Test drove an Outback today

[coustanis]

I posted in an earlier post that I was looking into the Outback. It seems
like a nice car. I stopped by Carmax
on the way home and test drove a 2001 2.5L. Nice car however.......
does anyone else think it's a bit underpowered? It just didn't seen to have
a lot
of get up and go. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect too much. Just makes
me wonder how
it'll do on hills while loaded.

Any thoughts or experiences??

TIA.

 

[Todd H.]

I posted in an earlier post that I was looking into the Outback. It
seems like a nice car. I stopped by Carmax on the way home and test
drove a 2001 2.5L. Nice car however....... does anyone else think
it's a bit underpowered? It just didn't seen to have a lot of get
up and go. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect too much. Just
makes me wonder how it'll do on hills while loaded.

Any thoughts or experiences??

It doesn't have the pickup of, say, Mazda 626 or the VW New Beetle-- I
suppose that's due to the OUtback being a pretty darned heavy all
wheel drive car with a pretty heavy and robust AWD system.

It has no problems on hills and highway though even with 4 peeps in
teh vehicle and camping goodies in the car top carrier. It just is a
bit of a dog off the line.

Great car though, I can't imagine having anything else for the cargo
capacity and non-SUV form factor I was lookin for.

Best Regards,

 

[Jim Stewart]

I posted in an earlier post that I was looking into the Outback. It seems
like a nice car. I stopped by Carmax
on the way home and test drove a 2001 2.5L. Nice car however.......
does anyone else think it's a bit underpowered? It just didn't seen to have
a lot
of get up and go. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect too much. Just makes
me wonder how
it'll do on hills while loaded.

Any thoughts or experiences??

Don't be afraid to drive it aggressively. Work it hard
and it will move.

 

[Bill Radio]

I agree it's not the winner when the light turns green, but it runs circles
around my not-so-old SUV in the mountains with a load of furniture and the
family. There has been much discussion as to whether or not the H6 engine
helps. While some say it makes all the difference, others say it's not
worth the additional expense. I bet it isn't the top criteria for most
Subaru buyers.

-Bill Radio

 

[Roy Shroyer]

I posted in an earlier post that I was looking into the Outback. It seems
like a nice car. I stopped by Carmax
on the way home and test drove a 2001 2.5L. Nice car however.......
does anyone else think it's a bit underpowered? It just didn't seen to have
a lot
of get up and go. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect too much. Just makes
me wonder how
it'll do on hills while loaded.

Any thoughts or experiences??

TIA.

I own an 02 OBW wagon with the 2.5L and a 5 speed. Drove both the auto and
the stick. No comparison IMO.

The 5 speed version has adequate power while the auto seemed to me to be
underpowered.

I also own an Altima 3.5SE 5 speed and it has very good power and
acceleration. But the Sube is amuch better car overall, especially with
regard to fit, finish, shifter feel, handling, etc etc.

The Nissan's VQ35 engine makes up for a lot of shortfalls in my opinion, and
it also gets better gas mileage overall. My better half drives the OBW
while I am stuck with the Nissan.

I didn't consider the H6 outback because of its cost and not being available
with MT.

Just my 2¢

 

[Todd H.]

I own an 02 OBW wagon with the 2.5L and a 5 speed. Drove both the auto and
the stick. No comparison IMO.

The 5 speed version has adequate power while the auto seemed to me to be
underpowered.

That's a good point. I drove an 01 OBW stick, and it did seem quite a
bit more responsive for some reason. But around here anyway, I
wouldn't go with anything but an automatic. Had manaual trannys up
till I moved to Chicagoland.

 

[Rick Courtright]

I own an 02 OBW wagon with the 2.5L and a 5 speed. Drove both the auto and
the stick. No comparison IMO.

The 5 speed version has adequate power while the auto seemed to me to be
underpowered.

I haven't driven an H6, but was told overall a 2.5 with a stick and an
H6 with an auto are pretty comparable. Does that sound like a fair
assessment?

Rick

 

[JDC]

My 2000 Outback 2.5 auto has plenty of power. Sure its not the fastest car
off the line, but then I'm not a race car driver. I drive it in the hills of
Vermont as well as Massachusetts and it is just fine. Goes from 60 to 80 in
blink on the interstate. Just fine thank you.

 

[Lance B]

I haven't driven an H6, but was told overall a 2.5 with a stick and an
H6 with an auto are pretty comparable. Does that sound like a fair
assessment?

Rick

The new 3.0R Outback 5 speed tiptronic is a blaster. It'll outrun a
2.5i manual big time. If you can afford the extra, go the new 3.0R.
The 3.0R was tested (with two on board and a full tank of fuel) at
0-100kmh (0-62mph) at 7.6sec and the 1/4 mile or 0-400m at 15.6 sec.

 

[Are You Experienced]

I posted in an earlier post that I was looking into the Outback. It seems
like a nice car. I stopped by Carmax
on the way home and test drove a 2001 2.5L. Nice car however.......
does anyone else think it's a bit underpowered? It just didn't seen to have
a lot
of get up and go. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I expect too much. Just makes
me wonder how
it'll do on hills while loaded.

Any thoughts or experiences??

TIA.

it has a lot more power than a neon and better gas milage.
underpowered?
i dont think so.
noooooooooobody catches me in snow noooooobody