Easily Fix Your Subaru Suspension Problem

The Subaru Legacy is presently available as a sedan only and in seven trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Special Edition, 2.5i Limited, 2.5 GT Limited, 2.5 GT spec.B, 3.0R and 3.0 R Limited. Although the base car is a bit of a stripper, the other trims are well-equipped and can make the Legacy suspensions as luxurious and comfortable as some midsize cars wearing luxury badges.

Powering the 2.5i trim levels is a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine. The sportier GT Limited trim gets an exciting turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder good for 243 hp. These models come with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The 2.5 GT spec.B adds a firmer suspension, 18-inch wheels and a six-speed manual transmission and Legacy suspension parts. The 3.0 R trims have a 245-hp 3.0-liter flat-6 that comes with a five-speed automatic transmission. As with all Subaru vehicles, AWD is standard across all models. Legacy 2.5i models are equipped with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Buyers of the 2.5 GT have the choice of the five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic that features rev-matched downshifts, a rarity in this class, as well as paddle shifters. The 2.5 GT spec.B is available only with a six-speed manual transmission. Both 3.0 R models share the 2.5 GT’s five-speed automatic.

In road tests, our editors have found the Subaru Legacy suspension to be both sporty and comfortable — a challenging combination for manufacturers to master. The steering is perfectly weighted. The ride is quiet. The 2.5-liter engine provides adequate power, but the Legacy GT Limited (with its turbocharged engine) is truly a fun car to drive hard. The one glaring bit of criticism has been the GT Limited’s automatic transmission, which seems to be ill-suited for the vehicle’s turbocharged engine.

Interior Design and Special Features of Range Rover!

Built for the bush but bought for bragging rights, Range Rovers are more likely to be found in Miami Beach than Mozambique. Acknowledging that reality, the 2009 Range Rover employs a unibody design and has a self-adjusting air suspension that monitors vehicle loads and road conditions. When driven on pavement, the Range Rover feels stable and comfortable, with good steering feel — a tribute to its BMW origins. In terms of off-road ability, it still has few equals, thanks to its generous ground clearance and wheel articulation.

The Range Rover is designed to cosset its well-healed owners in an opulent cabin as they ford streams and cross the highlands of the Upper Hebrides. The unique and handsomely rugged furnishings do plenty of cosseting when fording and crossing mall parking lots, too. Most materials are premium grade, and buyers have a wood choice of cherry or walnut and, on the Supercharged, “Grand Black Lacquer.” Sounds fancy. Soft leather swathes not only the supportive seats but also the dash and other interior surfaces. The layout is very button-heavy, though, and in fine British tradition, ergonomics can be as confusing as English royal history. The seating position is notably upright, but both front and rear passengers will find the accommodations supportive and roomy. Back benchers get their own power-adjustable headrests, airbags, seat heaters and climate controls (rear dual zone is optional, too). The Range Rover boasts 74 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, which is a bit less than what’s offered by some competing vehicles.

The 2009 Range Rover HSE is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 with 305 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The Supercharged gets a 4.2-liter V8 that’s (surprise!) supercharged to produce 400 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control is standard with both engines. A permanent four-wheel-drive system is standard on all Range Rovers, along with low-range gearing and nearly 11 inches of maximum ground clearance. The standard Terrain Response system allows the driver to customize powertrain, suspension and electronic stability and traction systems to best handle five predetermined off-road conditions. Maximum towing capacity when properly equipped is 7,700 pounds. Both the HSE and the Supercharged return an EPA estimated 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined.