There was a period of my life, where I was (unfortunately) a Subaru owner. Though the car was a lot of trouble, its charisma sticks with me to this very day.
March 6, 2021 Car Autance Feature Photo Details
- Car(s): 2008 Subaru Legacy Spec.B
- Location: Downtown Los Angeles
- Photog: Chris Rosales (Twitter: @chrishasacamera) (Insta: @chrishasacamera) (Web: carbibles.com)
- Camera: Canon 5D Mark III w/ Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART
I miss this car more than I care to admit… but my situation was a classic case of not having enough money to really own it. It was the costliest car of the 12 I’ve had. Somehow, it remains the most charismatic, machinating car of the lot though. There was something seriously special about it. No, not because it was the ultra limited Spec.B, with a rumored production run of about 600-1,000 cars per model year. Nor was it the sum of its parts, though the STI six-speed gearbox is one of the greatest transmissions to have ever been conceived, in shifter feel, mechanical sound, and durability.
No, I might be so bold as to claim: The Legacy Spec.B was the last great modern Subaru (at least, outside STIs). It had an E-throttle that was calibrated like an old cable throttle (in sport mode), fabulous clutch feel, natural engagement, firm brake pedal, the great list of superlatives. Subarus shine in the intangibles, this car, like other Subies I’ve been in, had some unquantifiable good energy. Something about the weight of the drivetrain makes for an exceptionally smooth clutch take-up. Something about how it moves from a stop suggests that it’s all-wheel-drive, where you can almost feel the various gears, bevels, and bearings starting to wake up, to transfer power to the wheels.
The sound. What a legendary sound. If the sound of a Subaru EJ engine doesn’t stir your soul, you might actually be dead. It’s pleasant, and fills your chest with a swell that feels like the first breath of your favorite restaurant.
Much as they can act like flaming piles of shit, everyone deserves to experience an old Subaru. It’ll stick with you. Which Subaru have you longed for? Tell me in the comments!
As big as we could make it:
