Outback impressions

[bren]

Originally Posted by clyde

She drove a '14 Forester and didn't care for it very much. The big gripe was the...shape of the bolstering....

Sounds something like our experience when test driving the (older) Cayenne. The seat bolster shape was a deal breaker before even leaving the lot.

Originally Posted by clyde

Not having any strollers makes a difference. We still have a 16 cu ft Yakima box and were going to use it if we needed more room, which reminds me of a point that may be worth mentioning. The Outback has crossbars that hideaway into the rails when you don't need to use them...which is kind of cool.

Now that I think about it, that's a good point. The roof box basically only had beach related items (chairs and toys) and the stroller.

This reminds me of a flaw with the x3 in that there are very specific measurements for where BMW wants you to place the crossbars, but they don't put any kind of detent or marking on the rails - which would be much easier than making me get out a tape measure to mount the things.

[lupinsea]

Cool review, Clyde.

Not sure why but I've been interested in the Subies lately. As a project car I'd like to get something manual, AWD, and with some ok punch to it, maybe an Imprezza WRX type thing. Lift it maybe 1" or so (for better suspension travel) and put some BFT AT's on there and go bombing around the forest service roads around here. It could be a fun camping / exploration car and there are thousands and thousand of remote, lightly travel gravel forest roads around here.

It's not going to happen . . . but it's been on my mind.

Originally Posted by bren

This reminds me of a flaw with the x3 in that there are very specific measurements for where BMW wants you to place the crossbars, but they don't put any kind of detent or marking on the rails - which would be much easier than making me get out a tape measure to mount the things.

Could you put an inconspicuous dob of paint on the rails somewhere to mark the locations? In the track or on the inside of the rail? Use a dark gray paint if the rails are black.

I'd do that just for ease of use.

[Jeff_DML]

Originally Posted by lupinsea

Cool review, Clyde.

Not sure why but I've been interested in the Subies lately. As a project car I'd like to get something manual, AWD, and with some ok punch to it, maybe an Imprezza WRX type thing. Lift it maybe 1" or so (for better suspension travel) and put some BFT AT's on there and go bombing around the forest service roads around here. It could be a fun camping / exploration car and there are thousands and thousand of remote, lightly travel gravel forest roads around here.

It's not going to happen . . . but it's been on my mind.

I offroaded my WRX a bit when I had it. Only major issue with it was it massive front overhang, easy to clip the front end on bumps and steep stuff. Stock WRX suspension was decent for offroading, especially service type roads.