Help on choice for 2005 Outback

[stevem46]

We are at our wits end with our Volvo cross country which is seven
years old. It is a solid car which drives well, but is always having
electrical and electronic issues. Almost every month we have to deal
with the check engine light. We are most likely planning a purchase of
the Outback.

We have a couple of concerns. One is the gas mileage. I have seen
some postings where the stated 19/24 official mileage was not even
closely approached. Can anyone who has tracked their mileage
with the H6 or XT automatic transmission give me information on their
experience.

In addition, my wife only drives an automatic. Some of the reviews
have dissed the new 5 speed auto transmission and its performance with
both the H6 and XT.. Please give us any feedback if you have either of
these engines with the auto transmission.
Thanks for your help.
Steve

 

[don]

I have just under 15,000 on a MY 2003 H6 with automatic. My overall average
is 20.85. I am not a foot to the floor driver and live in New England. On
"pure road" I get 25 to 27 MPG. Hope that helps you.
***********

 

[jabario]

Your best bet is a regular 4 cyl with automatic. You will get 23-26
avg, in city driving. Some momos just dislike auto transmissions.
They change their tune when they have problems and there are no
warranties on clutches and such. The best bet is to drive them
youself. I have no trouble beating many vehicles at stoplights (esp in
rain). One does not buy the outback for speed. If thats what you want
buy a vette. Outbacks are comfortable reliable vehicles that are
capable of handling some rough weather and a variety of conditionsand
are perfect SUV replacements, Mileage, speed are not their sole
purpose. As an all around vehicle I'm 100% happy. I would definitely
buy another if they lose the integrated stereo and make the outback
more rugged looking again. Hopefully sales will flop and they'll go
back to what made the OB so unique.

 

[KLS]

Your best bet is a regular 4 cyl with automatic. You will get 23-26
avg, in city driving. Some momos just dislike auto transmissions.
They change their tune when they have problems and there are no
warranties on clutches and such. The best bet is to drive them
youself. I have no trouble beating many vehicles at stoplights (esp in
rain). One does not buy the outback for speed. If thats what you want
buy a vette. Outbacks are comfortable reliable vehicles that are
capable of handling some rough weather and a variety of conditionsand
are perfect SUV replacements, Mileage, speed are not their sole
purpose. As an all around vehicle I'm 100% happy. I would definitely
buy another if they lose the integrated stereo and make the outback
more rugged looking again. Hopefully sales will flop and they'll go
back to what made the OB so unique.

I agree with this post: you don't need the turbo engine in the OBW to
get satisfactory automatic transmission performance. My mother has
the regular 2005 OBW 2.5i with an automatic transmission (after
selling her 1998 Legacy OBW Limited with 89k miles, also automatic),
and she's very happy with this new car after loving her 1998 all
along.

 

[LB]

I agree with this post: you don't need the turbo engine in the OBW to
get satisfactory automatic transmission performance. My mother has
the regular 2005 OBW 2.5i with an automatic transmission (after
selling her 1998 Legacy OBW Limited with 89k miles, also automatic),
and she's very happy with this new car after loving her 1998 all
along.

I agree too. I have 2005 2.5i Outback 4 cylinder. It's excellent on gas. I
think I easily get 24 in the city and even about 31 (according to car
computer) on a highway. It's not exactly a race car , however in the sport
mode it's perfectly fine. I never had any problem on any of the mountain
passes in Washington state.

 

[TG]

Subaru seems to set the CEL paramaters a bit tight on many of the
codes...The light comes on much more frequently on my Subs than some of my
otther OBDII vehicles even though nothing is really amiss. Very annoying. TG

 

[Deb]

I have 51,500 on a 2002 6 cyl OBW. I drive 70-75mph on the highway
every day, a distance of 50 miles daily. I've gotten 25 mpg
consistently. The car does "require" premium fuel which I faithfully
put in.

 

[John Kubler]

We are at our wits end with our Volvo cross country which is seven
years old. It is a solid car which drives well, but is always having
electrical and electronic issues. Almost every month we have to deal
with the check engine light. We are most likely planning a purchase of
the Outback.

We have a couple of concerns. One is the gas mileage. I have seen
some postings where the stated 19/24 official mileage was not even
closely approached. Can anyone who has tracked their mileage
with the H6 or XT automatic transmission give me information on their
experience.

In addition, my wife only drives an automatic. Some of the reviews
have dissed the new 5 speed auto transmission and its performance with
both the H6 and XT.. Please give us any feedback if you have either of
these engines with the auto transmission.
Thanks for your help.
Steve

In November 2004 I traded my 1999 Volvo S80 with 63000 miles for an
Outback LLBean. I still have an 850 Turbo wagon. I sold the S80 because
I was concerned with the cars extensive electronics.
The LLBean comes standard with the H6 and 5-speed AT. I have now 2200
miles driven primarily in suburban traffic (Northern Kentucky with lots
of hills and traffic). My average is 18 to 19 mpg. I have driven once
for one-hour north through Cinci and back and averaged 23 mpg. I am not
100% satisfied yet, but I will wait until summer when I am using it on
longer trips. I believe that I should be able to reach the advertised 25
mpg.
How does the OB compare to my Volvos? It is lot more fun to drive. The
H6 with the 5 speed AT is wonderful. The pick up is very similar to my
Turbo Wagon. The seats are close, but not quiet there. The brakes are
OK, but Volvo brakes are better. The suspension is acceptable
considering it is an AWD and has a raised suspension. It drives similar
to the 850 Turbo Wagon with the sports suspension, but the S80 was a
much better road car.
Overall, I am satisfied with the OB and I really enjoy the LLBean package.

 

[lkreh]

youself. I have no trouble beating many vehicles at stoplights (esp in
rain). One does not buy the outback for speed. If thats what you want
buy a vette. Outbacks are comfortable reliable vehicles that are

Jaba,

You'll have to explain your comments. The 2.5 XT Wagon goes 0-60 in
~5.8 secs. One does not buy the outback for speed? Even the aspro 2.5
goes 0-60 in ~10.2 secs with gear in it. You must be looking at a
Subaru brochure from the 1995.

 

[jabario]

The XT is a turbo. Gets poor mileage and asks for premium fuel. Also
gets pricey. I'm sorry but 10.2 0-60 is not a speed demon. I cant'
complain my 04 OBW is slow but its not a real necksnapper either.
Thats not what I wanted. As an SUV alternative that gets good mileage
its great.

 

[Nicolaas]

Wow, I read that others are getting @25mpg with their 2.5 4 cyl.
My 2005 2.5i 4 cyl. is getting about 20mpg. Most of my driving is on the
highway, about 10 miles each way to work traveling at 60-65 mph.
I wish that I could find one postive thing about my OBW. I'll keep looking.
:O)

 

[Nicolaas]

I checked the mpg this morning. After my ride to work at a constant 60mph,
it said 20.7mpg.

 

[Alan]

In November 2004 I traded my 1999 Volvo S80 with 63000 miles for an
Outback LLBean. I still have an 850 Turbo wagon. I sold the S80 because
I was concerned with the cars extensive electronics.
The LLBean comes standard with the H6 and 5-speed AT. I have now 2200
miles driven primarily in suburban traffic (Northern Kentucky with lots
of hills and traffic). My average is 18 to 19 mpg. I have driven once
for one-hour north through Cinci and back and averaged 23 mpg. I am not
100% satisfied yet, but I will wait until summer when I am using it on
longer trips. I believe that I should be able to reach the advertised 25
mpg.
How does the OB compare to my Volvos? It is lot more fun to drive. The
H6 with the 5 speed AT is wonderful. The pick up is very similar to my
Turbo Wagon. The seats are close, but not quiet there. The brakes are
OK, but Volvo brakes are better. The suspension is acceptable
considering it is an AWD and has a raised suspension. It drives similar
to the 850 Turbo Wagon with the sports suspension, but the S80 was a
much better road car.
Overall, I am satisfied with the OB and I really enjoy the LLBean package.

I have an 04 OBW LL Bean, 30,000 miles. I consistently get 20 MPG city and
27 Highway.

 

[John Kubler]

I checked the mpg this morning. After my ride to work at a constant 60mph,
it said 20.7mpg.

How many miles do you have on your OBW?

 

[Nicolaas]

2000 miles.

How many miles do you have on your OBW?

 

[steve ball]

No car gets the EPA official mileage in real world driving. The they
compute that in laboratory best case conditions. On a dyno, with no wind
resistance, A/C, radio, rain, potholes or gravel. Then, they don't even
measure the gas used. They measure the exhaust, and calculate what the
fuel usage should be based on that.

We have an 04 Outback with the base 2.5i and the 4 speed auto. We get
about 21.5 MPG (which is just under the EPA 19/26 figure). The car is no
speed demon, but can get out of it's own way, especially if you're not
afraid to use the gas pedal and rev the engine.

Most of that is urban/suburban stop and go in Seattle, which is pretty
hilly. My wife's Prius went from 50 MPG down to 40 MPG when she joined a
vanpool and the mileage went from 90% hiway to 90% around town.

We've had no trouble climbing hills and mountains around here, with the
occasional hunting for gears while climbing really steep stuff (The hills
that make trucks and busses slow down to 25 MPH). Unfortunately there's
one of those on my regular route home from town.

Steve

 

[Edward Hayes]

ALL of the cars I've owned get the EPA rated mileage and sometime
better, unless I drive like I stole it. Those cars have included a
Volvo/ Turbo Saab, Jeep GC 4.0L and now my 2000 Forester. Some is
wrong with the vehicle or the way it's driven.

 

[Steve]

We just bought an Outback Limited and it is awesome.
Our 2001 Outback averages about 26-27 MPG....my wife was pretty easy on it
though.

 

[Adam Helberg]

We are at our wits end with our Volvo cross country which is seven
years old. It is a solid car which drives well, but is always having
electrical and electronic issues. Almost every month we have to deal
with the check engine light. We are most likely planning a purchase of
the Outback.

We have a couple of concerns. One is the gas mileage. I have seen
some postings where the stated 19/24 official mileage was not even
closely approached. Can anyone who has tracked their mileage
with the H6 or XT automatic transmission give me information on their
experience.

In addition, my wife only drives an automatic. Some of the reviews
have dissed the new 5 speed auto transmission and its performance with
both the H6 and XT.. Please give us any feedback if you have either of
these engines with the auto transmission.
Thanks for your help.
Steve

I have the 2.5L 2002 Outback automatic. It's a reliable, comfortable car with very
smooth transmission. Someone with a family, in hilly area or more aggressive driving
habits may want the 6 cyl. If you live in snow country the all wheel drive is great,
here in South calif it's not necessary.

Adam

 

[Blair Baucom]

My cars used to get the EPA rated mileage until 1996 when I bought my
Ford Ranger XLT. EPA stated 18/24 mpg and I got 16/22 mpg from the time I
bought it till when it was totaled with 75,000 miles. Still was waiting for
"break-in" to occur to see improvement that others here & the salesmen talk
about but I have never experienced. Before this my 1986 Honda Accord, and
both of my Ford Probe GT's (1989 & 1993) got the EPA stated mileage from day
one.

I've had a 2005 Forester XS with the 5 speed manual since last
Thanksgiving which claims EPA 23/30 mpg and so far I have gotten 26/27 mpg
in the winter mostly on the interstate at 65 mph, so I am pretty happy so
far and hoping to see 30 in the spring. I relied on the EPA numbers in my
choice of the Forester over the Ford Escape XLT.

Blair

ALL of the cars I've owned get the EPA rated mileage and sometime better,
unless I drive like I stole it. Those cars have included a Volvo/ Turbo
Saab, Jeep GC 4.0L and now my 2000 Forester. Some is wrong with the
vehicle or the way it's driven.