v1k1ng1001

I need a cheap, reliable rig that gets great gas mileage and can transport 3-4 bikes (Yakima Rack) for the next year or two. I'm thinking about picking up a new-to-me, mid to late 90s Subaru Outback. Two questions:

1. Both the Impreza and the Legacy seem short on space. What's it like hauling bikes and gear in either of these cars? I'm doubting the Impreza can transport four people + bikes comfortably.

2. I'm a big guy at 6'3." I know I can fit just fine into the Legacy Outback because my friend has one. Is the leg room and head room in the Impreza comparable or am I going to die of leg cramps?

3. Anything else you could add would be great.

Forgive me for asking car questions on a bike forum.

halfspeed

The AWD on Subs robs some gas mileage. My wife's Outback sedan has been very reliable, my Legacy wagon... not so much.

v1k1ng1001

What's gone wrong with it?

Velo Dog

My two Subes have been good--not Honda-like reliability, but nothing serious in more than 120,000 miles each (one would still be going, but my wife got rear-ended). I'm 6'4 and fit fine, but I like small cars--I wouldn't want to drive anything bigger even if it was a gift. The Impreza is smaller inside than an outback, but I can't say how much--I haven't been in an Outback in a couple of years. I can get my 64cm Atlantis inside with the wheels off and the back seat down, and I've carried four bikes and three people from Reno to Portland on the Yakima (mileage takes a huge dump, of course--from @33 to 24mpg).
If I had to choose between an Impreza and an Outback, I'd take the Impreza just because it's smaller. I don't need the extra size more than a few times a year.

halfspeed

Horrible engine knock that's been steadily getting worse, bunch of recalls, lousy interior rear door panel that keeps falling off and I have to keep putting it back on.

v1k1ng1001

Thanks for your reply. Sounds a lot like my minivan which finally up and died.

v1k1ng1001

Thanks. It's good to hear from someone else that's tall. I am coming from owning a minvan so the space issue may turn out to be the crucial factor although it would be nice to get the Impreza's mileage.

eofelis 

Beware of head gasket issues on mid to late '90s Outbacks.
Lots of good info here:
https://subaruoutback.org/forums/

My '91 Legacy wagon has been pretty reliable up to 160k, but may be having some oil consumption issues now that I have to keep an eye on. I'll buy another 'ru eventually.

whatsmyname

You're not interested in the Subaru Forester? It's a bit squarer in the back, which looks like it opens up the trunk space a bit more than the more curved and attractive Outback.

My friend is a drummer and has had an Outback for 10 years. Apart from a front end collision (ice - his fault), the only problem I remember him mentioning is a bad rear wheel bearing after 9 years. ymmv.

whatsmyname

You don't mention where you are but this guy off that forum above in Syracuse, NY has a 1996 for $5,000. Being a car nerd (like we're bike nerds), I'd guess it's probably reasonably well-cared for:

https://subaruoutback.org/forums/show...?threadid=9369

v1k1ng1001

Thanks for the heads up. I'm starting to realize that I should have bought a care before I moved from Pennsylvania a few months ago. There's not much out here in North Dakota until you hit the Twin Cities.

v1k1ng1001

Yeah, I really like the Forester's extra cargo space but they're tougher to find in my price range of $3k-$4k. I had always heard that they were a little bit tighter than the legacy in terms of leg room, etc but maybe not. There is a nice one being listed in the Twin Cities right now just over my budget. If I had the cash...

FXjohn

If you don't need the AWD don't bother. If you're carrying a bike with a rear rack just about any car will do. Subarus aren't a cheap car to own.

Bushman

+ 1 on the head gasket alert! they aint cheap to fix eihter

John Wilke

My '92 Subaru Legacy wagon has 248k miles on it and still runs great. Original motor and clutch. No major repairs except for some body work that I did when I bought it used (bought it for $1,000 when it had 'only' 200k miles and a dented driver's door). Plenty of room for hauling, takes a Yakima roof rack fine, and I still get around 26 -27 mpg with one bike on top. I run 'mud and snow' tires all year round ... super in the snow and on gravel roads. Great winter car ... the XC skis and poles go right in, and the heater works well.

My '98 Subaru Outback wagon has 146k miles on it, and I've had it for one year. Several issues with it: it has the 2.5 liter engine which is notorious for head gasket leaks, which mine is developing. I'm still driving it, but will have to fix that soon (no overheating issues yet and I plan on doing it myself so that will save $$$). Am also having clutch problems which I think are more related to the hydraulics rather than the clutch plate. (again, I'll fix that myself). I get about 27 mpg on this car too. It's bigger than the Legacy wagon, but handles well, has lots of room for hauling, and also takes a Yakima rack on top well (I've had 3 bikes up there no problem).

I find both cars quite comfortable (BTW, I'm 6'5" tall.).

Stay away from the 2.5 liter motor if you can, otherwise plan on head gasket work, not that it's the end of the world though. No problems like that with the 2.2L or 6 cylinder motors. Like any car, if something starts to rattle, or wear out ... FIX IT! A Subaru will run a LONG time if cared for. I really like the all wheel drive, even in the summer. A cool thing about the AWD is that it will pull you around a corner ... getting a little wide in a turn? Hit the gas! It will corner tighter. Do you 'need' it in the winter? No. But AWD + real snow tires is almost unstoppable. That's a plus where I live.

old and new

OutBack is more a package, a theme of any one of a number of Subarus. "True" Outbacks are the Legacy platform. The Legacy model is not as good.Many of you have included their weak points in your posts. Nothing's
extraordinary regarding these problems, many suffer these problems at some point, ussually well within the 160K range. What IS extraordinary is the Forester model,built on the Impreza platform,a much better car. The difference in passenger room is negligable. A rear passenger in a Legacy will have more leg room than he would in an Impreza,really close to a Forester wagon. Foresters handle better,have better engines than all but the newest Legacy and have among the very best repair record in the industry. Imprezas,now the RS and WRX etc. models are quite good too, they have tight "cock-pit" designs though. Men I know, who are over 6'2" have no problems in their wive's Foresters. All Subarus built within the last eight years are AWD.The forester gets 30
or more MPG,average. More on a long Hi-Way trip. No down-side tro a Forester AND compared to a similar year
they cost LESS than a Legacy, MUCH less than a Legacy OutBack. I worked at a car dealer,my perspective.

apclassic9

Subies are great for bike carrying, not bad on gas, and relatively problem free - in my experience.

Had a 1995 Impreza which I drove for 5 years (put 225,000 miles on it) and then gave it to my son who drove it another 5 years, then we sold it with 268,000 miles on it (it badly needed a new gas tank). I took 3 kids to bike races in WV from 1998 through the summer of 2000 in that car, using a trunk mounted rack.

Got a 2000 Outback, which I am still driving (275,400 and counting), which goes to MTB races all over the east coast. I can put 3 bikes on the roof, 3 (with front wheels & seats off) inside with the back seat down - and I don't use the rtrunk rack anymore. Kids are well over 6 foot, and still have plenty of room. Gas - @27 mpg. No major engine problems to date. The front axels have been replaced, as have all the brake rotors.

The "check engine" light has been on since about 45,000 miles, whicj I hear is pretty common with Subarus.

I would suggest that you go with an Impreza unless you can go up to at least a 2001 Outback - the design of the rear door & back lights encourages water to fill the light fixtures in the 2000 - don't know about the earlier ones, but they LOOK the same.

ericgu

I have an outback that's a killer ski car, but I agree that if you don't need AWD, you don't need the weight and complexity. My outback has been a pretty good car but I agree that it's not Honda quality.

I do think the Impreza might be a bit on the tiny side for 4 people + bikes.

I'm also assuming you're planning on a roof rack. You can only put 1 1/2" hitches on subies, and you can only find 2 bike hitch racks for them (you might be able to use an adapter to get to a 2" hitch rack...)

v1k1ng1001

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to steer clear of the 2.5L.

I'm sure if you can fit in a Legacy, I'll be just fine in an Impreza. After looking at the figures on leg room and headroom, there is only about an inch or difference between the Legacy and the Impreza.

v1k1ng1001

Thanks for your input. It is appreciated. I didn't realize that the Forester is based on the Impreza and that it had a better track record than the Legacy. Like I said, they're tough to find but maybe I'll look a bit harder down in the twin cities. I saw one today that I thought was a bit overpriced.

And yeah, I've been in a newer WRX and I barely fit! That's why I asked about the older Imprezas.

v1k1ng1001

Now that is what I'm looking for!

v1k1ng1001

Yup, I have a Yakima on my van and I would buy a new one for the Subaru.

I don't know if I need the AWD because I'm not sure where I'm going to end up working in the next couple of years. I'm basically looking for a versatile, reliable station-wagonish type car that I can drive for another five years or so.

I've looked around for civic wagons but they are extremely hard to find.

Joe Dog

We bought a lightly used Forester in Anchorage for my wife. It had about 20K miles on it when we bought it and it now has about 60K miles. It's been a great car and she loves it. It is roomy (although neither of us are tall) and comfortable for long rides. We average about 29 mpg now in Minneapolis. It does not have tons of power but we don't drive like that anyway. I like the Outback a lot and if I totaled my Tundra tomorrow I would probably buy one, but I agree they seem over-priced.

halfspeed

Yup. Had that problem too on my 2000.

apclassic9

Unfortunatley, I'm thinking I'll be driving it for at least another year.... let me know NEXT fall if you're still looking