COB

I think a "Chill" pill would be in order?

Along with MPG readings...I asume the 2.5i engine uses 87 octane and the 2.5T and the 3.0 uses or requires premium ie91? Or will 89 grade work ok? With price differences in gas now a days the price difference between 87 octane and 91 octane can really add up over the life of the car. I plan on keeping the car till the wheels fall off... As mentioned the durabilty of the engine is also of importance...I would assume by now the HG problem has been solved in the 2005 2.5i? Thanks again for your replies...

As I continue to investigate the potential purchase of an Outback or possibly Legacy Wagon...I would like to know those with the above engines with Automatic...what is your Miles Per Gallons that you have been able to achieve...ie all around driving...city driving...and Highway driving? I thought this would be more of a bench mark then brochures. Thanks Again!!

You all are affirming my concerns...the maintinance on volvos are fairly expensive when compared to Subies... I like the look of the Outback plus it's operating cost would/should be much less then a Volvo. And from what I am hearing from your writings...they are easy to work on. The feedback seems to indicate that the stock 2.5 engine is pleny strong enough that the car will go from point A to point B without laboring. I remember when Ford put a 4 cylinder into the Tarus as an option for gas milage improvement...Can we say wrong. Not only was it to small for the car it got worse gas milage then the six cylinders. That's why I asked about the standard 4 cylinder. I wanted to be sure it was plenty peppy for the car. Thaknks again for you input.

Thanks Guys... Your feedback is appreciated. I have been monitoring both this board and also a Volvo board...and what I have noticed is the Subaru board seems to have more down to earth people. I'm leaning very much towards the Outback with the 2.5 as it sounds like this engine has got plenty of HP to drive one round regardless of the weather conditions or number of adults. As mentiined...this will be my wife's car so it doestn't need to be a pocket rocket. MPG is important as well as reliablility and low maintinance. I believe Subie has been making AWD cars since 1974 so they have had plenty of experience in this area and the 2.5 has had all the bugs worked out. Thanks again.

Thanks Guys... The reason I'm looking at the outback vrs the Legacy is the Outback has a little higher ground clearance...I think. Also what can you tell me about the various motor options? MPG is important but if the engine is costly to maintian then the MPG isn't that important. Another point...Does the 4 cylinder have enough power to go easily through snow while hauling four adults. Thanks Again By the way...the Volvo V50 that I'm considering is also a All Wheel Drive.

I plan on purchasing a new car this spring or summer for my wife. I am down to the Subaru Outback or the Volvo V50 AWD. I realize they are two totally different cars but believe it or not the prices are very close. Question...which engine is the most reliable? I'm leaning towards the 4 cylinder "Limited" beause of better gas milage and a pocket rocket is of little interst to me. As I look at the Turbocharged four and the 3.0 the milage does drop which is to be expected. But are these more reliable motors. I would assume the Turbocharger would be a maintinance expense eventually. From my readings these cars seem to be built to last for quite a while which is of interest to me. My 2003 GMC Envoy with 96000 miles engine just recently lost cylinder #5 and it cost over $3200 to rebuild. Needless to say it didn't even make its first tune up. I was not impressed. Any way...what recommendations do you all have in my potential purchase of the Outback? Thanks in advance!