I might lease a 2008 Legacy 2.5 GT today

[BMdoobieW]

Here's what I want and/or need:

• 36 month lease (want)

• 4 door sedan or 4 door hatch (need)

• Automatic transmission (need)

• All wheel drive (want)

• Good power / fast acceleration (want)

• Good handling - an "enthusiast's car..." (need)

• iPod hookup or simple aux audio-in port (need)

• A least a little more luxury than my 2005 Mazda3s (want)

• But not too expensive (need)

• An attractive looking car (want)

• A car that is for sale and able to be delivered by the end of this month (need)

• Good bang for my buck (want and need)

So after thinking about this for two years, I'm pretty set on the 2008 Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT.

If I was to relax some of my requirements, other cars that I was interested in were:

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart
Pontiac G8 GT
VW GTI 4-door
Subaru Impreza WRX
Next generation Mazda6
Honda Accord V6
Toyota Camry V6
Hyundai Sonata V6
Any of the decent sedans from GM these days with the bigger V6 engines

So is there any better car for me? Oh, the A4 is on its last year in the current body style. Plus costs more and is slower.

Any reason I shouldn't get the car? Anything I'm not thinking of? Thanks for any help.

 

[thomsbrain]

What's wrong with your three year old Mazda? You're obviously not rolling in dough or you'd be looking at nicer cars. Just something to think about.

I had similar wants and needs and test drove the Legacy GT, but I found the Accord that I eventually bought to be nicer inside, more refined to drive, and faster. Drivetrain losses and turbo lag soaked up any power advantage the Legacy might have had on paper. We're talking compromise cars here, and the Accord just meshed better than the Legacy for me. I realize it makes me look like an old fart compared to the Legacy, but that's not always a bad thing when you drive fast.

Edit: That was comparing the Legacy to the old Accord. YMMV with the new Accord, which I haven't driven.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Your username.

 

[dawp]

Why lease? After the lease is finished, you will have nothing to show for the cash spent on the lease. ANY lease is not 'good bang for the buck' it's money waisted. why not see what the payments are if you were to purchase it. prob wont be much different than the lease and you will OWN the car and not have to give it back.


And you won't have to worry about going over the lease mileage limits. I don't know about you but i put between 15-20k on my car per year.

 

[BMdoobieW]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
What's wrong with your three year old Mazda? You're obviously not rolling in dough or you'd be looking at nicer cars. Just something to think about.

I had similar wants and needs and test drove the Legacy GT, but I found the Accord that I eventually bought to be nicer inside, more refined to drive, and faster. Drivetrain losses and turbo lag soaked up any power advantage the Legacy might have had on paper. We're talking compromise cars here, and the Accord just meshed better than the Legacy for me. I realize it makes me look like an old fart compared to the Legacy, but that's not always a bad thing when you drive fast.

Edit: That was comparing the Legacy to the old Accord. YMMV with the new Accord, which I haven't driven.

My three year old Mazda is a lease. Lease is up.

Thanks for relating your experiences. Maybe I should test drive the new Accord V6.

But wait, I want all wheel drive.

 

[BMdoobieW]

Originally posted by: dawp
Why lease? After the lease is finished, you will have nothing to show for the cash spent on the lease. ANY lease is not 'good bang for the buck' it's money waisted. why not see what the payments are if you were to purchase it. prob wont be much different than the lease and you will OWN the car and not have to give it back.


And you won't have to worry about going over the lease mileage limits. I don't know about you but i put between 15-20k on my car per year.

I lease for all the typical reasons listed when you read those websites that discuss leasing vs. buying.

Get to drive a new car every three years
The car is always under warranty
Get to drive a more expensive car for cheaper payments
I currently drive well less than 12k, even 10k, miles per year (we live in NYC and I commute by subway)
I don't have to feel bad when it gets scratched up like a typical city car because it's eventually going back (minor scratches are covered under normal wear and tear)

 

[BMdoobieW]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Your username.

Presidents Day joke?

 

[lurk3r]

Have a look at the Impreza's, there's a wagon that's very roomy, mine was the impreza TS, seen the same model as an outback sport. They're typically cheaper than the outback line. These cars are much nicer as manuals, if you need an automatic, the old man accord route might be better for you

 

[BMdoobieW]

Originally posted by: lurk3r
Have a look at the Impreza's, there's a wagon that's very roomy, mine was the impreza TS, seen the same model as an outback sport. They're typically cheaper than the outback line. These cars are much nicer as manuals, if you need an automatic, the old man accord route might be better for you

I looked at the new Impreza WRX. But with an automatic, it's only maybe 3k less than the Legacy GT. And it looks really ugly. So I ruled it out in favor of the Legacy GT.

And I do want all wheel drive, so that's a strike against the Accord.

 

[MiataNC]

If you are that stuck on AWD (nothing wrong with that), then your short list is a heck of a lot shorter.

 

[desy]

Fusion AWD?