Outack 1999 vs Forester 2012

tempo

tempo

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Hi!
I have chance to drive a lot of vehicle (im dispatcher for auto carriers)
And i drove at least 50-60 different vehicle (test drive)
On saturday i drove 1999 Outback v6 "LL Bean edition" at the auction test drive area
I was amazed....The car is 12 years old but all internal plastic a firm and strong like on new Audi. I start touch and try to move plastic parts but they were like super glued and rock solid Engine sounds like whispering tree leafs on 216,000 miles...
And i have 2012 Forester...Unfortanatly built quality of all internal parts even not close to that Outback
I wish that my 2012 wil have same condition of plastics like that old 216,000 miles veteran Outback
2012 Forester Engine much much more louder with some wired sounds.
So what happen to Subaru? They trying to build it cheapper to sell more But it will return to Subaru after couple years with 0 consumer trust...Why they destroying good image that they were building for all long years....
 
I agree, my MY'97 OB was a nicer build than my Foz and it had the twin cam motor which was a lot more responsive than the single cam of my Foz.
 
there are a few things at play here. first off the outback had always been and still is a more luxurious car compared to the forester. the forester is based on the impreza which is subaru's budget car so have to remember that, were as the outback is based on the subaru's leadership road car the liberty.

its not just subaru that are trying to save money, every car manufacture is, especially since the GFC. most interiors are using a hard touch plastic while not as nice does wear better.

also the outback you drove was the H6 version? so therefore it would have been top of the range. im sure if you drove a top of range outback today and compared them the current model would not score so low.
 
tempo said:
But it will return to Subaru after couple years with 0 consumer trust...Why they destroying good image that they were building for all long years....
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While it is true all amnufacturers are "cheaping out", subaru does seem to have made a few backward steps in recent years. Yes, it will come back to bite them.

One massive forward step though is the AWD sytem. From all I've read, with the traction control turned off, the AWD goes into a different mode, giving it substantial grip on loose gravel, mud, etc.
 
thunder039 said:
there are a few things at play here. first off the outback had always been and still is a more luxurious car compared to the forester.

also the outback you drove was the H6 version? .
Click to expand...

You know what i never thought that way..You might be right.
When i come to by my Lesnik=Forester i am even did not try Outback because i think last nice looking Outback dead at 2008 and new model (IMHO) just ugly , so i did not get inside new Outlook because i knew i never buy that car Next time i will see new Outlook at the auction i will try and will compare built quality to my Lesnik
 
tempo said:
Hi!
I have chance to drive a lot of vehicle (im dispatcher for auto carriers)
And i drove at least 50-60 different vehicle (test drive)
On saturday i drove 1999 Outback v6 "LL Bean edition" at the auction test drive area
I was amazed....The car is 12 years old but all internal plastic a firm and strong like on new Audi. I start touch and try to move plastic parts but they were like super glued and rock solid Engine sounds like whispering tree leafs on 216,000 miles...
And i have 2012 Forester...Unfortanatly built quality of all internal parts even not close to that Outback
I wish that my 2012 wil have same condition of plastics like that old 216,000 miles veteran Outback
2012 Forester Engine much much more louder with some wired sounds.
So what happen to Subaru? They trying to build it cheapper to sell more But it will return to Subaru after couple years with 0 consumer trust...Why they destroying good image that they were building for all long years....
Click to expand...
Your comments confirm what I've always suspected - that the older Subie's were better built than what Subaru are doing today.

Can I just say the one thing that I am most impressed with about my '02 Outback is the fact that despite all the offroading its done, it absolutely refuses to rattle. There have been weekends where I've unwillingly given it hell over some rough tracks and I think to myself "I'll be counting the cost of this trip on Monday". But no matter what, I go driving to work Monday morning with not a creak or rattle to be heard.

When I sold my '98 Legacy sedan, it had 165,xxx kms and the interior was 100% mint. It looked like it had come off the showroom floor. The dashboard was not cracked, the Momo steering wheel was like brand new and the leather seats were in exceptional condition, not just for its age but even compared to a 3-year old car.

I test drove an '05 Outback and immediately I heard the fancy extra large sunroof rattling. There were also numerous trim pieces which had become loose or dislodged. I'd love to upgrade to one of these models but am worried about how it will compare to my '02 Outback....
 
Shiv said:
Your comments confirm what I've always suspected - that the older Subie's were better built than what Subaru are doing today.

Can I just say the one thing that I am most impressed with about my '02 Outback is the fact that despite all the offroading its done, it absolutely refuses to rattle. There have been weekends where I've unwillingly given it hell over some rough tracks and I think to myself "I'll be counting the cost of this trip on Monday". But no matter what, I go driving to work Monday morning with not a creak or rattle to be heard.

When I sold my '98 Legacy sedan, it had 165,xxx kms and the interior was 100% mint. It looked like it had come off the showroom floor. The dashboard was not cracked, the Momo steering wheel was like brand new and the leather seats were in exceptional condition, not just for its age but even compared to a 3-year old car.

I test drove an '05 Outback and immediately I heard the fancy extra large sunroof rattling. There were also numerous trim pieces which had become loose or dislodged. I'd love to upgrade to one of these models but am worried about how it will compare to my '02 Outback....
Click to expand...
Dont expect same built quality But its Subaru AWD and Long last Engine
 
I've got a 94 WRX and had a 98, 99 & 01 also plus about 6 Impreza's and none of them ever came anywhere near the quality of my 98 Liberty/Legacy, it's like they were made in different factories, the quality of things like window switches, door panels, dashboards are far more superior, even to this day and the poor old liberty hasn't seen a garage for about 7yrs.
 
3 gen comparsion

I have had three different generations of Subarus.
my '84 hatchie with almost 190k on it...abused every weekend, daily driver as well..rock solid..

IMG_2562.jpg


'98 forester..pretty darn tough as well with 183k on it now...runs and drives flawless with my floggin the hell out of it offroad..
fathersday2012031.jpg


'03 outback 140k on it ..tough as nails...and been wheeled for almost 10years...!

defiancerecon026.jpg


I can't say that much about the newest ones .However, my parents have a 2010 forester and they love it so far...time will tell..
 
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I have been at dealership again and get inside Outback 2012. Yes, build quality are better on that one compare to Forester. For some reason Legacy interior build even better than on Outback (and i know that they are similiar models, different plants?)
 
tempo said:
I have been at dealership again and get inside Outback 2012. Yes, build quality are better on that one compare to Forester. For some reason Legacy interior build even better than on Outback (and i know that they are similiar models, different plants?)
Click to expand...

different in america, some of your cars are built in indiana i believe... the rest of subaru's are made in japan, for now.......:iconwink:
 
thunder039 said:
different in america, some of your cars are built in indiana i believe... the rest of subaru's are made in japan, for now.......:iconwink:
Click to expand...

And Thailand ....

One should also remember that the Liberty/Outback is a larger car than the Forester; built on a different floor pan; and for a similarly equipped model, significantly more expensive than a Forester.
 
thunder039 said:
i didnt think that subaru had started building in thailand yet?
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No idea. Just know they are planning to, is all.

i know they were going to start building there with toyota but wasnt aware that it started, or if they do build them they are just for the local markets over there?
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Unfortunately, WE are their 'local market'.

The Japanese may or may not know that here in Oz we have deserted our "local" manufacturers because of their generally poorly designed and poorly assembled products. Thailand does not have a much better reputation in large item manufacture AFAIK. However, many if not most of the HDDs are made there, and appear to be good quality as long as one sticks to one of the well known brands. I do not think that we can even make a HDD in Oz anymore!! :( :(

Just personally, I much prefer the Japanese approach to TQA to almost any other nation on Earth ...

[EDIT]
Apparently, the XV is already being assembled in Malaysia, see article here.
[end edit]
 
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