Outback V Forester Questions

[RABBITS]

G,day all,I have had a good look at some threads about OB V FORRY and I would like to ask a couple of questions.First of all I am about to sell my jackaroo and am thinking of getting an OB or Forry The year models I will be looking at will be 98-02 AUTO depending on the finances.From the threads I have looked at,is it true an auto has a 90%-10% front-back wheel drive until the computer notices slip then it is 50-50.and a manual has 50-50 all the time ?
Next question, what models have duel range,are they leaver,or push button.
Do they make a turbo Outback(I am leaning towards an OB).
I will be doing trips such as frazer,and we do a bit of camping in the out back.I have 2 kids 12 & 10 + 60 litre waeco.Will be putting a roof basket on.I will not be going to hard core in the subi.
Next mybe some fuel useage figures.
I have always liked the look & the sound (love the sound) of a well set up Subi.I live at Ormeau on the coast in QLD.
Thanks for any help you can provide.

Dave

PS Is there any magazines with information about Outbacks & Foresters in them in our newsagents.

Cheers

 

[carljwnc]

From the threads I have looked at,is it true an auto has a 90%-10% front-back wheel drive until the computer notices slip then it is 50-50.and a manual has 50-50 all the time ?
Next question, what models have duel range,are they leaver,or push button.
Do they make a turbo Outback(I am leaning towards an OB).

Howdy and RABBITS!!!

The auto's are front drive biased, I'm not sure exactly what the bias is, but, if you have the gear selector in "1" or "2" then it is 50-50. There is also a center diff lock mod you can do.

Being in the states, where we don't get the dual range anymore , I'm pretty sure that it's lever actuated. Dual range is only on the manual trannys except turbo models.

We do get an Outback turbo here in the states, not sure if y'all got them down there or not. With better approach and departure angles, I will give a nod towards the Forester for being a better off road choice.

 

[Rally]

Remember the Outback has a bigger engine, but the Forrie is better as described above. There is more room in the Outback but there are also more bits available for the Forester. Autos do not come with dual range- the manuals are lever operated. There is no factory turbo Outback- although the H6 is available. Kevin would be a good bloke to comment on the auto as he has driven one here, there, the moon and everywhere in between.

From what you have said I'd imagine the Outback would be the better vehicle for you. The manual runs a viscous centre diff and is not computer controlled. When slip develops between front and rear, the diff responds in the same way other limited slip diffs do. But since you are after an auto, I'll leave that for others as I don't know much about them.

 

[mr turbo]

G'day RABBITS & to ORS.

What carljwnc & Rally said is spot on.

Kevin would be a good bloke to comment on the auto as he has driven one here, there, the moon and everywhere in between.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Kevin]

In the "98-02 AUTO" range the engines are basically the same i.e. 2.5L (I think the H6 in the Outback came later on)

If approach and departure angles don't worry you, then the Outback would be just fine (you could lift it if necessary). But, I would prefer a Foz for Fraser or for any sand driving for that matter. Un-lifted OBs tend to bury their noses in the sand (I had a '97 OB before the Foz). A H6 OB in our local club always suffered from overheating on the sand.

The low range in the manual only gives you a 20% reduction so not a whole lot of use really which is why I prefer auto. I even stuck with auto for my new Triton even though it is a "proper 4WD". You can crawl much easier with an auto and it is great for sand work.

 

[Barry]

I had my manual OB (05 model) through south west Qld and most of outback NSW, including the Dig Tree, Innaminka & Cameron Corner, 'loaded to the gunnals' with my 2 kids, camping gear, 20 ltr Jerry can of water, 10 ltr Gerry of fuel, tools, etc. It never missed a beat - the bogging on the Merty Merty was my 'hooning', not the car's fault.
Based on your passengers and required gear I doubt you'd fit everything in a Forie, especially the earlier ones, which were somewhat smaller than the current.
The one mod I'd make, if you could afford it, would be to fit a Scorpion low range gear set. After my experiences over New Year in the Vic High Country I recon that mod would make an OB almost unstoppable.

 

[RABBITS]

Thanks every one for the very helpful information.I do intend to lift the subi when I get it,and barry could be onto somethong with the low range gears.I had a look at both cars today & they both look great & they sound so sweet.The OB has that bit more room for the family and gear,& after looking at some video,s & pic,s on this site I am sure an OB will do the job with the right mods .My Jackaroo is the 97 V6 5 speed ,but the landrover discovery V8 was a auto and was great on fraser & good on bush tracks,just so dam thirsty 20ltr-100km.The jackaroo gets 14-15ltr-100 & I also had a Delica 2.8 turbo deisel auto with a lot of mods,the only reason I got rid of it the kids had no rear opening windows to stick there heads out and look around in the bush.My miss,s only drives an auto so this is why we will make the family car auto,but I can see my self in a manual forester just to get myself to work of course lol.
Thanks again for every one,s help & once we get the subi I will back with more questions about the lift kits,bash plates etc etc

Cheers Dave

 

[Barry]

Thanks every one for the very helpful information.I do intend to lift the subi when I get it,and barry could be onto somethong with the low range gears.I had a look at both cars today & they both look great & they sound so sweet.The OB has that bit more room for the family and gear,& after looking at some video,s & pic,s on this site I am sure an OB will do the job with the right mods .My Jackaroo is the 97 V6 5 speed ,but the landrover discovery V8 was a auto and was great on fraser & good on bush tracks,just so dam thirsty 20ltr-100km.The jackaroo gets 14-15ltr-100 & I also had a Delica 2.8 turbo deisel auto with a lot of mods,the only reason I got rid of it the kids had no rear opening windows to stick there heads out and look around in the bush.My miss,s only drives an auto so this is why we will make the family car auto,but I can see my self in a manual forester just to get myself to work of course lol.
Thanks again for every one,s help & once we get the subi I will back with more questions about the lift kits,bash plates etc etc

Cheers Dave

Rabbits,

Re the low range gears, they are only available in the manual, not the auto.

B.

 

[Rally]

I suppose changing wives is more painful than not changing gears! More expensive too. As mentioned before, Outback stuff is less readily available, so suggest you look what is available for your model. Don't want to turn the OB into an ostrich on Fraser Island now

 

[RABBITS]

Thanks Barry for that info, that changes things abit.
Rally you are so right about the changing wives thing.While I am sitting here discussing the pros & cons of keeping the wife or getting a manual,the miss,s has just informed me she will learn to drive a manual.So thanks for your post,it gave the miss,s something to think about.Car-miss,s _car-miss,s.The tough decisions us blokes have to make.lol


Cheers Dave

 

[Rally]

Mate, pleased to have helped! Now buy the boss some flowers so a) you show her you appreciate the offer, and b) makes it harder for her to change her mind! Dinkum- sounds like you've got a good missus there!

 

[RABBITS]

So a GT Turbo 5 speed forester could be on the cards.Got to go coles is still open have to get some flowers.

Cheers