Subaru Wagons...... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

John Doe · #1 07-10-2007, 12:33 PM

:Killing some time in the aeropuerto and need some quick info on the 01-03 subaru wagons. What is the difference b/t the Forrester and the Outback? Are they all four cyl? What is anyone's favorite?

My neice is looking at I think 01 02 Outbacks in NC w@60K on them for it seems $9-12K. Sound right?

Thanks--I don't know chit about subies what with no worries about snow and all

jlomon · #2 07-10-2007, 02:35 PM

This is a good resource for used car information:

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/consumer-guide-used-car-search.htm

Obnoxio · #3 07-10-2007, 02:43 PM

www.nasioc.com

Website above has a boatload of info. I myself love them, and have owned seven Subarus over a period of time. They are introducing a TDI Boxer motor either this year or next from what I read. Then I will get another.

The Forester is a completley different animal than the Outback. You can get a 6cyl boxer in the Outback, but not in the Forrester.

My favorite is the Forrester XT or Sport. 2.5 liter turbo boxer motor, almost 300 hp. Will flat run away from most cars on the market, and carry a bunch of crap to boot.

TheDon · #4 07-10-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obnoxio

My favorite is the Forrester XT or Sport. 2.5 liter turbo boxer motor, almost 300 hp. Will flat run away from most cars on the market, and carry a bunch of crap to boot.

will it beat an Impreza WRX STI?

yal · #5 07-10-2007, 02:55 PM

http://www.car101.com/ has all the specification info you need.

I have a 2005 Legacy Wagon 2.5i. Love the car.

Obnoxio · #6 07-10-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

will it beat an Impreza WRX STI?

It has the same motor, different turbo and ECM. With the right mods, a Forrester XT can do some amazing stuff.

Also, you can get an Auto trans in a Forrester XT, which shifts faster than the six speed.

http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=FORESTER&trim=SPORTS25XT&command=overview

TheDon · #7 07-10-2007, 03:01 PM

Don wants

Bokonon · #8 07-10-2007, 04:02 PM

I had a 2000 Legacy Outback wagon with the 4 cylinder 2.4 liter engine. Owned it for 7 years and drove it for about 90K. And fundamentally ... I didn't like the car very much.

The car was OK, but it was underpowered and clunky to drive. The maintenance was expensive and it had a lot of niggling problems with the electrical system, the door seals, etc. -- plus a lot of safety recalls. These were teething pains for what was then a first-year model.

The biggest pain -- literally -- were the seats. The seats seemed OK in the showroom, but they were very, very uncomfortable on long trips. A number of people complain about Subaru seats -- so if you have a bad back, be careful. Take the car on a LONG test drive and see if you get pressure points/discomfort.

Then there was the door seals. After two or three years, they began leaking air and emitting a highly annoying whistling noise. This was a design defect on early models from the previous generation of Legacys. But ... Subaru was unhelpful and unsupportive about the door seal problems, and refused to fix them outside of warranty. Subaru made an expensive upgrade kit available, however. How convenient. So I bought their $#(&^&*% upgrade kits and had them installed -- at a cost of several hundred dollars per door. That left a bad taste in my mouth.

The AWD was useful at keeping the car stable in snow, ice and sloppy weather. But it couldn't get you OUT of trouble once you got in. For example, I found that my car -- which had an automatic transmission -- didn't transfer enough power to the rear wheels to get the car out of snow and ice when its front end lacked traction. It just heaved and complained and spun its front wheels, and didn't budge. The standard transmission cars during that period had a 50/50 split between the front and rear wheels, and I think that was a better arrangement. Also, my car was not equipped with the limited slip differential upgrade, which was part of an expensive option package. That might have helped some.

The newer Subaru models are supposed to be better, although I still hear some quality complaints. My relatives have had less trouble with their Foresters than I have had with my old-school Legacy -- just a point of information, for what that is worth.

-- Bokonon

diametricalbenz · #9 07-10-2007, 09:53 PM

I had a 2002 WRX 5 speed wagon and I LOVED it. It got stolen which is our saddest St. Patrick's day ever. My girlfriend used to drag people on Melrose ave with it.

John Doe · #10 07-11-2007, 10:36 AM

Thanks guys. My neice is goint to Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in the winter and my sis thinks she needs awd. I'll forward the info on.

Obnoxio · #11 07-11-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

Thanks guys. My neice is goint to Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in the winter and my sis thinks she needs awd. I'll forward the info on.

She shouldnt have any problem finding a good one at App. State. I was just there visiting, and Subarus were like fleas on a hound dog. They were everywhere. I noticed a small indie repair shop near downtown that had at least 10 Subarus of various models for sale. I stopped and looked at a really clean WRX Wagon I was trying to convince my wife I needed.

The AWD will be a definate plus, as the roads there are pretty twisty and they get a good bit of snow there.

732002 · #12 07-12-2007, 02:37 PM

The Outback 2.5L has head gasket issues late 90's
01-03 might be ok but worth checking. The L wgn/sedan
2.2L did not have this problem.

AWD MPG is not great 22-25 and the cars are kind of boring.
Wgn has decent room, good for snowboarding and fits a 9'
longboard inside with room to spare.

If you need speed I would get a WRX not the Forrester.

John Doe · #13 07-12-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 732002

If you need speed I would get a WRX not the Forrester.

If I need speed I'll get another Porsche

LUVMBDiesels · #14 07-12-2007, 05:10 PM

I had a 1992 Legacy L wagon for 14 years. It never let me down and was always reliable. It always had enough power but had pretty poor gas mileage. You have to drive the 2.2 like a rally car and keep your foot in it! It was finally killed in an accident with a van. She had 187k miles on her and EVERYTHING still worked!
My mother still has her 1993 Legacy GL sedan. It has been very reliable as well.

Both of these had the older 2.2 litre engine. As long as you do the timing belts every 50k miles you are good to go.

They never get stuck and are great cars. They have a neat "manual" setting on the transmission that lets you start in any gear. Great for starting in third in the snow...

My ex wife has a 2000 Outback with the 2.5 litre engine. It has never given her a lick of trouble and I know she doesn't take care of it...

My brother has a 2002 Forester and he also has had no issues with it.

All in all these are great cars, never get stuck, don't cost too much and are stone reliable...

The only drawback is the gas mileage. These cars are pretty heavy with the AWD system installed...

732002 · #15 07-12-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

If I need speed I'll get another Porsche

Can't get much of a Porsche for $9-12K?