Want me a Subaru Outback ...

[LoneRanger]

My 2009 Forester has served well, but the honest truth is I'm just getting weary of the 5-speed stick shift. I want to stay with Subaru, in the price class the AWD system is unbeatable, and I want the better highway manners of the Outback over a new Forester. Lou Fusz Subaru in Missouri seems unbeatable on pricing, at least based on listings on Autotrader.

Any issues with the 2018 model yr of Outback? I remember the platform used to have a problem with steering wheel shimmy when they first refreshed into what is the current body style.

2.5i Premium, Dark gray, w/ black after market rims is what I'd like.

 

[andyd]

" Dark gray, w/ black after market rims " Most of the cars that give me trouble when I change lanes are some shade of asphalt (gray). As a used car buyer, I never bought a red car. After my gray Camry was T-boned one dark and stormy night, I added gray to to the list

 

[AZjeff]

When we were looking at MY '14s I checked the Subie forums and there was talk of some of them not tracking well and extreme tire sensitivity or some such thing that had to do with alignment. Have wondered if that got sorted out. Just something to check on. Just my luck I would have gotten one that dog tracked.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

What year did they 'refresh'?
Take one for a long test drive, on different types of roads and speeds.
Check any Subaru Forums/Messageboards online, for more details / updates / info and complaints.

 

[skyactiv]

Isn't it a lot easier to shift your Forester than pegging the shifter up and down on your motorcycle?
Don't be fooled by the the throttle tip-in Subaru programmed in the ECU so people wont feel it's a dog during the test drive.
Subaru being AWD has zero toe on the front and wheel wheels. Not the best thing for driving on a straight highway.

 

[sw99]

Love our 18 OB 2.5L Premium. Lots of issues with the big screen due to software bugs they are trying to correct. So far in our first summer, we are getting 33-34 mpg. We do tend to get better mpg than most due to mostly hwy driving 70/30. Overall we love this car. I must admit, if the next couple year OB's don't get the turbo we are getting the Forester XT.

 

[Virtus_Probi]

Originally Posted By: sw99
Love our 18 OB 2.5L Premium. Lots of issues with the big screen due to software bugs they are trying to correct. So far in our first summer, we are getting 33-34 mpg. We do tend to get better mpg than most due to mostly hwy driving 70/30. Overall we love this car. I must admit, if the next couple year OB's don't get the turbo we are getting the Forester XT.

If you're talking about buying new, Subaru killed the Forester XT after the '18 model year.
My take is that they were eliminating internal competition for the new Ascent, but who knows what the real story is.
I think it would make a lot of sense for them to get a tuned version of the 2.4l DIT from the Ascent into the WRX STI and a new FXT, but I'm sure not making those decisions.

 

[CourierDriver]

There are zillions of used ones, u gotta look....do the Dave Ramsey thing...on youtube on buying used...

 

[sloinker]

When I look for Subaru parts at the junkyard and ask their location, I'm always told "Outback".

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
There are zillions of used ones, u gotta look....do the Dave Ramsey thing...on youtube on buying used...

link?

 

[IndyIan]

I still like ours, tip in is a bit aggressive, but the car never feels all that slow to me. Slap it into manual mode and click down 3 gears and passing is fine. Our doesn't track quite as straight as my Focus but it also doesn't follow truck ruts or other stuff either, if its as simple as tweaking the toe I might just change it myself.
18's are noticeably quieter than the previous ones as well. We have the base radio/screen which runs apple car play just fine, the fancier screen was having issues but it seems lately its been better.
My wife also got 30mpg on the last tank just doing her regular driving, our 06 CRV was getting low 20's in the same use so I'm pretty happy with that.

 

[mrsilv04]

If Chicago isn't too far, try Grand Subaru. We have three Subarus at work, that came from there.

One co-worker refers to them as "Five Grand Subaru", since that's what they saved him.

https://www.grandsubaru.com/

 

[hpb]

We have at least 10 late model (2017 and 2018) Outbacks in the fleet at work, and they've been great, no reliability issues at all, and they are very nice to drive. I'd have no hesitation in buying one.

 

[emg]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff
When we were looking at MY '14s I checked the Subie forums and there was talk of some of them not tracking well and extreme tire sensitivity or some such thing that had to do with alignment. Have wondered if that got sorted out.


I believe it was fixed. If I remember correctly, it was something to do with the wheel alignment changing when there was a lot of weight in the back, and causing the tail to wiggle.

 

[LoneRanger]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Isn't it a lot easier to shift your Forester than pegging the shifter up and down on your motorcycle?
Don't be fooled by the the throttle tip-in Subaru programmed in the ECU so people wont feel it's a dog during the test drive.
Subaru being AWD has zero toe on the front and wheel wheels. Not the best thing for driving on a straight highway.



Nope, not really. The bike shifts very effortlessly, you can actually upshift most bikes w/o clutch once you are accustomed to that bike's throttle response, the Guzzi's no exception there. The Forester's shifter throw and clutch synergy feels somewhere between a car's and a truck's.

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I still like ours, tip in is a bit aggressive, but the car never feels all that slow to me. Slap it into manual mode and click down 3 gears and passing is fine. Our doesn't track quite as straight as my Focus but it also doesn't follow truck ruts or other stuff either, if its as simple as tweaking the toe I might just change it myself.
18's are noticeably quieter than the previous ones as well. We have the base radio/screen which runs apple car play just fine, the fancier screen was having issues but it seems lately its been better.
My wife also got 30mpg on the last tank just doing her regular driving, our 06 CRV was getting low 20's in the same use so I'm pretty happy with that.


Most of latter half of June and beginning of July I let our pastor borrow my Forester after his car got totaled from a hit and run driver hitting the rear of it at a stop light and taking off. He ended up getting a 2018 Outback, and the day I gave him a ride to the dealership to pick it up we took it for a drive before the paper work. I was astounded at the acceleration, at least from the passenger seat. I was expecting it to a bit of a dog, and while we're not talking sports car power it certainly got up and went. I found it hard to believe it has the same basic engine as my Forester. He was doing that break-in thing where you goose it from launch and shut down before exceeding about 75% of rpm's to redline.

I suppose that was the CVT fully exploiting the power band? Whatever the case, it impressed me.

 

[JTK]

Love'em. If I ever get back into a Subaru, it would probably be an Outback. To date, I've owned a Legacy, an XV Crosstrek and a Forester. I hear you on the 5spd manual. I grew weary of mine in ~2yrs/36K miles withe the XV and traded it for a CVT Forester.

 

[Andrew1972]

My parents love their 2015 Outback which is similar generation. No issues and a really decent wagon or car.

 

[Al]

I don't care for the OB. The Forester sits a lot higher. Without the Turbo or the 6 in the OB they can't get out of their own way just like any other SUV without a turbo or 6.

The CVT can not be fixed..only replaced for $6K...Get the 10 year extended warranty. The 18 Forester XT is the hottest SUV and best value for the buck with the best AWD Sys going.

 

[emg]

Originally Posted By: Al
The CVT can not be fixed..


Yet the Forester service manual has a lot of info on how to repair the CVT.

As I understand it, Subaru generally don't do that at the moment because most failures are covered under warranty (they recently extended mine to ten years) and they want any failed CVTs back to analyze.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: emg
Originally Posted By: Al
The CVT can not be fixed..


Yet the Forester service manual has a lot of info on how to repair the CVT.

As I understand it, Subaru generally don't do that at the moment because most failures are covered under warranty (they recently extended mine to ten years) and they want any failed CVTs back to analyze.

OK I stand corrected. Thanks.