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View Full Version : 2005 Legacy GT vs 2005.5 Audi A4, a year in review.


Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 03:18 PM
So.... it's been a full year now that I have owned my Audi.

Before owning the Audi I had not one, but two 2005 Legacy GT's (sedan and wagon)


Before anyone says that you can't really compare the two, i'll stop you right in your tracks and say that the price new for the cars is only about 3-5k apart (sticker)


When I was shopping around for a new car I looked at a few different makes/models. First was a 2008 Legacy GT Limited, then a 2006 Volvo s60R, 2005 Volvo v70R and BMW 325xi.

After looking at warranties, reviews and test drives I pulled the trigger on the Audi A4 with 35k miles, 6 year 100k warranty and free scheduled maintenance, NAV, Bose and ton of other goodies for 24k out the door with 2.9%. I was well out of the 3/36k on the my legacy and I was sure nothing would be covered under powertrain due to mods.

I loved both the legacys for their ease of modding, i.e. accessport and bolt on's. The AWD is great, handling was great and the interior was beautiful. Between the two I put 70k miles on and they never left me stranded.

Both cars had their share of issues....

The sedan had a broken seat rail from the factory, the radio quit which sucks because the radio and heat/AC controls are integrated so I lost heat in the middle of winter :unamused:

The wagon was always breaking suspension peices, albeit not subarus fault as the complete suspension was aftermarket.

I loved both cars but the only thing missing was creature features. I loved having 300+ WHP but I really missed the little things like auto up windows, auto dimming side mirrors, a GOOD stereo and in dash NAV that could be used while driving :lol:

I went and looked at the 2008 Legacy GT and was not impressed at all :( it looked almost identical to the 05 and no major changes had been made. On top of that... it stickered at 32k with NAV and only comes in 5MT unless you want the Spec B which is 34k+ :eek:

I didn't really want an Audi when I first started researching them. I had heard about reliability issues and a high cost of ownership. After much research I found that the redesign was getting really good reliability reviews :)

I test drove one and it was love at first sight :)

I put the value of a new Legacy and STi up against the Audi and the numbers were clear.

The Audi gave me so more for my $$$ than Subaru could dream of offering. Front and Rear Electronic LSD, computer controlled traction control (not the cheapo subaru one) 6year 100K warranty with free scheduled maintenance, $50 deductable on all repairs after 50k, road sensing headlights (they swivel with the curve of the road L-R U-D) rain sensing wipers, ice sensing heating controls, autofold/dimming mirrors, steering wheel mounted control, 2 SD slots, heated wiper nozzles, full size spare (what a concept on an AWD car!) 6 speed, sport suspension, cheaper insurance rates ect ect... it seems I find something new on this car every month :lol: I just found out that the individual keys remember heating/AC and radio settings :eek: I put my spare in the other day and it turned the AC on because the last time I used it was in July :lol:

The Audi power is not on-par with the legacy... and at times I do miss the shear acceleration, but it's no dog :) Shifting is smooth and 60 comes in 2nd gear and I can cruise at 80mph at 2700rpms all while getting 30MPG.

I have to say though... the Audi AWD is better. I attribute this to the front and rear electronic LSD.

Overall i've only had one warranty issue with the car which was intake pump malfunction, fixed with a $50 deductable.

I don't regret owning the Legacy's, I just wish Subaru would adjust their pricing to be a little more competetive.

I will def be looking at the 2010 Legacy in hopes that Subaru has hit a homerun.

method
03-04-2009, 03:40 PM
*cough* I'll go ahead and say it anyway, you CANT compare. 3-5k sticker apart is a lot of money! That's like comparing a WRX with a WRX STI. (Similar price differential) and there are a lot of differences.

Murphy2012
03-04-2009, 03:45 PM
Nice review Randy! IIRC a new WRX is 27k. A new Sti is 37k. Thats more than 3-5k...

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 03:53 PM
*cough* I'll go ahead and say it anyway, you CANT compare. 3-5k sticker apart is a lot of money! That's like comparing a WRX with a WRX STI. (Similar price differential) and there are a lot of differences.


match options and put head to head there is not much a difference.

Maxed out 2009 WRX = 32k
Equally equipped A4 = 32K

You just get more with the Audi.

Murphy2012
03-04-2009, 04:01 PM
Get more COMFORT features with an Audi...more pure performance out of a WRX anyday, and mod for half the price, and get more power quicker.

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 04:06 PM
The handling in my car is better

It may not be as fast out of the showroom, but a simple tune nets 242WHP, that's STi terroritory.

RCKSTR
03-04-2009, 04:12 PM
I like the reviews :) my dad used to have an audi, and I loved driving that thing around. not sure if it'd be for me as a daily driver but his didn't have all the bells and whistles like yours does.

LordBass
03-04-2009, 04:13 PM
Similar size, but these cars are apples & oranges. The average new WRX or LGT will be significantly cheaper than an Audi, and cost less to maintain long term. And while an LGT & A4 are similar size and AWD, they generally appeal to a difference audience.

IMO as a new car, Audis are poor value. Expensive to buy and maintain, nice to drive though not exciting. The LGT Spec B is also overpriced. But I don't care about leather, navigation, or fancy electronic gadgets.

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 04:22 PM
Similar size, but these cars are apples & oranges. The average new WRX or LGT will be significantly cheaper than an Audi, and cost less to maintain long term. And while an LGT & A4 are similar size and AWD, they generally appeal to a difference audience.

not the A3 or base A4, same price as a WRX

IMO as a new car, Audis are poor value. Expensive to buy and maintain, nice to drive though not exciting. The LGT Spec B is also overpriced. But I don't care about leather, navigation, or fancy electronic gadgets.


Scheduled maintenance is free in an Audi, I have 6y, 100k warranty, which subaru sells, not gives away like Audi.

LordBass
03-04-2009, 04:31 PM
Understood, though:
A3 starts in the high $20s, but good luck finding a low-spec six-speed at that price. They look neat, but the FWD 2.0T is basically an overpriced GTI. The 3.2Q is cool, but an awful value.

The WRX starts at $26k. An A4 is not going to touch that price or driving entertainment.

Glad you are enjoying your A4, they are comfortable to drive. But show us your stack of repair receipts after 100k miles. :)

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 04:46 PM
Glad you are enjoying your A4, they are comfortable to drive. But show us your stack of repair receipts after 100k miles. :)

initial qaulity and long term reliability tests have been completed on my model and rank in the top :)

I did my research ;)

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=106570

GC4-RS
03-04-2009, 04:46 PM
i like both really, i've drivin just about all models of usdm subies and a few audi's. a good friend has a stock '01 A6 4.2, and that car hawls azz. its got the automatic with the triptonic shifting, and the acceleration is unbelievable, but between it and the wrx/sti's, i couldnt tell which had better.

AWDPilot
03-04-2009, 07:55 PM
How the hell are you optioning the A4 to get it only to 32k? They start at 33,500

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 08:00 PM
If you like to pay sticker :lol:

-=The Boss=-
03-04-2009, 08:06 PM
I :wub: my LGT but for the price tag (now) you can do better if speed isnt 1st on the priority list.

Bu11dogg2
03-04-2009, 09:37 PM
I :wub: my LGT but for the price tag (now) you can do better if speed isnt 1st on the priority list.

I couldn't agree more :)

-=The Boss=-
03-05-2009, 09:40 AM
I got mine when they first came out in '05 and I want to say it was $24kish

Bu11dogg2
03-05-2009, 10:03 AM
Non limited IIRC?