'05 Suby Outback 2.5XT Test Drive

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

On a whim yesterday I swung into the local Suby dealer to check out the '05 Subies and I start fondling a silver 2.5XT Ltd. turbo automatic with Sportshift (one of those manual sans clutch option thangs). Within mere seconds, I'm swarmed by a salesperson and he's like, "So how do you like it?" and I'm like, "It's pretty sweet". and he's like, "do you want to test drive it?" and I'm like, "SWEET!", and he's like "well, I'm pretty busy right now, so here's the keys, just bring it back in 30 minutes or so", and I'm like, "FKNA!!!"

I currently drive a 2000 Outback wagon 4-cyl auto....and yeah its a great ski/bike car and all that, but its boring as hell to drive. Plus I always feel like a soccer mom. While this one still has that soccer mom feel to it (whereas I think say an Audi A4 Avant doesn't so much), there's a freaking lion lurking under the hood.

First thing I noticed was the growl the engine made when I started her up. Second think I noticed was you punch it, your back is truly pressed into seatback. Suby claims 0-60 times of around 5.8 seconds I think (for the 5-speed maybe), and yeah I'd say those times aren't far off for the auto with sportshift. Off the line there's plenty of torque to get moving, but then when the turbo kicks around 4000-45000 rpm things get real interested real fast. Passing cars on the freeway was a breeze with the needle spinning around 5000 and short 70-90 mph blasts happening in an instant. Pretty sweet that such a powerful engine sits beneath such a non-descript soccer mom like skin to attract less attention from the cops cause you can definitely get in trouble with this one.

Took the car onto some twisty roads, and it had a lot of understeer in tight turns, but it so much fun to just hammer it at the end of a turn, feel your neck get pressed back, and just laugh that you're driving a car with AWD and gobs of storage room to haul all your ski/camp/bike shit.

The sportshift option was fun...but still would prefer the 5-speed I think overall I think.

The dealer said they could get the price down below 30K with the 5-speed manual...and that's including the limited package which includes leather seats, 6-disc changer, sunroof/moonroof, heated seats, blah, blah, blah.

Damn I'm so tempted........

[slim]

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces

The dealer said they could get the price down below 30K with the 5-speed manual...and that's including the limited package which includes leather seats, 6-disc changer, sunroof/moonroof, heated seats, blah, blah, blah.

That's a good price on a lot of options plus a turbo charged 6-cylinder. It's amazing how desperate dealers are getting to move cars these days.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Originally posted by slim
That's a good price on a lot of options plus a turbo charged 6-cylinder. It's amazing how desperate dealers are getting to move cars these days.

yeah...amazing you can get all that performance, all the room of the full Outback, more ground clearance than the old Outback, for under 30K.

(oh and its a turbo charged 4 cyl...not a turbo 6....there is a 6 cylinder option, but its normally aspirated.).

[slim]

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
yeah...amazing you can get all that performance, all the room of the full Outback, more ground clearance than the old Outback, for under 30K.

(oh and its a turbo charged 4 cyl...not a turbo 6....there is a 6 cylinder option, but its normally aspirated.).

So the 2.5 isn't the number of liters in the engine? 2.5xt?

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Originally posted by slim
So the 2.5 isn't the number of liters in the engine? 2.5xt?

yeah, it's a 2.5 liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged alluminum alloy 16-valve 4-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine. 250 hp @ 6000 rmp. 250 lb-ft torque @ 3600 rpm

the non-turbo 6-cylinder is a 3 liter producing the same amount of horsepower, but a little less torque.

[slim]

Originally posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
yeah, it's a 2.5 liter DOHC intercooled, turbocharged alluminum alloy 16-valve 4-cylinder horizontally opposed boxer engine. 250 hp @ 6000 rmp. 250 lb-ft torque @ 3600 rpm

the non-turbo 6-cylinder is a 3 liter producing the same amount of horsepower, but a little less torque.

That's a big 4-banger.