Actually the Legacy is on my list of cars that will replace my GS. If they put a NAV in there and HIDs, I think it could even be #1.

 

You have good taste. It is an excellent vehicle, NAV or no NAV. And Subaru traditionally has made the best AWD systems in the 30K-and-under class. Consider the Outback version, however, if you need to go through snow or want to service it yourself...the Outback's extra ground clearance makes for much easier do-it-yourself oil changes, especially in the base version without the underbody panel up front.
This vehicle...and a lot of the new Hyundais ...really give you value for your buck.
If you want power ( like so many young men do ) 250 HP / 250 ft.lb torque Turbo and 250 HP / 219 ft.lbs. torque H6 versions are available....but they are pricier than the standard versions and can run 30K and up.

Right now the Outback, ES330, and the upcoming new AWD IS 250 / 350 are in a three-way tie for my next car....I also like the idea of an AWD IS.

Good luck in your shopping...let us know how it goes.

 

It is about a year away (although the right deal in December will do it for me). I like the looks of the Legacy and of course the 250HP helps. I do wish it came with the 6 however as I'd like a little more grunt off the line (coming from six years of V8 cars). We'll see - an AWD TL would change things signifcantly and the right deal on a new A6 would as well.

 

The new Acura RL has the SH AWD you want.......a very sophisticated system that varies not only torque and power but individual wheel RPM as well for optimum cornering. It also has a whopping 300 HP V6 that should bring back memories of your V8's, but the question here is price...its almost $50,000 base price may (?) be out of your budget .........it's sure out of mine.
The A6 is a good driver's car with a nicely done interior and a well-designed Quattro AWD system (like all Audis) but they have been unreliable (again, like almost all Audis)...........mostly due to the typical European car electrical gremlins. And it also is not a cheap car, staring at $42,600...and that is the base version, not the S6.

You mention a possible December deal.....that is a good month to shop because most people, being preoccupied with Christmas shopping and traveling, don't visit auto showrooms much (except for rich people who give new vehicles as holiday gifts) . Dealerships will bargain to make some sales then. Same in January...many people are paying off credit-card and other debts from Christmas or shoveling out from snowstorms and generally don't do much car-shopping.
Well, I won't keep bombarding you like a nanny here...I'm sure you know what you want and will find a good deal on it...again, good luck.

 

I love the new RL, but my Acura salesperson friend tells me that it is lacking in sport and needs the A Spec package (coming this Spring I think). Personally, I think the car is a bargain for $50K and once the hype dies down, it will lease out at a decent price. All these cars are in the budget but I'm thinking about "adjusting" the budget downwards to help save for those darn kids and their college. The problem comes down to monthly lease prices - my GS is going for $750/Month. I chose that over the G35 cause that was going to be $615/Month and I figured that for $135 a month, I'd take a V8. But you get stuck in this (for this much more, I can have...). Of note, the 2003 A6 4.2 that I really wanted, had a sticker price the same as my GS but leased out for $900/month - due to residuals (December to remember event) and the fact that there is a lot more profit in Lexus cars vs. European (dealer cost on the GS was $46ish and closer to $50K on the Audi). Anyway…. from what I can tell the Legacy is not selling too hot and I’m hoping I can get a deal on it. But like I said, all of this is for December at the earliest.

 

Yeah...didn't know you were leasing. You can often get more car for leasing rather than buying, especially if you stay in the mileage limit and the wear-and-tear clause, because you only pay for the projected depreciation in the first 2-4 years rather than the full price.
In my part of the country.....the D.C area....even with its high average income and the huge amount of car-buying money available.......leasing is basically what keeps a lot of luxury-car and expensive sports-car dealers in buisness. Today we are second only to L.A.-SoCal in the number of new cars sold and leased.

Of course, only you can make the final decision and judge for yourself, but I think you will be happier with a 20-25K Legacy or a 28-30K Turbo Legacy than spending almost twice that for an RL.....and you will have one of the the best inexpensive AWD systems on the market. Subaru has 5 different AWD systems they use depending on the engine / tranny combo.

 

and this I don't understand. I think the Legacy alone has three of these. I don't understand which one is better.

 

Subaru tailors the type of center-differential and the amount of front-to-back torque split according to the design and intended use of the car, and what type of engine and transmission it has. In general, manual-transmission Subarus use a viscous-type center differential and automatics use an electronic center-clutch pack. The STi uses a special driver-adjustable system.
This will explain in detail all of the Subaru AWD systems, how they are designed, and how they operate. You will find it very informative.

http://www.subaru.com/allwheeldrive/ver2005/index.jsp