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Consumer Reports sometimes makes boneheaded choices but overall they're a better source of what the customer will experience compared to any other source, in many categories. Sounds like that HVAC difference comes down to the quality of the installer, not the hardware. My favorite example of...

Bah. I shouldn't try to post after midnight when I'm half asleep. :rolleyes:

I like this chart better. :)

"Initial Quality Survey". I'm not sure how to interpret that. Instances of immediate warranty work? New-car buyer satisfaction? It seems strange to find Ram and Dodge at the absolute bottom of the list, Jeep well below average, then Chrysler at the very top of the Initial Quality Survey. I...

Consumer Reports lists a Forester among the best used cars, based on surveys of their readers. https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/most-fuel-efficient-5-year-old-compact-suvs-a1110308216/ If that's paywalled here's an excerpt: _______________________________________ Subaru Forester...

Subaru has turbos on some models, and also has 6 cylinder boxer engines on some. Added: Consumer Reports has charts showing which years and models of Subaru are better or worse for reliability, repair cost, safety features, more.

Still over 4k miles or more before oil is down a quart on my '99, at 150k miles. I don't know if this is typical. Gas mileage isn't as good a recent models. About 24 mpg ever since new. This sort of WRC-inspired offroad rally driving shows why I love the Subaru! It covers the 20 miles of...

True. a lot of people move to where they can meet their own kind. Ie, SF. An interesting consequence is DINK female couples making Silicon Valley incomes are buying the small farms around here and putting in showplace 'ambiance' vineyards. Two such within walking distance of my place. Good...

Guess you've never met a teasing hottie college girl who presents herself with a big smile as a GUG (Gay Until Graduation) ?

When I bought the Outback in 1999, Subaru had discovered some who bought new Outbacks and Foresters were independent women who liked women. So a portion of the marketing subtly played to that. I took some good-natured kidding at my choice of vehicles. In reply to the kidding I quoted a friend...

My California Subaru. Not a spot of rust. I bought this new in 1999. I was loading the other car (gets better mileage) to return to the ranch and noticed the Subaru, after its semi-annual wash, still looks great. So I took this photo today. I'm trying to decide if it is worth putting $1k...

What are the advantages of the Forester Wilderness option? How much extra ground clearance? What else?

Mu uninformed opinion is that since a turbo runs much hotter, the quality of oil has to be higher, so more expensive, and timely scheduled maintenance becomes more important. I'm pretty casual about oil change intervals because I'm long past the recommended time before I reach the recommended...

I want one! (y)

re oil consumption, my '99 OB seems reasonable. For many years now, after about 5k miles is where it finally needs a quart. After it was down a quart again - approaching 10k miles, it got an oil change instead. But now, with little driving the Subaru in recent years it can be at least a couple...

Wow! If I can find a price like that, I'll do it. I want to buy a Tesla Y for our next primary car but I still need the Subaru or its equivalent replacement, for offroad camping adventures. As this one gets into its third decade it still looks near new and has no rust at all. Because it's been...

How much did the timing belt / water pump project cost? I've put off doing that on my '99 Outback for over a decade beyond the recommended maintenance interval, thinking that due to the cost I'll just run this till it dies. I've gotten estimates near $2k while the OB is hardly worth that. It's...

Best Subaru review ever! This rally-style driving on an unimproved route is what the Outback is best for. There's 20 miles like this into our gold mining claim after leaving the pavement (in steep mountainous country.) Maintaining good speed over rough ground is where the Subaru excels...

Wow just the opposite of my experience. I've had only a couple of annoyances with my '99 Outback over 23 years, but the most annoying one is: I've spent over $100 four times now to make the remote lock the driver's door properly. Then after a while it goes back to sounding the alarm if I don't...

He just needs separate left/right brake pedals like on a tractor, to make that thing turn around like we do. :p

Minor news, I posted in the EV thread that squirrels ate the wiring in the Focus Wagon. Today I picked it up repaired, and asked what this Subaru/Tesla/Audi specialty shop would charge to replace the spark plugs in my '99 Outback. Last time the OB's plugs were replaced, I watched the tech with...

Here's why I need a small SUV. The Outback followed years of used 4x4's. Willys Wagon, 2 of them. $500 with Studebaker V8 (SBC) then a $1k one with a Ford Y-block 292. But both so old that stuff kept breaking so I sold each after a year. (I was poor back then). Then a good 4 speed 302 Wagoneer...

Before I bought the '99 Outback I read a lot in the then-Yahoo Subaru group. re head gaskets: Someone who adapted Subaru engines for light aircraft (where they have to be reliable), had advice that has worked for me: He said every head gasket case he knew of was caused by heavy throttle...

My '99 has a PZEV decal. I think it relates to how much smog credits they have to buy from Tesla. :) A few years back they raised the suspension to evade 'automobile' smog standards and qualify in the SUV category - a lesser standard.