H6 engine v. H4 in Subaru Outback wagon

[kristen]

My husband and I are thinking of buying an Outback. Probably a used
2003 model. We've only gotten the chance to drive the standard H4
engine. Is it worth it to get the H6? Right now I drive a 98 Toyota
Corolla and although its a great car I hate how it takes so long to
speed up. I dont want to buy an H4 to only wish I had gone the H6
route. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[John M.]

My husband and I are thinking of buying an Outback. Probably a used
2003 model. We've only gotten the chance to drive the standard H4
engine. Is it worth it to get the H6? Right now I drive a 98 Toyota
Corolla and although its a great car I hate how it takes so long to
speed up. I dont want to buy an H4 to only wish I had gone the H6
route. Does anyone have any experience with this?

After many years of cars with 4 cylinders, I found the H6 to be very
refreshing.
I am not a speedster, but it's nice to have the larger engine. I think it
feels more comfortable.
The technology used in the H6 is pretty amazing too. I'm very happy with my
'02 H6 VDC sedan.
John

 

[Jeff]

My husband and I are thinking of buying an Outback. Probably a used
2003 model. We've only gotten the chance to drive the standard H4
engine. Is it worth it to get the H6? Right now I drive a 98 Toyota
Corolla and although its a great car I hate how it takes so long to
speed up. I dont want to buy an H4 to only wish I had gone the H6
route. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I have driven an H4 outback and own a 04 H-6 OBW and find that the added
power is definitely worth the cost difference. It seems like there is less
load on the engine at speed and the 6 has a great deal more go to it.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

 

[Tony Hwang]

After many years of cars with 4 cylinders, I found the H6 to be very
refreshing.
I am not a speedster, but it's nice to have the larger engine. I think it
feels more comfortable.
The technology used in the H6 is pretty amazing too. I'm very happy with my
'02 H6 VDC sedan.
John

Hi,
And at present record high gas price.
Drive sith stick so you can have more control of your car.
Tony

 

[Matt hotmail]

I drive the 2002 H-6 in the LL Bean fashion. I get between 20-22 around
town and 27 on the highway using high octane shell gas.

 

[David]

Does anyone have any experience with this?

The OBW has plenty of power with the H4 and 5-speed. I've never driven
the 4cylinder automatic version of it, but 4-cylinder engines often disappoint
when coupled to an automatic.

 

[nfisherman]

I have driven an H4 outback and own a 04 H-6 OBW and find that the added
power is definitely worth the cost difference. It seems like there is less
load on the engine at speed and the 6 has a great deal more go to it.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

I agree. We have an H6 and we love it. You won't just get the larger
engine. The H6 also comes with more options. When you consider the
additional equipment besides the engine, it's worth the cost. Be
careful though...we hadn't had the car two weeks when my wife got a
speeding ticket. She was used to the road noise at various speeds
with her previous car. This one is so quiet that she didn't realize
how fast she was going. At least that's her story and she's sticking
to it. I have to admit that she has a point. The car is as smooth as
silk.

 

[busterb]

The six is not worth the price when new. used may not be such a steep
premium. the 4 is fine plus gets an avg of 24-25 mpg.

 

[Jon Macey]

I agree. We have an H6 and we love it. You won't just get the larger
engine. The H6 also comes with more options. When you consider the
additional equipment besides the engine, it's worth the cost. Be
careful though...we hadn't had the car two weeks when my wife got a
speeding ticket. She was used to the road noise at various speeds
with her previous car. This one is so quiet that she didn't realize
how fast she was going. At least that's her story and she's sticking
to it. I have to admit that she has a point. The car is as smooth as
silk.

I agree as well. My parents lease a H4 outback. I drove that before getting
my H6 2.5 years ago. The H4 seemed underpowered to me, but I love the H6:
plenty of power when you want it. I only wish the auto trans was better
mated to the 6- or had a manual option.

 

[Gene Goldenfeld]

The OBW has plenty of power with the H4 and 5-speed. I've never driven
the 4cylinder automatic version of it, but 4-cylinder engines often disappoint
when coupled to an automatic.

Before buying the MT 99, I demo'd an AT. Sluggish through the gears.
If you want AT, then the 6 may be worth it, if you have the money.
Otherwise, there's plenty of juice in the MT4, unless you're sitting in
heavy traffic *all* the time.

Gene Goldenfeld

 

[JDC]

I have been driving a 2.5L, 4 cylinder Outback since 2000. I drive up into
the mountains in Vermont on a regular basis. It has plenty of power, in
fact, as the car had aged it has gained power. Subaru has a five percent
market share in Vermont, most of which is in the 4 cylinder model. Power is
not an issue. I regularly get 25 mpg, sometimes slightly more. Works for me.

 

[Debra Co]

I drove a bare-bones Corolla for 12 years before getting my H-6 two years ago.
I have found it to be invaluable here around NYC and NJ where one must be able
to accelerate quickly in many situations. I find myself confidently executing
maneuvers that I would have never dared to try in my old car because it just
didn't have enough power. Never regretted the premium model yet. And everyone
who gets in the car comments that it looks and drives like a luxury car that
costs 1.5 times as much.

 

[Debra Co]

PS - the premium gas costs more but I just DON'T CARE.

 

[Debra Co]

She was used to the road noise at various speeds

with her previous car. This one is so quiet that she didn't realize
how fast she was going.

I can second this. In my old Corolla, if I went over 70 the whole car shook
and made tons of noise. In the H6, frequently you can creep up to 80 and not
even realize it because of the smoothness and quietness. 80 in this car feels
like 60 in my old car.

 

[kristen]

At least that's her story and she's sticking

to it. I have to admit that she has a point. The car is as smooth as
silk.

Thank you! Thats too funny. I could see myself having the same
problem. My '98 Corolla is a great little car but going 85 on the
highway can get pretty shaky.

 

[kristen]

Before buying the MT 99, I demo'd an AT. Sluggish through the gears.
If you want AT, then the 6 may be worth it, if you have the money.
Otherwise, there's plenty of juice in the MT4, unless you're sitting in
heavy traffic *all* the time.

Gene Goldenfeld

I doubt I will be getting a manual transmission seeing as how I never
learned to drive stick so not sure if i want to start on this car.
Maybe I can get my husband to show me first on his old 92 Cavelier
before we bring it to the junk yard. But he thinks we should stick to
an automatic. Thanks though!

 

[kristen]

Wow. Thanks everyone. Looks like I definitely need the H6. I am also
excited for the AWD since I live in northern VT and it would be nice
to have in the snowy winters. I'll probably hit some dealerships in
NY, NH and MA because here in VT those Outbacks fly out of the
dealerships and they aren't good deals at all. Its like they think you
cant go anyplace else to purchase an Outback. At least now I know that
I want the H6!

Kristen

 

[Alan]

Our previous car was a 99 Camey 4 cyl. We went with the H6. We feel it is
safer- sometimes you need the speed to enter an on-ramp, pass a truck, or
just generally get out of the way of a danger.

 

[Alan]

Not to start something between spouses, but the H6 wagon is the loudest car
we've owned.

 

[Mike]

My '01 OBW (auto) 2.5L is sluggish, seems to have no low end torque
under moderate acceleration. You really have to let the engine wind up
past 4000 RPM to get decent power out of it. Mileage is probably about
the same between the 4 and H6.

Doesn't the H6 need premium fuel?

But then again, maybe you won't have piston slap & head gasket leaks
with the H6

;-)

Mike