Spongy brakes??
After several weeks of research, am honing in on used Subaru Outbacks. Need to buy something this week or early next. We've been driving toyotas for decades, but the 2004 Toyota Camry that my newly-licensed teenage daughter just totaled had extremely spongy brakes that in my opinion contributed to her inability to stop before smashing into the rear of an SUV that was stopped in front of her (and her inexperience). Our mechanic didn't find anything wrong with the brakes just months before the accident, but my own research showed this to be a serious issue and/or complaint for a percentage of 2004 (and possibly other years) Camry drivers. Brakes would go to the floor before engaging. Just as I felt confident the Outback was the car to get (hoping for 2015/2016 under 50k miles for around $20-25k) I read a review from one of the large car sites citing spongy brakes as one of the major cons of the Outback. The last thing I or my daughter want is another vehicle that has spongy brakes!! Can anyone weigh in on this? (I have yet to test-drive Outback or anything else plan to do that over the next few days.) Thanks!
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The Edmunds road test for the 2016 states this: "During Edmunds brake testing, a Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited came to a stop from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is an average distance for the segment."
The only repetitive complaint I've heard about newer Outbacks is that some drivers find them a bit down on power. But others don't.
Any thoughts on used 2015 vs 2016 Outbacks? I'm new to the Subaru world so have no idea if there's a better or preferred choice according to Subaru aficionados! Thanks again!
Here's what Edmunds says:
"What's New for 2016
Having been completely redesigned just last year, the 2016 Outback gains some additional equipment. The optional Subaru Starlink system adds two packages of connected car applications, adding functionality such as automatic crash notification and stolen vehicle recovery, along with Internet-connected apps such as Stitcher. The steering has been retuned for better feel, and Limited models get retuned shock absorbers for a smoother ride. Safety features on the Outback now include optional lane departure intervention."