RE: Subaru Outback 3.0R | Shed of the Week
Discussion
I feel like this would make a lot of sense if fuel were cheaper. Practical, relaxed, reliable, probably very smooth. Natural rival is a Volvo XC70, not anything German.
At today’s petrol prices, though, the likely smoothness of the engine without any real gain in performance over a 4 banger just doesn’t justify it.
At today’s petrol prices, though, the likely smoothness of the engine without any real gain in performance over a 4 banger just doesn’t justify it.
Looking at regular comments in SOTW I really think some people completely miss the point of shedding.
It's not about sports car performance, knife edge handling, the badge on the bonnet or whether the seats are the right shade of beige. It's about reliable, comfortable, practical and above all cheap transport/ value for money. If the badge is less popular all the better as you'll likely get a better shape car for less money.
If I was down in the £2k and below bracket the most important thing for me was how long it would last without letting me down and costing a fortune. Those that say ooh I don't like the wheels or it's 0-60 is a bit slow are completely missing the point. It needs to get me from A-B in reasonable comfort, carrying my stuff without being embarrassing when I arrive. This shed really ticks a lot of boxes.
It's not about sports car performance, knife edge handling, the badge on the bonnet or whether the seats are the right shade of beige. It's about reliable, comfortable, practical and above all cheap transport/ value for money. If the badge is less popular all the better as you'll likely get a better shape car for less money.
If I was down in the £2k and below bracket the most important thing for me was how long it would last without letting me down and costing a fortune. Those that say ooh I don't like the wheels or it's 0-60 is a bit slow are completely missing the point. It needs to get me from A-B in reasonable comfort, carrying my stuff without being embarrassing when I arrive. This shed really ticks a lot of boxes.
Ronseal cars. They do everything it says on the tin.
No fuss, no drama, no blingy nonsense just a car that will get you home regardless of the weather in comfort and safety.
Pity Subaru UK are so useless over here as there are more interesting engine choices to be had but it seems that IM are determined to see to see the back of Subaru in the UK.
No fuss, no drama, no blingy nonsense just a car that will get you home regardless of the weather in comfort and safety.
Pity Subaru UK are so useless over here as there are more interesting engine choices to be had but it seems that IM are determined to see to see the back of Subaru in the UK.
Water Fairy said:
Indeed. My second boy currently has a 2010 2.0L RX manual and it is quite a nice thing to rag around if I'm honest.
Might be a decent car but can you honestly say it has a good engine? To me it feels worse than any 2.0L na made by Toyota, VW, Ford, Opel, Renault, Honda... in the last 20 years. Opinions do vary but I think this is a strange hill to die on. Subaru do lots of other things well.Harry H said:
Looking at regular comments in SOTW I really think some people completely miss the point of shedding.
It's not about sports car performance, knife edge handling, the badge on the bonnet or whether the seats are the right shade of beige. It's about reliable, comfortable, practical and above all cheap transport/ value for money. If the badge is less popular all the better as you'll likely get a better shape car for less money.
If I was down in the £2k and below bracket the most important thing for me was how long it would last without letting me down and costing a fortune. Those that say ooh I don't like the wheels or it's 0-60 is a bit slow are completely missing the point. It needs to get me from A-B in reasonable comfort, carrying my stuff without being embarrassing when I arrive. This shed really ticks a lot of boxes.
Exactly this. And if you happen to live near a Costco, unleaded now about 138p / litre - so fuel costs at 25mpg or so still going to be dear but per my previous post, this probably is a car to buy if you do 3-4k miles per year, not 30k. It's not about sports car performance, knife edge handling, the badge on the bonnet or whether the seats are the right shade of beige. It's about reliable, comfortable, practical and above all cheap transport/ value for money. If the badge is less popular all the better as you'll likely get a better shape car for less money.
If I was down in the £2k and below bracket the most important thing for me was how long it would last without letting me down and costing a fortune. Those that say ooh I don't like the wheels or it's 0-60 is a bit slow are completely missing the point. It needs to get me from A-B in reasonable comfort, carrying my stuff without being embarrassing when I arrive. This shed really ticks a lot of boxes.
I’m a serial Legacy estate owner – had a Mk2 2.0 GL, a Mk4 2.5 SE and currently run a Mk4 3.0r Spec B. All a slightly different drive from the Outback due to lower/firmer suspension but basically the same car.
Took both the 2.0 and the 2.5 to over 240,000 miles – rust got the Mk2 but the Mk 4 was still solid when I sold it for a few hundred quid four years’ ago. I never had a problem with the 2.5 engine – the head gasket problems related mostly to the Mk 3 I believe.
My current 3.0r is lovely – 175,000 miles and still going strong; Bilsteins in good shape and with no evidence of rust yet (although I admit I’m a bit scared to take off the sill covers and have a proper look). It’s a facelift auto so has the ‘SI Drive’ and steering column paddles which help speed things up a little when required. It can be quite rapid but you need to be in the right gear and at 4k+ revs – all a bit old-skool.
I still think it’s one of the best looking estates out there so take issue with those that think otherwise. It’s certainly the best-looking Subaru ever – a low bar I admit!
I drove the Spec B to the Alps in January on winter tyres. Averaged about 30mpg and felt rock solid all the way; heavy snow on the autoroute and the last 30km or so up to Bonneval-sur-Arc were on snow-packed mountain roads – it was an epic drive.
I’m clearly completely biased – I love it, but I completely understand why it never sold well in the UK – VED and fuel costs are too high for many to consider it. However, maintenance costs are low if you’re prepared to do the basics yourself and spare parts are readily available and cheap – ICP know me well!
So, if you’re not bothered about driving an old Japanese car that, to most, is completely anonymous and you can cope with the high fuel costs, a 3.0r Legacy or Outback is a great buy.
SOTY
Took both the 2.0 and the 2.5 to over 240,000 miles – rust got the Mk2 but the Mk 4 was still solid when I sold it for a few hundred quid four years’ ago. I never had a problem with the 2.5 engine – the head gasket problems related mostly to the Mk 3 I believe.
My current 3.0r is lovely – 175,000 miles and still going strong; Bilsteins in good shape and with no evidence of rust yet (although I admit I’m a bit scared to take off the sill covers and have a proper look). It’s a facelift auto so has the ‘SI Drive’ and steering column paddles which help speed things up a little when required. It can be quite rapid but you need to be in the right gear and at 4k+ revs – all a bit old-skool.
I still think it’s one of the best looking estates out there so take issue with those that think otherwise. It’s certainly the best-looking Subaru ever – a low bar I admit!
I drove the Spec B to the Alps in January on winter tyres. Averaged about 30mpg and felt rock solid all the way; heavy snow on the autoroute and the last 30km or so up to Bonneval-sur-Arc were on snow-packed mountain roads – it was an epic drive.
I’m clearly completely biased – I love it, but I completely understand why it never sold well in the UK – VED and fuel costs are too high for many to consider it. However, maintenance costs are low if you’re prepared to do the basics yourself and spare parts are readily available and cheap – ICP know me well!
So, if you’re not bothered about driving an old Japanese car that, to most, is completely anonymous and you can cope with the high fuel costs, a 3.0r Legacy or Outback is a great buy.
SOTY
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