Drove a G35 6MT and a Legacy GT

[JST]

The G35 was a 2004, as the 2005s still haven't hit this dealer yet.

Overall, it renewed my respect for this car. Nissan has done a very credible job of putting together an excellent performance sedan. The chassis feel and balance is superb, and even the old 260 hp engine has very good, very usable power. The shifter has very short throws and a tight, mechanical effort, but is a bit balky when cold. The exhaust is just the right volume when you are driving--loud enough to provide a reference, but not so loud as to drive you batshit.

The interior is functional, but not attractive. The 05s are a bit better in this regard, but not much. Big misses in the interior are the seats (which have short bottom cushions and meager bolstering), the seat controls (Mercedes figured out the only good way to do seat controls--why other people keep trying other things boggles my mind); the lack of a telescoping wheel, and the lack of fold-down rear seats. Positives include the tilts-with-the-wheel guage pod (suddenly I'm back in my 89 Probe GT), the tilting rear seat backs, the excellent headroom in the front, and the generous leg room in the rear.

The exterior is utterly blah, though the fenders look kind of cool from the driver's seat.

Nice car.

The Legacy GT feels less sporting and more like a generic Japanese sedan. That engine, though, is freaking fantastic. It has SO MUCH more torque down low than the WRX. Control efforts in the Legacy are good, handling is decent on public roads, and the driveline is more forgiving of fast shifts than that in the WRX (but still not as able to handle them as a BMW).

I liked driving the Legacy a lot. I can see this as a commuter car--the rush as the turbo spools makes it feel even faster than it is, making for good times in the typical cut and thrust of suburban driving. The acoutrements are well done, too--the Legacy has about everything you could want (except Nav) and has a nice, expensive looking interior. Again, no telescope on the wheel and no folding back seats are disadvantages, but I'd probably get the wagon anyway.

It isn't overtly sporting, though. I don't think I'd do one as my only car.

[clyde]

(Mercedes figured out the only good way to do seat controls--why other people keep trying other things boggles my mind)

Because Mercedes sues the pants off anyone that does it that way. Ask Nissan. The 1990 Q45 had Mercedes like controls. The 1991 did not.

[lemming]

most people think that the legacy GT is still pricey at 26k or so.

i love mine. but your viewpoint is spot-on; for an only car it would be some hardship because it does not have that edginess that the WRX has. more tame.

[Nick M3]

Keefe seems to think that with some suspension work, it's a better platform than the Impreza.

[JST]

(Mercedes figured out the only good way to do seat controls--why other people keep trying other things boggles my mind)

Because Mercedes sues the pants off anyone that does it that way. Ask Nissan. The 1990 Q45 had Mercedes like controls. The 1991 did not.

That's what licensing fees are for.

[BahnBaum]

(Mercedes figured out the only good way to do seat controls--why other people keep trying other things boggles my mind)

Because Mercedes sues the pants off anyone that does it that way. Ask Nissan. The 1990 Q45 had Mercedes like controls. The 1991 did not.

Our '97 Lincoln had Mercedes like seat controls. That along with the Chris-Craft ride.

Alex

[clyde]

(Mercedes figured out the only good way to do seat controls--why other people keep trying other things boggles my mind)

Because Mercedes sues the pants off anyone that does it that way. Ask Nissan. The 1990 Q45 had Mercedes like controls. The 1991 did not.

That's what licensing fees are for.

I'll get one of my Nissan boys on that first thing in the a.m.

[lemming]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

i think the legacy is a great platform, but on a test drive in full OEM form, it's not the tastiest bit of kit. the RE92s are awful (they seem even worse than in the WRX application). the shifter isn't all that great. the brakes are average.

the suspension tuning isn't JDM spec --it's fatass american spec so it's softer.

it doesn't take much to make it a monster but then in the aftermarket, all bets are off and it's no longer apples to apples.

the Cobb accessport already jumps the power up to approx. 290/305 or 300/345ft-lbs (estimated at the crank stage 1/stage 2). but what the car really needs are better pads and swaybars.

i'm still a huge fan of the g35. the 2nd generation car will dial in the bullseye even more.

[clyde]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

Keefe is not bad and has been very impressive with the Legacy.

[lemming]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

Keefe is not bad and has been very impressive with the Legacy.

it's hard to keep up with him at the 'other board' --surely he doesn't compete with OEM tires, right?

:lol:

do you compete on the re040s or do you switch over to hoosiers? just curious. i'm sure that you do well on the OEM tires but with nick as a bad influence...

[clyde]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

Keefe is not bad and has been very impressive with the Legacy.

it's hard to keep up with him at the 'other board' --surely he doesn't compete with OEM tires, right?

:lol:

I don't know where Keefe posts. He puts lots of stickers on his cars, though. :dunno:

do you compete on the re040s or do you switch over to hoosiers? just curious. i'm sure that you do well on the OEM tires but with nick as a bad influence...

Out of ~25 events last year, I think I was on Hoosiers 8 or 9 times and the RE040s the rest of them. Depended on the series (came in third in class where I used the Hoosiers, first in the two where I was streets...says more about competition than anything else) or event.

Keefe was on Azenis for a few events, but then at the last one or two where I paid any attention he was using some kind of R comp. He's done mods...dunno what though. Like I said, lots of stickers.

[JST]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

Keefe is not bad and has been very impressive with the Legacy.

it's hard to keep up with him at the 'other board' --surely he doesn't compete with OEM tires, right?

:lol:

I don't know where Keefe posts. He puts lots of stickers on his cars, though. :dunno:

do you compete on the re040s or do you switch over to hoosiers? just curious. i'm sure that you do well on the OEM tires but with nick as a bad influence...

Out of ~25 events last year, I think I was on Hoosiers 8 or 9 times and the RE040s the rest of them. Depended on the series (came in third in class where I used the Hoosiers, first in the two where I was streets...says more about competition than anything else) or event.

Keefe was on Azenis for a few events, but then at the last one or two where I paid any attention he was using some kind of R comp. He's done mods...dunno what though. Like I said, lots of stickers.

The first time I saw him run it, it was basically stock other than the Azenis (no stickers yet, either). He posted a very respectable time.

However, I have little doubt that the Legacy would be just as unfun to autox as the WRX, given the weight distribution.

I did notice recently that the WRX can actually be put into an honest, power-on drift in the snow, though. That's kind of cool.

[lemming]

yeah.

(keefer isn't as good as Snyde at auto-x, i'm guessing?)

Keefe is not bad and has been very impressive with the Legacy.

it's hard to keep up with him at the 'other board' --surely he doesn't compete with OEM tires, right?

:lol:

I don't know where Keefe posts. He puts lots of stickers on his cars, though. :dunno:

do you compete on the re040s or do you switch over to hoosiers? just curious. i'm sure that you do well on the OEM tires but with nick as a bad influence...

Out of ~25 events last year, I think I was on Hoosiers 8 or 9 times and the RE040s the rest of them. Depended on the series (came in third in class where I used the Hoosiers, first in the two where I was streets...says more about competition than anything else) or event.

Keefe was on Azenis for a few events, but then at the last one or two where I paid any attention he was using some kind of R comp. He's done mods...dunno what though. Like I said, lots of stickers.

The first time I saw him run it, it was basically stock other than the Azenis (no stickers yet, either). He posted a very respectable time.

However, I have little doubt that the Legacy would be just as unfun to autox as the WRX, given the weight distribution.

I did notice recently that the WRX can actually be put into an honest, power-on drift in the snow, though. That's kind of cool.

yup.

still nose heavy.

it takes some work with the longer wheelbase to hang the tail out. whereas the STi has the same nose heavy (as does the evo) problem, its shorter wheelbase made it entertaining. the legacy's 'base is longish. have to really work to have some fun.

compared to the wrx rear suspension, though, it is much more planted and controlled over uneven road surfaces.

[Rob]

. . . the Chris-Craft ride.

Alex

:lol:

[blee]

Keefe :lol:

He's a decent enough driver and a good guy, but I'll be damned if he doesn't love his stickers. Especially ones that say "SALAZAR-RACING," until he hits a wall.