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Comments
Craig
Anyway, I also own a Volvo V70R and when I thought about getting a new vehicle, I simply couldn't return to a Volvo. My Volvo requires expensive repairs on a quaterly basis. The new Volvo are spacious, but I found that they made poor use of the room with too few compartments, etc.
What really impresses me about my VDC is it's smooth H-6 engine (only Porsche makes anything like it)and its great handeling. It has a 2 foot tighter turning radius than the Volvo or similar crossovers.
As you can tell, I prefer the safety of VDC compared to the 2.5 XT. additionally, the question I kept asking myself was whether after 100K miles, I want a solid H-6 engine or a turbo engine. In my experience with my Volvo V70R, the turbo engines wear quicker due to the increased heat in the engine compartment. The VDC doesn't have that turbo kick, but it has more power from a dead stop. The H-6 is a very smooth and quiet engine. So, for my purposes, the VDC is worth the added cost and wait (inventory is generally low for them).
Not everyone wants the same thing, it's nice to have these choices.
Enjoy your H6 and stay safe. ;-)
-juice
The longevity is not a factor for me as I do not plan to keep it beyond the warranty. But while the XT is a blast, I think in the long run the smoothness of the H6, along with the added safety and the improved stereo, might have made the VDC more pleasurable to live with, especially on the highway.
However, I do prefer the gauges and seats of the XT, and I enjoy a manual tranny.
But in any case, I couldn't even try a VDC, as my dealer hasn't even seen one yet. They received 22 Outbacks last month, no VDC, only 2 turbos.
Sly
Only the Highlander and Outback received "Recommended" ratings. I think if they had tested an H-6 Outback or XT Outback, it would have beaten the Highlander, as it was by far the slowest in the group. CR mentioned that it was slow compared to the others. Also, if you let up on the gas through a corner, the rearend tends to swing out.
Bob
-mike
Craig
I bet my wife's Forester did this and I never noticed....
Craig
i did have the window lockout button pressed in.
-Brian
Craig
The LED being turned off by the window lockout button is one of them. Other ones (mostly dash related) are:
- On the GT/XT, the illuminated ring around the fuel gauge will glow brightly when low on gas. The readout also will momentarily flash miles to empty.
- When the key is out of the ignition and the trip odo stalk is pushed, the odo lights up to show total miles. Also the fuel gauge and needle illuminates to show how much gas you have left.
- The info panel will blink once after every hour of continous driving.
- When the rear wiper is set to "INT", going to reverse on a 5EAT model will automatically set it to "ON".
Ken
I can see how the ODO/Fuel trick would be handy for the Hertz guys, not sure what good it is to the average user.
So the rear wiper thing only works on 5EAT?
Sly
The rest of the things are neat and probably unique features!
~c
Everytime I go outside to check my mileage for whatever reason, I seem to forget my key. My SIL's 300M turned on the odometer whenever the driver's door was opened.
My head is firmly into the headliner in the mornings, so I'm thinking of having an inch of seat cushioning taken out-unbeknowingst to the wife.
Overall, love the increased refinement and smooth drive. I find the engine very torquey, providing amble grunt way down in the RPM range. Wonderful truck in need of better tires. SOA really makes it easy to be a return customer. To date this is my 4th Suby wagon. Will also note that the Subaru Outback is the car/truck of choice for San Francisco surfers. The parking lot at Ocean Beach often looks like an Outback club event.
Martin
Congrats on your purchase. They look nice in black!
tom
Can anyone comment on the pluses and minuses of an OB XT LTD vs BMW X3?
thanks
Can you get some extra headroom by reclining the backrest a little?
Craig
I think of $$ and reliability being strongly in favor of the Subaru as well.
Good luck!
Craig
Craig
Congrats! Great choice!
Hey are you in the Bay Area? Which dealer did you use?
Welcome!
Ken
My head is firmly into the headliner in the mornings, so I'm thinking of having an inch of seat cushioning taken out-unbeknowingst to the wife.
Overall, love the increased refinement and smooth drive. I find the engine very torquey, providing amble grunt way down in the RPM range. Wonderful truck in need of better tires. SOA really makes it easy to be a return customer. To date this is my 4th Suby wagon. Will also note that the Subaru Outback is the car/truck of choice for San Francisco surfers. The parking lot at Ocean Beach often looks like an Outback club event.
Martin
I purchased the car at Marin Mazda Subaru, whom I have had a very long relationship with.
The X3 is a very nice vehicle, and I think it actually handles better than the OBXT, however I had a hard time paying more for a cheap interior and less grunt. I never got to test drive a manual X3, but the automatic felt significantly less powerful than the OBXT. Strictly subjective. Also, superficially, the X3 exterior has never done it for me-and I just could not see myself driving it with pride.
If the light is on but the socket has no power, check to see if the fuse blew.
Craig
I realize that a telescoping steering column would fix this, and I actually sympathize because I have long legs relative to my torso & arms myself. but I definitely move my seat to the right position to adjust for it.
~Colin
1. What octane does the Outback 3.0R sedan require? I know the XT requires premium, but I wasn't sure about the V6.
2. Anyone have the 2005 Outback sedan? I've seen one on the road and a few at my local dealer. Really nice car.
3. Any recommendations for a dealer in western PA? Positive or negative comments are welcomed.
thanks!
2) Nobody here that I know, but folks on other forums have them. Actually a nice looking car, and very rare/unique.
3) I can't help there but we do have folks from PA that can chime in.
Craig
When the headlights are off if you pull the hand brake, the daytime running lights turn off.
I also discovered that there are two banks of FM presets, but then that is actually documented (barely).
Sly
We got the car in June 2004 and it now has just under 12,000 miles on it. The seal has a hole in it and it looks dried and cracked on what you might see on an 8-12 year old car. The rubber actually almost disinigrates when you press not real hard on it. The only thing near that area so far as touching is the rubber (bumper) stopper on the door itself. That appears to have some "white" grease on it - (lithium?)
I have no question it will be replaced by my dealer.
It almost makes me believe it was defective from when it was manufactured by Subaru's supplier.
The seal only runs from a little bit above the door striker and down the bottom and then up about the same distance on the front side. It should not take a good mechanic more than 20-30 minutes to change.
I use a good rubber seal protectant, but had not done it yet but have been keeping the car washed and the seals clean.
Just couldn't believe it and just thought I'd mention it here in case anyone else runs into the same problem later on.
If the wrong kind of grease got on the foam rubber, it could definitely eat right through it. Actually, there are several things that could do it. But it could just be a defective part.
Should be an easy fix.
Craig
Well, they actually had exactly what I would want - an Atlantic Blue GT Ltd wagon with black leather, and most importantly, a manual transmission. It stickered just over $31k, but the posted sales price (on the windshield) was $27,588. Are others seeing discounts like this? I believe that's almost $1k under invoice. The salesperson just said that there were certain cars that had been on the lot for a while and they wanted to move them.
Not that I can really act on it now, but I was half-tempted. Didn't think my wife would respond too well to me coming home in a new car. "Hi Honey, yeah my brother didn't find what he was looking for, but hey, look what I got!"
2024 Audi Q8 e-tron - 2024 Corvette - 2024 BMW X5 - 2023 Tesla Model Y
How many miles on that particular GT? Sometimes dealers will discount their "demo" model to move it before the test-drive miles stack too high.
Ken
Has anyone seen road test numbers for the non-turbo with manual trans? Legacy or OB wouldn't matter; not enough weight diff to be important.
I got my fresh-off-the-truck Outback XT for invoice in July, so I can see how the prices would be going lower a few months later, for something that has been on the lot. The place I bought from (Fitzgerald Auto Mall in MD) also starts dropping the price based on time on the lot.
BTW, this is not a good place to post, because most of us will encourage you to get the car! I feel even sorrier for your wife now that I see you posting here -- she doesn't have a chance!
Craig
I think you can easily reattach the plastic one as long as it did not break.
CRaig
CRaig
Thanks for everyone's help over the months. Yesterday I went to test-drive an OBXT vs an LL Bean. Bu t I noticed a VDC in the inventory.
I didnt notice a big difference in everyday style driving between the VDC and XT. I was really sold on the ESC that comes with VDC. In the end, if I needed the ESC (on the way to Tahoe)I would gladly pay extra for it.
I didnt have the same bargaining power with the VDC vs XT but ended up paying 500 over invoice. My car is gold opal with taupe interior. Intially I wanted black, but this is what comes with VDC. Now, I actually like the taupe a lot.
Im very happy with the car; it is by far the nicest car Ive ever owned. You guys and gals have been instrumental in helping me know which car to buy and approx how much to pay (difficult to gauge).
I did not get the extended warranty but Im open to it. What do others think.
Michael
FWIW, I've taken on ramps at a much higher speed in our Legacy 2.5i 4EAT Sedan than other sedans I've driven, and I have definitely let off the throttle (no brakes)... and I've never felt anything but confident in the cars ability; I didn't notice any unusual handling characteristics. Im guessing it must only TRULY be at-the-limit handling during the demanding Moose avoidance manuever.
However, I will agree that the car is not quick with the non-turbo engine and auto (though an OB Limited wagon is still a good deal heavier than ours). Highway passing is fine, off-the line, however, the vehicle is mercilessly flat-footed unless you toe enough gas for upshifts out of first to occur at 4500+ RPM.
~alpha
tom