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The styling was somewhere north of vanilla. I had no problems with that. The car was an easy driver. The women loved it. That made the 2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Limited sedan all right with me.

There also was the matter of the left hand — swollen and painful from whatever it was that bit me on a recent trip to New Orleans. The doctors said the bite caused cellulitis. They gave me antibiotics. The medicine worked. The hand was healing. But some pain lingered. I had several long drives ahead of me. I needed a car easily controlled with one hand on the steering wheel. The mid-size Legacy 3.0 R Limited sedan, the top car in the six-member Legacy line, filled the bill nicely.

My longtime friend Michelle Dawson, a real estate agent and Jaguar queen, agreed. She volunteered to drive a bit to give my left hand “a rest.”

“Wow!” Michelle exclaimed after a few miles behind the wheel. “Great car! It really does handle easily. It’s so smooth! Let’s take it on the highway.”

Dangerous words.

Michelle loves driving — fast. I reminded her that Virginia had just implemented a new series of draconian speeding fines. “Let’s go back to your office,” I said.

We did. There we met Cindy Beline, also a longtime friend and real estate agent, a feisty woman who favors all things BMW.

I’ve long been fascinated by the way women joust with one another, especially when one thinks the other is usurping turf.

“How’s Mary Anne?” Cindy asked pointedly. She smiled at me and glanced at Michelle, who answered before I could open my mouth.

“Mary Anne’s in New York,” Michelle said with authority. “It’s a funny story. Warren will tell you . . .”

Cindy listened.

An underground steam pipe had exploded in midtown Manhattan a few days earlier. The blast made the national news and drove my wife, Mary Anne, nuts. We have two daughters living and working in New York. One has an office near the blast, which killed one person and injured 20 others.

NUTS & BOLTS

2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Limited

Complaints: There is no convertible in the Subaru Legacy line. Only sedans. There are six of those: 2.5i, 2.5i Special Edition, 2.5i Limited, 2.5 GT Limited, 2.5 GT spec. B, and the tested 3.0 R Limited. Also, the rear bench seats can be uncomfortable for tall/large people.

Drive, acceleration and handling: The Legacy 3.0 R limited won’t please hardcore driving enthusiasts, the people who view every road as a race track. But its easy handling and adustable ride, firm for those who want sportiness without the expense, or the cramped cabin of a sports coupe; soft for those who just want to cruise, will please most drivers. Acceleration is excellent.

Head-turning quotient: Neither memorable nor forgettable, neither stunning nor offensive, it’s ordinary done well.

Body style/layout: The 2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Limited is front-engine, all-wheel-drive, entry-level luxury, midsize family sedan that competes with the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, and Toyota Camry — a brutal rivalry that will intensify with the introduction of the coming, completely reworked Chevrolet Malibu.

Engine/transmission: The 3.0 R Limited comes with a 3-liter, horizontally opposed (boxer or flat), 24-valve, six-cylinder engine with a maximum 245 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually. Most 2.5 versions of the Legacy sedan get a 2.5-liter flat-four with a maximum 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission is available with that engine. The 2.5 GT models get a turbocharged flat-four with a maximum 243 horsepower and 241 pound-feet of torque. The engine can be linked to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

Capacities: There is seating for five people. Luggage capacity is a smallish (for a midsize sedan) 11.4 cubic feet. The Legacy sedan can be equipped to tow 2,700 pounds. The fuel tank holds 16.9 gallons of recommended premium unleaded gasoline.

Mileage: Disappointing. I barely got 23 miles per gallon in highway driving. I got substantially less in the city.

Safety: Standard equipment includes electronic traction and stability control, four-wheel antilock brakes, side and head air bags, all-wheel-drive.

Price: The base price on the 2008 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Limited is $31,295. Dealer’s invoice price is $29,167. The 3.0 R Limited comes fully loaded with premium leather seats, premium sound system with MP3 playback capability, power sunroof, and navigation. Add a $675 transportation charge. Price as tested is $31,940. Dealer’s price as tested is $29,812.

Purse-strings note: An excellent midsize sedan that seems to be a good value. The caveat is fuel economy and the recommended use of premium unleaded gasoline. The four-cylinder models are more fuel-efficient and offer a good deal. But beware of options costs in the four-cylinder group.