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Subaru Impreza Outback Sport & TS

3121 messages,  Last post on Nov 18, 2009 at 12:30 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback, Wagon


Messages Page 1 of 312

#1 of 3121 Guidance Please! by slickrick1

Mar 15, 1999 (10:42 pm)

I am currently interested in buying my first new
car and just recently test drove the Outback Sport
and really liked the performance. Even though I'm
not crazy about the styling (it bears an amazing
resemblence to an AMC Pacer on steroids), I really
don't mind, because it's perfomance and utility
more than make up for it. I'm sorry! I'm rambling
again. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could
give me any input as to which options are worth it
and which are not. I'm kind of a gadget freak, so I
am interested in the optional gauge pack, but I'm
also on a budget and I don't know if its worth it.
Secondly, I've heard a lot about the OBS that's
good, but I was wondering if anyone has anything
bad to share. ANYTHING anyone can tell me about
about the car or experiences that owners have had
would be highly appreciated.


Thanks in advance.
                     Rick

#2 of 3121 rdeschene by rdeschene

Apr 08, 1999 (10:10 pm)

slickrick1. Before you buy, compare the IIHS and NHTSA results for this car compared to its competitors (e.g. Saturn SW2 with traction control).


Another thing to take into consideration is gas mileage. The Impreza does not have favourable mileage numbers compared to its competitors (e.g. Civic EX, Corolla, Saturn SL2/SW2).

#3 of 3121 joe75 by joe75

Jun 04, 1999 (10:32 am)

I believe that it is conventional wisdom that 4wd
is alway "more preferable" than traction control. This is at least true for every automotive magazine comparison I've read comparing the BMW 3 class cars versus Audis w/ Quattro.


Also, gas mileage is misleading since Subarus are driving twice the number of wheels. Civics, Corollas and Saturns are two wheel drive vehicles. I would hope that these cars would have a better mpg.

#4 of 3121 ramon by ramon

Jun 06, 1999 (5:04 pm)

I have a 99 Outback Sports and it out handles many mini SUVs on street driving. Anyways, I think the OBS looks way better than any current crop of mini wagons. And AWD is wicked especially at where I am living in Canada!

#5 of 3121 hanzokun by hanzokun

Jun 11, 1999 (10:53 am)

if anyone could tell me that if there are much of differences from Impreza L wagon and outback sport. I know this much OS has HD suspension, ABS, and two tone paint. I am just curious to know that If I were to purchase one which one you think is worth it.

#6 of 3121 ramon by ramon

Jun 11, 1999 (4:44 pm)

hanzokun,
  the outback sport has ABS, air, power window/locks, alloy wheels, hood scoop, 2 tone paint, 205/60 R15 and few other nick nacks that the Brighton does not. It all adds up to the sticker price. I have hte OBS and it is really great to drive. Only thing I dislike is the rough sound when it's on low gears.

#7 of 3121 Brighton vs. Impreza Wagon by ultra

Jun 14, 1999 (9:34 pm)

I'm having some problems deciding which one to purchase. I would greatly appreciated any and all feedback as I've been trying to weigh the pros and cons of each.


As I see it, the Brighton is a very stripped down Legacy L. Am I correct? Are there any other major differences beside not having the interior extras? The Impreza Wagon has power windows, mirrors, and locks, which I would like to have. However, the Impreza looks as though it won't haul very much stuff because of the way the rear window is sloped. Any experiences with this? I'm comparing this to a Honda Civic EX 4 door, which is fully loaded for the same price. Will the Impreza, with the rear seat up, haul as much as a Civic or any other small sedan?


I do like the Impreza Sedan, but the rear seat doesn't have a 60/40 split. This severely limits the hauling abilities.


I need to stay around $16k, so I can't afford to step up to the Legacy L, which looks to be around $18k.

#8 of 3121 ultra by slickrick1

Jun 15, 1999 (5:07 am)

Tough call. How much/what kind of stuff do you need to haul? Because I believe that the Impreza comes with a roof rack that the Brighton does not. Depending on what kind of stuff you haul, the roof rack can be a big plus. Also the Brighton does come pretty well decked out for the money. It has a/c, a 40 watt stereo/cass, tilt, etc. I do believe that the Outback Sport would be able to carry as much cargo as a Civic with the rear seats up. I found the OBS to be almost like a 4 door hatchback, with alot of utility and a good amount of cargo space, but not a ton of it. I also found it to be fun to drive, and spacious as long as your not in the back seat. It's capable to carry alot of stuff, but in your case, is it enough?
Good Luck!
Rich

#9 of 3121 slickrick1 by ultra

Jun 15, 1999 (2:59 pm)

Thanks for your comments. After I sent my previous post I should have put in one more thing. We are use to travelling in a Ford Escort wagon, which is big enough for me, my wife, and my 5 year old, but of course severely underpowered going over the Rockies. We want our next car we buy to be our travelling vehicle. When we travel in the Escort we have half of the rear seat folded down and the back full. However, it usually isn't packed so full that I can't see out all of the windows.


My thoughts are now, after reading your post, that the Impreza wagon will probably haul everything I want it to, but will be packed so full as to cover the windows (which is fine). I think I can find someone, maybe even Subaru, who makes a metal grate that fits behind the rear seat to keep stuff from shifting forward. Also, if it came down to it, I could get an enclosed luggage carrier that fits on the top, like Thule or Yakima.


I don't agree with your comments about the Brighton coming "well decked out for the money." The Impreza Sedan, which sells for about $1500 less, comes with more goodies. The Impreza Wagon, which sells for the same price, also comes with more goodies. I realize this is purely marketing. If Subaru put all of that on the Brighton, then you have a Legacy L. I just think the Brighton is a little too stripped down for the money.

#10 of 3121 ldkusmin by ldkusmin

Jun 15, 1999 (6:44 pm)

We test-drove the Impreza Outback Sport last weekend. For our purposes, it couldn't compete with the the other cars we tried--the noise level was too high, and the seats were too hard. But then, sporty handling and off-road capability weren't really priorities for us, and we might not have even been trying the Subaru if there were more compact wagons on the market from makers with a reputation for reliability.


From our standpoint, emphasizing comfort and carrying capacity as well as safety and reliability, we were pleasantly surprised by the Saturn SW2. They seemed to have licked their noise problem, and despite what we've read about it in some places, the seats seemed comfortable to us. I think it's probably targeted to a different
market than the Impreza, but if what you want is a compact wagon, it's worth checking out. (I've read some positive things about the Ford Escort wagon as well, but my wife has had bad experiences with Fords, so we weren't considering one.)


Good luck,


Lorin

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