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2003 Subaru OutbackSubarus best-selling line adds a pickup-truck crossover for 2003, and gets a less-expensive 6-cyl wagon midyear. Joining Outback and Legacy...
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Subarus best-selling line adds a pickup-truck crossover for 2003, and gets a less-expensive 6-cyl wagon midyear. Joining Outback and Legacy sedans and wagons is the Baja, basically an Outback wagon with an open rear cargo bed. Outbacks and the Baja have a raised suspension and SUV-flavored styling, but all these vehicles share a basic 4-dr design with standard all-wheel drive and horizontally opposed engines. Four-cylinder models come with manual transmission or optional automatic. A 6-cyl engine powers these Outbacks: the VDC and H6 sedans; and VDC, L.L. Bean, and Outback H6 wagons, the last a midyear addition. The 6 cyl comes only with automatic transmission. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard on all Legacys, Outbacks, and Bajas. Front-side airbags are exclusive to the Legacy 2.5 GT and to all Outbacks except the base and H6 wagons. VDCs include antiskid/traction control. All Legacys and Outbacks get revisions to suspension and front styling for 03. And OnStar assistance is newly standard for H6 seda
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18 Reviews from Shopping.com
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This is a car to be driven and enjoyed in washouts and whiteouts
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Pros: Excellent performer in bad weather, Interesting and unique technology, unique styling
Cons: Sluggish 2.5L engine, easliy scratched interior plastic components.
The Bottom Line:
Try it out
Version of car: 2003 Outback Limited Canadian edition, 18500km on the clock. The Limited version comes loaded with all you can think of, except for two features: an electronically controlled climate control system, and an autodimming mirror. Other than that the car has a 6 CD player, leather seats, two sunroofs, other features expected.
Pros:
Great handling in bad weather - I actually look forward to those downpours and whiteouts to put my Subaru to its intended use. In Canada we get a winter package as standard equipment, which includes heated front seats, heated mirrors, front wiper defroster.
Missing: headlight wipers.
The car has great looking aluminium alloy wheels as standard, and the tires -Bridgestone Potenzas- are H-rated and excellent performers.
Cons:
An immobilizer/alarm system is optional: even a Civic has one there days. Most customers install one at an extra $400 before they take delivery of the car.
The biggest fault in the cars interior are the very easily scratched and chipped beige plastic components.
The engine is very sluggish for the weight of the car - even Subaru knows this. Recently a dealer told me when looking at an Impreza that the 2.5L engine really performs well in the Impreza as opposed to the Outback. The dilemma is whether it is worth the steep price of the 6 cylinder which starts pushing the Outback into a more upscale category of cars.
Conclusion: the car has really interesting technology. You are driving a car that is very different from the rest out there (even the windows are frameless), both technologically speaking, and also in design. I also like the fact that Subaru really gives you more for your money than other makes. I have seen doctors drive Subarus and you see the car in upscale residences - people who could afford much "better" but are somehow attracted to the uniqueness of the car.
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