Used 2003 Subaru Outback Consumer Reviews
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Fun Machine
I bought this car to use in bad weather because my rear wheel drive Mercedes is not exactly a snowmobile. I find myself gravitating to the Subaru even in good weather! Its great to drive and very comfortable even compared to my E320. I have the flat 6 engine with 212 HP and its very responsive. The handling and suspension are first class. This was my first choice of an all wheel drive vehicle at any price (except of course the all wheel drive Porsche Turbo, which by the way is not as comfortable as this Subaru, but it flies!)
Great car
This is an amazingly fun car to drive. It has ample power and just sticks to the road. My wife complains that I like driving the suby way more than my own Acura MDX (which is almost $18,000 more). Excellent build quality. Overall solid car
- Limited WagonMSRP: $2,995213 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $8,495478 mi away
- Base Wagon w/Premium Audio SystemMSRP: $1,999599 mi away
Great Car
Have had the car for about a year now, and other than gas, the only expenses have been for the regular oil changes. Incredibly reliable.
Highway fuel economy horrendous
Ater 1000 miles I drove from CO to MO (875 miles). To my dismay I recorded an average of 22 mpg fuel economy on the highway, but the estimated fuel economy by manufacturer was estimated at 28 mpg. I calculated the mpg by averaging 4 fuel stops through Kansas where the roads are flat and straight. I'm an engineer so I looked at all the variables. My tire pressure was perfect, there was a small cross wind (no tail or head wind), I used the recommended fuel, there was no load on the car(two medium sized suitcases & no passengers), cruise control was on, speed was 75 mph, and outside temp was 40 degrees(i.e no air conditioner)
More horses, please
For such a heavy car, it is underpowered. However, for such a large vehicle, it drives wonderfully, handling like a sports car around turns with minimal understeer. At 76K miles, my head gaskets began to leak despite the fact that the car was always well cared for. Other than that, no mechanical problems. For 6'+, however, the car is cramped and overall interior design isn't as good as it could be. The stance is great for getting around in the snow or driving over small obstacles. For the price, the car has been great, but look into the H6 engine.