07 Sep 04
3.0-litre engine develops 245bhp for a maximum 151mph
The best way to get to the very heart of the new Legacy 3.0R spec.B is to drive it back to back with its mad little brother, the Impreza WRX Sti. In the latter, you'll emerge with all the symptoms of automotive adrenalin overload, a heartbeat off the scale and ears ringing from the pummelling they've had from that flat-six's thrashy roar. It's a raw and totally inspiring experience.
Hop into the Legacy 3.0R spec.B immediately afterward, and you'll find much more of the Impreza experience has been engineered into it. The most important advance here is that the hottest Legacy is, for the first time, available with a six-speed manual gearbox as well as an automatic. This close-ratio unit allows a keen driver to wrest every last ounce of performance from the 3.0-litre, 245bhp flat-six boxer engine. Maximum torque of 219lb ft is generated at a relatively high 4200rpm - this is an engine that thrives on revs, giving an even sharper focus to its sporting aspirations.
The result is a car that'll reach 60mph in just 6.5secs and stomp on to a top speed of 151mph. That's in saloon guise, but the estate isn't significantly slower. As we've already hinted, though, the 3.0R spec.B just feels so much more engaging. The Legacy has always been a competent performer, but with the addition of a front suspension more closely modelled on that of the WRX Sti, the spec.B's tyres stay in even better contact with the road during high-speed cornering, especially over rough roads. Hence, steering feel and overall grip are improved. Even better, the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering has a damper valve which reduces kick-back through the steering during hard cornering over bumpy surfaces. High performance Bilstein dampers are fitted, as are larger (and very good looking) 18-inch wheels.
The Legacy's four-wheel drive system feeds the torque to the axle with the most grip if the car begins to slide. There's a limited-slip differential on the rear axle, which allows torque to be shared between the rear wheels. The aim here is to give sharper turn in and more throttle adjustable handling, and in the main, it works.
