Wrangler vs. Outback Sport?

[flatlander420]

I own a 2002 Outback and a 1996 Impreza Outback. In 97 they started calling the Impreza "sport". The Impreza has 135k on it. I bought it in 2000 with 52k on it with "salvaged" title for 5900$. I bought the 2002 a year ago and paid 12000$ with 72k on it. I gave the Impreza to my wife. It is way more fun to drive than the Outback ,handles excellent and gets pretty good mileage.The "salvaged" title has never been an issue with performance or driveability. I have changed the timing belt twice (water pump seized a 110k),new struts in the front, tires once and added a sway bar in the front thats about it other than breaks, oil changes etc. I would by another and probably will when this one dies.As far as the Jeep I guess the Subaru is more practical for every day driving as well as driving in snow ice etc,but if you really like to wheel the Jeep is about as good as it gets!

[riderspro]

Good info all around. That is so cool that you can put standard headlights in a Suby as opposed to buying those light compartment packages like some vehicles.

I know having solid axels has saved me a few times when I rolled over a curb or two, but hey if I could keep it on the road I wouldn't need that feature now would I?

I don't do any serious 4wd stuff, but I do drive up entrances to 14er routes that require more than a car several times per Summer. When I had the Eagle, train tracks and potholes were a constant annoyance. I drive in industrial areas of town several times per week.

I would like to get back to something can accelerate hard enough to raise the blood pressure. A friend has a WRX and it moves.

[Blatant]

Not like this matters but its come up a bit here...Here is some general info on What gas is.

What is octane?
The octane number or grade measures a gasoline’s ability to resist detonation and/or spontaneous ignition. The higher octane number, the more resistance to detonation.
What is detonation?
Also known as pinging or knocking, detonation occurs when there is abnormally high pressure in the cylinder, forcing the piston backward against its will on the compression stroke. A pre-ignition condition has a slightly different cause and more destructive results, but the knocking noise is the same. Both can lead to significant internal engine damage.
Okay, what does the octane number mean?
The original reference point came in the early 1900s when 87 octane gasoline was a blend of 87 percent iso-octane and 13 percent heptane. Gasoline formulas and octane rating methods have changed dramatically since. Now called the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), this is the octane number posted on the pump by law. Generally, three grades are available: 87 (sometimes called regular), 89 and 91 (sometimes called premium). The numbers themselves mean little to the average consumer, but every driver needs to be aware that all vehicles require an adequate grade of gasoline.
What is the proper grade of gasoline for my vehicle?
Check the owner’s manual first and be sure that the recommendation is listed as an Anti-Knock Index number. Some foreign car manuals may indicate a Research Octane Number (RON), which is higher than the AKI. As a quick rule of thumb, you can subtract 5 from the RON to get the AKI. The recommended grade should be adequate for normal driving, but if you hear a pinging or knocking noise, step up a grade immediately. You should also purchase a higher grade when carrying or towing heavy loads, driving to a hotter climate or traversing mountain ranges as a precaution to knocking.

[snowfire]

Man, impreza outbacks are so hard to find. I'm starting to look at foresters though, ... a bit large but not too bad.

[yentna]

Man, impreza outbacks are so hard to find. I'm starting to look at foresters though, ... a bit large but not too bad.

Actually about the same as an outback wagon. Same wheelbase, just a bit more vertical room.

[riderspro]

I'll try to comment. I just had to put a headlight in my outback. 2000 outback,...The headlight was a typical 55w H4, $7.00

Hmmm, that's interesting, I was curious after I saw my neighbors Outback in the driveway and looked at their headlight. You were obviously talking about the bulb inside the headlight, I was talking about the glass on the outside of the headlight. I just had the glass on my Jeep headlight broken by a thrown stone off the highway last ski season. It cost me $10 to replace the whole light, with the bulb inside.


I called a Suby dealership to get a cost on a 2002 Outback Headlight Glass $299.95.
Edit: I called Checker Auto first, and they did not carry them...

For all of you Denverites, I called John Elway Suby, and the parts dude was cool enough to give me the name of a used parts place sounds like they might speacialize in Subies, SilverStar Auto 303-690-1225

[Blatant]

Hmmm, that's interesting, I was curious after I saw my neighbors Outback in the driveway and looked at their headlight. You were obviously talking about the bulb inside the headlight, I was talking about the glass on the outside of the headlight. I just had the glass on my Jeep headlight broken by a thrown stone off the highway last ski season. It cost me $10 to replace the whole light, with the bulb inside.


I called a Suby dealership to get a cost on a 2002 Outback Headlight Glass $299.95.
Edit: I called Checker Auto first, and they did not carry them...

For all of you Denverites, I called John Elway Suby, and the parts dude was cool enough to give me the name of a used parts place sounds like they might speacialize in Subies, SilverStar Auto 303-690-1225

Yeah hoss, i was talking about the bulb not the glass as you're calling it.(my bad) In reality, it's not glass, it's a composite called Lexan. How in the world did he break that...a 5 iron? That shit is pretty heavy duty. The expense of replacing that is going to transcend makes and models....with the exception of old shit or hold out shit like jeep (xj's yj's and tj's) and any other old shit you can think of with actual glass lights with integrated bulb/film. Anything that has an actual "headlight" as you know it is cheap to replace..... anything with the "clear plastic glass" known as lexan, is as you stated, a complete "system" or whatever the fuck it was you said, will indeed be more expensive. All new cars have that though...weather it be a soobie, civic, toyota, hiuuundie etc, wj, lex, infinity etc, you get the pic. The buld itself was cheap and simple as most of the shit on the soob.....

sorry all, if there was some confusion on my part....

[riderspro]

I have a 2001 cherokee sport, with regular glass bulbs, that might be why it broke, but again only 10 bucks to replace. interesting that the other types of lenses are lexan, I didn't know that. Just pointing out though, that parts and pieces for the Sub is going to be more than a Cherokee. Fender Benders and whatnot price up quick in tin can cars. But again, if I had a bit of extra cash, I sure would not mind having a Sub, and it would be on the short list of cars for me to consider.

[uglymoney]

I have a rear license plate light out on my 02 Subaru Outback with 47k. Its the only expense I have ever had with the car other than fuel/oil/wiper blades. I called around today and found it for between 44 cents and 1.29. I'm going to go full out and replace them both.

[Blatant]

I have a 2001 cherokee sport, with regular glass bulbs, that might be why it broke, but again only 10 bucks to replace. interesting that the other types of lenses are lexan, I didn't know that. Just pointing out though, that parts and pieces for the Sub is going to be more than a Cherokee. Fender Benders and whatnot price up quick in tin can cars. But again, if I had a bit of extra cash, I sure would not mind having a Sub, and it would be on the short list of cars for me to consider.

we can belabor or point out pros' and cons...but keeping everything on a main't level and all being equal, in my experience the sub has cost me less than my jeep but that could be b/c the jeep inherently caused me to go off road more, but even with out taking that into account, the sub was as inexpensive to main't as the wrangler. I guess it really boils down to what one wants... hopefully this thread will help everyone out.