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Subaru Impreza Outback Sport & TS
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Comments
leomort: No, it does not come with a full-sized spare, which I regret, although with our 2000 OBS we did have to use the spare once, and it was OK. You don't want to drive on it much, but I don't anyway when I have a flat. I would like a full-size spare, but don't think it would fit in the spare compartment.
I have the automatic, on a recent trip to Ft. Lauderdale with about 500 lbs of people and some light luggage, with the A/C on almost full tilt, got a little over 23 mpg on the highway. In the city it's around 19-20. With my manual 2000 OBS I never got over 18 in the city. We run our A/C almost constantly in Florida except for maybe 3 months out of the year, which figures in. Not stellar, but the car is worth it.
Will get back with you on the rest, a lightning storm has brewed up and I need to log off to protect my computer from lightning damage. We were hit last week and don't want a repeat. Back later.....
I chose the 2000 OBS I had because of the sporty looks but had to trade to an automatic from manual because of a nerve problem in my foot. So, just moved up to the 2002. I like the solid color of the TS wagon, but want the cruise control too badly, along with the other options. The fog lights are really big and sooo nice. Look back thru these posts to around the beginning of May--I posted pics of outside of car with lights on.
Leo
Anyway, my questions is mainly for anyone that has a 2002 OBS. I'd like to know if there are any tricky or hidden oddities about the car that I should specifically inquire about at the dealer, or if there are any features that are harder to figure out than you'd expected.
I want to make sure I have all the bases covered before I drive to the nearest dirt road Thanks!
seats up: 32 cu. ft.
seats down, with moonroof: 58.5 cu ft.
seats down, without moonroof: 63.1 cu. ft.
I believe mileage is 22/27 AT
21/28 MT
No real tricks with this car. Are you getting a manual or automatic? If manual, I do know some say it's not the most cinchy manual to drive. My 2000 OBS was manual, and I did notice that I needed to get the hang of it (it was different than my Volvos had been). I learned to wait until the clutch was almost all the way up to give it any gas at all, then give it VERY little until the clutch was all the way out. Other people who complaint about clutch shudder are those who are always giving too much gas too soon. My Volvos always seemed to engage halfway up, but the Subie as I said, was almost all the way up. But you can really launch those manuals. It just takes a little patience at first and learning when to give it the gas. I could beat almost any car off the line with that all wheel drive and a clutch. Even with my automatic 2002, if I put it in 1st gear, it launches really nice with my air intake. But I was told it's bad, bad, to shift thru the gears all the time with an automatic. So I save that for when I have a creep next to me at a red light who seems to want to take advantage of me, then, WHAM, I hit it and let him know 165 hp with an intake is to be reckoned with!
Oh yeah--I'll pass along something I have read about quite frequently on the i-club. Several people with new Subies get the car home and in the first few weeks find not all the fluids have been checked and some are already low.
Tell the dealer you have heard of this problem and please include complete fluid check when they detail the car for delivery to you....
Enjoy! It is such a tight car and rides on the highway like a little dream.....
It's me ramon. I've been away back to my home country for 3+ weeks. It was great. The trip was fantastic. Looks like celeste is doing a great job being the go to gal on these OBS topic. I can retire now.
OK for some Suby content. when I was back in Malaysia, I got to see a few old WRX (STi? not sure) running around. Not alot. Saw one really sleek black Turbo Forester will make juiceman just slober over it. But hte best was this white B4 RSK when I was up at a mountain resort area. It looked so darn sweet. I want one!!!
Scoobies are relatively scarce. But there's lots of Mitus Lancer EVOs. Really ricy lookin in person but we all know who killer these cars are. A few Skylines were also spotted.
Aight gotta go now. bye!
Leo
Dennis
Then I heard someone say that compared to the new mazda protege5 the TS/OBS handled like "shopping carts" Oy vey! More doubts for me.
Welcome back ramon! I was wondering what happened to you.
Action: how long was your wait? I'm pretty sure you ordered before I did.
It also sounds like you're having the "big purchase nervousness" that I'm having too. There are a couple things about the car that worry me (visibility, mediocre gas mileage), but then I remember all the cool things about the car that made me like it in the first place. Keep in mind that there's no such thing as the perfect car, and that every car will have some qualities that we don't like. I think the OBS is a fine selection
I suggest that you give your dealer a call ... I called my dealer about a week ago, and they told me this: A boat arrives in Boston full of Subarus sometime between June 8-15 (and since my car is in already, it must have been more towards the 8th. Also, "boat" doesn't seem like the right word for something carrying a couple thousand cars..). Depending on where your dealer's cars are on that giant boat, and depending on how far you are from Boston, they can predict about how long it will take for the car to get here. At the time, she didn't know whether or not the boat had arrived yet, but once it did, she could give me a better estimate.
I don't know if the Boston boat serves the whole country or just the east coast or something, but your delear may be able to give you similar information to give you some idea of when it'll arrive.
One more trick (sorry this post is getting so long). Find your dealer's web page from Subaru.com, and the "New Cars" link will let you check the dealer's inventory. The other day, I saw that my dealer had logged the arrival of a couple new Imprezas, so I got the feeling that my car would be there soon too (and they called me the next day too tell me it was here).
Anyway, good luck
Leo
Another factor is the how tall you are and the position of the driver's seat. Again, I didn't think it was bad enough to avoid buying the car, but it's something to think about.
I don't have any regrets about getting the Sube, I wanted an AWD hatchback and I didn't want to spend more than 20K. I only had doubts about splurging for the WRX, but it really was out of my price range. I am sure that I will be happy with the OBS, it is a step or two up from what I have been driving.
Anyway, I can't wait for us to compare notes
Brekke: Don't get the jitters. This car is absolute heaven.
Gas mileage? If it's really critical, get a Geo or an Echo. But betcha won't feel as safe in those cars OR have as much of a smile on your face when you drive!! I have trouble getting more than 20 mpg in town with mine, but of course, the A/C runs full tilt all the time.
Poor visibility: With the headrests in the back, I think it contributes to the visibility problem. I removed the center backseat headrest and brought it in the house. Makes it much easier. Now, if you never have anyone ride in the back, you could take off all the back headrests and keep them either in the back of your car or in your house. The Volvo wagon I drove before I got a Subaru was an 84 and like a tank, huge visibility all around. But I'm used to this car now and use my mirrors alot. To see out to the left side lean over and use your rearview mirrow to look out and help check your left side where it's hard to see. You'll adapt.
there was no way I could've chased those super AWD cars down especially on my friend's crappy corolla.
celeste : i won't be racing anytime soon I'm afraid. I have some priorities to set straight. i really didn't miss my scooby until I came back. I was just so busy back in Malaysia catching up with my relatives and friends.... anyhow I am still bushed. Sadly I have to go back to work tomorrow.
Try playing with the mirrors and you can find the perfect spot. Mine are adjusted so that if I can't see a car in my side-view mirror, I can already see it in my peripheral vision.
Dennis
I was surprise that the cargo cu/ft wasn't that much smaller for the OBS. IT must be surprising large inside!!!
Leo
hope it works.
"No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, you can virtually eliminate blind spots by learning a few new mirror tricks. "
Dennis
When I go on trips, I use a Kanga Typhoon.
http://www.kangaco.com/typhoon.html
Two adults, two kids, cargo area filled (cargo cover closed) as well as the Kanga stuffed to capacity.
I chose the Kanga because at the time, there were no covered car carriers that would work on the OBS' funky roof racks. Their 8 cu. ft. Typhoon model was modified specificially to fit between the OBS' racks.
You can probably count on the re-designed Forester to come with a re-designed price tag as well. It won't be out until Sep. 02 though.
Dennis
I am considering purchasing the new 2002 impreza outback sport and would love to know personal experiences with this car.
Also, I have a dealer quote for 20530.00 which includes automatic transmission, destination charge, security group as well as 6% michigan tax (state of residence). Does that seem reasonable?
Also, anyone with experiences with dealers in saginaw, mi area?
Thanks in advance for your help !
Mala
Outback sport w/freight: $18029
Automatic: $725
Keyless entry: $114
Security System: $150
Total: $19018
Add 6% tax: $20159
Sounds like you have a reasonable deal, but there might be more bargaining room. Make sure to get prices from competitors too.
I can't tell you about any personal experiences with the car, because I won't have it till tomorrow
-Action
I had a 2000 OBS which I traded for this 2002. They really have refined the car and made many improvements. I'm quite impressed. Look back thru these responses, as I listed the improvements I noticed, which were many.
The price you were quoted would not be bad for Florida, as we don't get great deals here, because Subarus are not real popular like up north. However, you may bargain better in Michigan. Ask at the Outback Sport club at Yahoo which I listed above. You should get some replies on good dealers there. Good Luck!
Dennis....re' redisgn Forester. If it gets a turbo that will eliminate it from consideration as I don't want to use premium gas. If they put a H6 in that will probably push the price up even further. I've test driven the Forester...it was nice! Haven't test driven the OBS. I wonder if there is some way to boost the suspension to give the groud clearance of the Forester??? Hmmm! Anyway thanks for the link to the Kango Typhoon. Do you know of anyone who makes a hard case cartop carrier to fit the OBS? Does Subaru offer one?
Leo
Leo
I believe Subaru's (Mont Blanc) hard car top carrier will fit the new OBS since the racks are different than previously. It's offered as an accessory on the WRX wagon but I'm not 100% sure about the OBS. You could probably find out from subaru.com
Dennis
did you drive both the forester and the OBS? how did each drive?
Leo
Leo
Leomort: No I didn't drive the Forester, because as I said above, all my Volvo years had me wanting to de-wagon as much as possible. But it's a nice design and I haven't heard anything negative about it. Is there a Forester forum here at Edmunds? See if there is and ask there. If you go to the i-club I'm sure you could ask there also and I think they have a Forester forum.
So, Ramon, what mod are we looking at next? I'll tell ya, it's fun to floor this automatic and hear the intake roar when it shifts down. This 165 hp isn't too bad at all with the intake. By the way, are you using synthetic oil? Do you plan to switch to synthetic? How many miles you have on your car now??
...at 6-7pm Pacific/9-10 pm Eastern. Hope to see you there!
http://www.edmunds.com/chat/subaruchat.html
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I posted some other dimension comparisons between the Forester w/moonroof vs the WRX/OBS/TS models over in the "Subaru, So Many Choices" topic in the Station Wagons site.
Stephen
actually i am planning to reinstall my shocks and springs back to my car. then tires. But for some reason, I am not that keen on doing this. Sorta have some other priorities comin' up.
No i haven't put synthetics in yet. I only have about 6300km. I will wait till I reach 12,000km before switching to Mobil 1 synthetics. I did the same for my previous OBS.
As for the forester vs OBS, I'd go with the OBS if the space is not that big a requirement and height. Reason being because the new OBS is more refined and has more luxuries.... and prolly cheaper than a Forester S.
Leo
Leo
Hope you received your new car and are enjoying it thoroughly !
Do you mind telling me which state you live in? The price of 18029 with freight seems excellent compared with what I have of 18415. I am wondering if I could get a quote from your dealer and use it to bargain a lower price on my subaru outback sport.
Thanks and have fun !
Mala
Stephen
Here are some comments on the features I chose:
Spoiler - looks great, seems heavy duty (although it's plastic)
Rubber floor mats - very thick, should be worth the money (the regular floor mats were also included)
Cargo net - just what you'd expect
Sound system (subwoofer/amp, premium speakers, tweeters) - Excellent! Much better than I expected, although I'm not a car audio professional. I think it sounds great and can go very loud (but in a pleasant way). The bass and highs are very well defined. It's my favorite part They also threw in the regular speakers (in a box) in case I need them.
Tailpipe cover - looks kinda cool
Armrest extension - nice feature, feels kinda cheap. Maybe I need to tighten it down or something... The lower compartment is stupidly shaped so that it only fits a couple CD cases. Thankfully I have a visor CD holder to use instead.
If anyone has more specific questions, I'll try to answer them. I also plan to take some hi-res pictures of the car. I'll post the URL here.
mmathur1: The dealer I quoted is Doyle Subaru in Rochester (actually Webster), NY. Another place to check prices is using Van Bortel Subaru's online pricing .. try http://www.vanbortelsubaru.com. That's where I bought my car, after forcing them to beat Doyle Subaru's price. Print that price out and tell your dealer to beat it, or you'll drive to Rochester to get your Subaru. Good luck!
Just got back from fishing trip, caught some trouts. Release most of them, kept two for dinner:))
I was able to test drive the 2001 OBS, very nice. Also rode an Xterra to a remote 4 wheel drive lake, very different. I like the idea of power outlet in the rear Model 2002, good for the air pump to inflate my float tube and or my Zodiac.
Did not check if the 2001 has it too.
Since I have so much gears, the Yakima basket would be great addition for cooler and Zodiac.
Have forgotten what the 2002 OBS looks like inside, especially the rear. What message number was it that had your pictures?
Regards,
Balifly
Here's the shape of the 2000/2001 back end:
Just had to tell you all before I went out to enjoy it! I appreciate the information and advice from you all.
Thank you, Celeste, for your posting about the differences between the OBS and the TS wagon. I took the plunge and went for the OBS. She's a beauty (platinum silver) and drives like a dream. So far, I love everything about it - but then, I'm very, very biased right now :)!! I'll write in more detail about my impressions in a few days.
Mala, I recommend that you check the web site Autobytel.com for your OBS. The local autobytel affiliate in my area (Ann Arbor - Detroit) called me up within a day of my placing a request through them. I told him what I wanted, test-drove the car, and in less than 3 days, I was the proud owner of my OBS - and it was all haggle-free. They typically charge you 3.5% over the invoice. Depending on the options you choose, your price can vary, but it still is a lot under the MSRP. Good luck!
Talk to you all later....
Thanks for taking time to read to this. I'm new to this edmunds discussion group. One sentance about me - I'm a woman, living in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am in the market for a car.
I have the opportunity to buy a 1995 Impreza Outback Wagon (2.2 liter 4 cyl) which has been well maintained (except it needs new rotors and a new windsheild). Here's the question...
...it has 95,000 miles. I know that Subarus can drive a long, long way. Would you buy this car? (Incidentally, I wish I could buy new, but I don't have the $).
Thanks for your help,
Ames2
(Desperately seeking a great used car!)
A used Outback Sport isn't that easy to find. People just don't want to part with them. The NY Times recently had a JD Power article showing the OBS as the number 3 best used subcompact.
I've seen a couple of postings on the i-club (that Celeste mentioned) from people that are looking for them, but can't find them. Also, check Consumer Reports and you'll see that the Impreza has a good reliability record.
Yes, try to find out the cars maintenance record. You may be able to get it by calling 1800Subaru3 and giving them the VIN. You could also try carfax.com.
Good luck,
Dennis