Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Subaru Impreza Outback Sport & TS
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
If so, it could be that you didn't get the automatic sport mode to engage. It engages automatically with two consecutive rapid accelerations (or something like that).
Occasionally my wife can accelerate her Outback quicker than I can. The auto takes getting used to.
Or it could be the AWD shifting. When you hit the gas, the AWD shifts power to the rear. Gas may also be a factor. I experimented with about six major brands before I found one I was happy with.
Also, what was the mileage? Subaru's shouldn't need a tune-up until 15,000 miles.
-Dennis
Automatic sport mode? You don't use a button? You hit the gas twice? Interesting.
This is from http://www.subaru.com Outback 'Features & Specs' page:
"4-speed electronically controlled automatic with overdrive. Automatic power mode engages with rapid use of the accelerator pedal."
-Brian
-mike
It's too bad, I really wanted to like the car. It seemed peppy enough, and handled well. The AWD technology was impressive. Aside from the useless cupholder I had no complaints other than the puny back seat area. I suppose you could move the front seat forward a bit, but for long-legged people to be comfortable, you have to move the seat so far back that my 1 year old doesn't have enough leg room!
Its also too bad that you have to step up to another pricing tier (Forrester / Legacy) to get adequate leg room in the back. Other cars we looked at (Mazda P5, etc) in this price class all seemed to have more back seat space, but no AWD.
I guess we'll save up a bit and end up getting a CR-V or something.
You're right that the CRV, which I think is in a somewhat different price class, will have more room, but the Forester, which is basically an Imprezza with more cargo room and a different body, will not. FWIW, Edmunds indicates that the Protege (another great small car bargain IMO) only has 1.5 inches more room in the back.
I thought a Legacy, which is also an excellent deal, might help but was surprised to see that back seat room is not that much bigger than the Imprezza (less than an inch). I'd still check one out though, becasue they're nice for the $$$.
A Legacy L can be had for cheaper than an OBS. The rear seat advantage in the Leg feels a lot more than an inch.
-Dennis
Consider instead a Legacy L. You can get an L Special Edition from fitzmall.com for about $19.6k, and that's with 2 moonroofs, ABS, AWD, 16" alloys, 4 wheel disc brakes, cruise, keyless, CD, A/C, you name it.
Save yourself $2 grand.
If that's a bit high, we bought our plain L model for $17,827, far less than an equivalent CR-V, which we also shopped.
The CR-V does have the small edge in back seat space, but the Legacy's cargo area is much more usable, and the whole car feels more substantial. Plus you get a 5/60 powertrain warranty instead of just 3/36, plus 3 years roadside assistance vs. zero.
We also have a Forester and while the back seat is a bit tight, again cargo room is great, and kids fit fine, if that's what you typically carry.
-juice
Is there a standard for where and how the front seats are placed? Is it a maximum?
When I checked Edmunds #s on the back seat of the Legacy v OBS, I was surprised at the small difference, and am wondering about that because it does seem like there's more than an inch difference.
The Forester has tons of head room, front and rear, that's where you'll note the difference from the OBS. Also, the cargo area is bigger and more square. Useful capacity is about double.
-juice
Or you could get a Toyota Matrix AWD - nice big back seat, one of the reasons I bought mine, BUT a lot less power. Same price range.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The best thing to do is go on several test drives and really check out the back seats, cargo, etc.
-Dennis
The CR-V, OTOH, has very little front leg room, in fact I could not get comfy in the passenger seat (my wife drove it). They need to change the track so it moves back another 2 inches at least. I think the back seat is roomier than the front!
The Legacy's back seat is fine, even with the front seats way back.
lumbar: check out CR's numbers. For their biggest box test, the Forester can hold more volume than a Pathfinder or CR-V, for instance.
-juice
Has anyone who has the same model and year had a problem with taking off the racks? There are 2 sets of screws, one on the tower and one on the bar. Both of which seem to just spin and not do anything when loosened.
Is there any safe way to put on the yaks with the factory on too? Any one have any advice?
I think that it is lame that the factory racks aren't more versatile with the number of attachments it can use.
Thanks!
The old rack can be taken completely off by removing eight screws. There are little plastic covers by the crossbar mounts. Removing these will expose the screws - large phillips type. Best spray them with penetrating oil the day before. Get a really big screwdriver and take them out.
The whole rack and track then lifts out. You will then have a lovely gap in the drip rail with the exposed rack mounts. New drip moulding will run about $160.
The spinning screws in the mounts are a common frustration. I broke 6 of them after only one winter.
The factory rack is pretty strong. Did you try the accessories at subaruparts.com for suitability?
VVVVvvvvrooooooommmmmm!!!!!!!1
That wife of his really has him wrapped around her finger. Or maybe they had a long, long honeymoon?
I bet when he returns he'll have a ramon jr to talk about. :-)
-juice
ME or the CAR...
well, guess he made the right choice... like that story of The Lady or the Tiger?
Got a pretty good deal on Amsoil motor oil from my mechanic, so will use that and replace the oil filter every 6-7,000 miles. Afraid to use the Amsoil filter since I've read some web site stuff on i-club about how it doesn't thread on as deeply. So far I get about 1 mpg more in the city. The engine runs every more quietly. Good stuff!
Mine doesn't share my hobby, but at least she tolerates it. I'm a car nut, plain and simple.
There is an oil "idiot light", so if you leak oil or lose pressure, you'll know. I wouldn't worry about it, though.
-juice
BTW brake linings are covered under the 3/36K warranty. (Are "brake linings" brake pads?)
It looks like the only option is the cruise unless it has fogs. When you drive it, look for what I'd describe as a "tight" ride. The suspension on the car should be firm, even noticeably so, and there should be no problem with acceleration through high second gear into fourth. Even the 2.2 is fairly quick in that area. Other than that, standard issue warnings about *all* used cars apply (check the exhaust smoke, etc etc.). Other than that stuff, I'm not aware of any congenital problems with that model, but others might be.
Like I said, I don't know if you are in a high demand area, but I'd think low 8,000s with 81k, and I'd want a small warranty from the dealer with that.
-Denns
Mileage is very high for a '98, though. I have a '98 with 49k miles, most Subaru Crew regulars with '98s have far fewer than 81k miles.
brekke: not sure what they mean by brake linings, I've never referred to them that way.
-juice
-Dennis
The engine had a gratuitous "slime coating" so it was tough to tell much about the engine and leaking fluids. The funky interior seemed to be in good shape with no cigarette smoke smell or burns.
The tires were cheap Generals with one mismatched Continental but the tread looked OK. The power mirrors seemed sluggish, matbe the motor was getting old. The hatch rattled a bit but opened up fine.
My guess is that the car was owned by people that lived on a gravel road and were not very "religious" about cleaning the car. It reminds me of why I stopped buying used cars.
I think I will pass on this one and see what comes along later. I really want to like the Imprezza, it has good power and the value of the used ones seem to drop like a rock. I will probably end up saving up for a new car when I pay down my wife's car a bit more.
Roof rack is standard, cruise is not. Power mirrors are a bit slow even when new, and make a loud noise when moving.
Mine always semmed to turn over slowly when starting, but in all conditions and over 5.5 years, never once failed to start, or even hesitate.
My experience in the past with Subies has been that the pilot bearing for the shifter tends to wear early, and if you don't replace it with the clutch, it leads to some "wiggle" in the stick later in life, even if the car is in gear.
Prices on used OBS (and some other Subies too) do drop like a rock, making them some og=f the best deals in the used market. Around here, the car you describe would have been a decent deal at $7000 or so. I would have started at 6 plus my beater CRX!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
An independent shop will be cheaper, but make sure they do good work and have a good warranty (e.g. my dealer's work carries a one year warranty).
-Dennis
Ludespeed sells a much better clutch for $460 just for parts. You could pay a local mechanic a couple hundred to install it, and have a better clutch for half the price.
But I'd still pass on that car.
-juice
The only thing I don't get is how it can have about as much cargo room (rear seats down) as the Toyota RAV 4 and 1st gen CR-V and still have such a puny amount of rear leg room. To be fair, the 2nd gen RAV has even less rear leg room. But it has WAY more cargo room than the Pro5 but about 2" less leg room. I don't get it.
Does anyone out there have any experiences to relate about fitting kids and car seats in the back seats of the Impreza wagons?
But everyone carries cargo, even when you're along. So cargo space was a priority. It's like that for the Forester, too. CR's biggest box tests reveals how the Forester can carry a bigger box than the Pathfinder or CR-V, both bigger SUVs.
-juice
My back is fine, thanks for asking. About 99%. I did almost reinjure it, but correcting my posture has helped a lot. I'm just as active as I was before with no pain.
Yes, I can now drop myself into the Miata, just in time for the cold! :-(
Leg room in my '93 is lacking. I lifted the front seat track with spacers, so it's a little better.
-juice
-mike
Hey, you asked. :-)
-juice
I'd think also incorrect offset would cause it. But when looking at a car incorrect alignment could be detected by tire wear, wrong offset would be easily noticed as well and payload/towing ratings exceeded are easily noticeable. So I don't see that as a big issue really.
-mike
Incorrect offset - definitely. I remember that was an issue when I shopped for rims.
-juice
I'm not sure that once they were installed that my windows would be louder due to wind noise or that they would ruin my window trim.
But some Subaru dealers will import anything if you're willing to pay for it, so ask, I guess.
-juice
That's how the fender flares attach to my Forester, though there are also some bolts in the wheel well.
I have two-side tape on my moonroof deflector, and it's been fine even after 4 years' exposure.
-juice
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)