2015 Subaru Outback: The Anti-Wrangler

[calicamper]

Legacy is a larger stiffer bigger platform than the Forester also. I can personally attest that the Legacy is the modern version of a 4wheeled tank and its handling characteristics you need to be beyond exceptionally stupid to crash one my kids will be put in a Legacy for this reason. Trust me god only knows how many creek crossings and dirt roads I smashed down at 40+mph in my prior legacy and that car was still doing 2500 mile road trips at 160,000 miles and towing my boats up and down the west coast. Its far stiffer than the wagon body's and far superior regarding durability in just about every way because of that. Put good tires on it and your golden. Even better they don't command the stupid high prices of the perceived gain in capability that the box on Impreza platform Forester conveys. If your not willing to buy your kid an Impreza wagon or sedan then you shouldn't be looking at the Forester. No really thats the plain stupid truth.

Not to mention you have a far far far better chance of finding a clean used Legacy than a Forester or OB.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Legacy is a larger stiffer bigger platform than the Forester also. I can personally attest that the Legacy is the modern version of a 4wheeled tank and its handling characteristics you need to be beyond exceptionally stupid to crash one my kids will be put in a Legacy for this reason. Trust me god only knows how many creek crossings and dirt roads I smashed down at 40+mph in my prior legacy and that car was still doing 2500 mile road trips at 160,000 miles and towing my boats up and down the west coast. Its far stiffer than the wagon body's and far superior regarding durability in just about every way because of that. Put good tires on it and your golden. Even better they don't command the stupid high prices of the perceived gain in capability that the box on Impreza platform Forester conveys. If your not willing to buy your kid an Impreza wagon or sedan then you shouldn't be looking at the Forester. No really thats the plain stupid truth.

Not to mention you have a far far far better chance of finding a clean used Legacy than a Forester or OB.

I can see this logic, most wagon owners tend to treat them like an SUV or utility vehicle, while sedan owners tend to just use them to drive to work and home. One good thing here is that I almost never see a Subaru at the salvage yard that was not put there from being hit beyond easy repair.

 

[libarata]

I can see this logic, most wagon owners tend to treat them like an SUV or utility vehicle, while sedan owners tend to just use them to drive to work and home. One good thing here is that I almost never see a Subaru at the salvage yard that was not put there from being hit beyond easy repair.

So hard to find used parts... I have yet to be able to replace anything with used!

 

[calicamper]

I can see this logic, most wagon owners tend to treat them like an SUV or utility vehicle, while sedan owners tend to just use them to drive to work and home. One good thing here is that I almost never see a Subaru at the salvage yard that was not put there from being hit beyond easy repair.

We pack the Legacy the same way we pack the OB the floor space in the trunk is identical. We have a roof rack for bikes, boats etc, we have a metal coleman ice box not one of the crazy jumbo things which fits in the legacy trunk even goes in the same exact spot in the OB. The only difference is that today the dog rides in the back of the OB. Before kids I simply wedged my duffel bag in the rear foot well behind me in the Legacy and tossed the dog bed in and the 75lb Red doberman would zonk out in the back seat of the legacy. Wife and I did big regattas which were camping trips where 100+ sailboats show up to race so we had our camping crap and our racing boat and racing crap, often times we packed the Mt bikes too and we did some riding after the racing was done. Legacy did just fine. When we moved from a 300lb all up with trailer 16footer to a 1800lb all up on trailer 21foot racing rig we still towed with the Legacy but we packed light and started taking a second car with all the gear and then kid given the Subaru simply came up short on cooling power was never an issue given we ran out of cooling before power.

The 5spd MT is the right way to go but I would negotiate a lower price unless they have fully documented DEALER installed Clutch with the full clutch kit no short cuts meaning new plate, new throw out and release bearing etc. Many people take the short cut of just doing the clutch which is almost always a big fail for the next owner given the bearings will let go or the old plate which does not have enough extra meat on it for a proper resurface causes issues. Modern cars don't get extra metal on things like clutch plates its wasted material and added weight. Zero issues with our legacy and we beat the living hell out of the car. Hot engine is a NO NO!!! NEVER drive a modern car or Subaru with it running hot!!!

OEM PARTS ONLY radiator caps and tstats!!! Both cheap parts store items known for trashing an otherwise perfectly fine subaru engine. Old radiators can be packed full of dead bugs and fail to cool also.

 

[mountainsports2002]

Subaru's are also insanely safe cars, my gf was hit head on a couple of years ago on a Wv mountain road with each car traveling around 55 mph and survived. The wagon was obviously totaled but did its job and protected the driver. They are great inclement weather cars and the only thing negative being they are not a truck. Definitely not a wrangler but a damn reliable alternative for those not trekking off piste.

 

[oldestof11]

Some misinformation. Up until 2009, the manual cars had a viscous center diff with a 50/50 power split. The autos had an electronic locking diff with a 70/30 split when not locked. The autos you can wire up for a switch to get it locked when you want. However I've never found an instant yet where the computer logic didn't have it locked in time. Plus I have the sport mode and selectable gears that make AWD drifting much more enjoyable.

 

[dookie]

^ That's the 4cyl autos. H6 is slightly rear biased (45/55, I believe). Mine is a '12 3.6R w/5EAT. Just fine on the deep sand and and fire roads I need it for, and on the road (and at the pump) it kicks the crap out of the OME lifted Montero it replaced. To each their own...

 

[Hodaka]

Some misinformation. Up until 2009, the manual cars had a viscous center diff with a 50/50 power split. The autos had an electronic locking diff with a 70/30 split when not locked. The autos you can wire up for a switch to get it locked when you want. However I've never found an instant yet where the computer logic didn't have it locked in time. Plus I have the sport mode and selectable gears that make AWD drifting much more enjoyable.

Partially true. Early 4 spd autos were more front biased, and various generations have added things like starting 50/50 in 1st and maybe 2nd. Also, the VTD models were different, the DCCD models are user adjustable, etc, etc.
Here is info on recent models, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

 

[bradhilldesign]

To each their own. I prefer ground clearance with great approach and departure angles.

 

[Skemcin]

Here is my start - plan on doing some mild/novice trail ride camping - not sure if that will qualify as overlanding but I really don't care.


With a full time job plus a small business to run I'm happy just to get out from time to time.

Here is my start - plan on doing some mild/novice trail ride camping - not sure if that will qualify as overlanding but I really don't care.


With a full time job plus a small business to run I'm happy just to get out from time to time.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

To each their own. I prefer ground clearance with great approach and departure angles.

We have a JKU too, however, it doesn't go L.A. to Phoenix or Flagstaff and back at a steady 80 MPH getting 24 MPG. Each has a purpose.

 

[Buddha.]

I would have gotten a Subaru over the pig of a truck I have now but I couldn't find a low mile rust free example for less than twice the price of the Blazer. I'm considering selling it and the Mustang and going to one car, probably a Forester. Probably not worth it.

 

[bradhilldesign]

We have a JKU too, however, it doesn't go L.A. to Phoenix or Flagstaff and back at a steady 80 MPH getting 24 MPG. Each has a purpose.

Mine gets 20 mpg.

 

[calicamper]

The 2010 2.5 cvt once we had 25k on the clock would do 28mpg tank averages at 75-80mph no roof rack gear. Drop it into to 65-70mph range and weve had several 32-33mpg averages per tank. They eat up big road miles easily and driver fatigue is not nearly as bad as our Sequoia. We take the Subaru every time when its just 4 of us going.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

That is still very respectable!