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BEFORE STARBUCKS COFFEE was introduced to our collective consciousness, the right to customise anything to individual preference was a privilege that belonged to an elite few.
Today, just about anyone can order their coffee, in any variant you can think of. In addition to this, you can ask for it to be decaffeinated, with full cream, low fat, non fat or soy milk and sweetened with three different kinds of sugar, or syrup, honey or some form of artificial sweetener.
Much the same applies to computers. You can order one with any screen size, hard disk capacity, the list goes on. Even sneakers can be made to your liking thanks to customisation programmes that manufacturers like Adidas have on offer.
So it was only a matter of time before this custom culture made its way to cars. Sure, we always had a range of colours or options to choose from, but if you wanted your car to feel different from one day to the next, the only option was to buy a few different models.
Subaru however, has made it possible to alter a car's characteristics on the fly, something you'd normally only find on really high-end models and supercars. The Legacy 2.5GT you see here is equipped with a feature called Subaru Intelligent-Drive (SI-Drive), and this allows you to adjust how the car responds to your inputs, depending on what sort of mood you're in.
Activated by a knob near the gearlever, the system allows the driver to choose between three modes that progressively alter the engine's torque delivery.
The first mode is 'Intelligent' which offers the most gradual power delivery of the three modes. If you're not in a hurry, selecting 'Intelligent' puts the Legacy in its most fuel-efficient mode. The disadvantage to this mode though, is that it also makes the car feel sluggish when compared to the previous 2.0-litre GT model.
Twist the knob to the left for 'Sport' mode however, and the 2.5-litre unit improves dramatically. The surge that turbocharged engines are known and loved for becomes readily apparent in this mode.
The third stage is known as 'Sport Sharp' which gives the throttle a more aggressive response With three settings to choose from, ranging from frugal to fun, it's easy to see how Subaru is able to address concerns from those who feel that a bigger engine equates to higher fuel consumption. The Legacy's suspension remains unaffected by different SI-Drive settings.
Unlike the improvements in drivability, the changes to the Legacy's exterior styling, might not be met with such a universal appeal. The larger front grille and headlamp clusters might give the Legacy a stronger presence, but the smaller tail lamps don't seem as well resolved as the original items.
Fortunately, things get better in the Legacy's cabin which feels better made. Gone are the flimsy lids that hid the cupholders. And they look more purposeful, too, with rings of cool blue light that will undoubtedly make your cup of Starbucks look like er, a million bucks.
Today, just about anyone can order their coffee, in any variant you can think of. In addition to this, you can ask for it to be decaffeinated, with full cream, low fat, non fat or soy milk and sweetened with three different kinds of sugar, or syrup, honey or some form of artificial sweetener.
Much the same applies to computers. You can order one with any screen size, hard disk capacity, the list goes on. Even sneakers can be made to your liking thanks to customisation programmes that manufacturers like Adidas have on offer.
So it was only a matter of time before this custom culture made its way to cars. Sure, we always had a range of colours or options to choose from, but if you wanted your car to feel different from one day to the next, the only option was to buy a few different models.
Subaru however, has made it possible to alter a car's characteristics on the fly, something you'd normally only find on really high-end models and supercars. The Legacy 2.5GT you see here is equipped with a feature called Subaru Intelligent-Drive (SI-Drive), and this allows you to adjust how the car responds to your inputs, depending on what sort of mood you're in.
Activated by a knob near the gearlever, the system allows the driver to choose between three modes that progressively alter the engine's torque delivery.
The first mode is 'Intelligent' which offers the most gradual power delivery of the three modes. If you're not in a hurry, selecting 'Intelligent' puts the Legacy in its most fuel-efficient mode. The disadvantage to this mode though, is that it also makes the car feel sluggish when compared to the previous 2.0-litre GT model.
Twist the knob to the left for 'Sport' mode however, and the 2.5-litre unit improves dramatically. The surge that turbocharged engines are known and loved for becomes readily apparent in this mode.
The third stage is known as 'Sport Sharp' which gives the throttle a more aggressive response With three settings to choose from, ranging from frugal to fun, it's easy to see how Subaru is able to address concerns from those who feel that a bigger engine equates to higher fuel consumption. The Legacy's suspension remains unaffected by different SI-Drive settings.
Unlike the improvements in drivability, the changes to the Legacy's exterior styling, might not be met with such a universal appeal. The larger front grille and headlamp clusters might give the Legacy a stronger presence, but the smaller tail lamps don't seem as well resolved as the original items.
Fortunately, things get better in the Legacy's cabin which feels better made. Gone are the flimsy lids that hid the cupholders. And they look more purposeful, too, with rings of cool blue light that will undoubtedly make your cup of Starbucks look like er, a million bucks.
Subaru Legacy GT
ENGINE TYPE 2,457cc, 16V horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder
MAX POWER 250bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 339Nm at 3,600rpm
GEARBOX 5-speed automatic
TOP SPEED 245km/h
0-100 KM/H 6.6 seconds
PRICE $106,000 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years or 60,000km
CONTACT Motor Image Enterprises
TELEPHONE 6363-3003, 6251-6888
PLUSES The interior is much nicer and SI-Drive lets you play Dr Jekyll/ Mr Hyde
MINUSES Re-styled rear end polarises opinion
VERDICT SI-Drive gives more breadth to the Legacy GT's already impressive repertoire
ENGINE TYPE 2,457cc, 16V horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder
MAX POWER 250bhp at 6,000rpm
MAX TORQUE 339Nm at 3,600rpm
GEARBOX 5-speed automatic
TOP SPEED 245km/h
0-100 KM/H 6.6 seconds
PRICE $106,000 with COE
WARRANTY 3 years or 60,000km
CONTACT Motor Image Enterprises
TELEPHONE 6363-3003, 6251-6888
PLUSES The interior is much nicer and SI-Drive lets you play Dr Jekyll/ Mr Hyde
MINUSES Re-styled rear end polarises opinion
VERDICT SI-Drive gives more breadth to the Legacy GT's already impressive repertoire
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