me is being "handicapped".

Fifth Surprise - Only Driver's Seat has Electronic Controls

I was complimenting Legacy's electronically-controlled seat to my girlfriend and had excitedly wanted her to experience the same in her seat next to me. She wasn't able to find the control knobs so I took her hand and guided it to when I thought the controls were. Surprise! I couldn't find them either! She kept exclaiming "same, same" (like in my Forester XT) and soon I realised why - the front passenger seat can only be adjusted manually, like my own car.

Well, that concludes my first day with Legacy. Do stay tuned for the rest of my adventures with Legacy.