Subaru owners

[FTE217]

Cheers mate I read you post too quick.

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I have realised that there are quite a few Subaru owners here on FF.com.au.

What Subaru do you own and why have chosen a Subaru over/aswellas a Ford?

For me, it was trial and error. I had no previous experience with Subaru's but had a lot of friends and other peoples experiences that have been nothing but great. Also I liked the thought of AWD traction as I never have had it before. I also liked that the resale value of the car was far less than any of the previous Fords I have owned. The only regret for me was not getting the WRX when I had the chance! :( I dont regret getting the Liberty as I need it for family reasons, but I want to upgrade to an 03 WRX when I get the chance.

So what made you change?

(Please, no Subaru bashing!!!)

Hi mate, a good thread you brought up. I have to ask though after your ownership of a Subaru will you go back to a Ford Falcon?

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by XR_Strider_GuY

Hi mate, a good thread you brought up. I have to ask though after your ownership of a Subaru will you go back to a Ford Falcon?

Well this was something I was procrastinating about for months on end, and the conclusion was that as much as I love my Fords and have grown up with them, and continue to have a soft spot for them, I have been given the taste of what nice jap quality is. That statement in itself is debatable I know. See the other thread I started re: "WRX owners not happy with XR6T owners".

When I owned fords I was so biased with them that I was bagging WRX owners and 4pot owners for having 4 bangers that I really didn't have a clue as to what they were like. Thats a typical response from me at that age as a 19yo. You couldn't convince me that Fords were not the best car in the world at that time.
Now 10 years later, having owned a Subaru Liberty and being a little bit more wiser, I have come to respect Subaru's far more and they have grown on me for the fact that:

a) I love AWD traction. Sure its boring not being able to throw a RWD around a corner or pull burnouts, but I'm over that stage in my life now, and being able to cruise in the hills and in the wet with sufficient ease and pace, is extremely satisfying for me.

b) The build quality for me is about 50 steps in front of any ford I have ever owned. (see sig) Not saying the newer fords aren't nice, Im sure they are, but this Liberty is the best car I have owned as far as build quality is concerned. I am very happy with the way things have gone so far.

c) Resale value is important to me also. All the fords I have owned have been second hand. But I have lost a fair bit when I sold them. More fault on my part for not keeping them longer. But essentially when looking at the current resale values of the AU/BA etc, I was particularly turned off by buying one. The Subaru's are not as bad in resale department as already mentioned, and that to me has a strong bearing.

Now to answer your question, would I buy another ford?
In one short answer it would be no. Why? Well as much as I love my fords as mentioned, I do beleive there is better out there for what I can afford, and my tastes require more in a vehicle now. I would love to do a project ford in the future, perhaps a GT replica or an ESP but then that would be a fun weekender, not a daily driver. I have enjoyed all my fords and have gotten great satifaction from them, sometimes you move on and see things in a bigger light and make different choices despite your younger roots.

[DJM83]

I agree with MADNC_8 im abit of a suby fan aswell. I love the new (restyled) liberty i also like the older libertys 01 onwards although after having been in an 06 STi impreza and an 05 EVO VIII id prefer the EVO. Id love to own a B4 liberty they are very nice

[pennybrain]

My Dad has a 04 subaru Outback and it is a pleasure to drive. It just sticks to the road and corners like it is on rails. The power is pretty good too. It has the 3L 6 and there is plenty of power. I have towed 2 dirt bikes on a long distance trip and the car drives like there is nothing being towed. I have also taken it off road and it does really well in those situations. Although Dad wasn't too happy when my brother and I returned the car covered in dirt and scratched up both sides from scraping branches. We also smashed the trailer power connector thing off so now we can't tow a trailer as the lights don't work. Ooops. I don't think the outback was designed to go completely off roading down nasty 4WD only tracks. We bottomed out a few times too but it was super fun and the car loved it :

[marcosambrose]

Ive heard that subis run for hundreds of thousands of kms without needed major rework done to engine or transmission, is this true?

[ebxr8240]

Timing belt every 100,000 klrs..

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Timing belt every 100,000 klrs..

How often do the chains in a 5.4L Mod engine need to be inspected/adjusted/replaced??

[SSBUB]

just dont get a forrester. We have one for work, and whilst its an 05/06 model, its as slow as hell and ya feel every bump in the road. I hear good things about suby, but the forrester doesnt do it for me.

[scottyg]

I am on my second Suby. Both have been Liberty's. One Sedan and One Wagon. Why ?
1) Technology
2) Technology
3) Technology !.

AWD, ABS, Traction Control, Adaptive Transmissions. Climate Air, Fast Glass All around. Space for 4 riders. All for AUD 40K

The heart still beats true for the Oval Blue thou !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love the Landau in the Garage for the Sunday Drive..

[McNugget]

Originally Posted by SSBUB

just dont get a forrester. We have one for work, and whilst its an 05/06 model, its as slow as hell and ya feel every bump in the road. I hear good things about suby, but the forrester doesnt do it for me.

only the n/a versions. You might notice some Foresters have a WRX style bonnet scoop, and they are turbo charged models.
Definately not slow even when stock good for 14's, which is not to shabby for an SUV.

Now with a few basic mods you can get the turbo Foresters going pretty hard and easy 13's, spend a bit more and you're into the 12's.

Beware the sleeper