Subaru Outback, what to look for?

[MrOrange]

Wow. I’m rather impressed with the beastie. Picked it up this morning and blatted back over the Derbyshire dales. Goes okay in Sport mode, stops fine. It had a little shimmy but checked the tyre pressures and they were 5 psi too low, now it’s sorted and it’s fine.

55 plate, 3.0 Rn model. 104k Miles, serviced every year, minty as a minty thing, everything works apart from the touchscreen which is recalcitrant but works ok. Sat Nav is dated but works ok. It had a cared-for life, aside from the wheels which need a refurb and rather worn mats (eBay?). No marks on the body apart from 3 small stone chips. Interior is like new, stereo is good.

I can’t believe what £2k buys, esp as it’s parked up next to my i8! It’s epic. I can see the start of a long-term relationship. Even the wifey likes it.

[Bansheemax]

Don't forget to pop over here.

Uklegacy.com

[steveonts]

Very nice.

Ive had my 3.0rn for a couple of months now, love it. Got back from a 2000 road trip around ireland without a single problem. It loved the country roads over there.

[Sa Calobra]

MrOrange said:

Wow. I’m rather impressed with the beastie. Picked it up this morning and blatted back over the Derbyshire dales. Goes okay in Sport mode, stops fine. It had a little shimmy but checked the tyre pressures and they were 5 psi too low, now it’s sorted and it’s fine.

55 plate, 3.0 Rn model. 104k Miles, serviced every year, minty as a minty thing, everything works apart from the touchscreen which is recalcitrant but works ok. Sat Nav is dated but works ok. It had a cared-for life, aside from the wheels which need a refurb and rather worn mats (eBay?). No marks on the body apart from 3 small stone chips. Interior is like new, stereo is good.

I can’t believe what £2k buys, esp as it’s parked up next to my i8! It’s epic. I can see the start of a long-term relationship. Even the wifey likes it.

^ Just outside Hudds?

[MrOrange]

Sa Calobra said:

^ Just outside Hudds?

Good spot. Top of Holme Moss - or Col de Moss as the lycra brigade use.

[Sa Calobra]

Weirdly you can recognise Huddersfield hills. Must be that homing instinct.

If you see a red Forester on a private plate beep me!

[P9DH]

Mine is a 54 plate 3.0r, 107k miles and has just sailed straight thru it's MOT again. Owned quite a few different cars over the years but never had one that keeps doing this year after year quite as confidently as the Scooby.

[ericmcn]

loskie said:

Mystery? Not really, people want claimed low mpg and tax, nowt mysterious about that. And many of those people are gullible enough to believe the mpg figures.

Edited by loskie on Sunday 9th September 10:42

whats mysterious is how the derv owners kicking up a fuss wanting money back from less than sterllar purchases and owning cars that may probaby have cost them more to run than they bargained for - all for saving a few hundred quid a year on VED, economy figures on dervs is at best optimistic too, much better than a 3 litre Subaru but Its a sad day for motoring when someone swaps an engaging and spirited subaru with a flat 6 for some gutless derv to save a few bob

[ericmcn]

S100HP said:

Rust?

no rust on mine and its 2008, so yeah cockroaches and Subarus sounds about right

[ericmcn]

MrB. said:

Slight thread hijack, but along the same lines as the OP. I'm looking to replace my Saab 9-5 Aero saloon with an estate, but as it will also probably take on the main family car role from our Jeep Grand Cherokee, I too am considering an Outback. I've always liked the look of them, and as silly as it may sound, I sort of think of them as a 4-wheeled Barbour jacket. They just seem to suit every job you could ever need a car to do.

My budget will be at the lower end of the scale, so circa £3k. This appears to get me a pre-tax increase 3.0R, a lower mileage 2.5 or a slightly later diesel model. It won't do a massive mileage with me, and I've never been a diesel fan, but the '08 diesels I see seem to be nicely specced, I hear the economy is good from them, and it would be nice to have a newer car of course. Is a 2.5 petrol a very poor relation to the 3.0R? Any issues to be really aware of with 2005-2008 models? I know I've been spoilt with the 9-5 Aero for both power and spec, but I know the Outback won't be the same type of car so it maybe not fair to garner comparison. I keep looking at 3.0R's that have done 100k and all I hear is MrsB. telling me that its too high a mileage, even though we al know that when the Apocalypse comes, all that will be left on the Earth are cockroaches and Subarus........

2 things, dont buy a diesel Subaru

and secondly, 100k miles is not alot on a Petrol Subaru, the 3.0 Engines are amongst the most reliable you can get - just make sure they have had regular servicing. My car is on 105k and runs like new, Subarus are extremely well put together and once they are looked after they may well outlive the owner.

[ericmcn]

MrOrange said:

Wow. I’m rather impressed with the beastie. Picked it up this morning and blatted back over the Derbyshire dales. Goes okay in Sport mode, stops fine. It had a little shimmy but checked the tyre pressures and they were 5 psi too low, now it’s sorted and it’s fine.

55 plate, 3.0 Rn model. 104k Miles, serviced every year, minty as a minty thing, everything works apart from the touchscreen which is recalcitrant but works ok. Sat Nav is dated but works ok. It had a cared-for life, aside from the wheels which need a refurb and rather worn mats (eBay?). No marks on the body apart from 3 small stone chips. Interior is like new, stereo is good.

I can’t believe what £2k buys, esp as it’s parked up next to my i8! It’s epic. I can see the start of a long-term relationship. Even the wifey likes it.

congrats, thats one hell of a motor for £2k.

[MrOrange]

ericmcn said:

congrats, thats one hell of a motor for £2k.

I was out in it today, picking DD (copyright Mumsnet) and it hacks down the motorway like a lovely thing, rides smoothly, sensible level of shove, nice and airy inside with am many modcons as you’d reasonably need. A very pleasant hour or two. I can see me keeping the beastie for a long time.

My “other” car is a BMW i8, btw.

[markiii]

they are an absolute bargain

[ericmcn]

MrOrange said:

I was out in it today, picking DD (copyright Mumsnet) and it hacks down the motorway like a lovely thing, rides smoothly, sensible level of shove, nice and airy inside with am many modcons as you’d reasonably need. A very pleasant hour or two. I can see me keeping the beastie for a long time.

My “other” car is a BMW i8, btw.

must be some sight next to an i8 ...;)