Car Of The Day: October 6, 2012

Today's car of the day is Targa Taccar's 2004 Subaru Legacy.

The Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by the Japanese company Fuji Heavy Industries, and manufactured by its division Subaru since 1989, and is available as a sedan or wagon. Part of the original design goals for the Legacy model was to provide Subaru a vehicle in which they could compete in the lucrative North American midsize market against competitors Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Higher performance variants of the Legacy are offered as competitive alternatives to compact executive cars such as the Audi A4, Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW 3 Series. The Legacy also serves as Subaru's flagship car.
In 1995, Subaru created the Outback trim package on the base model Legacy wagon "L", that primarily consisted of the heavy cloth interior, berber carpet floor mats, a luggage rack and fog lights with a standard height suspension. The 1996 model added raised ground clearance, raised roof-line and introduced the larger 2.5-liter, EJ25D engine (Automatic transmissions only until 1997), and was known as the Legacy Outback until 1999. In 2000, it became its own unique model, known simply as the Outback.

It is unique in its class for offering all wheel drive as a standard feature, and Subaru's traditional boxer engine. The Legacy bears the name Liberty in Australia out of deference for Legacy Australia, a veterans' assistance organization. As of 2008, 3.6 million Legacies have been built since its 1989 introduction.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Subaru Legacy

Another recent purchase from the Hershey Matchbox show.  The hood opens but doesn't prop open so no picture of the engine detail, sorry.  I also apologize for the quality of the pictures.  This is horrible.  This is inexcusable.  I can't even take new ones because the new DSLR I paid through the nose for is dead.  After less than two months.  Replacement coming tomorrow (a big thank you to the camera shop for agreeing to replace it) but it means I can't reshoot these horrible pics from a few nights ago.

Subaru launched the third generation Japanese and world-market Legacy in June 1998, while the North American model was introduced in 2000. All models were equipped with standard, symmetrical all wheel drive. World-market and Japanese models ranged from a normally aspirated 2.0 liter flat-4 to the EZ30 in the 3.0R model. Even though dimensions became mid-sized, it was still rated by the EPA as a compact car.
Flat roof wagons are no longer manufactured worldwide, and instead the raised roof is used for both the Legacy wagon and Legacy Outback (Lancaster in Japan).

In 2001 the EZ30, a newly designed 3.0 L H6 was offered in the Outbacks.

The Legacy is the only vehicle in this class that provides AWD as standard equipment.

Car of the Day:August 20, 2012

Today's car of the day is Carisma's 1996 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V-Limited Coupe.

The Subaru Impreza is a compact automobile, manufactured since 1992 by Subaru, the automobile division of Japanese transportation conglomerate, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). Subaru introduced the Impreza as a replacement for the Leone / Loyale. Now in its fourth generation, Subaru has offered four-door sedan and five-door hatchback body variants since 1992; the firm also offered a coupe from 1995 for the first generation only. Mainstream versions have received naturally aspirated "boxer" flat-four engines ranging from 1.5- to 2.5-liters, with the performance-oriented Impreza WRX and WRX STI models uprated with the addition of turbochargers.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Impreza

The name is almost as impressive as the diecast. Subaru Impreza WRX STI V-Limited Coupe. This true 1/64 scale model features a metal base, simulated rubber tires, two-tone interior, and plastic lenses for the headlights and tail lights. The blue paint and blue seat inserts indicate this model represents the V-Limited edition of the Impreza WRX STI. Carisma was a small Japanese diecast company, which only produced two models (this Impreza and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution sedan). Both models have excellent detailing and build quality. Carisma later became the brand Auto Rozza (unknown if just a name change, or a change of ownership), and a newer generation Impreza was produced under the new name, before Auto Rozza also disappeared from small-scale.

Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) versions and as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. In late 1995, a two-door coupe was introduced. In 1994, Subaru introduced Subaru Tecnica International (STI) versions of the Impreza WRX in Japan. These models were upgraded from the standard WRX in many categories, including blueprinted performance-tuned engines, transmissions, and suspensions. The STI versions of the Impreza were immensely successful in rallies and popular among street racers but were only sold in the Japanese market. Compared to the WRX, the STI had mostly mechanical modifications.

The 1996 model year WRX debuted in January 1996. The WRX design received minimal mechanical changes, but a WRX V-Limited Edition was introduced to celebrate the success of the Impreza WRC car in the FIA WRC. The V-limited cars are painted in World Rally Blue. A WRX STI V-limited edition was also produced. The interior is colored blue on the seat inserts and carpeting. 1,000 WRX STI Version 2 V-limited were produced.

SUV Of The Day: June 20, 2012

Today's car of the day comes from Dean-O-mite's collection and is Konami's 2004 Subaru Forester XT.

The Subaru Forester is a crossover manufactured since 1997 by Fuji Heavy Industries and sold under the Subaru brand. Available in Japan from 1997, the Forester shares its platform with the Impreza. It was introduced in 1997 as a compact crossover SUV. After ten years of production, it grew to a mid-size crossover SUV.

The second generation was introduced in 2003, based on the new Impreza platform, featuring several fine-tune improvements over the past model. The 2003 Forester features weight-saving refinements such as an aluminum hood, perforated rails, and a hydro-formed front sub-frame. The most noticeable change was the offering of 2.5 L versions (normally aspirated and turbocharged) and in the U.S. the introduction of the turbo charged 2.5L model.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Subaru Forester

This is the only casting of the Forester in small-scale (it also comes painted in metallic burgundy). It was offered by Konami in a short-lived series called "J Owners Collection," which were intended as toys for kids instead of the collector pieces Konami is more traditionally known for here. The Forester is about 1/60 scale, instead of the smaller, true 1/64 of the collector/trading series, and of course, the opening doors and bouncy suspension are fun even for an adult, and were never offered on the higher-end models.

In the U.S., in 2003, a turbocharged Forester, the XT, was released alongside the naturally aspirated X and XS in the United States as a 2004 model. However, the same model had been available since the late 1990s elsewhere in the world. The X and XS models feature a 2.5 L SOHC engine, while the XT model features a 2.5 L turbocharged DOHC engine. Both engines have timing belt driven camshafts. The XT model uses the same Mitsubishi TD04 turbocharger used in the Subaru Impreza WRX. The engine in the 2004 to 2005 Forester XT is the EJ255. Those seeking additional power for their Forester XT can replace the turbocharger and intercooler with used STI components which are readily available. All Forester 2.5 L engines are of the interference engine type.

MY03-04 Models has a 4-Star ANCAP safety rating MY05 Forester Model had a mid-life update. The update increased its ANCAP safety rating to 5 Stars.

In 2006, the turbocharged engine (powering the Forester XT) was awarded International Engine of the Year. This engine is also used in the Subaru Impreza WRX, as well as the re-badged Saab 9-2X.