Okay, in the end I will probably not be changing cars, but I am interested in what people think of the Subaru Outback?
My family had a Subaru in the 80's and 90's, both large estates, so I have a bit of a soft spot for them. I've never been interested in BMW/Audi/Mercedes or an suv, but for a new car if I had the money, I would go for a Subaru with a big boot.
What are peoples real world experience of them? They only come with a huge petrol engine. And they seem very rare now.
I don't really need 4WD, but the extra clearance would be great for the pot holed tracks I need to go down, or the flooded roads I'm increasingly finding. I work as an engineer on the canals so traveling to random remote spots is usual, with a boot full of stuff. I also have two young kids to transport.
My current car is a 10 year old mondeo estate, and having a large estate to replace this would be on the top of the list. In reality I'll try to keep this car going for another 5-7 years. And then worry about what the car market is like then!
Had my current bp5 outback for 4 years. It’s the 3.0 H6 with the 5 speed auto box. I love it. I don’t do a lot of miles annually, less than 7000, but when I do drive it’s normally for reasonable distance. I’ve seen average of 26mpg over the 4 years use. A full tank does around 3-350 miles. The annoying thing about the auto box with the 3.0 is there’s no low range. I had a 2.0 legacy before with low range and it was great.
Carrying stuff; I can fit 3 cx bikes and 3 adults with kit inside.
It’s not the fastest car out there but it is useable punch where you need it. Drop to 3rd got overtakes on A roads and right into the variable cam timing coming on song.
I’ve not got it stuck anywhere yet.
Oh and if you’re wedded to sat nav the onboard system is hilariously bad.
Well, there are new Outbacks, diesel only.
The petrol ones are the older ones.
I looked at them before getting our Forester.
My experience of Scooby ownership is parts and servicing is expensive, particularly if it's a specialist part - I was quoted £1,000+ per side for self-levelling rear suspension replacements (and then fitting!). There are aftermarket parts available, however.
I understand the 3.0L engines are lovely but *very* thirsty; not sure if the 2.5 is the same as in the Forester and Impreza (I presume so) but there are known issues with it, but I think these are on higher tuned versions.
I was actually looking again as there was a nice one near me going cheap and I could do with a bit more space! You've got me searching again now...
I had a 2012 Mondeo until this time last year when I decided to change it. The Mondeo was great in everyway. I phoned a few Ford dealerships and not one of them could supply me a bog standard 6-12 month old Mondeo estate. It seems nobody wants estate cars anymore!
I looked at the Passat and the Superb along with the outback. The outback was no more expensive and I decided to go for a year old one with the remainder of a 5 year warranty. The boot isn’t quite as large as the Mondeo, but there is more space on the back seats.
Fuel economy over the year has averaged 34-35 mpg, it is a petrol model. Subaru stopped Diesel engines a year or two ago. On long journeys my best fuel economy has been 42 mpg, but that was with cruise control at 70 and from Scotland to Wales.
I have just had the Outback serviced after having it for a year and 12k miles and the dealer charged £350.
Would I recommend the Outback, come back to me when I’ve done 130k miles! My first impressions are very favourable.
Happy to chat more about Outback ownership.
We put about 150,000 miles on a 63 plate one before we sold it. I'd have loved another one if it was heavier (for towing our caravan).
The only things other than tyres & brakes we replaced in that time were a pair of wheel bearings. "Import car parts" are loads cheaper than main dealers for genuine parts.
The diesels are rattly and not the smoothest things in the world. Early ones had a habit of eating crank shafts, but I expect these are all long-dead by now. I think the latest ones are all petrol.
Wouldn't be my first choice but would have one again as long as it wasnt consuming copious amounts of oil or needing head gaskets.
Also wouldn't choose a modern auto either as after 2014 north american outbacks went to the CVT.
So, the hot item over here is the 2011-2014 3.6r with 5 speed auto.
My 2009 2.5 manual was underpowered, sipped oil at a higher rate than I was happy with. Sold it with 120000kms as having already don't the timing belt and waterpump I couldnt be bothered to do the headgaskets or investigate what was likely rod knock.
I don't think the UK has the American 2.5 motor with the class action law suit for oil consumption.
Op - what sort of era are you looking at?
I've got a 2009 manual diesel. Fantastic cars, go anywhere within reason. On winter tyres regular snowy roads are no problem at all, even on the hills of Sheffield. 4x4 = very even tyre wear. I get nearly 40,000 miles out of a set of summer tyres (Michelin premacy) and swap to winters in winter which also last ages.
Diesel pre 2010 has a reputation for lunching itself. Later ones on the 2010 onwards model much better. That said, I know pre 2010 very high milers with no issues.
Servicing is reasonable if you use independents. Subaru dealers expensive. Major work like clutches are also reasonable if you shop around for parts and get an independent to fit. Eg recent clutch and DMF in mine for £560 all in.
41mpg average across mixed driving. 46 on a motorway run and a chunk less on short journeys around town.
As a serial DIY car tinkerer and long term car owner Suburu should be on my radar but boxer engines and the double set of head gaskets put me off.
I am a massive Volvo fan.
Should add mine’s at 152,000 miles. Camchain on the 3.0s. If I were doing it again 4 years ago then I would have gone for a 2.0 twinscroll turbo legacy with a manual box and then fitted outback shocks, springs, driveshafts and control arms.
As a serial DIY car tinkerer and long term car owner Suburu should be on my radar but boxer engines and the double set of head gaskets put me off.
Likewise. I've come close a few times . Forester xt turbo and outback
What puts me off is the tin worm. They rot as bad as transits up here.
Love the sound. Love the way they go. But hate welding
2010 diesel here. not been without issues.
bought at 99k for £6k, new short block at 120k, goodwill, out of warranty replacement from Subaru UK, would have been written off otherwise. (Invoice from dealer to Subaru was ~£7k, cost to me £0)
now on 150k. trip says 45mpg average. Works for my 25mile commute across Dartmoor on B roads. Apparently has a wading depth of 45cm but I’ve not tested it.
Well, there are new Outbacks, diesel only.
Subaru have dropped diesels. Petrol/hybrid only and full electric coming next year (it’s a Toyota really)
Noisy/expensive/underpowered/unreliable/thirsty/overpriced!!
Take your pick
This is the thing. My thinking is that if I keep the Mondeo for 5-7 years when it may have worn out enough parts to be costing buckets to keep on the road, the big estate car market will be either very expensive new electric, end of line ice engined cars which are dated or second hand going at more of a premium as the new electrics haven’t come down enough. There will be second hand electrics, but I’ve only seen two types of estate on the electric car thread (mg and porche) so unlikely to be many estates.
So part of me thinks replace with a new car now and keep it to the mid/late 2030’s when there will be a lot more choice and price for electric cars. Or something like that.
I loved my JDM Legacy estate... you'll find lots of info (and a good bunch of people) on uklegacy.com as they cover the Outback too.
Mate has an outback, i have a forester, wife has an xv. All diesel/manual.
Routine wear and tear items only, from new.
Mine is on 106k, wife/mate both on 90k.
I’ll buy another, the handling in crappy weather is outstanding, last set of tyres did 46k miles and were about 75% worn when changed.
They are cars that you either ‘get’ or you don’t.
Diesels have camchain too.
I have bigger tyres on my forester, for better off-road ability, they are less economical, but with restraint i can average 45mpg.
Plenty of power for normal driving.
2.0 non turbo is gutless, you need the 2.5, or diesel, or a turbo.
@jam-bo took mine through a flood with the water to the headlamps. Knowing the air intake is just above that I had a squeaky bum but it was ok. Rust I’ve not had an issue with.
I've got a 2010 Outback 3.6R - I bought it ~4 years ago with 110K on the clock, now it's just gone past 150K. Other than routine servicing, a couple of wheel bearings (DIY), and a failed propshaft donut (£50 from a scrapper), it's not needed anything doing to it. The boot is big enough to swallow a 29er FS with the wheels still on, it's comfortable, quiet and will probably last forever - everything still works perfectly and if I was to clean it inside to remove the mud the dog has left everywhere it could pass for a couple of year old car.
The motoring press slate 'family' Subarus - they are never as quiet as a Mercedes, have as good a gearbox or handle as well as a BMW, or class lead in economy/performance etc - but they are very solid, well engineered, thoughtfully designed cars. I would say the prospect of ownership of a 10 year old Outback is quite a bit better than the equivalent 10 year old BMW/Merc cost wise..
