I am considering purchasing a 2000 or newer Legacy or outback and was surprised when I took an outback for a drive, that it was geared lower than my 2.5 RS Impreza. I wouldn't have thought that they did this to make it accelerate well since it isn't designed for that. Does anyone know why this is and whether gearing is the same on the regular 2.5 Legacy? As a family vehicle, I would like the size, but I would be doing a lot of highway driving and don't want to be revving at 3500+ rpm at 120km/h because of fuel economy, and I find it irritating a bit.
Thanks.

 

you sure it wasn't in low? that seems high on the revs for that sort of speed

 

It was in fifth gear. I'm being approximate on the revs. My Impreza revs at 3100rpm or so at 120km/h in 5th. The outback was nearer to 3500rpm.

 

Bump

 

Does nobody know? I hope I don't have to take a trip to the dealership to take a test drive in both models. I'd be wasting their time and I'd be very attracted to the new Impreza hatch and would probably take one of those for a spin. That would mean trouble. Frig I like those.

If anyone knows if both the legacy and outback have the same top gear ratio, I just need to know before I start seriously looking.