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YACT: Subaru Legacy vs. Outback vs ?...

Gooberlx2

Gooberlx2

Lifer
Well, I'll probably be starting to look for a used car/wagon in the very near future. Currently, I have an '01 Nissan Maxima SE (20th Anniv Ed). with about 65,000 miles on it. I LOVE the car (quick, fast, responsive, and about every damn option I could want...hell, it's the best car I've ever owned) and I know it'd last much longer...but it doesn't really provide the utility-ness I'd like or the handling for snowy mountains (I live in Denver), etc.. So I'm thinking that around 65,000 is a good time to look to trade it in (KBB and Edmunds (TMV) guesstimate I'd get ~$12,000+ for it), before it gets wrecked from road spray from big trucks on the mountains, etc... (I have a roof-rack and I use the car to get out to the slopes).

I've been researching cars and SUVs and it looks like I'd be interested in the Subarus and possibly Honda CR-V w/ AWD. 4 cylinders, I know, so whatever I'm looking at won't be nearly as sporty...but I guess that's the sacrifice. Hopefully I'll keep the costs of gas around the same or cheaper (have to put 91 octane in the Maxima).

I'm sketchy on mid-size SUVs mostly because I think the overall cost of ownership is going to end up being high, and the insurance would be that much higher. But I could be wrong.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions on the Outbacks, Legacies, CR-Vs or anything similar (bearing in mind that I have to be cost conscious = <$20,000). Basically, I ski, mountain bike, camp, and move around. So cargo space and minor towing abilities are a good thing. I don't NEED all the bells and whistle options that I have now...though I'm sure I'll miss 'em. Also, does that trade-in seem high or low? Unforuntately, aside from the preliminary research I've done, I really don't know much about cars and their worth.
 
Originally posted by: gsellis
WRX Wagon! Go fast with storage.
Click to expand...

What storage? They are pretty tiny (used to have an Outback Sport). A better suggestion would be Legacy GT Wagon but that would be a little out of his budget.

I have a Legacy wagon and almost went for a CRV when I was in the market for my car. Hard choice between the two, the new Legacy is looking nice.
 
Originally posted by: gsellis
WRX Wagon! Go fast with storage.
Click to expand...

Hmmm....that's another idea to throw up on the board. I wish I had some kind of side-by-side specs chart so I could compare all these cars easier.
 
Originally posted by: kami333
Originally posted by: gsellis
WRX Wagon! Go fast with storage.
Click to expand...

What storage? They are pretty tiny (used to have an Outback Sport). A better suggestion would be Legacy GT Wagon but that would be a little out of his budget.

I have a Legacy wagon and almost went for a CRV when I was in the market for my car. Hard choice between the two, the new Legacy is looking nice.
Click to expand...

Yeah, actually now that I've read the specs, it is a bit...compact. I'll have to search for some legacy GTs, just to see what the prices are in this area.
 
Subaru AWD is bullet proof the rest of the car will rust away before the drivetrain fails
the knock on Subaru is pretty spartan for what you pay for them.

Compare Away!!
 
The outback is the same as the legacy except it has different suspension with a higher ride height, more geared towards "off road".
There are also other differences like two tone paint, rims etc.

I own a 2004 impreza wagon, non turbo. Even without the turbo that engine has gotten me in a bunch of trouble with the police.
The first winter I kept the all season bridgestones on. They arn't that great in the snow, but I never had a problem going anywhere with them. I did get stuck a couple times, but there wasn't much winter tires would have been able to do about it. I live in a very hilly area in central NY and the car never let me down.
It is still a compact car so storage space is still limited, though it still has more than most typical compact sedans. I have never towed anything with it, and I don't really plan on it.

My aunt has a crv, a 2001 I believe and my father owns a 2003 toyota rav4. I ended up borrowing both for a few weeks at a time when I wrecked my new car last winter.
Both were excellent cars in the winter and I felt safe driving both. If I had to pick one I would take the rav4. So you may want to mabey consider a rav4.

Geh? You mean the resale value doesn't hold well?
Click to expand...
When I was shopping for a used subaru it appeared to me that the cars held their resale value very well.
 
I picked up a Legacy GT a few weeks ago. Let me know if you want to know anything about it.
 
Spartan = plain jane, lack of style and pinash
Mostly relating to the interiors.
subaru interior design is done by engineers who have raw functionality.
'sorry Kami , posted before I finished typing 😉'
These latest models are an attempt to 'tart up' their lackluster previous efforts
 
Originally posted by: desy
Spartan = plain jane, lack of style and pinash
Mostly relating to the interiors.
subaru interior design is done by engineers who have raw functionality.
'sorry Kami posted before I finished typing 😉'
These latest models are an attempt to 'tart up' their lackluster previous efforts
Click to expand...
I'd have to generally agree. The interior is a purely functional design.
Personally I could care less about how pretty the interior is. It's a machine designed to transport me.
 
the '05 element comes out next month... the ex comes with an ipod/aux jack and XM satellite radio.

if you really don't care about the looks, you might want to try one out.
 
I'm looking for a Legacy wagon as well, these things last forever. My parents have a 1990 Legacy, and it is still running smooth as the day they bought it.
 
Those voting Legacy GTs, are you thinking of the new '05 with the modified WRX engine or say something from 2002/3?

Thinking more about the Impreza/Outback sport: I'm guessing the storage space compared to my current car would be about the same, but more functional because of the folding rear/passenger seats. But then, I guess I don't really know how much storage I'll need in the future for me and maybe 1 or 2 more people for skiing trips or camping. I have a feeling I'll be driving around with the back seats folded down most of the time if I get one (sport or regular wagon)...atleast I might be willing to allow my friend's dog in my car (definitely not in the Maxima)

Anyway, I'm leaning more and more towards the Subarus from what people here, and IRL have been telling me. But I have a hard time telling the difference between the Outback Sport v. Impreza Wagon 2.5 RS, Legacy Wagon v. Outback, etc...

As far as pricing in this area goes....Cars.com and Autotrader are all over the place. Autotrader listed an '02 Outback Sport w/ ~18K miles for ~$15K. But then Cars.com is listing new '05 Sports for $20K. I wish I knew what was fair.

...I gotta get out to a dealership. :-/
 
Outback Sport = Impreza Wagon with more ground clearance and some body cladding.
Same goes for Outback and Legacy Wagon.
 
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Those voting Legacy GTs, are you thinking of the new '05 with the modified WRX engine or say something from 2002/3?

Thinking more about the Impreza/Outback sport: I'm guessing the storage space compared to my current car would be about the same, but more functional because of the folding rear/passenger seats. But then, I guess I don't really know how much storage I'll need in the future for me and maybe 1 or 2 more people for skiing trips or camping. I have a feeling I'll be driving around with the back seats folded down most of the time if I get one (sport or regular wagon)...atleast I might be willing to allow my friend's dog in my car (definitely not in the Maxima)

Anyway, I'm leaning more and more towards the Subarus from what people here, and IRL have been telling me. But I have a hard time telling the difference between the Outback Sport v. Impreza Wagon 2.5 RS, Legacy Wagon v. Outback, etc...

As far as pricing in this area goes....Cars.com and Autotrader are all over the place. Autotrader listed an '02 Outback Sport w/ ~18K miles for ~$15K. But then Cars.com is listing new '05 Sports for $20K. I wish I knew what was fair.

...I gotta get out to a dealership. :-/
Click to expand...
Thoes voting legacy GT are voting for the new 2005 with the 2.5turbo.

The outback sport is basically the same mechanically as the impreza ts(rs wagon). The outback sport will have a higher ride height, fog lamps, various rub strips, 16' alloy wheels.

The outback has the same relation to the legacy.

I walked out the door with a 04 impreza ts for $17,300. I looked at some used outback sports in the 10-14 range and most had from 20-50K on them. So with the amount of driving I would do I decided to go with a new one.

 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Thoes voting legacy GT are voting for the new 2005 with the 2.5turbo.

The outback sport is basically the same mechanically as the impreza ts(rs wagon). The outback sport will have a higher ride height, fog lamps, various rub strips, 16' alloy wheels.

The outback has the same relation to the legacy.

I walked out the door with a 04 impreza ts for $17,300. I looked at some used outback sports in the 10-14 range and most had from 20-50K on them. So with the amount of driving I would do I decided to go with a new one.
Click to expand...

So, how do you like it? Is there enough space/cargo room for you and whatever your uses? How's the get-up-n-go?
 
how about a forrester? more ground clearance. the capacity is same as a wrx wagon from what I heard.

i drive a impreza L, the old version of outback sport. i got lots of rooms! you can definitely put 4 tires in it without much effort. it gives you alot of advantages with the back seat folded down.
the other advanture is go with a roof rack, it looks nice on outback sport, definitely a must for subbie.
 
Originally posted by: DaWhim
how about a forrester? more ground clearance. the capacity is same as a wrx wagon from what I heard.

i drive a impreza L, the old version of outback sport. i got lots of rooms! you can definitely put 4 tires in it without much effort. it gives you alot of advantages with the back seat folded down.
the other advanture is go with a roof rack, it looks nice on outback sport, definitely a must for subbie.
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's no question about a roof rack. It'll be required for skis and bike anyway....and it does look slick. 😉😛
 
is it just me? i think legacy is too big. it looks good when I see them on the highway, but it seems too big when you look at them 90 degree. my car is good and compact as a daily drive. 😀
 
Originally posted by: DaWhim
is it just me? i think legacy is too big. it looks good when I see them on the highway, but it seems too big when you look at them 90 degree. my car is good and compact as a daily drive. 😀
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's one area I'm trying to decide on. Something a bit larger and more functional (and probably sluggish due to weight) vs. Something a bit less functional but more sporty looking and a little bit more pep.
 
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