Mr. A said:
It looks as though Subaru is already selling the new style Legacy/Outback
outside of the U.S. (UK and Australia). Have any of you taken delivery of
one yet? If so, what do you think?
Yes, here in Oz the new Liberty(Legacy)/Outbacks have been on sale
since about last October 2003.
I purchased the new standard spec Outback 3.0R H6. This is one hell of
a car. The new 3.0R motor is a gem and very powerful. I have now
travelled 16,000kms (10,000miles) and the motor has freed up nicely.
The car absolutely flies and is so much fun to drive.
The new five speed tiptronic (manumatic if you like) is so much better
than the old power sapping 4 speed auto only. In normal auto mode it
changes gear generally in a fuel saving type mode, but when in sport
mode it holds on to gears longer on the up shift and changes down very
quickly on the down shift for spirited driving. It really is fun in
sports auto mode.
Put the auto in tiptronic (manumatic) and you can change gears just
like a manual. It won't change up a gear even at redline, so you can
really give it to it right to the redline. When slowing for say the
traffic lights it will automatically change down a gear at a
designated speed point for each gear, say from 5th to 4th at 30kmh,
then 4th to 3rd at 25kmh etc. (not sure of the exact speeds, but you
det the picture).
The new motor/drivetrain set up in the new Outback is a long way ahead
of the old H6. The difference is just chalk and cheese compared to the
old one. I feel like I'm driving a sports car not a crossover awd.