LS is NOT so light.

Our 90' Cadillac DeVille, for example, tips weight at a mere 3,542lbs.

The Caddy is 205.6 inches in length; a lot longer than LS. It also seats six and has a lot more interior room than the LS.

Newer luxury cars tend to be heavier due to complicated electrical and mechanical systems.

Jon

 

Cool question -

If I was buying the car to serve as daily transportation - then I'd pick the Legacy GT - hands down.

But I'd have to spend a lot of time in both cars before making a decision about a 2nd or 3rd (read: luxury) vehicle. Though I lean heavily towards the A4 (especially the 3.0L quattro) due its great styling and impressive interior. The 3.0 liter doesn't perform quite as well as the 2.5L turbo from Subaru ( 6.9 sec to 60mph w/ the Audi; under 6 seconds to 60 in the Subaru) - but I wouldn't drive either car hard enough to notice.

M.

 

I would imagine that new caddy's weigh more though due to all the modern safety requirements [crumple zones, side impact bars, air bags, etc]. (?)

 

I think it's the "fairly attainable" definition. The A6 V8 was almost 60K if I remember right (OK, so maybe I was irrationally upset after then seeing the RL pricing) and that pushed right through what I considered "fairly attainable". Also, I viewed Subarus as quite pleasant AWD econoboxes but not much more than that although Subaru supporters are very loyal. Well, I wanted to make sure to see the new models and the new interiors and if you haven't gone and seen them, I encourage you to do so. Subaru has an interior that to me at least, out Audi's Audi. Just really yells quality while not exhibiting the euro techno-clutter that the Germans are in love with. Subaru has really stepped up with the new models, a Lexus owner will feel right at home shopping with them IMO.

I also don't see a Japanese marque bumping someone like Audi out but there have been stranger things. Marques like Alfa, Rover cars, and Peugeot just couldn't sell enough cars to support a dealer structure so they left the number one car market in the world. To me, Audi's biggest claim to fame is the availability of AWD. Subaru is very serious with their cars but you could make the argument that Audi is not just AWD but sport AWD. So you have the RL now AWD and a whole bunch of other models coming out with AWD including the 300C/Magnum I think. That sport AWD niche may get crowded. And while there have been sporting AWD models for some time, they haven't replaced 2WD variants. But then again, competition is good for us consumers.

 

I was going to say S4 initially, that is the weird thing. THe Legacy is really a performer. And Audi, while a luxury nameplate, IMO, doesn't speak rounds about it to most people. Since the GT uses the STi engine, it can be modded i am sure. And IMO, the Legacy looks better.

Suburu for me

 

Yes.

Jon

 

Man, now this is a tough one. I didn't look at the A4. I was comparing the Legacy GT to the A6. I still wouldn't get either if I didn't need the traction of the AWD, just a RWD bigot. But reliability is a very big issue for both my wife and I so I would think the Subaru would be hard to pass up.

 

PM sent...

 

Read my lips. S-U-B-A-R-U.

 

LOL. The 30-40k class is so crowded with good cars, its amazing. 10 years ago, there were maybe 5-6 actual contenders.

 

Yeap.

There's another explanation though. Perhaps due to the inflation, the modern $30k-40k cars are just the $20-$25k cars of yesterdays.

Seville STS, Lexus LS400, Infinity Q45, BMW 525i were all once priced at just high $30s 10 years ago. Now these cars are selling for more than $50k in the market.

Jon

 

Good point dude.

 

2004 a4 vert is a boring car!!! gf's mom has one and it is boring, no pep at all, and a very high 40k sticker

i tried to talk her into the s4 but 55k, nah

 

Legacy GT Limited is a very nice car
I almost bought a Legacy GT Limited pearl white on black but went for the LS430 (VIP syndrome.) I talked the sales to $30000 OTD FULLY LOADED in auto tranny!!!
I did think about 330ci & M3......but that's the only two German car in that class that came into my mind. Why buy an A4 3.0 Quatro when u can pay a little more for a 330ci or 330xi & pay so much less for a Legacy GT Limited or G35 sedan?