Outback/Forester or Volvo XC70 - which one is better

[Boris]

Hello,

Consumer Reports gives lots of praise to Subaru, less so to Volvo.
Higher-end Outbacks are priced similarly to Volvo XC70 : low- to mid- $30Ks.
It seems the Outback is more reliable than the Volvo...but besides
reliability how do these compare? Which one is a better car?
Subaru's great reputation in building AWD cars costing low- to mid- $20K. Is
it still competive with its higher priced cars (I'm talking about
turbo-charged or 6 cyl. Outbacks and turbo-charged Forester)?
Also, Volvo has been manufacturing turbo-charged cars forever...but Subaru
started making them relatively recently...does it matter?

Thanks,
Boris

 

[Michael Pardee]

Hello,

Consumer Reports gives lots of praise to Subaru, less so to Volvo.
Higher-end Outbacks are priced similarly to Volvo XC70 : low- to mid-
$30Ks.
It seems the Outback is more reliable than the Volvo...but besides
reliability how do these compare? Which one is a better car?
Subaru's great reputation in building AWD cars costing low- to mid- $20K.
Is it still competive with its higher priced cars (I'm talking about
turbo-charged or 6 cyl. Outbacks and turbo-charged Forester)?
Also, Volvo has been manufacturing turbo-charged cars forever...but Subaru
started making them relatively recently...does it matter?

Thanks,
Boris

No recent experience with Subaru, but Volvo has had more dissatisfied
customers recently. The Golden Age ended in '93 when they went to FWD cars.
Volvo seems to have trouble - a lot of trouble - with each new technology.
They figure it out after a few years, but that means nearly every car has a
built-in deficiency. Volvo's early AWD was as fragile as a 4-40 tap. One
owner in the alt.autos.volvo forum had neglected to include his spare in the
tire rotation, and when he used the spare he didn't make it ten miles before
his AWD was destroyed. The present system is capable and more robust.

You're right about the turbos in Volvos though - my '85 has the original
turbo at 237K miles in spite of my inability to convince my wife to consider
the turbo when starting and stopping the engine. I think just about any
water cooled turbo will be fine.

The XC70 has been out long enough I wouldn't be afraid of it.

Mike

 

[lkreh]

Yours doesn't seem like a fair comparison. The Forester starts around
~$19K, Outback starts ~$21K and XC70 starts ~$34K. Sure, if you load
up an Outback you could approach the cost of an XC70, but then you're
really stretching the question.

Price independent, as you point out, a Subaru is statistically more
reliable. The XC70 is a heavier, perhaps safer, and more luxurious
car. You make the decision, unless you're buying it for me, in which
case I'll take the Volvo b/c I already have an Outback.

 

[jerryeveretts]

I have two Volvo's, and an outback, the first volvo is a 94 850 turbo
wagon with 90K. my outback is a 98 with 84K, since they have about the
same miles, I feel a comparison is fair, the Volvo has WAY more squeaks
and rattles, and feels MUCH older than the Subaru, however, I haven't
had an major trouble with either. the second Volvo, a 92 240 Wagon, has
180K. I just passed it down to my son, that is the best and most
reliable car of the bunch.

Jerry

 

[Edward Hayes]

I had a P1800 and a 640? each with the red old iron block engine. They
were solid as a rock with owners putting up like 250,000 miles without
a rebuild. Some where in the 90s Volvo reliability took an dive. The
best Volvo has to offer now is the S40 which is made in Belgium.
Owners of those cars (consumers Reports) are happy and it appears that
Volvo is making some headway at improving the overall line. From my
observation it appears that whenever an American car company gets
involved the quality goes down i.e. Ford & Volvo, GM & Saab etc. Once
you loose your reputation for building a decent vehicle it takes a
very long time to recover if you can do it at all. I drive a 2000
Forester 104,000 trouble free miles and have looked at a new S40 & S60
Volvo. Very impressive vehicle so maybe in a year or two (if quality
holds up and improves) I may consider one. If I buy today it would be
a no brainier and would be a Subaru.