The Subaru Thread

[mfox79]

I am on my third Subaru, I have owned 2 Foresters and a Legacy all have been great cars the only down side to it is that when the road gets to rough I may have to walk a little further, oh well as Mooapeak said they where not built for that, and I feel the MPG makes up for it.

[Day Hiker]

I put my car on ramps when I change its oil.

[SpiderSavage]

#1 car to have when the blizzard hits.

Nothing special in the warm and dry.

[Saintgrizzly]

...friggin safety hippies

I don't even know what that is. But it sounds impressive.

[MoapaPk]

Hmmm. Why WOULD a car be on a ramp???
DUH! SKID PLATE, OF COURSE!!!1111
DMT

Many outbacks have just 7.3" clearance -- yes, that's a problem, and it means that if you want to work underneath your car with a socket wrench, you have to put the car on ramps. Unless you are extremely thin and have a very small head.

[MoapaPk]

I'm glad y'all are talking about this. Seems we're going to be in the market for a new vehicle very soon. I think we're considering a Forrester or an Xterra. If anyone's owned both before, I'd be interested in knowing what you did or didn't like about either.

The Xterra is a much more capable car for rough terrain; I don't own one, but have ridden in many. The odd thing, is that most places I've gone in XTerras, I've also gone in my outback.

I guess you have to rationalize the gas mileage issue, "the planet", etc. If you have a fuel-efficient car to drive around for most of your trips, and can afford a second, pick the second one so it is capable of going rough places.

There isn't that much highway mpg difference between an outback and an FJ cruiser -- 26 vs 21. And the FJ will get you a lot more places.

Edit: Actually, according to the Subaru site comparison, it's 26 mpg (Legacy Outback 2.5L) against 20 mpg (4.0L 4x4 AT FJ).

[DukeJH]

I get 30 mpg in my Outback making runs to Taos from Fort Worth with wifey, 3 kids, luggage, and gear. Of course I drive the speed limit and take the bike rack off. The Outback is not a rock crawler but it beat the heck out of my Ford F350 crew cab long bed 2WD diesel when it comes to getting up gnarly mountain roads.

I get between 25 and 27 usually around town.

[jmatthys]

My 2010 2.6L outback is getting 29.5-30mpg (50/50 highway/surface streets)...Though I have a small sample size (4 fill ups)

[littlefrantz]

My 99' subaru impreza 2.5RS shivering in the Truckee snow.

And no, we're not all lesbians! Some of us just have dogs, like to do cool things in the snow, and don't want to get SUV's lest we look like we're desperate for babies.

[Yeti]

And no, we're not all lesbians!

I'm a lesbian, trapped in a mans body. Lucky me!

why are they also, always the slowest passenger cars to end up behind on a mountain road.

I've won more racing trophies in my daily driver Outback than in my dedicated track car... Keep in mind that the turbo WRX is the most popular Rallcrosser car in world, and I had to turn faster times in my non-turbo pig. The last time I went crawling up a proper rocky mountain road, I had to constantly stop tp let my buddy catch up... in his 4Runner.

That said, I have to concede that the average subaru owner belongs in public transit. Fortunately, we here are not average.

[MoapaPk]

The 2.5L subie automatics often slip into 2nd gear on any substantial hill; that makes them very gas-inefficient.

[BeDrinkable]

Subarus. They're like punk rock, but they're cars.

[Yeti]

The 2.5L subie automatics often slip into 2nd gear on any substantial hill; that makes them very gas-inefficient.

I often slip mine into 2nd, because it's got no balls.

Fun fact about 2001-2004 Subaru Automatics (and possibly more):
What your brochure told you: They have a computer controlled power distribution system, which "moves power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip".
What it didn't tell you: If you manually select 1st, 2nd, or Reverse, the system is locked in 50/50 front-rear distribution.

So, when the snow is bad or when you're offroading, keep in locked in 1 or 2.

[armorfoot]

I miss my '90 Loyale Wagon. It did it all. Skijooring. Rallying. Impromptu Camp Site. The mechanic who killed it doing a botched timing belt job is still on my "list".

[mconnell]

The 2.5L subie automatics often slip into 2nd gear on any substantial hill; that makes them very gas-inefficient.

I often slip mine into 2nd, because it's got no balls.

Fun fact about 2001-2004 Subaru Automatics (and possibly more):
What your brochure told you: They have a computer controlled power distribution system, which "moves power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip".
What it didn't tell you: If you manually select 1st, 2nd, or Reverse, the system is locked in 50/50 front-rear distribution.

So, when the snow is bad or when you're offroading, keep in locked in 1 or 2.

That would explain why I can back down my driveway in the winter w/o slipping, but my wife's jeep is all over the place unless she puts it in 4wd low (which accomplishes the same thing).