Caldina Vs Outback

[Sandwich_Filling]

I'm looking at joining the Subaru club finally when I sell my 1998 2.0L Caldina GTT. Don't get me wrong, it's been a great car but I want to switch up to a more practical 4WD. I'm looking at the 05-07 Outbacks in either the 2.5L or 3L. Most of the info I'm finding online about them relates to the US versions and we seem to have slightly different models here. I think I'm fairly sold on the 3L as it seems to come down to a trade off between saving money on needing belt changes etc Vs more money on fuel. On that note actually does anyone know how either of those Outbacks would fare on fuel economy against my current, turbo'd Caldina? Is there any particular model I should look out for or anything that stands out as needing to be checked with the cars in the 05-07 bracket? Cheers!

[GorGasmSpecB]

The 3.0 will get 9-11 l/100km.

Go for the 3.0.

[boon]

The 2.5 is a slug, the 3.0 is a great motor. You'll end up using almost the same fuel with the 2.5 because you have to flog it a bit whereas the 3.0 purrs along.

[Sandwich_Filling]

Thanks. After asking around at work a few people have mentioned similar things to that. I'm reading about editions like the L. L. Bean edition and such. Are those available

in NZ or do we get different Japanese versions?

[94 Leone]

LL bean is available; have a mate with an all bean forester, 7 cup holders...

Though whether they made ll bean models from the sixes, I couldn't tell you.

[sobanoodle]

You van get L.L Bean in 2.5 or 3.0 Outback form, a few available on TM.

[Sandwich_Filling]

I'm far closer now to a purchase after briefly thinking I wanted to go for a 4WD Mazda Atanza. That idea soon fled the nest that is my brain. I'm currently torn between a 2006 and a 2008 2.5L Outback which have done the same KM's. The 2006 is pretty much the basic model but in excellent condition whereas the 2008 is the top of the range, half leather interior, proximity start, paddle shift etc, etc model. There's $4000 difference between them though which I'm really not sure is worth it. I put that to the seller of the 2008 and he said

"The differences between the 2008 and the 2006 is not just cosmetic you should really drive one they drive very different".

Are they really? Was the engine or some other aspects drastically improved between those years that warrant the difference in price? Any help is massively appreciated as I'm still very much a learner within the realms of Subarus.

[GC8E2DD]

I can't imagine they would 'drive' any differently unless there was a gearbox change. What happened to the 3.0L? Better tow car, and as you said yourself, no cambelt. Also, 2006 and 2008 are probably the same model, unless the 2006 is a MY2005 pre-facelift. You got links?

[Sandwich_Filling]

 GC8E2DD said:

I can't imagine they would 'drive' any differently unless there was a gearbox change. What happened to the 3.0L? Better tow car, and as you said yourself, no cambelt. Also, 2006 and 2008 are probably the same model, unless the 2006 is a MY2005 pre-facelift. You got links?

I weighed up just how much I'd need the 3.0L for towing and it wouldn't be that often. A few trailers of firewood and garden waste here and there. I was trying to get away from the high fuel consumption of my 2.0L turbo Caldina as much as possible while still keeping the 4WD aspect.

I was under the impression that the engine didn't change between those years a side from maybe a couple of little tweeks here and there.

[Marky]

It's 95% the same car

They are a good car and if you have the budget for it then get either the 3.0 or 2l turbo legacy over the 2.5, either or they both are comparable in power and fuel use and the 2.5 is a bit underpowered for a big car - the 3l makes it a smooth relaxed drive (similar to like a commodore or something?)

Spose only 4wd alternatives in this sort of era & price bracket are as said the atenza 4x4 or something ending with "Avant" - do you need the 4wd part of it?

For what it's worth the outback will be a very different experience to the caldina - have you driven them?

[Sandwich_Filling]

 Marky said:

It's 95% the same car

They are a good car and if you have the budget for it then get either the 3.0 or 2l turbo legacy over the 2.5, either or they both are comparable in power and fuel use and the 2.5 is a bit underpowered for a big car - the 3l makes it a smooth relaxed drive (similar to like a commodore or something?)

Spose only 4wd alternatives in this sort of era & price bracket are as said the atenza 4x4 or something ending with "Avant" - do you need the 4wd part of it?

For what it's worth the outback will be a very different experience to the caldina - have you driven them?

Thanks Marky. Yeah I've driven a friends Outback and I really like it. I fully appreciate that with it being higher off the ground, non turbo etc that it'll be really different but I'm fine with that. I'm not really pone to boot the turbo in all that much for the fun of it anyway. The 4WD is pretty essential to me as I take it up Ruapehu in the winter for snowboarding, use it to get my Kayak out to various rivers/beaches and will be going off doing more camping now that the Mrs' kid is old enough to enjoy it. It makes more sense than the other wagon 4WD's with it's higher ground clearance. I scrape the bottom of my Caldina a lot.

These were the 2 I was comparing anyway. Although yet again my mins is swaying back towards the possibility of a 3.0L. I just really wanted to cut those fuel costs a bit.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-804619670.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-806610156.htm

Edited November 14, 2014 by Sandwich_Filling

[SpeedySub]

I have a 2.5 legacy (not outback version). I haven't driven the 3 ltr version so I can't compare it to that, but I have driven the 2 l non turbo and turbo. I found my 2.5l was still enough power for what I need which is taking the family and dogs out, MTB etc. I get about mid 10l's/100kms. My car is also a a bit older than the ones you are looking at, but for what you sound like you want to do I would say if you can't get the 3l the 2.5 should be fine, especially if you don't want to go turbo.

[jazza]

Do the newer 2.5 engines have the headgasket issue still?

[Sandwich_Filling]

Cheers again for all the help from everyone in this thread. After some hunting and a few test drives I went for a 2005 3.0R Outback with the black leather and I'm not regretting it after having it for a couple of weeks now. Very different drive to the Caldina but I love it all the same. I've got a couple of questions though. It's the first triptronic I've ever owned having always had manuals. If it's in regular automatic mode I get that it does all the shifting up and down for you. But when I stick it in the triptronic mode it seems to still shift up and down for me. That is unless I get in there first and then it let me have control going up gears. At least that's the way it seems anyway. Is there anything I can do to keep it constantly under my control so that it doesn't revert back when I turn the engine off. That could well belong in the dumb questions thread.

Also with regards to the stereo system while I'm obviously over the moon that it's got a mini-disc player, what with how readily available they are as a music format these days it's a shame that there isn't even an audio in jack. I've seen the thread on here where the guys in Christchurch and fit an ipod cable somehow but that's a bit pricey for me at the moment. is there a hidden audio in jack at the back of the Macintosh stereo? Failing that has anyone found a decent radio transmitter to get it to pick up my phone/ipod etc via an FM frequency? Or are there any other decent alternatives for digital sounds in my car?

Sorry for the long winded post. Really appreciated all the help so far.