Skinner Butte is just north of downtown Eugene and overlooks the city. It’s one of our most popular walk destinations, and at its base are exposed basalt columns from an old quarrying operation. It’s become a popular rock-climbing spot, and a good spot to find interesting older cars. Must be something about rock climbers. In this case, it was a couple of Japanese faux four door hardtops, both of the same vintage (circa 1990 or so).
These first generation Legacy sedans are becoming a bit scarce, unlike their wagon brethren, which are more in demand, especially among the outdoorsy set. I’m not even too sure this is a an AWD version, legacies were still available in FWD at the time (in the US, Subaru eventually went all-AWD).
These Lexus ES250s are similarly becoming a bit thin on the ground too. Often derided as a badge engineered Camry, it was based on the Toyota Prominent/Vista, a “hardtop” version of the Camry. It was not a success, despite having redeeming qualities, such as an extremely smooth 2.5 L V6, a solidly built body, and an interior with high quality materials. But it was lost in the shadow of the brilliant LS400. The next generation ES solved those issues, and became a strong seller.
Here they are from higher up on the cliffs; hardtops for hard-headed climbers.
I was disappointed to see Subaru adding window frames on the doors of the previous newest Legacy (and also for making the car big, tall and ugly!)
I agree, but with safety regulations being what they’ve become, it seems they’ve had no choice but to comply.
I’m all for cars with safety features. But some of them make the car less than attractive.
The more I look at the current Subaru Legacy, the more I prefer the first generation Legacy. I find it much nicer looking, much simpler, cleaner in its lines. I’d buy a first gen Legacy AWD if I could find one in the right condition and the right price.
Take a look at the current Impreza, its pretty close to the 1st gen Legacy in footprint, engine size, etc. IMHO the higher trim level current Impreza is the best looking car in the lineup right now while the Forester is the best value.
Along with the rest of the Japanese the Subaru lineup has crept up in size to the point where everything is one size class bigger that the car with the same name of 10-20 years ago.
I like the Impreza, even up to the current generation model. Although Subaru changed the grille every generation for the Impreza, at least it’s in good taste, whereas with the Legacy and the Forester, some grilles look ugly while others look attractive.
Actually, i like the design of the new Subaru Legacy, i know it is different from the first generation( wich is beautifull, but difficult to find).
While I like the engineering underneath the car, I’ve never found the car itself attractive.
I loved both of these cars! I never got a chance to drive the Legacy, but I yearned for a dark green 92/93 like the one above! The design and concept was definetely cribbed from the first generation Acura Legend, right down to the name.
The ES250 was another car I longed for. The hardtop design, sparse lines and that trim front and rear end made for a beautifully svelte if understated design that aged better than the contemporary Camry. It was one of the most honestly Japanese cars to have landed here in that era. I owned one (a well kept black on tan example) that I loved, but alas the automatic transmission in those cars were not known for reliability and losing reverse gear led me to sell it. I remember being surprised while doing some work that the wood trim in the car was the same thickness used in the LS400, a genuine slab far thicker than the veneer used in Acuras of the time.
A 5 speed ES (with a cloth interior) would be the perfect companion to my 6 speed Legend.
I agree. I like both cars. This was when Lexus was just starting, and Subaru was trying its hand with the Legacy on the North American market. I thought both got it right the first time. And then they had to screw it up with each restyle, which made both cars look fatter and uglier with each generation.
The one I had blew its transmission. I’m sorry I did not keep it but no storage to stash it. Still looking for one.
I love the frameless windows on my 1997 Outback, it’s like driving a greenhouse around. The seatbelt is wider than the B-pillar it attaches too.
My dad drives an 06 Outback, which is basically an upgraded Legacy. Although not the most attractive vehicle I’ve had the pleasure of riding in, it’s an awesome driver. I still prefer the first generation Legacy. I also prefer the first generation Lexus ES250.
I had an ’02 Outback, the sightlines were just amazing (and it was a good-driving car, too). You could see anything coming from just about every direction, in comparison with my Mazda5, with A-pillars so thick they blot out the sun.
Haven’t seen either of these in quite some time where I live. I do like the angular if not overly generic styling of the ES 250. The certainly did have nice interiors.
My first car was one of these Legacies… FWD, alas. Still, it did a great job through NH winters with snow tires. It was loud and the plastics were hard, but the steering/suspension were surprisingly BMW-like. The seats were actually American-sized, and visibility was the best of any car I’ve owned. Just look at the size of that c-pillar window!
I don’t feel any need to own another, but it was a great car.
Not sure why these are called faux hardtops as both fit the criteria I use: frameless windows. Sure, a lot of manufacturers made pillared hardtops, but that still makes them a hardtop.
For me, the 1st gen Legacy is a good car, sedan and wagon. After these initial cars, it looks like Subaru saw the writing on the wall and started giving less emphasis to the sedan….or did Subaru spear-head the move to “crossovers”?
The Lexus? I would love to find an ES with a manual transmission, and even thought I found one until it turned out to be a poor dealer ad. Doesn’t even have to be a 250, but even a 300 will do.
From the pix you can’t quite see the VERY small trunklid badge that tells you if a Subaru is FWD or AWD. There are FWD Imprezas, too.
My sisters have had 5 different Legacy wagons/Outbacks, to me they all looked the same…just the newer ones are bigger. My fav? My “little” sister’s black on black turbo wagon.
The Prominent/Vista is the JDM Camry of the time good cars nothing wrong with them that decent suspension tuning cant cure, those early Legacies arent particularly rare here despite chronic headgasket and transmission problems there are plenty still around manuals will keep going for ever given new radiator tanks every few years the originals have a weak spot where the outlet hose attaches and they crack and later Legacy radiators will not fit, though the later improved reinforced tanks will fit the original cores(ask me how I know).
With the 1st gen Legacy the flat tray in front of the passenger due to lack of airbag made it a good place for my EMT/Firefighter dad to mount his blue light (it had a nearly wrap around reflector), road flares, and first aid gear that was not in backpacks. I think one of our cats even took a sunbath nap in that tray when it was cleared off since we would leave the windows open on sunny days when parked. Wonder if the Lexus’ trunk mechanism is acting up or if they left it open? Nice to see some rust free 1990s vehicles still being enjoyed by their owner(s)
I really miss those trays- they were on a lot of Japanese cars of the time.
The Legacy is a ’92 – ’94 model. I had a ’93 in this same color. Mine was the loaded out LXI model; leather, sunroof, alloys, AWD, etc. The one in the photo is the base L model, with no evidence of AWD. I bought mine used with 66,000 miles on it. It was a very good car; rode well, drove well, and even though here in central Texas there is not much need for the AWD, it sure was nice. I drove it for six or seven years with the only issue other than normal maintenance was the a/c compressor gave out. But then it developed an intermittent sunroof leak and the AWD started binding at low speeds when turning very sharp. The struts and wheel bearings were worn, so I chickened out and traded it for a ’97 Taurus. I haven’t owned a foreign nameplate since, but not by choice. I buy well used vehicles, so when it is time to buy I choose the best one available at the time regardless (within reason) of nameplate.
I haven’t had any experience to speak of with this generation of ES, but I have with the next one. They were solid cars, but I felt at the time they were only a step in class over a loaded Camry, not in quality or level of equipment.
I’ve always found the Lexus ES250 to be more attractive than the Camry from which it was based. I like the grille of the ES250.
I’d like to see Subaru do the Hyundai/Kia thing and create something truly posh w/AWD. Or even create their own luxury brand.
I think that would be way, way outside their brand identity, and don’t necessarily think it would work. Subarus have a definite image of safe, capable vehicles with AWD. Some of them are sporty, like the WRX. Some are off-road/outdoorsy, like the Outback. But I don’t think a true luxury vehicle would fit with this image, and might even alienate some of their core customers, who are often (being slightly sterotypical here) hippies/environmentalists/outdoorsy types. Most of whom would probably feel negatively about seeing a $60K luxury vehicle sharing the showroom with their Foresters and Outbacks.
I Just wanted to share this picture of the Subaru legcy on wich chilean politician and UDI political party’s founder Jaime Guzman was assassinated on april 1st,1991 by members of the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front.
Sweet looking 1st generation Legacy. I’ve always found the first gen Legacy more attractive than any of the later version of the Legacy.
true, but apparently the members of the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front did not think that.