2005 Subaru Legacy Limited Wagon from North America - Comments

Drivers back rest has real bad contours. Gave me back problems. Had two power lumbars installed. Made it better, but still not good enough. I had to trade the car in. Bang for the buck this is a great wagon except for the back rest. The Impreza's are also like this. Battery had to be jumped by me three times. Dealer found no problems.

If you have any back problems - do not purchase this car. It has power seats that I thought I would be able to find a sweet spot. I didn't. I'm driving and Audi Allroad that rides great. I also like the C & E class Mercedes for my back, but not the BMW (3 & 5 series) not the Jaguar.

I couldn't agree more. I had the standard 2.0R wagon which is a fantastic vehicle to drive, except for the awful seating. I'm 6'-5" and suddenly started getting back problems every time I drove it for one hour plus. In the end I sold it and bought a Mondeo - back problem immediately went!

Strange.

I'm 6'5" and drive a 2.0R all day in my job. 45k in a year. No problems with comfort at all.

I agree. I own a BMW 325xi and the seat contour gives me a back pain during long rides. I owned a impreza earlier and I felt it was uncomformatable as well.

I own a 2007 legacy Touring package with the power seat. There is absolutely no position which makes this a comfortable seat. My back is a total mess. What gives? I have it up for sale for this reason only. It is a shame because the car itself is fantastic, but I can't live with this kind of pain due to a bad seat design. Subaru should be taking some responsibility or at the very least offer a solution.

My friend has a sister that sells Subarus. He always advertises them, and I say I will never purchase one. My reasons are outlined below:

1) I couldn't agree more with the comfort issue, although, in my defense, it varies by the model and seat materials/fabrics. My friend, the brother of the salesperson, has a 2005 Subaru Outback Sedan with the leather upholstery. I find the back seat entirely too small, but nicely designed with good contours. The front, on the other hand, is too small and not contoured well. I am 21 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches, and would rather sit in the back than the front. You guys also mentioned the Impreza. I do not know specifically about the Impreza, but my aunt has a 2005 Forester (based off of the Impreza platform), and find the cloth seats with leather 'borders' somewhat uncomfortable. They are an improvement over the Outback's, but still, the pain is excruciating, the prospect intolerable, and the seats themselves entirely unacceptable. I still find the cloth seats in my father's 2001 Ford Taurus and my grandfather's 1997 Thunderbird's cloth seats better. Heck, even the seats in my uncle's 2003 Saturn Vue are better. In any of the three above scenarios, the seats are flat, but still preferred by me.

2) I also don't like the fact that Subarus come with standard AWD. It is a good idea, but I feel it is a waste, because, even here in Pittsburgh, you do not need it unless the roads haven't been plowed yet. You will still slide on ice, and that isn't an all-wheel-drive issue, that would be traction and stability. Subaru should offer each model in two-wheel-drive, and widen their appeal.

For the above reasons, I could never purchase a Subaru.