When we were first married…
When we were first married we owned a 1999 Impreza Sport 5 speed. It was a great car and lots of fun to drive. The family grew quickly and 2 car seats didn't quite fit in the back. The answer is of course the 2003 Subaru Legacy SE wagon 5 speed. I loved this car. The room was perfect. It was fun to drive and my wife and I loved it. By the time our second child was in 2nd grade she developed a medical condition that required surgery. We spent a lot of time in and out of doctors offices and test centers. Everything was exhausting but the prognosis was good. We scheduled the surgery several weeks out and waited for the day. The week before surgery there were mumblings of the snow storm of the year. No big deal. A couple inches won't stop us. Then the reports started saying a foot of snow. Then 2 feet or more. Now we were concerned. We did not want to reschedule since the specialist was booked out for some time. My wife suggested we stay over at a hotel the night before closer to the hospital. We confirmed the doctor. She said if we are crazy enough to get there she would meet us. There we were at the hotel the night of the massive snow storm and the day before surgery. At 9.30 pm the sheets of snow started hitting the walls. At 3 am I heard the thumping of snow plows as they pushed the snow into mounds. We got at 6 and went down to a lobby full of guests trying to figure out their travel plans. The snow was indeed 2 ft. I waded out to our Legacy and started shoveling with the help of hotel staff. We dug out enough and I backed over the rest. We loaded up and headed out waving goodbye to the hotel staff and grateful for their help. The Legacy drove out without an issue. I gave it gas and cut the wheel to guage the road conditions. The roads were a mess. There were DOT plows marooned on snow banks unable to move. No car were out. It was us and snow plows. We drove on. We were going down the street when we noticed a snow mound made at 2 crossing streets. It was just over the hood. My wife grabbed my hand and say do you see that?! Yes. I gave it gas so we would not get stuck on it. Poof! We hit the mound and it was a white out quiet muffled moment. Then the wipers caught up and we rolled along. We arrived at the hospital with time to spare. We had the whole place to ourselves. That was the best care ever. We had 4 medical staff with us the whole time. Surgery came and everything went well. My wife stayed overnight at the hospital and I drove to my brother's house to meet up with the other kids. No drama. The Legacy just drove. We finally sold it at 175,000 miles to my nephew. He drove it for another year or two and sold it to one of his friends. I occasionally see a 2003 Legacy wagon go by and I fondly remember our travels in it. We now own a 2018 Impreza base model and the now much older kids love driving it. We are looking to add another Subaru in the Spring when kids return from college and need transportation. Hmmm... Crosstrek or Forester?