2012 Outback

[2008wrx]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Those boxer HG issues were fixed some years ago, weren't they???

A Subaru will have tons of 'Personality' and looks better/exciting than any of the others the OP mentioned. The CRV looks ugly and hopefully comes with a prescription for medication that prevents you from falling asleep at the wheel.

We test drove an Outback while car shopping for a relative and although the relative went with a Forester, the Outback was VERY fun to drive, had good power (6-cyl) and felt very solid overall.


+1 very well said

 

[2008wrx]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
2012 CRV AWD? That would be my choice in this class. It is a simple car with a proven engine and transmission combination.

The Subaru just makes me shiver because of the head gasket issues they have had in the past with the Boxer engines.


Subaru back in the days had head gasket problems. Mid 90's V6 toyota has head gasket problems too. Honda is notorius for "leaking rack and pinion + slipping auto trans." Who does not have problem(s)?

 

[JHZR2]

The 2013 updates on the outback look good. IMO the 12 CRV was a step backwards and doesn't offer MT.

A basic trim mt outback is a great buy, IMO.

 

[JavierG]

My

Outback followed by the CR-V and Outlander.
The Subie really is a great choice especially for the money with that awesome AWD.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
A Subaru will have tons of 'Personality' and looks better/exciting than any of the others the OP mentioned. The CRV looks ugly...

Current Outback and CR-V are both pretty darn ugly to me, alas, it's a very subjective thing.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
A Subaru will have tons of 'Personality' and looks better/exciting than any of the others the OP mentioned. The CRV looks ugly...

Current Outback and CR-V are both pretty darn ugly to me, alas, it's a very subjective thing.

And the interior's took a nosedive too, they are cheaper in feel/look vs the previous generation. However something has to give when you retain price/increase size/feature set at least with Subaru.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
The 2013 updates on the outback look good. IMO the 12 CRV was a step backwards and doesn't offer MT.

A basic trim mt outback is a great buy, IMO.


Pretty good updates I guess.

For 2013, the Outback and Legacy have gone from the EJ series 2.5 to the newer FB timing chain equipped 2.5. Along with this change is a "new" lighter-weight CVT AT. I hate the sounds of lighter.

Joel

 

[wallyuwl]

Originally Posted By: JTK

Pretty good updates I guess.

For 2013, the Outback and Legacy have gone from the EJ series 2.5 to the newer FB timing chain equipped 2.5. Along with this change is a "new" lighter-weight CVT AT. I hate the sounds of lighter.

Joel


Oh, so the 2.5 in the 2012s has a timing belt? I didn't think anyone made engines with timing belts anymore. Glad we are waiting. Replacing a timing belt is an expense I don't need.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl


Oh, so the 2.5 in the 2012s has a timing belt?


Yes. Outbacks and Legacys with the 2.5 up to 2012 use the old tried and true (but modernized) EJ series that has a timing belt. It's a non-issue though. Fairly cheap and easy to replace compared to most, plus you don't hear of timing belt related issues/failures with them.

If you were interested in one, I would never let the T-belt thing scare you.

Honestly, the smaller, lighter, but massively long timing chain equipped FB series 2.5 scares me a LOT more.

Joel

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: JTK

Honestly, the smaller, lighter, but massively long timing chain equipped FB series 2.5 scares me a LOT more.


IIRC It's actually two timing chains that are the same length and setup as any "normal" DOHC I4, not one massively long chain. Maybe not quite as scary as it could be

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: rationull

IIRC It's actually two timing chains that are the same length and setup as any "normal" DOHC I4, not one massively long chain. Maybe not quite as scary as it could be

Good call. It is two chains, a mile of chain 'guard-rail' and a big old area between the timing chain cover and block that needs to be sealed so oil doesn't leak.

I'm not against this setup. I'm sure it will prove to be excellent and is the way it's going to be from now on. I'd hope to never have cylinder head or head gasket issues with this setup. It's pricey enough on the simpler T-belt equipped boxers. Could you imagine the expense with one of these chainers?

Joel

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: JTK

Good call. It is two chains, a mile of chain 'guard-rail' and a big old area between the timing chain cover and block that needs to be sealed so oil doesn't leak.

I'm not against this setup. I'm sure it will prove to be excellent and is the way it's going to be from now on. I'd hope to never have cylinder head or head gasket issues with this setup. It's pricey enough on the simpler T-belt equipped boxers. Could you imagine the expense with one of these chainers?

Joel


Agreed. I do like the idea of timing chains in general and they seem to be pretty reliable, but with how easy a timing belt swap is on the EJ series engine (and only required at a ~105k mile interval), I hardly see it as a disadvantage on these vehicles. Didn't stop me from buying a WRX, especially given that the EJ25 is a pretty well proven engine in turbo applications.

 

[cptbarkey]

have almost 7k miles on my 2012 outback cvt premium, i love it.

i've ran into one niggling issue with the usb port, i listen to audio books often, and the stock head unit cant make heads or tails on chapter sequences, it jumps from chapter 7 to 14, back to 3 for instance. i just use an external mp3 player with the aux jack instead.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Those boxer HG issues were fixed some years ago, weren't they???

A Subaru will have tons of 'Personality' and looks better/exciting than any of the others the OP mentioned. The CRV looks ugly and hopefully comes with a prescription for medication that prevents you from falling asleep at the wheel.

We test drove an Outback while car shopping for a relative and although the relative went with a Forester, the Outback was VERY fun to drive, had good power (6-cyl) and felt very solid overall.


My 2007 required head gaskets around 70,000 miles with it's new owner. The leaks were external only but still the stop leak that you have to use every 30,000 miles or 2 years did not work.

Bill