Lifted Subarus

It's funny how people are like wtf is with all these lifted Subaru's. While they are waiting for their RTT to show up that they will use like 2 times. Why does anyone care what kind of car someone else buys and what kind of mods they put on it?

 

My neighbors were happy to see me installing the winch on my truck. They were making sure they had my phone number, lol.

 

So correct - I have a 17 4WD AC auto and a 21 Outback touring. On a, lets say, 6-8 inch snowfall in a urban setting, I would say the Subie would out perform the Tacoma every time. I have used them both in the same conditions, and with my wife as the driver -no doubt - I prefer her in the Subie.

 

Have you owned or driven a Subaru in a less than ideal situation?

 

No. I don’t ever plan on it either.

 

I don’t like the sound of the Subaru Boxer engines. Sounds like a 4 cylinder with a misfire.

 

Thats what I would have guessed!

 

My parents bought a 2003 Outback as the teenager car when I was young and I had the chance to use it occasionally. My best “off road” memory was taking a girl in that Subaru and chasing a bunch of kids from a different high school around a baseball diamond in it (at night). I ended up marrying her and we’ve stuck together through college, grad school, children, and the ups and downs of life so far.

So here’s what I’d say about Subarus. Employing one in a light-hearted, slightly illegal activity is an excellent way to find a wife.

 

I never said there was anything at all wrong with adding the mods you want or need on your truck. I just can't understand why anyone cares what mods someone else adds to their vehicle.

 

My buddy has a crosstrek and it’s not terrible. Not as fun as my truck but still decently capable for most of what you would encounter out here.

 

About $2.6K installed in an Impreza. Ask me how I know. Failed at 95K miles.

Our mechanic said we got lucky that he found a remanufactured transmission as cheap as he did. We also had an Outback with a 2" lift on it. It liked to eat CV joints (The lift didn't help that but dang every 40K seems a bit excessive) The Outback had other minor issues as well, just annoying things like power seats squeaking, rear lift gate forgetting how high to open, etc.

They were both pretty capable and comfortable but, we probably won't own another Subi for a while.

 

When we were in the market for a new car for the wife we rented the RAV4 for a week, and some kind of Nissan. I wanted to rent the Subaru but couldn't so I test drove the heck out of 'em.

The Rav4 was setup such that we couldn't see the end of the hood. Other than that we liked it. The Nissan whatever was junk compared to the Rav4 and the Forester. The Forester seemed to have a better 'look-see' when checking left and right out of the windows and we could see to the end of the hood just fine. Seemed to handle like a dream as well. To date ( 5 years later ) we are still very happy with it. Gas mileage is fabulous. I suspect we will keep it another 5-10 years. Got it with 0% financing as well and at a decent price at the time.

Am considering buying my son a CrossTrek, I like the look of those as well.

I had an issue with a dead battery 2 years in at Yellowstone. Had to buy one out of pocket. Got home, called Subaru of America, Emailed a receipt and by the time the conversation was over the person had Emailed me back a copy of a check that was coming my way. Can't beat that for a response. Then I got a bunch of Subaru Swag from them in the mail to boot.

 

In what other ways are you choosing to be limited?

 

Ya, I was just saying that if you get stuck in the desert out here it's nice knowing someone that you can call for help. I am in a small town way the hell out in the middle of everywhere. Jeep, 4x4's, side by sides, and all kinds of off roaders everywhere.

 

Last year in Ouray I followed a nicely set up turbo forester heading up Engineer Pass from Silverton and made it up easier than some of the people in dedicated 4WD rigs. Looked like a small lift, KO's and had a winch cable peeking out of the front bumper. He moved over a couple of off camber points where he lifted tires on the opposite corners and never spun a wheel.

 

Do the Forester's offer a low range set up?

 

I don't love them, I don't hate them. They're this enigma type of vehicle where they're reliable yet kinda unreliable at the same time. They're always in the shop but not always for broken type repairs, lots of maintenance gravy, easy to work on.

They have a huge following of people that only buy Subaru. They're safe and easy to drive. The kind of car you could loan to your grandma and not have to worry

I can dig a clean Wrx or Crosstrek with some tasteful upgrades.

Definitely a magnet for hoonigan types though, super obnoxious

 

My wifes Outback has simulated shift points, I cant really tell the difference. But shift points aint the end all be all to me, I drove a short bed 1967 Chevy C-10 with a 2 spd powerglide 283 for about 15 years with no problem. We have had two CVT's, no problems at all with either. 100,000 miles on the first, I think she is at 96,000 on this one and has no desire to own any other brand than Subaru at this point.

It's not something I would haul loads with, but a Tacoma aint either.

 

Cvts don't even shift, but they try to make it seem like they do so people won't complain as much.

Subarus aren't exactly known for their gas mileage either, too many driveshafts..

The Cvt is their best attempt at getting mileage up into the 20s