2014 WRX hatch. Doing more driving these days, so figured something AWD would be a good idea - along with Subie reliability (though not known to be Toyota-like).

Getting snow tires Monday, then time to play in the snow!

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__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

You'll LOVE this!

I have owned 1995, 2008 and 2011 Outbacks and I tell you, you will love the car. They are dead reliable! NOTHING ever went wrong with any of them and they got better and better every time, the newer the ones I bought..

Coming back from Reno, last year in a surprise April snow storm, my mechanic and I watched 4wd pickup trucks actually slide off the road into the ditch - one after another.

But the AWD Outback, driven slowly and sensibly, made it through with nary a hiccup.

For snow conditions, heck for pretty much anything, you can't beat them.

I'd say Subaru as a company has truly come into its own, nowadays, and not only are they widely respected and competent for anything, it is hard to find good used ones, because (the salesman told me when I traded in my first one) that they almost all get passed on to family members looking for a good dependable car.

They are really very safe too, with roll cages built in; and the paddle shifters, with the CVT, once you get used to them, are faster than shifting gears in any manual transmission. An ex race car driver told me that they are the future of race cars. I don't doubt it.

And the little WRX is a VERY proven, capable and tossable Rally car, especially the sti models,so if you want, you can throw it around like a prison beech in a cell block riot and the car can still handle about anything.

You have LOTS of options to soup up the WRX available. Check the dealer brochures, and be sure everything you would like to buy is new car warranty-compliant before you buy.

With care it is unremarkable to see these Subarus last over 300,000 miles without problems.

Outbacks and WRX's are *THE* staff cars out here in NorCal snow country, they are all over the place around here.


MAJOR score!

One more thing: Studies show that new buyers of Subaru vehicles are statistically more INTELLIGENT overall than other new car buyers.

Maybe I better turn in my MENSA card now that I got bored with my Outbacks and bought the '11 e350 which bored me as much as the Outbacks did.

Which I guess makes me a dumbazz in a new BMW. lol

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

We bought a new Outback 3.6R last summer, have 10k miles and so far so good.

Growing up' my parents had a '78 DL wagon , rugged and reliable. In the mid 90s they had a Legacy wagon and an SVX. The SVX was a lot of fun, very fast on the hwy. Iirc' it was $35k, big money for a Subie, especially in the mid 1990s.

I have no plans to mod it, but will replace the crappy stereo.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Heh total opposite. Nice man.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

You should upgrade from snow tires like Ken Block.
Ken Block gymkana on snow with chained Subaru - YouTube

__________________

OLD & RETIRED
_.... Don't mess with old farts - - age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill! Bulls**t and brilliance only come with age and experience!____________
'96 E320
'79 450 SEL
'78 300 CD

I'd probably own one of those cute little AWD imports, if there was a need for one in Dallas, Texas.

^ A rwd sedan doesn't cut it anymore for us. Ski trips to Vail, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, biking etc. It's good to be active!

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Sweet ride, we just replaced the 2006 Outback with a 2013 Forester. IMO they handle much better in the mud and snow than a Suburban. I am up for a new company car this year and I hope they have the Legacy on the list....fingers crossed.

'Grats! Those little buggers are pretty stuck to the road. Had fun thrashing the hell-o out of the red Impreza I had.

You going to keep or sell the ///M?

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

M is good as gone. Tired of the German car upkeep, so a new Japanese car will be refreshing - nothing to worry about.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Uh oh! not only have the M issue but two old Benzes, I hope this won't drive me into bankruptcy.

But if forced, I'd get another Outback again in a heartbeat.

They really are versatile, unbreakable, pretty safe and tossable, and bulletproof.

And if I had to have only ONE vehicle to use for everything, it'd likely be a brand new Subaru again.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

It wouldn't drive me into bankruptcy, but it's an expense that seems silly (to me).

I'd rather spend money having fun skiing in Vail instead of rebuilding a front end.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

It's hard to find a more well-rounded and capable car for the money. Good luck with it!

Thanks. The interior and stereo are pathetic.

Easy enough to upgrade the stereo I guess, we'll see how it goes. Other than that, doubt I'll "mod" it. An ECU flash would be interesting, but that would void the warranty, so I would need to buy a separate ECU.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

I think it would be worth looking into a couple of custom fitted New Zealand sheepskin seat covers, as a way to mollify the displeasure about the cheap interior.

Good ones if separately for the bottom and seat back, won't move and really warm in winter and cool in summer. And they look nice.

For example

ramshead in California:

Home

(got my SEC ones and one for my old Volvo from them)

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)