RE: Subaru Outback 3.0R | Shed of the Week
Discussion
Had a friend with one and drove it a bit. Egregiously thirsty, slow with sleepy brakes and lots of Japanese plastic. Smelt bad. Much to not like. It eventually fell to bits and he replaced it with a SAAB 95 estate which was only a slight improvement.
He moved back to NZ and replaced it with.....a newer 3.0R
He moved back to NZ and replaced it with.....a newer 3.0R
Edited by AlasdairB10 on Friday 24th March 13:53
Snow and Rocks said:
If Subaru UK still brought in the decent engines I'd be quite tempted by the current version. Looks great and would suit us quite nicely.
Ditto. I'm not too sure why Subaru bother persisting with the 2.5 NA engine in the Outback when the new 2.4T gives much better performance, is barely less economical (if at all). and they're already churning out hundreds of thousands of them. But persist they do, and for whatever reason that's the only one we can get in the UK. I got my XC70 because it was the closest thing I could get to a more modern version of my 2004 3.0 Outback that had half-decent performance. When it comes to replacing the XC70 in a few years I really don't know what I'll do if - as seems likely - the 2.4T Outback still isn't available here. I may well just give up on performance altogether and get a Land Cruiser! I cannot imagine a single circumstance and think this was a viable solution. I'd rather walk anywhere. It's not fun to drive, it's not terribly practical, it's expensive to run, it's not wafty or well equipped, not a nice place to sit without a high-grade hazmat suit. I'd rather have an actual shed.
I think this is one of those cars that suits a very defined set of ownership circumstances and demographic. Live in the country and need 4 x 4 but don't want a Range Rover type vehicle and prefer something which feels and drives like a car and has a petrol engine, then fill your boats. For the rest who live in towns or want a traditional off road type vehicle, then walk the other way. My experience with Subaru has sadly been tarnished by a very costly and disastrous brief fling with a Mk1 Impreza Turbo some years ago. I can't say I would want another one, ever!
sledge68 said:
People who consider an Outback wont look at a 530d, they want something for all weathers and low maintenance, not traffic light grand prix car.And the BMW is 2wd not permanently AWD.
A fellow Legacy twinscroll owner came from a 530D, as the BMW didn't deliver the MPG quoted, was 300kilos heavier, angel eyes kept failing etc etc.
I think it's a fair point. An E39 530i Touring of the same era is heavier, also has an n/a 3.0 six with nominally 13 hp less, and yet is about a second and a half quicker to 60, and 10 mph faster at the top end. As well as going at least 20% further on a gallon. Where do these manage to squander all their energy, is it all transmission losses?
Who's talking about the 530D?A fellow Legacy twinscroll owner came from a 530D, as the BMW didn't deliver the MPG quoted, was 300kilos heavier, angel eyes kept failing etc etc.
Lowtimer said:
I think it's a fair point. An E39 530i Touring of the same era is heavier, also has an n/a 3.0 six with nominally 13 hp less, and yet is about a second and a half quicker to 60, and 10 mph faster at the top end. As well as going at least 20% further on a gallon. Where do these manage to squander all their energy, is it all transmission losses?
530i, I said.
I've had a couple of Subarus over the year and they've been a great blend of functionality and cool as f
k quirkiness and I currently have a Forester hybrid as my errand, hounds, and field car. But Subarus are expensive to buy and expensive to run which works if you've got money to spare. I don't think it works as a shed at all.
k quirkiness and I currently have a Forester hybrid as my errand, hounds, and field car. But Subarus are expensive to buy and expensive to run which works if you've got money to spare. I don't think it works as a shed at all.PHZero said:
B'stard Child said:
Master Bean said:
I don't think I'm old enough to buy this.
I don't think I'm rich enough to fuel itSmitters said:
I cannot imagine a single circumstance and think this was a viable solution. I'd rather walk anywhere. It's not fun to drive, it's not terribly practical, it's expensive to run, it's not wafty or well equipped, not a nice place to sit without a high-grade hazmat suit. I'd rather have an actual shed.
Full House on SOTW Cliche Bingo there! Take anything from the top shelf.
Snow and Rocks said:
That's a couple of posts now that have suggested these handle badly - it's been a while since I drove one but I found exactly the opposite.
Compared to leaden nose heavy, crashy riding German cars the Outback felt great, almost like a more surefooted version of a 90s Peugeot with nice steering, good body control and with a lovely supple ride. Certainly a much better chassis than it's main rival, the XC70.
Have to agree. It's a bit soft, but the chassis and transmission are fundamentally sound. One time, out in my Mum's 2.5 Outback, I found a quiet road and a clear roundabout and thought I'd be a bit silly, so forced its auto into second, carried speed into the roundabout and, as it started to understeer, tried giving it a boot-full. Pleasingly it hooked up and slung me out in a very neutral fashion. Far superior to the handling effects of many a haldex system.Compared to leaden nose heavy, crashy riding German cars the Outback felt great, almost like a more surefooted version of a 90s Peugeot with nice steering, good body control and with a lovely supple ride. Certainly a much better chassis than it's main rival, the XC70.
I image the stuffer Legacy Spec-B with a manual box would be quite rewarding to hustle along.
Had the previous model H6 Outback, brilliant car.
Would have replaced that with this shape but a SG9 Forester 2.5XT cropped up with stupid low mileage.
These are reliable cars, what they lose in acceleration they make up for in gripping just as well in the wet as they do in the dry, if you lose control of one of these you've done something really silly, Forester is more nimble, Outback is more comfortable and quiet, boot space is good on both cos proper shaped estate cars.
They need looking after like anything, but service them properly they don't give any trouble.
Had both of ours converted to LPG, which means small hatchback running costs.
Would have replaced that with this shape but a SG9 Forester 2.5XT cropped up with stupid low mileage.
These are reliable cars, what they lose in acceleration they make up for in gripping just as well in the wet as they do in the dry, if you lose control of one of these you've done something really silly, Forester is more nimble, Outback is more comfortable and quiet, boot space is good on both cos proper shaped estate cars.
They need looking after like anything, but service them properly they don't give any trouble.
Had both of ours converted to LPG, which means small hatchback running costs.
thegreenhell said:
I think they also get a 3.6 litre version of the flat-6, which some Americans have started to swap into old GC8 Imprezas.
Also sold here in the triberca and gen3 outback but super rare. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301193...
Edited by sam.rog on Friday 24th March 19:18
thegreenhell said:
sledge68 said:
The car of choice in north america and canada, so much so Subaru has a plant there.
I think they also get a 3.6 litre version of the flat-6, which some Americans have started to swap into old GC8 Imprezas.Edit: I see Samrog got there before me! But while I'm back, I'm pretty sure Jeremy Clarkson said (back in the day) that this was as close to the perfect car as you could get, and that it was one of the rare cars that all three of Clarkson, May and Hammond could agree was worth buying. Which must count for something.
Edited by Roger Irrelevant on Friday 24th March 19:15
I’ll just add to those that have already mentioned how owning and running a Subaru is a somewhat satisfying thing. Not quite sure how to explain but they do get under your skin as just kinda dependable and yet more fun than the numbers suggest. The engineering, at least for this Gen Outback/Liberty, is clearly more than skin deep, and the interiors are built to last.
I’ve had six so far, and for those that suggest a Volvo instead, I went from Subaru to Volvo and back to Subaru. Wouldn’t go near another Volvo.
The UK has a different view of Subaru - whereas elsewhere there are literally everywhere and not at all niche.
And I think the new Outback comes w the 2.4T, at least over here
Generally, dont expect great fuel economy but do expect it to last, be reliable and be better to own and drive than the numbers suggest. Just IME, obvs.
I’ve had six so far, and for those that suggest a Volvo instead, I went from Subaru to Volvo and back to Subaru. Wouldn’t go near another Volvo.
The UK has a different view of Subaru - whereas elsewhere there are literally everywhere and not at all niche.
And I think the new Outback comes w the 2.4T, at least over here
Generally, dont expect great fuel economy but do expect it to last, be reliable and be better to own and drive than the numbers suggest. Just IME, obvs.
PomBstard said:
I’ll just add to those that have already mentioned how owning and running a Subaru is a somewhat satisfying thing. Not quite sure how to explain but they do get under your skin as just kinda dependable and yet more fun than the numbers suggest. The engineering, at least for this Gen Outback/Liberty, is clearly more than skin deep, and the interiors are built to last.
I’ve had six so far, and for those that suggest a Volvo instead, I went from Subaru to Volvo and back to Subaru. Wouldn’t go near another Volvo.
The UK has a different view of Subaru - whereas elsewhere there are literally everywhere and not at all niche.
And I think the new Outback comes w the 2.4T, at least over here
Generally, dont expect great fuel economy but do expect it to last, be reliable and be better to own and drive than the numbers suggest. Just IME, obvs.
^^^ thisI’ve had six so far, and for those that suggest a Volvo instead, I went from Subaru to Volvo and back to Subaru. Wouldn’t go near another Volvo.
The UK has a different view of Subaru - whereas elsewhere there are literally everywhere and not at all niche.
And I think the new Outback comes w the 2.4T, at least over here
Generally, dont expect great fuel economy but do expect it to last, be reliable and be better to own and drive than the numbers suggest. Just IME, obvs.
the outback 3.0R is one of the few cars that I really regret selling, just did everything a car needs to do, had nothing that was annoying, and was reliable over an average of 17k miles a year over 4 years. silky smooth 6 pot and nice noise when pressing on.
Had a spec B 3.0 manual for 4 years/ 15k miles. Great noise, good to drive,ok economy on a run (33ish)but terrible on more local trips and a lot of repairs/ difficult to source parts.
This sounds distinctly overpriced, going rate for the much more desirable manual spec B is way below this...
This sounds distinctly overpriced, going rate for the much more desirable manual spec B is way below this...
Edited by mclwanB on Friday 24th March 20:31
Blackpuddin said:
Smitters said:
I cannot imagine a single circumstance and think this was a viable solution. I'd rather walk anywhere. It's not fun to drive, it's not terribly practical, it's expensive to run, it's not wafty or well equipped, not a nice place to sit without a high-grade hazmat suit. I'd rather have an actual shed.
Full House on SOTW Cliche Bingo there! Take anything from the top shelf.Had an 06 plate one of these for a few years 2015-2017.
Did quite a few good road trips in it - down to Algarve and back, up to Sweden and back, munich etc. It can definitely do 140mph. Was a great car but frighteningly thirsty.
I got an XC70 T6 after that. Was a great car but frighteningly thirsty.
Did quite a few good road trips in it - down to Algarve and back, up to Sweden and back, munich etc. It can definitely do 140mph. Was a great car but frighteningly thirsty.
I got an XC70 T6 after that. Was a great car but frighteningly thirsty.
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