Yahoo Autos Why Buy a Jeep When You Can Take a Subaru Legacy to Moab?
There's a misconception throughout the automotive community that you need a very particular type of vehicle to do certain jobs. Track day? You need a dedicated track car. Hauling lumber? Better pick up a truck, pal. Heading to Moab? Start pricing out Jeeps.
It's balderdash. And this enterprising Subaru Legacy owner proves it.
Christopher Sven's videos of his trip to Moab have been posted to his YouTube channel for months, but they were just recently discovered by an OppositeLock user and brought to our attention. You have to admire the incongruity of it: A plain blue family sedan, like the ones you'll find in every airport parking garage in America, clawing its way through the most legendary off-road trails in America. It's perfect.
In the comments on his YouTube videos, Sven explains the extent of the mods to his 2011 Legacy 3.6R, a car that was considered a sporty, comfy alternative to the Camry and Accord when it debuted. To take this thing off-road, Sven added a 2.5-inch lift kit and 225/65R17 all-terrain tires. He took a 4.5-inch-high horizontal section out of the front bumper, gluing it back together to give 17 inches of clearance from the ground to the bumper's lower lip. A custom front skid plate spans the gap between the bumper and a set of Primitive Racing skid plates protecting the oil pan and front differential. The drivetrain-a 256-hp 3.6-liter flat-six spinning a five-speed automatic and permanent all-wheel drive-is stock. In Sven's capable hands (watch that video; the guy can pick a clean, smooth line through almost any terrain) it does things you'd never expect a family sedan to survive.
Apparently, hardcore Jeepers laugh when they see it out on the trail. That is, until they see what it's capable of.
We're big fans of the idea that you can do almost any automotive hobby with whatever car you currently own. Don't wait until the stars align and you can buy a dedicated play vehicle. Make some smart purchases, learn your limits (and your car's), and get out there.
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