The Subaru Thread

[Bootboy]

While I like subarus as much as the next guy who cant afford one...
I prefer my 97' 4runner.
19/23 mpg, 160K and only a rear axle seal job and starter motor replaced. 100% compression in all cylinders, near flawless paint, manual transfer case, 32" tires yielding 10" ground clearance, damn near unstoppable in the snow(passing snowplows with 15" on the ground), ice cold AC, locking rear diff, big enough to sleep in (5'8") and room for 5 people and a weeks worth of gear.... Not left wanting much except functional cupholders. when it dies in 10 years, I'll consider a subaru. maybe they'll fly by then.

[MoapaPk]

My subaru gets 56 mpg while traveling 97 mph, the AC running full blast, all while carrying 6 anvils, a palette of bricks, a baby giraffe, and 5 emus.

[Yeti]

While I like subarus as much as the next guy who cant afford one...
I prefer my 97' 4runner...

Because you don't have to drive it long distances.
4 runners are great SUVs, and I'd be surprised if it actually does die in 10 years. Take cae of it and it aught to last longer than that.

But we're not talking about SUVs here, we're talking about cars, specifically omni-terrain cars. In the new car market, that's pretty much Subaru territory, though Volvo offers the XC line of basketcases.

Lets list all of the AWD/4x4 [b]high ground clearence cars[b] that we know of, new and old, shall we?
Subaru Outback
Subaru Forester
Volvo XC70
AMC Eagle
Lada Niva

Keep it going, I'm sure I've forgotten some.

[armorfoot]

Audi does 4wd?

DMT

No, but it does AWD that'll fail when you absolutely need it.

[Yeti]

Audi does 4wd?

DMT

No, but it does AWD that'll fail when you absolutely need it.

Like 4Matic?

Lots of companies do AWD cars, I'm referring to high-clearence AWD or 4x4 cars. Thus why the WRX isn't on the list, but the Outback is.
Dig?

[Chris]

I hated my piece of shit '02 Outback. By 60,000 miles (when I finally dumped it) I had put over $4000 in repairs into it... the largest chunk being due to the known Subaru head gasket issues (that Subaru acknowledges exist but say aren't a design flaw).

Besides the reliability issues, it was terribly underpowered, poorly designed from an ergonomic standpoint, heavy as hell, terrible off-road (not geared low enough, bad entry/exit angles, etc).

It did rock in the snow. I'll give it that.

Never again...

[Yeti]

Whatever. Enjoy your station wagons.

DMT

I will.
I'm thinking of printing a bumper sticker that says; "My station wagon has earned more racing trophies than your sports car".

[Chris]

But I want a full size 4wd van, now..... getting claustrophobic in my old age.

Man, those are really sweet....

[Yeti]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Unimog-4 ... 06.c0.m245

Get a radio truck (as pictured above) and pop a more contemporary caterpillar or cummins engine in it, and you'll be golden.

[klk]

But I want a full size 4wd van, now..... getting claustrophobic in my old age.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/z-PO_calif.html

[MoapaPk]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Unimog-4 ... 06.c0.m245

Get a radio truck (as pictured above) and pop a more contemporary caterpillar or cummins engine in it, and you'll be golden.

Do they make a hybrid version?

[Yeti]

Do they make a hybrid version?

Like, part vehicle, part guns? Yeah, they got those.

[KathyW]

For a little while I thought that I might replace my Tacoma with a Forester when I'm up for a new vehicle in 2010, but that thought didn't last long. I'll end up with another Tacoma - I use my 4WD low enough that I'd miss it and the locking rear differential is a pretty nice feature.

[Sierra Ledge Rat]

Wow, so many people dissing Subaru.

I've had a Forester for 7 years, put 160,000 miles on the damn thing and have done nothing but replace rubber and oil. Best damn car I've ever had.

I was also rather fond of my '82 Chevy S-10 Blazer and '94 Jeep Cherokee Sport.

Currently I also own a 5-ton 4x4 conversion van. (If you have to ask about the gas mileage, you can't afford it.)

Next time you're driving a tight, winding mountain road, I'll be the Subie tail-gating in your rear-view mirror.

P.S. Get the hell out of my way.

[MoapaPk]

Currently I also own a 5-ton 4x4 conversion van. (If you have to ask about the gas mileage, you can't afford it.)

Canyonero