Seriously thinking of trading my 530D for a Subaru Outback ?
Discussion
Yeah IDK guys… advice, opinions, thoughts welcome.
Bought my 530D G31 approved-used from BMW in Jan 2023 at 32k miles. Loved it then, still do now. Back then I was doing daily A-road commutes and weekend runs to the national parks. I live fully rural - ten minutes of lanes before I even hit an A-road.
A year later, I switched to a full-time WFH role. Now the car mostly does a 15-min weekday teen drop-off, a weekly hour round trip to a walking spot, and the odd national park run. It’s been BMW-serviced only, under extended warranty, and wanted for nothing. For context it's now on 58k.
So lately I’ve been thinking: it’s too much car for the life I live now. I love driving it, love sitting in it, but it feels like a thoroughbred stuck in farm traffic.
Outback Pros:
More rugged, better fit for rural lanes
AWD - great locally
Feels easier to throw bikes/gear in the back without caring
Petrol (and slower - that’s a plus, trust me)
Japanese reliability - though g31 has not given any trouble.
Higher spec: sunroof, adaptive cruise, CarPlay
Similar servicing costs
Outback Cons:
– Neighbours might think I’ve fallen on hard times
– Less refined, less prestige
– CVT box
530D Pros:
Drives beautifully
Looks great, feels great
Silky performance, quiet, refined
Neighbours think I’m "doing well”
530D Cons:
– Feels oversized and overpolished for my use
– Feels wasted on country lanes
– Always worried about scuffing or dirtying it
Where are the Outback owners at? What’s the real-world ownership like? Anyone here gone from something more luxurious - how big was the adjustment?
For context, I once grabbed a £1,000 RAV4 as a stopgap - total shed, but I had an absolute blast ragging it around the lanes and not caring about dings or mud. Felt liberating. Isn’t that what motoring’s supposed to be?
Bought my 530D G31 approved-used from BMW in Jan 2023 at 32k miles. Loved it then, still do now. Back then I was doing daily A-road commutes and weekend runs to the national parks. I live fully rural - ten minutes of lanes before I even hit an A-road.
A year later, I switched to a full-time WFH role. Now the car mostly does a 15-min weekday teen drop-off, a weekly hour round trip to a walking spot, and the odd national park run. It’s been BMW-serviced only, under extended warranty, and wanted for nothing. For context it's now on 58k.
So lately I’ve been thinking: it’s too much car for the life I live now. I love driving it, love sitting in it, but it feels like a thoroughbred stuck in farm traffic.
Outback Pros:
More rugged, better fit for rural lanes
AWD - great locally
Feels easier to throw bikes/gear in the back without caring
Petrol (and slower - that’s a plus, trust me)
Japanese reliability - though g31 has not given any trouble.
Higher spec: sunroof, adaptive cruise, CarPlay
Similar servicing costs
Outback Cons:
– Neighbours might think I’ve fallen on hard times
– Less refined, less prestige
– CVT box
530D Pros:
Drives beautifully
Looks great, feels great
Silky performance, quiet, refined
Neighbours think I’m "doing well”
530D Cons:
– Feels oversized and overpolished for my use
– Feels wasted on country lanes
– Always worried about scuffing or dirtying it
Where are the Outback owners at? What’s the real-world ownership like? Anyone here gone from something more luxurious - how big was the adjustment?
For context, I once grabbed a £1,000 RAV4 as a stopgap - total shed, but I had an absolute blast ragging it around the lanes and not caring about dings or mud. Felt liberating. Isn’t that what motoring’s supposed to be?
Outback driver checking in 
In very similar circumstances to you I "traded down" from a Mercedes C43 to my outback.
- I needed more space - the C class was a reverse tardis and the rear legroom an absolute joke.
- I'm now rural and the ride in the Mercedes was bone shattering at times. Any hint of ice and it turned into bambi.
- The arrival of a second large dog meant more boot space and more mud.
Having had a Subaru legacy in the past the outback seemed an obvious choice. The standard kit is great - keyless, adaptive cruise, electric memory seats, carplay. The AWD has taken me places it has no right to go with X mode engaged.
I added roof bars/box and the travall dog cages and it's given us many a good trip away fully loaded.
I've even got a double mattress for it which has meant car camping with my young daughter - great fun! Check out the many YouTube clips - it's a bit off a thing in the US and Australia.
Performance is meh, but it's not what the outback has been designed around. It's not wanting by any stretch, and I quite like the CVT.
It returns 40mpg on a long trip, 30 everywhere else which suits me fine. Thinks it's my first car to get over 30
Edited to add: I'm of the age now where I don't give a s
t what neighbours or friends think. The outback is understatedly 
from my perspective and that's all that matters. If a generic white audi is what floats their boat, then good for them - there's plenty of them about to choose from
In very similar circumstances to you I "traded down" from a Mercedes C43 to my outback.
- I needed more space - the C class was a reverse tardis and the rear legroom an absolute joke.
- I'm now rural and the ride in the Mercedes was bone shattering at times. Any hint of ice and it turned into bambi.
- The arrival of a second large dog meant more boot space and more mud.
Having had a Subaru legacy in the past the outback seemed an obvious choice. The standard kit is great - keyless, adaptive cruise, electric memory seats, carplay. The AWD has taken me places it has no right to go with X mode engaged.
I added roof bars/box and the travall dog cages and it's given us many a good trip away fully loaded.
I've even got a double mattress for it which has meant car camping with my young daughter - great fun! Check out the many YouTube clips - it's a bit off a thing in the US and Australia.
Performance is meh, but it's not what the outback has been designed around. It's not wanting by any stretch, and I quite like the CVT.
It returns 40mpg on a long trip, 30 everywhere else which suits me fine. Thinks it's my first car to get over 30
Edited to add: I'm of the age now where I don't give a s
t what neighbours or friends think. The outback is understatedly from my perspective and that's all that matters. If a generic white audi is what floats their boat, then good for them - there's plenty of them about to choose fromEdited by Sargeant Orange on Friday 10th October 00:28
Incredible that what the neighbours think still has influence on decision making. Possibly move somewhere with no neighbours?
You've had a change of requirement. Buy the car that best meets your needs.
The 530D is a great family saloon but the Subaru seems better suited as a form of transport for you and you seem to know it.
You enjoyed the stter Rav 4. Why not just get another and keep the BMW as well. Once you realise you don't use the BMW any more, you can sell it and start enjoying life on your terms, not what the neighbours expect of you.
You've had a change of requirement. Buy the car that best meets your needs.
The 530D is a great family saloon but the Subaru seems better suited as a form of transport for you and you seem to know it.
You enjoyed the s
tter Rav 4. Why not just get another and keep the BMW as well. Once you realise you don't use the BMW any more, you can sell it and start enjoying life on your terms, not what the neighbours expect of you. Edited by Pistom on Friday 10th October 03:27
Keep what you got and get some winter tyres on all year (this is what I do on my 318d Touring), keep it messy and rugged, but keep the oily stuff happy it will be go forever until the subframe rusts out.
My 3 series on winter tyres is absolutely superb when the weather is wet and even better in the icy and snow rurally, makes other drivers take a double take.
Who gives a fig what the neighbors think, my BMW runs its winter tyres on steel wheels all year round, my neighbors must think I cant afford an M sport one with big fancy wheels....
Shedding is the way forward for complete care free motoring, as you've already alluded too.
My 3 series on winter tyres is absolutely superb when the weather is wet and even better in the icy and snow rurally, makes other drivers take a double take.
Who gives a fig what the neighbors think, my BMW runs its winter tyres on steel wheels all year round, my neighbors must think I cant afford an M sport one with big fancy wheels....
Shedding is the way forward for complete care free motoring, as you've already alluded too.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Friday 10th October 08:36
Keep the 530 OP, you'll 100% regret selling it.
I swapped an F90 M5 for an FL5 CTR thinking it would be more fun to drive - it was, but the step down in quality and ambience was massive and I have to admit it was a mistake. Forget change in circumstances - you've got a great car and as someone says above, use it, get it dirty and don't worry about it!
I swapped an F90 M5 for an FL5 CTR thinking it would be more fun to drive - it was, but the step down in quality and ambience was massive and I have to admit it was a mistake. Forget change in circumstances - you've got a great car and as someone says above, use it, get it dirty and don't worry about it!
Agree with Troika here, the Outback whispers generational wealth far more than a run of the mill BMW ever will. Don't let your perception of your neighbours' perception put you off making a switch.
If I were your neighbour I'd give a subtle nod each time I walked past, whereas a 5 series doesn't get a second glance.
If I were your neighbour I'd give a subtle nod each time I walked past, whereas a 5 series doesn't get a second glance.
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