Used 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon Consumer Reviews
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Can't You Hear Me Knocking..
First thing I noticed was the knocking of the engine, which they say is typical due to engine design. The knocking was unbearable, which they ultimately fixed. Knocking started to come back, but I just sold it, so it will be taken care of next by someone other than me. As with most reviews, lots of wind noise. The wind noise is to the point where you have to turn the radio up. I went from a 6 cyl to this 4 cyl to save on gas, but to tell you the truth, it got awful gas mileage. Came with a broken 6 CD changer. Minimal acceleration in this vehicle. Started making another noise, like a rattle or shaking sound. But, its gone, so fortunately not my problem now.
Honest review
We bought this rental car with 12K on it. wife drove it until it had about 90K on it then I started driving it. Only cons are its size--I'm 6' and this is a car that sits low to the ground. I'd rather have a SUV. Pros: reliability. NEVER a breakdown in 100K miles. Pre 100K repairs limited to brake pads, one O2 sensor, one tie rod end. Original tires lasted over 80K miles. At 100K I've had to do several repairs that would be expensive if you had to pay labor--AC hose, steering rack and CV boots. 105K timing belt change coming and will cost a bunch. Has typical subaru motor sound, but this car is going to run forever.
- Base WagonMSRP: $3,990173 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $8,950765 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $3,500972 mi away
03 Subaru review
great vehicle
- Performance
My 6th Subaru
I have been so impressed with the reliability and longevity of Subaru vehicles that this 2003 Outback Wagon is my sixth. The total owned by my family has now reached fourteen. I will always own a Subaru! The 2003 Outback is the best Subaru I have owned. The many new features as compared to my 1996 Outback has made this car an excellent value.
Very reliable!
I've had this car for a bit over a year with no problems. They say that AWD handling is sluggish. Not with this car, it handles great and has a pretty good turning radius. The base engine has plenty of get-up- and-go for me, and my previous car was a 3.1L V6. Gas mileage could be better, but with AWD, I'm not in the least surprised.
AQ's LL Bean Outback Wagon
I've owned my LLBean Outback Wagon for almost a year. I recently drove round trip from San Francisco to San Diego and was extremely pleased with the way the car handled and performed. It is a comfortable and safe car to drive on long trips, great visibility, good gas mileage, great on steep hills and curves, and very forgiving around sharp turns. I'm very pleased with the car.
Outback 03
Great car. Doesn't get the milege that was expeted. Said 25 gets 20 city.
Reliabiity, Quality, Value, and AWD
We purchased this car because of it's value. We knew it would be used in the snow and rain in the winter months and we were looking for a car that was AWD or 4 wheel drive, but it also had to be reliable. However, we didn't need or want a full SUV with a high price tag, insurance, and gasoline bills. We also wanted the ride of a car and not a truck. Moreover, our garage is built for three cars, not one car and an SUV. The Subaru just seemed to fit all of our needs from the weekly trips to COSTCO, to the weekends in Lake Tahoe we are extremely pleased with the Subaru and plan to keep it at least another 15 years.
Second-time Subaru Owner
This car is great. Our first Subaru had 137,000 miles without any major problems before we decided it was time to let go. The Outback's interior and exterior design is stylish and high- quality. In comparision to my husband's SUV, as well as other cars we test drove, the ride is extremely comfortable.
So so....
Bought this used, with 9500 miles... the dealer failed to ensure proper alignment.. back in it went... biggest disappointment, the mileage, averaging about 20mpg, on PREMIUM gas... I was not forewarned that this 2.5l '4' would knock like crazy without higher octane gas... otherwise I would NOT have purchased... also had major piston repair, thank god for the extended warranty, almost 1800 bucks of damage... note that the car has been meticulously cared for...
My first Subaru
I bought my Outback in December 2003 and have just topped 5,000 miles. Acceleration is so-so, probably hurt by the AWD. My keyfob, for whatever reasons, does not unlock my doors in certain parking lots, but this is rare. Learn how to manually disable alarm. On the positive side, car is fun to drive, engine is quiet, car turns and handles well, automatic shifts smoothly, ABS braking is good, no mechanical problems and cargo room is excellent. My gas mileage has been similar to EPA numbers.
Like my Outback
I have been really pleased with my Outback in general. The only problem I have had with driving it is going up moderate hills. A lot of my driving takes place in the lower Sierra foothills, usually less that 1200 ft, and the car seems reluctant to climb even small grades, at one point, even bucking a bit. The dealer told me I was lucky I had a 6 cylinder. and that Subarus didn't like hills. Structurally, it is made with a kind of depression in the lower part of each front door. A number of people have pointed out to me that I have been "hit." Looked that way to me too, before I realized that the car was that way on both sides.
Great Dogmobile!!
This is my second Subaru. Previously I brought a used 1987 Subaru GL 4WD wagon. I love to go camping and have 2 dogs. It had 104,000 miles on it and when I sold it there was 155,000 miles. The small engine was fine around the city but lacked the oomph to pass on trucks on up-hill 2 lane roads with the a/c going. No major problems. I brought a new Outback because I wanted more power and wanted the AWD to go on some really bad forest service roads. It's great. The car has the power to pass even up-hill. The ride is smooth and comfortable. I am a lead to metal type of driver and get 27 MPG on my camping/flyfishing trips.
Excellent Sports Wagon
This car also offers a great performance even with the base, 2.5 L engine. The performance can be further improved by installing the K & N high- flow air filter instead of the factory one. I found that the K&N filter significantly improves the low-end torque. I also noticed improved a/t performance (smoother operation), but not the fuel efficiency. The latter might be due to impressive 23/30mpg (city/highway) numbers, which I already had registered right after my Outback passed the 3K miles mark. After 15K miles, this car still offers problem-free (knocking on a wood), very comfortable, and quite ride.
i like it
not the most appealing looking, but rock solid and very capable with inclement driving(pouring rain and deep snow).
Great Vehicle!
I traded in a 2002 Honda CRV for a 2003 Outback Wagon. I love the Outback, we now own two of them (2001 and 2003). The CRV handled horribly, was loud, had worse gas mileage and had the most uncomfortable driver seat I have ever experienced. The Subaru handles like a sports car compared to the CRV, and is much more comfortable.
Great vehicle
Bought this car used for my wife in July 2003 w/ 11k miles. We've put 13k miles on the car in 9 months and have nothing but good things to say about the vehicle. AWD and Cold Weather Package was a God send during a rough winter in NJ. AWD is fantastic in the snow - no indication of the car slipping in acceleration in deep snow. Great for my wife who isn't real comfortable driving in inclement weather. No complaints from her now! A great mix of car comform and SUV characteristics with a youthful look and feel.
L.L Bean
This is the fourth Subaru that I have owned. The L.L Bean wagon is very luxurious,comfortable, and it has a lot of speed. The ride is smooth and compares to the ride of a Lexus or Acura without the heavy sticker price.The people at the Dean team were very courteous and made this an enjoyable car buying experience. The car has a lot of curb appeal and the recently tinted windows really add to the rich look of this car.
Love it
Very unique design - a car that does not look like any other. I received compliments from strangers about it. It combines that practicality of a station wagon, while still very fun to drive. Very solidly built (a rare attribute today). The bumpers are not simply painted like so many cars are today, so that stratches to it do not show.
New Guy On the Block
I am very pleased with my LL Bean Outback. Comfort, Design, and Quality of workmanship. I inspected my new Subaru for 40 minutes when I went to pick it up.I am an aircraft mechanic by trade for 46 years. I found no items on the underside of the car that required repair of any kind. I only found 2 items under the hood when I got home that were minor, and I took care of them myself, as they did not affect warranty.
Manual Transmission Not the Best
Very pleased with ride quality, interior, and comfort with a long drive. Biggest annoyance was with the manual transmission. Subaru has rigged the transmission to abruptly cut off when the gas pedal is released even at moderate cruising speeds. I took this to the dealer and the service rep commented that he had seen several complaints with this. It is something you can learn to live with, but it can be a nuisance especially if stuck in traffic.
One versatile vehicle
We bought our Outback '03 in Nov '02. We needed a good AWD for tough winters in northern NJ and boy does the Outback handle winter! Reliability has been spotless so far - odo 23K. Mix driving averages us about 23 MPG. We were considering an SUV but are happy we got the Subaru instead. It handles very well in clear and inclement weather. Comfortable on long rides as well - took it down to NC and upto NH. We love this car and plan on keeping it for a long time. If you're looking for the most value for your money, I doubt there's anything better out there.
OUTBACK
After two years, no problems. It is the best "snow" car I have ever driven. Tracks solid in all weather conditions. Window and mirros defoggers make driving in bad weather a breeze.
handling
great on wet roads, freeways or snow , mud ,mountain roads
SOLID PERFORMANCE
After two years, no problems. Runs great through the snow and bad weather.
Love it
Wonderful vehicle, great clearance, handling, braking, etc. Sound system with a sub is great, no need to purchase high end replacement speakers. Heats up fast in the cold weather. AWD can't be beat. Gas mileage is more like 20-22 mpg. No way you can get 26 mpg like stated by Subaru. All around a great buy worth every cent. You'd pay 10k more for anything comparable. Love it
Super smooth ride
Having previously owned a 1997 Outback Limited I was expecting another terrific Subaru in my 2003 LL Bean. Boy were my expectations exceeded by the unbelievable smooth and comfortable ride of my new Subaru.
Nice car
My first Subaru , and I am impressed. Nice smooth ride, good milage. Got the leather seats etc. paid $ 25925. 4 cyl provides plenty of power.
What I like About Subarus
I like this car because it is fun to drive. It is not that big and it has all wheel drive system.
Subaru Stalls
Almost from the day I took my Subaru home I have had problems. The car has poor and erratic idle, loses power while driving and stalls. Subaru (several dealerships) has attempted repairs, replacing MANY parts, over the three years I have had this car. Each time the problems resurface. Low idle, power loss, stalling at stops. I am past my 36,000 warranty and Subaru has committed to honor the warranty for existing problems, but that is little consolation as I have to continue living with a $32,000 car that I do not trust. On more than one occasion I was almost stranded on long trips with wife and baby.
2003 outback
I have found the outback to be one of the best cars i have ever purchased. The ride is comfortable, the milage great, and the all-wheel drive just pulled me through a major snowfall. When other cars couldn't stay on the road, the outback not only kept going, but was remarkably stable and gave no hint of losing traction. On my last trip the Outback got 28 mph despite above 70mph driving. I would buy another without hesitation.
Great car
I bought a LLBean for $27100 from Stevens Creek Subaru (San Jose, CA). After driving the car for about 1000 miles, I can say there is nothing comparable in this price range. The car feels rock solid, has a very smooth Lexus-like drive, first class suspension, excellent visibility, a lot of cargo space. The sound system is very good. However, the car has 3 major inconveniences: 1) the seats do not offer enough leg support, (the lumbar support is great.) 2) Wind noise coming from the roof rails at higher speeds. 3)the engine is powerful, but the slow transmission, makes it less responsive, it will not let you drive the car as an Acura TL-type S or a BMW.
Made for Minnesota
I have test driven this car many times and when I finally moved north I bought a certified used one. I don't drive off road, so I just love this car so much that I'm going to buy a new one, the Legacy Wagon which is set up a little more for street driving. I used to have a Mercedes C230 Sport, and this car drives just like that. Can't wait for the new one, but at 43,000 miles, heated seats, and all the comforts I need, I can wait happily for a fair price before making the change. Kind of a cargo hauling-sports car- family-suv and more all purpose comfort car without the SUV pickup truck mileage. I get 25- 29mpg. I'll miss it, but not much has changed with the new ones.
LL Bean Luxury for Beer Budgets
Great car, this is our second Subaru (my car is the WRX). We compared the other SUW's in this class and the Subaru had all the features of the Volvo, Audi All Road, Passat Wagon, at much less of a price. Plus the inclusion of one year of ONstar, free general maintenence for three years, and the Subaru safety record, this car is a steal. It rocks in the Northeast
VDC good enough?
I really love this car. A 2001 VDC wagon. Handles to well in all weather. I tried to get it stuck in snow this winter. Couldnt. Great at high speeds. The VDC works better than the reviews suggest. However, my wife wants me to find another car. She cant get comfortable in the leather seats. I agree. They are hard as rock, and a car upholsterer says he cant improve it. Dealer said its the only real flaw with the car. We take long week end trips, and this really is an issue.
so far so good
My Subaru Outback has so far been a great wagon. I have put 15000 miles on it in 9 months with no problems. The first winter I had it I tried to get it stuck in the snow I couldnot do it. granted it is not a monster mudder so I did not go crazy. However I do have a very steep drive way and we had a lot of ice last winter. One time a stopped half way up the hill and could not start from the stop. But that was to be expected.
Great Car
I traded up to the '03 LL Bean after owning a Toyota 4Runner for 8 years. It goes everywhere my old car went except very rough roads. You get a lot of car for the $ and the cost of ownership is WAY less than a clunky SUV - insurance and gas both cost a lot less! Very well designed car inside and out.
The perfect family wagon
I love this car. It has everthing you need.
grrrreat
I love this wagon,every thing about it is great.Quick and responsive,quiet and comfortable with a wonderful sound system to boot.Plenty of cargo room for almost everything you may have to carry including the dog.I would reccomend it to anyone
They don't build them like they used to!
The new Subbie has some nice features (heated mirrors and wipers, built in CD changer), but the quality of my new Outback Limited is not up to the level of previous Subarus. The car is very noisy (wind & road noise) and has less power on hills than my old '92 which still runs like a champ. Also the body cladding is becoming a very high maintenance item. While paint quality has never been a Subaru high point, the cladding on the Outback is a real pain. Rather that using a color impregnated plastic, Subaru paints the plastic body panels with a paint (water color?) which is not at all durable.
Dashboard readout-washout
Fine long distance traveling car. Complaint #1. LCD information (mileage, trip odometer time, temp. and radio station) completely washed out on sunny days. Impossible to read. #2 what is the button located on top of stering wheel for lights supposed be used for? How does it differ from light stalk control? #3 Need louder turn signal indicator. #4 emergency brake light should be easier to see. In general, a fine riding car with minor quirks.
The puppy hauler
This is a great vechile. After six weeks we traveled over 6,000 miles with only one problem. The first day of our vacation I was rear ended. Minimal damage and the rear hatch worked fine. It is a very stable on the road and off.
A Fantasic Car
This car has everything . It is one fine auto.
An honest car
This is a totally honest car, anything essential is generously equipped in the base modal. Those not found, they are bells and whistles. The roof rail has 4 bars (most others just have 2 bars, you will know the difference when you carry a bag or mattress on top). My wife feels fully confident and safe in it. Very stable on all kinds of road, no matter in snow, sleet, icy or wet. We enjoyed engine's humming sound on the high way when passing big trucks with speed well over 70mph. Thoughtful console design,leaving ample space for all the odds and ends. Downside is battery leak in the 3rd year. In its 5th year there is some wind noise developing at driver side.
Begin of an love affair
I had a high expectations in this car, coming from a SUV having driven before a 325ix wagon which was just too small. I have considered teh A4 wagon, but the value of the Bean Outback was just not to beat. Car is within 5,000 miles the second time in for repair for some minor electronics problems. Love the 4x4 handling, the build quality and the versatility for everyday use. The car does not feel like 212 horses, more like 150 below 4,000rpm, Subaru has to work on that. Fuel economy does not reach factory promises and stays around 20-22mpg. Otherwise I would feel comfortable to recommend this car as everyday 4x4 around-town-zipper.
Great, with a lot of wind noise
2003 Outback limited: - Smooth engine and ride feeling. - Good handling. - Overall good interior design with the exception of the bulky dash which stands out towards the driver. - Gearbox sound less painfull and less stressed under any accelleration than the previous model. - Wind noise is a big irritaion from the side mirrors a roof rack especially for a vehicle of this price range.
Amazing, but how to define it....
This is a great car, it defies clasification by that name though. i love it. and my oh my can it claw into a road.
Greatest AWD SW That I Have Ever Driven!
One thing about the Subaru Outback is the fact you do get what you pay for. Drives like a sports car, handles like a sports car, and the AWD is tops in its field.
Improve MPG and Wind Noise
I purchased my Subaru used in 2004. I have been extremely pleased with its handling and performance. However, its mileage is abysmal. I got a SCAN II computer and began hypermiling last April, and started to see decent numbers (30-31+) but with a lot of effort. Then I noticed winter temps and (I've read) winter fuel mix REALLY brought numbers down, to around 23+. Also that wind noise is a nuisance. By just tapping the switch a bit I've achieved prompt, temporary relief. Buy this car for snow and ice, but for warmer climes, a lighter FWD car might be better.
Subaru All The Way
I have driven my Outback 353,000km now and have never had a break-down. It has never failed to start and gives me very acceptable gpm. It is a strong car and holds the road very well. The vehicle goes anywhere a typical 4x4 can go and does it without effort. The only quirk I have is an oil leak somewhere, probably the head gasket, that is causing some smell. I will have this looked at in the near future. The body is in terrific shape with only a small spot on the drivers side rear wheel well edge. When it is washed it looks like new and could go in a show room. I will definitely buy Subaru again if this one ever quits. So far so good. I had a mechanical done and it passed with flying colors.