quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by emac:
As an extra piece of advice I Will not buy another vehicle without eyesight. It has saved me three times thus far and at a $500 deductible paid for itself. I have not had it stop the vehicle unless it was needed. Not to mention that on long road trips the adaptive cruise is very very welcome. Subaru’s system is ranked one of the bests by IIHS.

Thanks for that. I'm still skeptical about these automatic safety systems, but I'm not opposed to a vehicle that has it.

In this case, the Forester I'm looking at has Eyesight, but the Outback doesn't.

I have a 2017 Forester with the naturally aspirated engine. It's got a lot of low-end torque and I haven't had problems passing on the highway. However, the point of my post is how much I love my Forester's Eyesight system in terms of a safety feature and to take the stress out of long highway trips.

Rogue:

What model years are the two cars??

Both 2016s.

2018 Outback here, 2.5L with a lot of the Limited goodies, Eyesight, but cloth seats. Love the car. Quiet, comfortable. Electric driver's seat is nice for the height diff between us. Unless you have a lot of big hills or tow, the 4 cyl isn't that bad. Coming out of a V6 RAV4 took some getting used to, but going from 22mpg to 27 is nice. Would love to trade my '16 Crosstrek in for one.

I recll the OB has wider seats - the Forrester perhaps more headroom.

Tires same diameter??
Just a side note - Subies DO NOT like directional tread tires - wheel balance and rotation get all messed up on mine.


Test drive both - go on feel....................

Have a 2016 Outback just like the one you described. Like it a lot. We picked it over the Forester for the increased size/room.
I've gone as far as to test drive the 6 cylinder version you mentioned and while I'd like it better I'm not willing to pay the difference to upgrade at this point.
Ours does really well up to about 80 MPH. At that point it kind of runs out of steam and the gas mileage goes way down. Not usually an issue for us as 90% of our travel is around town.
I like being able to do the oil changes which are stupid simple.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I don’t like that anemic motor. Outback, get the 3.6. If going to the Forester, get the XT.

Agreed, as I mentioned in my first post. However, lightly used versions are tough to find, and I don't want to take the depreciation hit on a brand new vehicle nor do I want to pay new vehicle pricing.

That’s the deal, they barely depreciate. Subaru leads industry in resale. The trick is to buy a new one at invoice or slightly below. And I can get that done for you. Buying a used Subaru doesn’t make sense to me. If you look up invoice that’s what I could get one delivered to your front door for.

Subaru just sent me an email. 0% for 63 months on Foresters and Outbacks. That’s free money they are offering and I can get one at invoice. Please pick up the Courtesy Phone

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Prefontaine,

For the heck of it I checked out prices at the St. Cloud Subaru in MN, I bought my 2014 Outback there. You can get a 2018 Outback 2.5i for $25,275 with 0% for 63 months. You get a great loan rate and a warranty, something to consider.

I have a 2000 Outback station wagon and literally could not have been happier the nearly 18 years I’ve had it. I keep thinking I need a new one, but will probably procrastinate until I can’t put it off any longer. Perhaps my driving habits and expectations are not normal, but I’ve never regretted having four cylinders despite some high passes between home and the big city. I can drive the speed limit going up with no problem.

No experience with the Forester, but I’ve long since lost track of how many times I’ve been glad of the greater back to front room in the Outback with the rear seats folded down.

Outback

I will be in the market next year and the Outback is high on my list. One criticism I have read is that braking is sub par. I am questioning that criticism since none of the Outback owners posting here have mentioned anything brake related. Any thoughts?

Wife has a 14 Forrester, I have a 12 Outback. Both have CVT's. The Forrester is more nimble, the Outback more luxurious. The Outback seats are wider, and are set lower relitave to the floor pan. For me this gives the Outback better leg room because the seat has more lower leg support. The Outback has more rear seat room. Both are excellent cars but I prefer the Outback.

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
I will be in the market next year and the Outback is high on my list. One criticism I have read is that braking is sub par. I am questioning that criticism since none of the Outback owners posting here have mentioned anything brake related. Any thoughts?

I step on the pedal, it stops. I step harder on the pedal, it stops faster.

If I stomp on the pedal like my life depends on it, the tires lock up and the ABS kicks in. The brake force is enough to lock up the tires, so they are sufficient in that regard.

On long downhills, I use the transmission to maintain a steady pace so that my brakes don't overheat. I do this with all my vehicles, but the Subaru CVT makes it easy with the paddle shifters.

I can't remark on brake fade for spirited/track/trailer braking, as my Outback isn't really meant for that.

My 2012 had a fair bit of nose dive when braking. I fixed mine with stiffer springs and struts (as a byproduct of lifting the suspension). The stiffer springs improved brake feel for me.

quote:

Subaru CVT makes it easy with the paddle shifters.

at first skeptical, I've grown to reallyReallyREALLY like this feature. On the very few instances I wanted more acceleration than 'just the gas pedal' provided, instant response with this. Have used a few times in long steep mountain passes with satisfaction as well.

My wife has a 2017 FXT, the outback is more refined but she liked the Forrester and I wanted the XT.

Seats although comfy offer 0 bolster support which limits my fun, wish they would put the WRX seats in the XT. Engine is great, a real sleeper, handles fairly well...steering is a bit too light though....CVT sucks...in manual mode it trys to act like a DSG auto but you can only use the "flappy paddles"....yuck

On the FXT the plastic feels cheap and has a lot of rattles and squeaks but I knew that going into it.

interface for the infotainment center is straightforward....no silly knob to play with.

Forrester has a nice high seating position which both my wife and I like.

she gets 21mpg and I somehow get 24mpg mixed driving, it will do 27mpg pure highway

All in I would still buy it tomorrow.....unless my wife gave into the 3 series wagon....

Is the outback small bass boat tow capable?

quote:

Originally posted by svick25:
Is the outback small bass boat tow capable?

2700lbs with the 4cyl.

Outback has always had better proportions imho.

Hard to get true wagons (though I guess the outback is kind of a wagon on stilts) these days and always found their length to really add in their overall utility. The extra overall length of the outback would put it ahead of the forester for me.

Wife has a 2016 Outback, love it.
Won't ever buy another vehicle without automatic safety systems like Eyesight.
All the features are great but the best one is the pacing cruise control.
I love that.

My brother just bought a new Outback. I've seen and drove it once for a few miles. Nice car with some nice features for the basic base model he got.