Love my 1980 Subaru GL Wagon (I still have it and runs like new). Have owned 4 outbacks -1997, 2005, 2011, and 2017 . With a set of Blizzak WS80's the Outback is the Winter driving champ!
Our 2003 Outback w/ the 3 litre H6 has taken every thing our Canadian winters could throw our way with not a whimper and it's good fun on summer highway trips too! Lots of room in the back and styling with real personality when compared w/ post 2009 editions which... who cares? another faceless SUV type.A great value that has far exceeded our expectations, so much so that folks stop me in parking lots asking if it's for sale!
my mom used to have this i remember when i was little me and my sisters loved this car we had it for a long time it ran great and it was roomy we had a 95 one
The head gaskets that the EJ25D was assembled with were defective from the get-go due to a design flaw. But once replaced with proper head gaskets, the engine will last just as long as the 2.2 and 2.0. But the Phase I EJ25D was replaced by the Phase II EJ251 starting with the 2000 Legacy and Outback. New generation/new engine
"In the mid 1970s my father bought a pickup truck, and I BELIEVE that he was ONE OF THE FIRST people in SOUTH SHROPSHIRE to acquire a Subaru." That always made me laugh. I still have this episode on VHS recorded off TV back in March 1997. I remember the Hale Bopp comet being visible that same week. Can't believe it's so long ago now. Wonder why that Subaru was last taxed as early as 2005. Possibly exported or involved an accident, as 9 years is nothing.
And still going strong all over the world. These had some kind of mechanical issue but fixed on later models. Mine is coming up for 220,000 miles no sign of wear
I thought I will like a 2005 H6 Outback more than my old Legacy 1998 when I bought it.But now I am not sure.The old Legacy was a monster.The Outback is still reliable machine,but....
I agree, i never had an H6, i REALLY want to swap someday, but I had a 96 outback, then an 04 outback, and i missed my 96, i had a couple other cars, and now i have a 96 outback again, i think its one of the ultimate cars, as far as utility and general purpose. But now i miss my Miata!!!
Agreed. my 94 2.2 has 370000KM on it, and has been faultless. Has only had tim belt, oil changes, plugs (once) , and a temp sensor in that time. Not a thing more. Got the odd oil leak now, but otherwise runs like new, no smoke, sounds tight.. Def the most trouble free, reliable engines I know. and I have NOT driven it lightly! the only issue I have is the cooling system in general. They were prone to getting airlocks and overheating in this model due to heater design. fixed with mod.
@Grizzinsumstoks You're absolutely right! That version of the 2.5L was very prone to head gasket failure. The 2.2L and 2.0L motors are some of Subaru's most reliable....
316K on mine works like a devil :) Just changed the headgaskets with the aftermarket ones original from SUBARU. The engine runs like hell with no issues , oil leaks or other issues.
Had a V reg/ 2000 for coming up to 2 years, and I've not spent 1 penny, love her, maybe I've been lucky, but I will definitely be getting another when she goes, something around 2006/7 maybe ;-)
its not about being behind times as much as its about reliability I think. Subaru always waits before jumping into something new. They use older proven technology until new is proven reliable enough.
I had -95 legacy, 360tkm, then -99 next model 489tkm and i just bought a -00 outback almost 323tkm, i love legacy's. Perfect work-cars for a construction worker. Also it goes very well in the forest (Rocky Road made with a tractor mostly and also there is very very bad forest roads)
amen to that! including my own in the family we have 4 between 98&05 all are well into 300k and have had the heads/timing belts replaced every 160 or so
As much as I hate to agree, yes. The 2.5L DOHC non-turbo is fun as hell (high-revving, high power compared to the other USDM engines of that time), until the head gaskets blow and then a myriad of issues pop up with the engine. Of course, I am talking only about the infamous EJ25D.
True, but when I posted that comment only 12 months ago, Subaru were still making the previous generation Forester with the 4-speed auto. They are a bit behind the times, although I'm yet to be convinced you really need as much as 7 or 8 gears in a car unless you're obsessed with fuel economy. But that's a whole other topic...
that Subaru DL first registration is 07 08 1981 and date of liability 08 02 2000 that Subaru Legacy first registration is 20 08 1996 and date of liability 01 11 2005
if PROPERLY serviced (pretty rare as its an expensive job) the 2.5l dohc will last just as long as subarus other motors. 240k on mine with a recent tuneup and my 97 outback will still burnout all 4 wheels
I've got a 2001 250t, but its an automatic and really suffers because of that. These are pretty good all round cars but just suffer from zero low down torque. I need to use first to get up a hill with tight corners on it. I didn't need to do that in my old Charade
Авто/Мото
Loved my 97 outback, currently own a 99 which I plan to rebuild entirely into a battlewagon. Awesome cars!
Love my 1980 Subaru GL Wagon (I still have it and runs like new). Have owned 4 outbacks -1997, 2005, 2011, and 2017 . With a set of Blizzak WS80's the Outback is the Winter driving champ!
i have a 2000 legacy outback with the 2.5 and its never gone wrong. i am a subaru buyer for life most definately
Our 2003 Outback w/ the 3 litre H6 has taken every thing our Canadian winters could throw our way with not a whimper and it's good fun on summer highway trips too! Lots of room in the back and styling with real personality when compared w/ post 2009 editions which... who cares? another faceless SUV type.A great value that has far exceeded our expectations, so much so that folks stop me in parking lots asking if it's for sale!
The guy clamped the trunk down on that sheep's ear.
RIP
She was eaten anyway
Oh no!
my mom used to have this i remember when i was little me and my sisters loved this car we had it for a long time it ran great and it was roomy we had a 95 one
Jolly Good! Love mine.... 18 years old and does all that stuff. I'm in LOVE!
You see why they trimmed the hatch closing on 4:58 because the hatch closed on the goat's ear and I'm sure the goat let out a scream.
The head gaskets that the EJ25D was assembled with were defective from the get-go due to a design flaw. But once replaced with proper head gaskets, the engine will last just as long as the 2.2 and 2.0. But the Phase I EJ25D was replaced by the Phase II EJ251 starting with the 2000 Legacy and Outback. New generation/new engine
"In the mid 1970s my father bought a pickup truck, and I BELIEVE that he was ONE OF THE FIRST people in SOUTH SHROPSHIRE to acquire a Subaru."
That always made me laugh.
I still have this episode on VHS recorded off TV back in March 1997. I remember the Hale Bopp comet being visible that same week. Can't believe it's so long ago now.
Wonder why that Subaru was last taxed as early as 2005. Possibly exported or involved an accident, as 9 years is nothing.
eccIefechan I read this comment just as he said it 😂😂
And still going strong all over the world. These had some kind of mechanical issue but fixed on later models. Mine is coming up for 220,000 miles no sign of wear
My mother's car is fitted with the 2.5, and it has suffered no head gasket failure.
Thanks for posting the video, I have just recently bought one of the same year, and I am a fan of Top Gear. Greetings from FL, USA.
I thought I will like a 2005 H6 Outback more than my old Legacy 1998 when I bought it.But now I am not sure.The old Legacy was a monster.The Outback is still reliable machine,but....
I agree, i never had an H6, i REALLY want to swap someday, but I had a 96 outback, then an 04 outback, and i missed my 96, i had a couple other cars, and now i have a 96 outback again, i think its one of the ultimate cars, as far as utility and general purpose. But now i miss my Miata!!!
Agreed. my 94 2.2 has 370000KM on it, and has been faultless. Has only had tim belt, oil changes, plugs (once) , and a temp sensor in that time. Not a thing more. Got the odd oil leak now, but otherwise runs like new, no smoke, sounds tight.. Def the most trouble free, reliable engines I know. and I have NOT driven it lightly!
the only issue I have is the cooling system in general. They were prone to getting airlocks and overheating in this model due to heater design. fixed with mod.
And still going great today ;-)
Thank you so much for sharing!!
Good, reliable cars IF maintenance kept up regularly. Just doing the head gaskets for the first time on my EJ25D, and it has 445,000 km on it.
@Grizzinsumstoks You're absolutely right! That version of the 2.5L was very prone to head gasket failure. The 2.2L and 2.0L motors are some of Subaru's most reliable....
V reg here too, absolutely rock solid car.
316K on mine works like a devil :) Just changed the headgaskets with the aftermarket ones original from SUBARU. The engine runs like hell with no issues , oil leaks or other issues.
Had a V reg/ 2000 for coming up to 2 years, and I've not spent 1 penny, love her, maybe I've been lucky, but I will definitely be getting another when she goes, something around 2006/7 maybe ;-)
its not about being behind times as much as its about reliability I think. Subaru always waits before jumping into something new. They use older proven technology until new is proven reliable enough.
Except head gaskets
thx for posting this, I just bought a used subuar 97 outback legacy with about 280k km on the odo...
James Bond 280? Wow. I have one with 180 and the differential is kind of messed up
I had -95 legacy, 360tkm, then -99 next model 489tkm and i just bought a -00 outback almost 323tkm, i love legacy's. Perfect work-cars for a construction worker. Also it goes very well in the forest (Rocky Road made with a tractor mostly and also there is very very bad forest roads)
I had a '98 2.5L and likewise -- no head gasket failure on that (sold it with 165,xxx kms)
amen to that! including my own in the family we have 4 between 98&05 all are well into 300k and have had the heads/timing belts replaced every 160 or so
The Christmas tree guys who come to my area every holiday season have a '95 Outback- 250,000 miles and looks awful good.
That's true. The 4EAT gearbox is one of Subaru's most reliable. I'm not sold on the new CVT's but many people say they are quite good.
Not a fan but better than Honda's CVT box. Like a shanghai but the Subi one feels more consistent
As much as I hate to agree, yes.
The 2.5L DOHC non-turbo is fun as hell (high-revving, high power compared to the other USDM engines of that time), until the head gaskets blow and then a myriad of issues pop up with the engine. Of course, I am talking only about the infamous EJ25D.
That's the car lads that's the car
True, but when I posted that comment only 12 months ago, Subaru were still making the previous generation Forester with the 4-speed auto.
They are a bit behind the times, although I'm yet to be convinced you really need as much as 7 or 8 gears in a car unless you're obsessed with fuel economy. But that's a whole other topic...
that Subaru DL first registration is 07 08 1981 and date of liability 08 02 2000
that Subaru Legacy first registration is 20 08 1996 and date of liability 01 11 2005
I love my Twin Turbo Legacy
I think the 4EAT was replaced with the 5EAT Starting around the 3rd Generation Outback/ 4th gen Leggy.
Is it just me, or does he sound like Yako Warner from Animaniacs?
Yes Buddy but then as far as I know Subaru created the aftermarket gaskets and the engine runs perfectly .
if PROPERLY serviced (pretty rare as its an expensive job) the 2.5l dohc will last just as long as subarus other motors. 240k on mine with a recent tuneup and my 97 outback will still burnout all 4 wheels
Cheers
Yup the auto really is a limiting factor in these cars. Hard to believe Subaru still use the 4-speed in some of their cars today! Criminal....
THE SHEEP!
they don't anymore. Its all 6 speed cvt or 5 speed automatic now, when the rest have 8 speed automatics lol
My daughter just purchased a 97 outback and was not supplied with an owners/repair manual.... Any suggestions where I can get a free copy?
+Tess Bowers haynes repair manual. its like $30 and worth every penny
"a little less BILKY" hahahaha
I've got a 2001 250t, but its an automatic and really suffers because of that. These are pretty good all round cars but just suffer from zero low down torque. I need to use first to get up a hill with tight corners on it. I didn't need to do that in my old Charade
Put it to good ewes! I get it!
3:55 "lower faster sleeker" not the forester mate it's vise versa... Is this really how top gear was! Next you'd be expecting tiff to be in it!
verde y gold abajo con logo de dog en la ventan
Brilliant. Those tossers that have ruined TG need to watch this.
Should according succeed afternoon readily could.
The ones in the usa were garbage the engines head gaskets went all the time.
Fixed on later models but was an issue. Uneven cooling or something
The guy clamped the trunk down on that sheep's ear.