The Subaru Legacy has reached, as they say in the business, “EOP” or End of Production. It was announced on September 18 by Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA), though the actual car was driven off the factory’s A-line at just after 3:00 pm on September 12. That’s almost 36 years to the day when the first first-generation Legacy rolled out of the Lafayette plant on September 11, 1989.
The last Legacy was a Limited trim model painted Magnetite Gray. Employees gathered for a photo op around the car, first at the assembly line, then in front of SIA where the Misty Dawn-colored Job 1 car was parked next to Job 1,398,994. Sadly the final Legacy won’t be around for a family photo in the future, because according to The Autopian it’s getting shipped off to a random dealer and will be sold to some unsuspecting customer.
The Legacy was the first Subaru to be built in the US, back when SIA stood for the joint-venture Subaru-Isuzu America. It was built alongside the Isuzu Rodeo, but the plant was given over to Subaru and renamed when Isuzu left the passenger car market in 2009.
As Subaru’s longest-running nameplate, the Legacy ushered in a new age for the marque. Before its 1989 debut, Subarus were known mostly for being oddball and truckish machines in which even sedans and station wagons could be equipped with all-wheel-drive. The Legacy was a conscious effort to break away from that image, a sleek and modern sedan that could go toe-to-toe with a Honda Accord. Subaru even set an FIA speed record with it, something that was unthinkable of its predecessors.
After seven generations, however, it’s time to move on. “Its discontinuation reflects market shifts from passenger cars to SUVs and crossovers,” Subaru’s press release states. Production of the Forester and Forester Hybrid will soon shift to SIA to fill the capacity left by the Legacy.
“This is a bittersweet moment for our company and our associates,” said Scott Brand, president of SIA. “While an important chapter in our history has been brought to a close, we’re already turning the page and starting a new one.”
Images courtesy of Subaru.
Sigh, another sedan bites the dust. Stuff like this makes me even more near and ear to holding onto conventional cars and station wagons.
Truly a sad day. My first encounter with a Subaru was with my ski-loving aunt, uncle, and cousins in the mid-80s. They had wagons for years in New Hampshire. They seemed to get new ones every 2 years or so – possibly due to rust.
But my affection for them, specifically the Legacy, started in 2000 when I played Gran Turismo on my college roommate’s PlayStation. I found the best all around car I could build early in the game was a Legacy wagon GT-B. I lusted after them and nearly bought a ’98 GT sedan in 2001 – likely dodged a bullet at a time when I could ill afford head gasket repairs.
When the 4th generation arrived in the States in late 2004 I was in love – specifically with the GT wagon. I spent an insane amount of time researching them and test driving. I couldn’t afford a new one when they were in production so I waited for the right one to come along.
Then, one day in 2010, during my daily search on Auto Trader one came up that stopped me in my tracks. A certified 2007 GT wagon in silver within a reasonable distance. I hopped in my beater 2000 Civic and drove it all the way around the DC Beltway at rush hour to get to Annapolis Subaru. It was a foregone conclusion and I bought it.
Fast forward to the end of the Legacy line and it still sits in my driveway today. It’s been hit twice in that time and beaten senseless by hail last year. But I will do whatever it takes to keep it on the road. At 92k miles I am nearing the end of the turbo lifespan but I have plans to replace the engine and turbo when it does. Heck, maybe then will be the time to swap in a manual, who knows. Last year I spent a fortune importing a set of OEM 18″ Enkei Legacy-specific STI wheels and then spent another fortune having them reconditioned to be perfect. I realize I only have 1 picture of it with them on, so here it is.
https://i.imgur.com/sO29Rdw.jpeg
I’ve long felt that Subaru turned its back on the enthusiasts who bought their cars – this specifically started with the end of the Legacy wagon and then with the end of the Legacy GT, although the 2010+ version was so horrific looking that I wouldn’t have bought one if they continued the GT after the first year anyway.
The final generation seemed to be coming back, if only just a bit. The styling wasn’t offensive and offering a turbo again made me take a real look at one. Maybe I’ll find a nice used one in a few years.
Godspeed Legacy, you were once great and I’ll miss that version of you and, hopefully, always have you with me.
I do not know if it would be possible to eventually lower and de-truckify some newer Outback? It could be a way to keep the Legacy wagon legacy alive?
I attended Purdue University in the fall of 1988. My roommate was from nearby Kentucky, and his dad helped build the plant. I didn’t get to know my roommate that well because he spent more time hanging with his dad than with me. The Subaru Legacy is dead, and strangely enough, so is my freshman year college roommate. Oh well.
While I am confident that the factory produced a good product, my time spent in the Midwest has made me a verse to anything involving the state of Indiana, and I’m glad I bought my Forrester when I did; it was built in Japan, and I would have a great dilemma if I was going to purchase a daily driver made in that state.