I bought the car to replace an '88 Jeep Cherokee after moving to Atlanta. It took the day to day commute very well. It's comfortable, dependable, and roomy enough to haul along whatever you need.

Cup holder is horrid. I think I have spilled more liquid into the stereo and AC unit than drank. There could be a few more horses under the hood, but I've driven the new 2001 LL Bean Outback with the 6 cylinder engine and notice a considerable improvement. The car has an occasional hesitation when accelerating, but only when cold. From friends who own the same model, I'm told that the towing capacity leave much to be desired. Subaru as a company has been the biggest disappointment overall. See the review summary for details.

The car was hit from behind and almost totalled about 3 months after I got it. I was sitting at a stoplight and was hit by a driver who didn't see that the light was red in front of me. They never put on breaks and hit me going about 35-40 mph. The entire rear of the car from the back passenger doors to the bumper were replaced, Because the car was a lease, if it were to be totalled, I would have been out of a car and no insurance compensation to show for it(something to consider with a leased vehicle). It was in the shop for 8 months, meanwhile I was getting the run-around by the dealership and Subaru about parts delays and finger-pointing.

Believe it or not, I have had no problems with the car since finally getting it back from the shop. I am still very bitter towards the insurance co., the dealership, and Subaru American Credit. However, after all that, i would still purchase another. Not for the customer service, but because of how well it took the accident and its performance since. At the time of the accident, all I could think of is how well it protected my family.

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1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer- no A/C, no radio, and having to commute in Atlanta in the summer -- no comparison.

Versatility, road confidence, cargo space, overall engineering.

Hard seats! Sluggish transmission/torque converter. All weather package does not include variable speed intermittent wipers.

I have been very happy with this vehicle. ZERO problems so far (just over 6,000 miles). I am very impressed with the engineering of the Outback. The car does not seem to be "cobbled" together.

Although several people have mentioned dissatisfaction with the 2.5L four cylinder engine, I am very happy with the power level. I find it more than adequate for my needs and would not trade the 27 mpg highway mileage for the increased power the 6 cyl affords.

My only complaint thus far is the hard seats. I had to buy a seat cushion as I could never drive more than 100 miles at a time without getting a sore keister!

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Although not similar, my last car was a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am and it was a piece of junk compared to the Outback!

AWD. Plenty of pep. Comfortable seats in front and plenty of room in this station wagon. Why I even got a 32" TV into this vehicle. Reliability.

None.

Although I have low mileage for the age of the car on the speedometer which stands at 56,000 miles, I can't believe that the tires still have plenty of tread on them. Also I can't believe that I've yet to need a new battery since the car is garaged for months at a time. I use a smaller vehicle for day to day trips.

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Mazda. Both the Mazda & Subaru are top notch products, both of which had no need to be returned for factory service of any kind.

Styling, Price. The car handles very well and is great on snow and ice. It is very comfortable for its size. It has just about every option I was looking for.

Rear hatch panel falling off.
Interior fills with raw gasoline fumes on start up in very cold weather. seat belts always get jammed when retracting.
Seat heater switches poorly placed, always get bumped.
heated mirrors do not work well below 32 deg.
Heated wipers are useless (they are actually not heated wipers, instead, the windshield has a heating element where the wipers are parked). Who was the genius that came up with this??? Typically, the reason for heated wipersis to melt the ice that builds up on the wiper arms while driving in freezing rain.
When driving in a hard rain I can feel a small amount of rain entering through the vents.
Ice buid up on the rocker panel covers sometimes causes them to come loose.
The accessory outlet (cigarette lighter outlet) shuts off when the ignition is turned off. Forget about recharging your cell phone when stopping to visit a client.

This has been the worst car I have owned since my '81 Chevy Citation. Many of the "features" are just gimmicks. If I were shopping for a new vehicle today I would not consider a Subaru. I have never before owned a vehicle in which interior and trim panels fell off! The vehicle has been into the dealership 4 times (would have been 8 or 10, but I am just too busy to take it in). Some of the design ergonomics is what I would have expected 20 years ago.
Some people complain about the vehicle's power. While it is not great, I am satisfied.
It is too bad, because without the problems and annoyances I would love this car.
Another caution. The optional dog guard loosens up on bumpy roads. After it fell on my German Shepherd (2 times), he is afraid to get into the car. Part of the reason I chose this vehicle was so we could take the dog on day trips.
A few weeks after purchasing your Subaru, the company sends a brochure of optional items. There is an optional accessory outlet that has power to it all the time. Isnt it nice that they allow you to purchase an item to fix their design screw up. By the way, the car comes with a second outlet in the back. This allows you to plug in the optional cooler that is available through your dealer. But guess what - the power to that outlet shuts off when the ignition is off too. So you can pay them to let your lunch spoil too.

I am afraid that my vehicle is eventually going to catch on fire due to the gasoline fumes. I guess when this happens, the rear hatch panel that keeps falling off will fuse to the hatch, and thosa annoying seat heater switches will be cured at the same time.

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It is hard to pick a comparable product. The closest is the Audi, but to get all the nice features you have to go with the A6 at nearly twice the price. The A4 is available in the USA only with plastic (vinyl) seats and I am not going to pay $30K+ for a car without leather seats.

Good looking, quite and responsive car.

- Sunroof over the drivers side doesn't go back. It's pretty much useless as it only pops up about an inch. You can barely get a finger out into the fresh air!
- Rearview mirror looks like a tv set mounted on the windshield. Kind of freaks meout when I'm driving. Have to push a button to get outside temp.
- Cup holders only fit small to medium cups. Luckily I don't drink big gulps!
- Leather seats seem a bit stiff.
- Seat heater button's are very easy to accidentaly turn on. Nothing like a sweaty bum in the summer!
- Gas Mileage is so so. I'm getting 20 in the city.

This is a great car. Although I listed a lot of somewhat minor weaknesses, I would buy it again as it stands now but we'll see in 5-6 years.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee

We were looking for a vehicle that met all of our requirements - AWD/4 WD, good dependability rating, good repair record, good safety rating, plenty of backseat room for 2 car seats, decent gas mileage, and half way affordable. The Outback was the only one that met all our requirements. And our vehicle has definitely lived up to these standards. It has great traction in the snow & wet pavement, comfortable ride, love the clearance height, very easy to drive, looks good, handles well... wonderful

Basically, I love this car - with the exception of the backseat seat belts. We have had a lot of trouble finding and getting car seats to fit properly - due to the seat belts. And I was just told yesterday by a Safety Seat Tech. that Outbacks are noted for that.. too bad (hope they improved this with their new redesign in 2000). Other than that - not many weaknesses - cup holder location - annoying, husband thinks it could have more power (it's fine to me), wish it would put out more heat on the driver side feet area (this winter is really cold & I freeze) and large amount of windows = lots of hot sun in the summer (we had our windows tinted, works and looks great!)

I would definitely recommend this car, especially people who haul things (dogs, kids,...) When we started looking (and researching) the Outback there were very few OB in town, maybe 5 at the most, we drove over 500 miles one day looking a various dealers - the closet ones being 60 miles away. We loved it and bought it (5/99). Now, 1/01 - there are Outbacks everywhere around here. I think that really says a lot about their quality if people are willing to drive 60+ miles to buy AND SERVICE this vehicle - especially when you consider the # of other car dealerships in town.

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1991 Geo Prizm LSI - I loved this car too, but there is no comparsion, Outback wins easily, much better traction, comfort, defrost action...

I have the Limited Outback Wagon and the interior is as well finished as any car I have owned. Ride is tight and controlled, but smooth and quiet. It is the handling and feel I like. AWD is great! Mileage is good and overall quality is wonderful so far. Dealer and salespeople are very good as well.

Although power is adequate, it could use a little more power which will come with the new 2001 Boxer 6 engine. And, rear vision, even with the middle rear headrest removed, is some difficult.

I would not suggested that someone who is concerned with image buy a Subaru, you will be disapponted and not impress the folks you are trying to impress. However, if you want a car of high quality workmanship with reasonable costs to buy and maintain, I recommend the Subaru. I sympathize with the previous reviewer and the problems he has had, but his situation seems to be an abberation. Everybody I know is very pleased with their Subaru, regardless of model.

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Haven't had a station wagon in many years, but the overall feel and quality is equal to any of the mid priced (35-40K) Acura, BMW and Audi sedans I have owned over the last 20 years and the cost is substantially lower.

Style of car- wagon- great cargo room and comfortable seasting.

Car is a lemon. Owned it for 10 months been to the shop 10 times. 3 of them for chech engine light, 3 for the cover on the back hatch falling off.

I would not recomend this particular model to anyone. It seems to have all sorts of trouble that is hard to detect. The dealer that I bought it from is even baffled at the problems with this car. Is it a lemon or is it the year that's bad. I am very sour on Subaru because it is suppose to be one of the best out there and it has turned into a nightmare!

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My honda civic had 180,000 miles on it- I am sorry I sold it for this 2000 outback

Extraordinarily nimble for an AWD vehicle, great gas mileage, and really good-looking.

A tad sluggish. It seems a bit peculiar that the "Sport" version is Subaru's answer to the grocery-getter.

Subarus are tanks. They refuse to die. I admittedly abused my first Subaru, but it never sputtered or even squeaked. If you prefer practicality over excess or marriage over a quick, tempestuous love affair, the Subaru may become the best car you have ever owned. The Outback line only expands on what Subaru has established itself: the maker of the most practical car in the world.

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This is my first AWD, but my second Subaru. Quite a bit sportier than a 94 Impreza.

The OB is the jack-of-all-trades of the car world . It rides smoothly on paved freeways and dirt roads ,through sand and very rocky trails (though attention should be given to its low approach and departure angles).Unlike so many wagons and sedans ,it feels agile ,nimble and fun to drive , especially through windy mountains roads . It feels very safe even on a loose surface .It does everything almost effortlessly .It is the car of choise for long drives : very steady in maintaining its cource , and you don't get that tired while driving .
It is also a very efficient stuff mover with plenty of space and a decent towing capability .

Reliability has been excellent . As a Plastics and Materials Engineer I appreciate how well this car was made .

The OB is a good-looking wagon with a unique appearance ( I'm getting many compliments from other motorists) .

Since it is a very capable long-distance craft , I think Subaru aught to improve the long-term comfort level of the seats' polyurethane-foam -cushioning . Some indicators and switches are hidden behind the steer-wheel . More power is needed to match the OB's handling capability ( either the new H-6 3l , or better : a 280 hp turbo-charged power-unit like the one built into the Subaru Touring Wagon , would do )

I would definitly recommend the OB to almost everyone ,especially families with kids ,or people that drive long-distances and carry many things . It is a multi-purpose vehicle that does so many things better than other cars.
It is very well made , very reliable , fun to drive and good-looking .It is not a flashy car , however it reflects on its owner's ability and sophistication in choosing a no-nonsense , best all-road /all-weather car , advanced technologically and safe .

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On the freeway: much better than the Toyota Camry , Honda Accord , or many other US build family size sedans and wagons . Off road , on dirt, sand , gravel and mildly rocky trails it out-performs any other SUV (the OB is much faster and more stable) . However,when the rocks get larger and angles of approach become steeper ,the OB's under-parts may get damaged .