Subaru - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickg · #16 09-18-2007, 06:47 AM

My Loyale has been very loyal!

Has about 163k miles on it. Leaks oil from everywhere, maybe a quart every 2k miles or so. Had to replace all the CV joints, a relay in the A/C circuit, and the "Check Engine" light goes on and off at random, and is gutless as hell. But it just keeps running, is tight and solid, trannie works fine, doors don't sag on their hinges, no electrical issues, it's paid for, and gets 30mpg.
Wish the Germans still built 'em like this!

(that outta stir the pot

)

#17 09-18-2007, 06:51 AM

I've had good experiences with the Subaru XT6 and XT turbo.

rickg · #18 09-18-2007, 06:59 AM

was the XT6 that wierd looking thing they made way back with the 6-banger in it?

#19 09-18-2007, 07:01 AM

Yep. As odd as they looked, I really liked the two I worked with.

rickg · #20 09-18-2007, 07:03 AM

Thought so. Subaru has always gone their own way in the styling dept

vwbuge · #21 09-18-2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I've had good experiences with the Subaru XT6 and XT turbo.

That is funny, they were some of the junkiest of the Subaru lot.

LUVMBDiesels · #22 09-18-2007, 11:06 AM

I first bought my '92 Legacy wagon after getting stuck in a major snowstorm in my Ford Taurus. That Subie never let me down and NEVER got stuck anywhere. She was like a mountain goat. it was the 1st gen Legacy with the 2.3 l four and the automatic 4 speed with AWD. The AWD system put 90% torque to the front wheels unless it detected wheelspin, then it could split the torque 50-50. The older autos had a manual button where you can stat the car in 3rd. this allowed me to never have to worry about snow or ice. In fact in the place I was living at the time, they plowed the parking lot and pushed up a huge mound of snow behind the car. All the other cars needed to have all the snow cleared and then needed help (pushing) to get them onto the dry pavement. I just put my wagon in "R" and hit the gas she literally climbed over the snow bank and got through to the dry pavement. In dry conditions the AWD helped the handling immensely. I was able to out turn BMWs etc. I had this car until two years ago when I had to move and just couldn't take all my cars with me. It was a sad day to see her go. At the time she had 289K miles with NO TROUBLE. She even got me through a major Christmas snowstorm back in 2005 where I was able to make it down the Thruway albeit at 35~40mph while all the big SUVs ran off the road (something to do with a higher center of gravity and dumb a** drivers) I replaced timing belts every 60K and always ran Mobil 1. Only problem I had with it was that it was a little tight on leg room and could get uncomfortable after a long drive.

I loved my car so much that my mother bought a 1993 Legacy sedan. She had this car until last month when she finally got tired of it and traded it in on a new CR-V. That car was still running great and had never let her down.

I bought my then wife a 2000 Outback wagon. It had the 2.5l engine and was a bigger car all around than the '92 wagon. She still has it and it has never given her any trouble. Knowing how she takes car of things, I bet the oil hasn't been changed since we split up. It also never gets stuck in the snow or has any traction issues.

My brother has had two Subarus a 2003 Legacy wagon and a 2004 Forrester. He did not buy the Outback version of the Legacy. He has had no issues in reliability either, but he DID get stuck in the snow once. He was living in Madison, Wi and pulled the car onto a snow bank as he tried to clean his driveway. Due to the lower height of the Legacy, he got the car stuck up on the snow with all four wheels in the air. It was fun watching him spin all four wheels until I helped get him down. I had rented a Grand Vitara at the airport and had to put it into 4WD Lo to pull him out.

The Forrester is his wife's car and she just loves it.

All in all I think that Subarus are excellent cars and make great additions to the family. I would stay away from the late 1990's models because I have heard that the do eat head gaskets. They fixed the issue by 2000. The automatic transmissions and AWD systems are first rate for on-roading I would not take an outback off road as it does not have skid plates or a low range. One other thing, the AWD adds a lot of weight to the car, which while improving the ride and road holding ability, makes for crappy gas mileage. Expect to see no better than low 20's in MPG. That being said, I wish my Suburban got that kind of mileage.

Oh the reason I now have the 'burban insteat of a new Subbie? I needed the ability to tow and to put sheets of plywood into the car. The Legacy just couldn't do those things.

TheDon · #23 09-18-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Yep. As odd as they looked, I really liked the two I worked with.

I know of a turbo one for sale.. its in pretty good shape...

is weird looking though.. but If I lived up north it would soo be a winter beater/ rally car

vwbuge · #24 09-18-2007, 12:40 PM

I had 3 BRATs and a few wagons. My best wagon was an '81 with 4spd and 4WD. I had studded snow tires on all four corners. I got it stuck once when I tried to plow through a snow drift about 3 feet deep. I dug around the wheels a bit and a Toyota pickup tried to pull me out. After he tried, we dug him out and then my Soobie clawed itself out.

I had another '83 wagon with all the bells and whistles. It had FACTORY, moonroof, power windows and door locks, cruise and DIGITAL DASH.
I had that car on its side in a puddle of water one time. My passenger was yelling WATER, I looked over to see his feet on the dash and water half way up the passenger door and almost to his seat!
After a few tries she pulled right out of it. I have a picture somewhere of me standing with one foot on the roof edge and the other on top of the door with the car almost on its side.
I loved my old Soobies.

cscmc1 · #25 09-18-2007, 12:47 PM

I wouldn't mind this one, minus the gold rims!

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3301064

Bokonon · #26 09-18-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldPokey

... and the way Subaru designed its 4WD around clutch to kick in the rear wheels as needed is just cheezy.

From personal experience, that design also doesn't work very well when both front wheels lack traction. Not enough power is transferred to the rear wheels to get it out of trouble. Plus, it is a nose-heavy car to begin with.

-- Bokonon

Bokonon · #27 09-18-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

All in all I think that Subarus are excellent cars and make great additions to the family. I would stay away from the late 1990's models because I have heard that the do eat head gaskets. They fixed the issue by 2000 ...

I wish that was so. But my 2000 Outback developed the usual 2.5L head gasket problems at around 85K. We were displeased.

-- Bokonon