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Subaru Legacy/Outback 2005+

10833 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2013 at 5:40 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Sedan, Wagon




Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 639 of 1084

#6378 of 10833 Re: Monotone OB [c_hunter] by smokingmagneto

Jan 29, 2005 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: c_hunter (Jan 29, 2005 12:50 pm)
Not sure when the "Turbo" kicks in, but I too have noticed a mpg increase when in the 65 mph range as opposed to the 80 mph range.
 
Now have just under 4,000 miles on our OBXT and all around mpg is inching up to just over 20 mpg (USA) in mixed freeway and city driving. We seem to be buying gas at around 300 miles, but have a comfortable reserve.
 
Surprisingly, although I drive a bit harder than my wife, ... I get slightly better gas mileage than she does. I get on it a bit harder and then "coast" while she accelerates slower and longer.
 
So far I am very impressed with the car. For reference, our other car is a 1995 Acura Legend, and the '05 OBXT replaced a 2000 Audi A4 Turbo. Before that we had owned two Saab 9000 Turbos. Previously we owned a '82 Subaru 2 wheel drive 4-m Legacy that was "bullet proof" as far as reliability went, but the torque engine needed 4 wheel drive since it had a lot of "wheel spin" when wet outside.
 
One thing that really impresses me, the heating. This car heats up right now compared to the Legend and other non-turbo cars that I have owned. Seat heaters are great too, seats are very comfortable for me at 5'9" and my wife at 5' even. We have always had problems finding cars that fit us both, but the OBXT does very well.
 
We had one rattle, traced it to the removable retracting rear cover cross bar being a bit loose. Took it off and rattle went away.
 
Although I like a 6 cylinder car, I like performance even more, and it is hard to beat a Turbo. Choosing between the Turbo H-4 and the H-6 was tough, but I am very pleased with our choice.
 
Eric.

#6379 of 10833 new mpg low...13.1! by beanboy

Jan 29, 2005 (10:02 pm)

Having way too much in the snow! Wondering if I can get it into the single digits when I go ice racing in February...
 
-B

#6380 of 10833 Re: Monotone OB [smokingmagneto] by tsy

Jan 30, 2005 (12:52 am)

Replying to: smokingmagneto (Jan 29, 2005 9:12 pm)
The engine is not working as hard at 65 as 80mph. Once you pass about 60mph most of the extra work the engine puts out is to overcome aerodynamic drag, which is why your fuel economy drops. Every car will have it's most efficient speed where gearing and aerodynamics are in balance and you'll get your best mileage (probably about 65 or 70 for the sedan, less for the wagon). I just don't know what it is for this car. To be honest with you, I don't really care, either. If fuel economy were my priority I would have bought a hybrid.
 
I know what you mean about the tough choice between engines. Sometimes I miss the smoothness of a 6, but right now I'm having much too much fun with the Turbo- definitely no regrets!
 
tom

#6381 of 10833 Re: new mpg low...13.1! [beanboy] by tsy

Jan 30, 2005 (12:54 am)

Replying to: beanboy (Jan 29, 2005 10:02 pm)
Wow, SUV territory! (except it would be a high!)
 
tom

#6382 of 10833 Re: Monotone OB [tsy] by sduford

Jan 30, 2005 (5:10 pm)

Replying to: tsy (Jan 30, 2005 12:52 am)
I agree with Craig, around 75-80 Mph the fuel consumption goes up dramatically. This car defnitely needs a 6th gear for highway cruising.
 
And I Craig said, it definitely needs a bigger fuel tank! I just drove 780 Kms this weekend on a retirn trip, and I had to refuel twice. I used to make that trip on one tank in my Volvo 850.
 
Sly

#6383 of 10833 Slightly OT: How did Subaru 1st catch your eye? by timo1745

Jan 31, 2005 (7:03 am)

Growing up, I think the first Subaru which really caught my attention was in the mid-to-late '70s. Some friends of my parents' had one of the U.S. Ski Team GL 4x4 wagons (the wife was on the U.S. Women's Team). I thought it was the coolest car, especially since my family's cars were big, American, RWD cars which sucked in the snow. I seem to recall it had a 3rd high-beam light built into the center grill under the Subaru badge (does this sound right to anyone here, or was I imagining this?) which retracted when not in use.
 
I guess the next model Subaru which really turned my head was the Brat 4x4 with the little jump seats in the back. Very slick. Another cool example of how 4WD didn't necessarily have to come in the form of a full-sized truck.
 
What year/model Subaru first got your attention, and why?
 
Tim G.
'05 OBXTL-5MT

#6384 of 10833 Re: Slightly OT: How did Subaru 1st catch your eye? [timo1745] by rob_m

Jan 31, 2005 (7:47 am)

Replying to: timo1745 (Jan 31, 2005 7:03 am)
I did a lot of skiing in my 20's and 30's. I also own a Mustang which is totally impractical for NE winters. I stored it every year, and always had some sort of 'winter car', usually a Dodge Dart equipped with ski racks.
 
I was always intrigued by the number of Subarus in the ski area parking lots.
 
Long story short - I live on a hill. The Dart died, and I used the Mustang to go to work. It snowed, and the Mustang wouldn't make it up the hill to my house. The next day, I finally went out and bought a brand new 92 Loyale 4WD 5 speed wagon. Equipped it with a Kenwood sound system and ski racks. One of the best cars I ever owned.
 
Since then, I have bought a 96 Outback for my wife, replaced the Loyale with a 99 GT Sedan, replaced the 96 Outback with an 03 Outback, and am now looking to replace the 99 GT with an 05 GT.
 
Certainly not too far off-topic. Rob M.

#6385 of 10833 Re: Slightly OT: How did Subaru 1st catch your eye? [timo1745] by c_hunter

Jan 31, 2005 (8:26 am)

Replying to: timo1745 (Jan 31, 2005 7:03 am)
I have to say it was the Outback in 1996/1997 or so (when they first came out). It seemed like the perfect car for my lifestyle. I was not impressed when I test drove one (Ltd/auto) and bought another Honda. But 3-4 years later, I bought a 2nd-generation cloth/5-spd 2000 Outback and kept on buying them! Had an 00 base model (now my parents car), an 02 LL Bean, and now an 05 XT. Wife had an 03 Forester and I had an 03 WRX, briefly. I think I will probably always have some sort of Subaru wagon in the family.
 
Craig

#6386 of 10833 Caught my eye by dsattler

Jan 31, 2005 (9:22 am)

I had a girlfriend with an early 1980's Subie wagon (don't know which one), and you just couldn't kill it. It had 300k, only one wiper worked, heater was a joke, windows leaked, but it started every morning. Took it to Buffalo, NY one Christmas and, even though it was FWD, never got stuck. I knew I'd own one someday. And I do.

#6387 of 10833 by ateixeira

Jan 31, 2005 (10:12 am)

Chuck: I can take off my coat, but then what about the kids, belted in to child safety seats?
 
A neighbor had a BRAT, and at first we'd laugh at the concept until he kept driving by dad's Buick Electra stuck in the snow. It was very humbling.
 
-juice

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