Subaru Outback - Any Thoughts?

[jdwoodbury]

Hi All,

Just lloking at a Subaru Outback (H6 3.0) as a 2nd car, any experiences on here of these? Just need a decent sized and reliable family bus, $x4 is a must due to use on farm tracks. Not many other cars I can think of without going to a full blown 4x4 and my wife does not really need that.

JD

[ChasMill]

Ran the 2.5 version for three years. Great car, well made, roomy and well equipped. The main thing letting it down (and more the case in the version you are looking at) is fuel economy. I never managed to get more than 30 miles a gallon, even on long runs. I did the alps twice and the south of France twice and it coped with five up and loads of luggage with no problems at all. Great cars.

[sawman]

pretty much anything else from subaru would fit the bill too, Consider forester or tribeca.

Rav4's are pretty useful, but the newest ones are not full time AWD. If you are not a badge snob there is always the Hyundai Santa Fe

[Codswallop]

Don't know much about the Outback (other than the fact that James May liked it when he tested it), but some extra cars to consider;

Skoda Octavia Scout
Volvo XC70
Audi Allroad

[jdwoodbury]

Codswallop said:

Don't know much about the Outback (other than the fact that James May liked it when he tested it), but some extra cars to consider;

Skoda Octavia Scout
Volvo XC70
Audi Allroad

Both the Volvo and Audi are getting really leggy at the budget I am looking at...and thin on the ground

[sawman]

jdwoodbury said:

Both the Volvo and Audi are getting really leggy at the budget I am looking at...and thin on the ground

what is your budget?

[jdwoodbury]

About 6k

[sawman]

I can let you have a forester for about half that! (02, 87k) in fact for 6K I could throw in a jeep as well

You seem to be able to get about the same for your money, in either outback or forester, You wont get a tribeca for that.

you would be looking at a similar or slightly older rav4

[anonymous-user]

Mazda 6 2.3 4x4 Sport Estate would be well within budget.

[GravelBen]

Great cars, and much more capable in the rough stuff than the alternatives (Forester excluded) mentioned. Much nicer interior, comfort etc than Foresters though.

[jdwoodbury]

Actually I found the Forester a little small inside especially the boot so does not work for us, I have a pick of cars of this price but just wanted a view if they were any good.

[RichTBiscuit]

Great Car.

I have a Legacy 3.0 Saloon. The only downside is you will struggle to get over 23mpg average.

Around town i get about 19. On a Motorway run about 30.