That is so weird… I named my Pontiac Firebird “Mama’s Shmoopie Whoopie Bear” and I named my boyfriends’ mail truck “Big Bertha”.

I always had the Impression that I was the only one who named their vehicles! Nice Blog by the way.

No, you aren’t crazy if you talk to your Legacy Outback. I do all the time (usually when I’m attempting a feat that requires all the AWD oomph the little car has). If you thought the Neon was fun because it was a stick, try driving a Subie with a stick.

However, remember if you hear the car answer you, it’s time to get your 15k psycho check.

It really is a tremendous car… the way it handles and the reliability of the engine. In southern California, it is not the most popular of vehicles, but that uniqueness just makes it that much more tremendous.

I traded in my Audi A4 for the outback XT and it’s great! Living in Santa Cruz, CA I see all years of the outback all the time.

The XT gives it the extra power that makes this fly even more!

The Outback really is a nice vehicle … worth talking to and worth talking about. Here in south Florida, we hardly see them around, I guess because the driving is so flat and easy. But we get alot of requests for them from our customers up north. Just wish we could find more of them. Anyway, enjoy! The one I drove was a blast!

My wife has had a Subaru Outback from new in 1998. She has to carry lots of bulky medical equipment around for her job. Its still going strong and has had no problems at all in all weathers and road surfaces. We are thinking of replacing it with a new one once the 07 models arrive.

BUT, one caution has arisen. Last week a collegue in a brand new Outback was hit from the side by a total idiot barreling out of a side alley without looking. The impact flipped the car over. Colleague has whiplash but is otherwise OK. BUT he was seriously disconcerted to find that the SIDE and CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. Had his 6-month old baby been in the car this might have very nasty indeed.

Subaru say they are investigating if this was a glitch on his car. BUT there is a suspicion that Subaru do not yet have roll-over sensors on the side and curtain airbags like BMW, Audi, Merc etc. I am waiting to find out the truth of this before we make our purchase decision.

Suburu will not honor thier warranty on a car I have only owned for 6mos. It was used but still under warranty. The dealer is saying it was the oil that caused the turbo charger and engine to need replacement.
I will never buy another Suburu again , ever. They are awful to deal with

Does anybody out there know what are the best size rims to buy to put on a brand new 2006 Outback for use with winter tires ? I have used studded and studless (Michelin X-Ice) and would like to stick with these, however I do not believe my 15″ setup on my current 2000 model(Forester steel rims) will fit the larger calipers.

BTW, I had Subaru honor my warranty on a used vehicle with 58,500 miles on it when a cylinder head gasket went. That is just another reason why I am buying another one…. that was the only problem I have had.

No Penny, you have not gone off your rocker saying you love your Subie. If so, then there is a bunch of us that are crazy! I’ve loved these cars for some time and frequently ask owners how they like there car. I most always get the same response, I LOVE MY SUBARU! I have yet to have anyone say anything negative about their car.

My wife & I currently own 2 Subaru’s. We wouldn’t own anything else. We bought a ‘97 Outback in Aug of ‘96 when we lived in Maryland (now live in Colorado). This was our 2nd Subie. Our first was a ‘90 Legacy wagon. We got it when they first came out in April of ‘89. It was a great car and it got me through some real bad blizards in Colorado. In Maryland the Outback also worked great on the occasional icy roads and often in heavy down pours.

We are back in Colorado now and it’s been so great to have this rig, especailly when the roads get icy & snow packed. Actually, the AWD is great to have on any kind of road conditions. By having the front wheels pulling the car and the rear wheels pushing it also, the handling is amazing. We get around 28-30 MPG on the highway all the time.

Utiltiy wise the Outback is our “go anywhere, do anything” rig. I often haul building materials on the top cross rails and sometimes cart furniture in the back. I even pull a utility trailer for the real big yucky stuff (like dirt & mulch). After 10 years and 108K it’s has yet to fail me. I love the darn thing!

The wife sports about in a ‘99 Legacy SUS (Sport Utility Sedan). We bought it used with 43K on it in July of 2003 (now has 73K). We traded off a new 2002 Audi Alroad just to get it (and have never been sorry we did). This thing gets a lot of admiration and attention! It too is very fuel efficient (up to 33 Hwy) and is very functional. The trunk is quite large and, if needed, the rear seat backs fold down to make even more room. Sporting an all leather interor with heated seats is another bonus. It’s like a sports car and a real pleasure to drive!

So far neither car has needed any major repairs. In fact, both have hardly ever been in a dealers repair facilty. I’ve replaced the brakes myself once on both cars and that’s about it. I also change the oil & filter myself, as it’s so easy to do. Nothing else ever seems to go wrong with them!

Perhaps one day we will want to upgrade to a newer model, but for right now it seems far off into the distant future. We can’t seem to justify getting rid of a good thing! But when it happens, it will definately be to get another Subaru. We love these cars!

A/C problem. I am having an intermittant problem with the A/C since I purchased my Impreza Outback new in 2000. Subaru has not been able to locate the problem. Sometimes, it takes anywhere from 3 to 12 minutes before the cool air kicks in. Has anyone else had this problem?

I have a 98 outback legacy. The hatchback will not open. This has happened before but the latch always seemed to unlock and work after a day or so. The latest time it has stayed locked for several weeks. I know this happened to my brother’s Subie he traded his in on a new one before he got it fixed. Any ideas or ways to solve this problem

The Subaru Outback is great for the active family, you can get grocerys and still have a nice performance vehicle that can handle the snow or off road tasks.

Has anyone ever driven a newer 2004-2006 Subaru Outback on the sand? i.e. the beach. I’m looking into a small all-around car that occasionally can make it out to a family fishing spot off the Outer Banks of N.C.

Thanks,

In response to eric’s hatch problem, I’m having a similar problem on mine. It’s possibly electro-mechanical. I’ve been taking off the back cover. It’s plastic interlocks rivit like. That comes off in about a minute that will expose the lock mechanism. What I’m seeing is the lock is getting stuck between engaged and disengaged. I’m manually freeing it at this point to open the lock. Mines been doing this for about 3 months.

Hey guys I own an Outback 05.Its just great.I call her Beauty,(of course I am the Beast)

I just purchased a 2006 Subaru Outback. Generally speaking, I like it but there is one feature that I find very annoying. The auto down on the driver’s window won’t release for me and I always have to put the window all the way down and then back up half way. Is there any way to disable that feature and just have a normal power window?

I had the sticking rear latch on my Subaru and this is how I fixed it.

“Hi–YES! YES! –
I had the exact same problem — 2003 Forester rear door electric lock occasionally would not unlock, but it was completely unpredictable.

HERE IS THE SOLUTION:

The external latch handle (the little horizontal flap your fingers squeeze when you open the rear door) was NOT QUITE FULLY RETURNING to its retracted position. This was due to some corrosion at the upper (hidden) corners of the flap, where it PIVOTS AND RUBS against the door. I PUSHED the little flap backward into its fully retracted position and it moved back about 1/4 inch. Suddenly the lock now worked fine. I applied WD-40 on the FLAP PIVOT AREAS and VOILA! Flap now returned to correct position every time, and the electrical unlock mechanism worked fine once again.

Long story short, the sticky flap meant the cable link to the lock mechanism did not retract fully–missing by about 1/4 of an inch. This meant one little part of the lock mechanism was staying in an open position, which prevented the lock motor from pushing on the part that unlocks the latch….As the dealer said–all it needed was a little lubrication. MORE USEFUL INFORMATION: there is a virtually unreachable little Lock-Unlock Lever located on one end of the lock mechanism inside the door– a dealer knows how to get to it through a covered hole on the inside panel. But this lever doesn’t work when the above simple retraction problem exists with the outside handle.”

Once the mechanism is operating spray the area with lithium grease for a long term fix. WD40 is too light and will need redoing within six months.

Hi there! For a moment I’m creating a blog about Subaru and people for whom Subaru is much more than just a car. Subarumania exists in many countries and in every country this mania has its peculiarities. My goal is to collect as much as possible information about subarumaniacs throughout the world. This site is NOT commercial. Mail to Alex (subamaniac@gmail.com ) if you have any information about people who have such passion for Subaru. Any information will be very much appreciated. And welcome to my site!

Bill, you’re a GENIUS.

‘99 legacy wagon, same exact trunk latch problem, got irritated with it for about two weeks, finally decided we ought to take it to a shop ’cause it’s hard to deal with two kids and their stuff if you can’t open the back. But before we took that $50 step, we googled the problem, found Bill’s post, took two minutes with the WD-40, and voila!

Thanks, Bill!

Just purchased a 2002 Legacy Outback. I live near Mount Washington in New Hampshire, awful weather here. The car is fantastic in bad weather and shows superub traction and handling when traveling on icy conditions. I am a skier, but what is with the “gay” stigma of owning an Outback? Just loonie folks with identity problems or more?

Eric

I own a 97 outback Limited. I have been having problems with water circulating in my cooling system.Nobody seems to be able to pinpoint the problem.It is not the thermostat or water pump and we have not ruled out a head gasket. For now we have removed the thermostat, so it can be driven.
Can anybody help?

I have had a sticking back hatch/door on my 98 Subaru OB. Seeemed to have figured out how to open it with the key, but didn’t work today. Did a Google search and ended up here, and found this comment, which WORKED. Thanks.

********

I had the sticking rear latch on my Subaru and this is how I fixed it.

“Hi–YES! YES! –
I had the exact same problem — 2003 Forester rear door electric lock occasionally would not unlock, but it was completely unpredictable.

HERE IS THE SOLUTION:

The external latch handle (the little horizontal flap your fingers squeeze when you open the rear door) was NOT QUITE FULLY RETURNING to its retracted position. This was due to some corrosion at the upper (hidden) corners of the flap, where it PIVOTS AND RUBS against the door. I PUSHED the little flap backward into its fully retracted position and it moved back about 1/4 inch. Suddenly the lock now worked fine. I applied WD-40 on the FLAP PIVOT AREAS and VOILA! Flap now returned to correct position every time, and the electrical unlock mechanism worked fine once again.

Long story short, the sticky flap meant the cable link to the lock mechanism did not retract fully–missing by about 1/4 of an inch. This meant one little part of the lock mechanism was staying in an open position, which prevented the lock motor from pushing on the part that unlocks the latch….As the dealer said–all it needed was a little lubrication. MORE USEFUL INFORMATION: there is a virtually unreachable little Lock-Unlock Lever located on one end of the lock mechanism inside the door– a dealer knows how to get to it through a covered hole on the inside panel. But this lever doesn’t work when the above simple retraction problem exists with the outside handle.”

Once the mechanism is operating spray the area with lithium grease for a long term fix. WD40 is too light and will need redoing within six months.

Posted by: Bill | September 3, 2006 9:09 PM

THANK YOU BILL! I just visited my mechanic yesterday who told me I’d need to get to the Subaru dealer and to expect a heafty bill for solving the rear hatch problem. With your help, the hatch is leaping open with every click of the handle! Finally, the recycling can get out of the basement and into the back of my beloved (though yet unnamed) Outback!

Much appreciated.
Lisa.

Our 1997 Outback has AWD with the auto transmission.
It acts just like a normal front wheel drive car, we can be on ice and snow and the front wheels just spin with no help from the rears.
I put a fuse in the fwd holder to see if it might make a difference but it is the same (except the fwd light comes on)
We are baffled as to what the problem is with the car and really need the AWD capabilities it should offer.
Any ideas on what to look for and at?
Thanks
Kurt B
Spokane Wa

Am a big Soobie fan 87GL’s, 2K Legacy & 92 SVx’s. water has started getting into my rear hatch door (when it rains) and runs out when I raise the hatch. Thought at first it was getting through the key hole, plugged it with a cork, but it still gets in. Must be getting in between the light assy and lower window molding. Anyone else experienced this, and what can be done to fix it. Noticed light corrosion developing inside the tail light bulb receptacles. Thanks, Lou, Bandera County TX.

Hi Bill,
Got a 98 subaru outback that had the same sticky latch problem for the last two weeks, just after a major (£2500) garage spree after a blown head gasket and radiator, so THANK YOU so much for helping me avoid another garage bill with your WD40 cure!!!! Anne, Aberdeen, Scotland

I live in a wooded area. APine needles and other gunk is always getting into two areas of my car. The windshield wells and at the base of the back hatch lifter posts. I try to get everything out with wooden stirrer sticks, but I have the feeling a lot has gotten somewhere into my 2001 Legacy. Any solutions?
Larry

I have a 2000 Subaru Legacy Outback LTD. I love this car and have put tons of mileage on it. Lately I’m hearing a loud noise from the rear end which sounds something like road noise, but, I don’t think it is. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what it could be? I’ll probably have to take it to a mechanic, but, would like any advice from anyone who has had a similar problem. Thanks!
EH Solarz

I purchased my first and only Subaru,Loyale in Aug. 1991. The salesman told me how great they were and that you couldn’t kill a Subaru. I didn’t believe him. Well, it’s now 2007 and she’s still running smooth as silk and the only problem I have is finding a mechanic that understands how to work on them. They don’t have the same type of engine as other cars and think that’s why they’re so great. The only time my little Subbie didn’t start was when her battery was dead and that’s been only two times in 16 years. From where I sit they have real soul and a freakie type of connection to the owner…in any case I love my little Loyale.

Although I have had good experiences with my 2000 Subaru Outback Limited, there have been a number of premature and unusual failures. My many attempts to obtain help from the dealer, Subaru’s VP of Customer Service, and the nasty bunch at 800-Subaru3 have been ignored. At about 130K miles, both head gaskets failed and began leaking oil. I finally had the work done at the dealer to the tune of $2000, only to find that the keyless remote had been damaged at the shop. The service department refused to replace it, and the manager did not even have the courtesy to return my call.

My left rear tire was wearing severely. I had an alignment shop attempt an alignment, but there is no adjustment possible for camber. I called the dealer and was told they had no suggestions — too bad. The alignment mechanic and I figured out a crude fix, but it is probably not permanent.

When I needed another car, I avoided Subaru because of the nasty and unresponsive behavior of the dealer, the help staff, the corporate executives, and not least, the extremely poor quality control used in building these cars.