Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium MY2015

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  Islund on 27/01/2015 - 11:36

  http://www.volkswagen.com.au/en/models/passat_wagon.html

  Would take this over a outback anytime.

  I am not a fan of VW (have a golf with all the gearbox related dramas) but, the Passat is a beautiful vehicle to drive and own.

  Had a wagon for 2 weeks as a loan car and drove it to the max.

  • 

    peuwayaqdq on 27/01/2015 - 12:03

    Thanks Islund. VW is on my list to test drive.

    • 

      Islund on 27/01/2015 - 13:55

      I think they are having a runout sale now. Please note: VW runs on premium unleaded but in my experience, at the end of the day you are saving for premium is consumed slower and better by the engine.

      Also there is only the one service interval yearly with the Passat.

      http://www.subaru.com.au/service/schedule

      • 

        peuwayaqdq on 27/01/2015 - 14:09

        Regarding service interval, time-wise Passat might be cheaper but kms wise, it will be more expensive.

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  [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 14:03

  -1

  It's cheaper than its predecessor because it is its predecessor with a different body. Subaru have been making the same cars for over 20 years now, there is very little difference between this and an original outback, apart from now it has a terrible Cvt gearbox if you opt for the auto. Avoid at all costs. As mentioned the Passat all track is a better option in this class.

  • 

    peuwayaqdq on 27/01/2015 - 14:11

    I heard it is cheaper because of the free trade agreement with Japan took effect.

    I thought Outback is popular and reasonably favoured?

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 14:40

      -1

      Maybe 10 years ago. If you want a terribly outdated car, get one, but it it literally the same car, based on the original Liberty. Same engines, same chassis, updated exterior and interior. I drive a Subaru, but I wouldn't touch a new one with a barge poll. Especially because of that shitty CVT gearbox. Even without it the car is old school tech. The euros put it to shame.

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  [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 14:41

  +2

  Oh and the FTA has nothing to do with the pricing. They can't sell them so they lowered the price.

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  mmmbeer on 27/01/2015 - 22:59

  +2

  Rubbish. Suby's are good cars. They have a reputation for build quality and reliability, along with above average resale value. In US they're no. 10 in sales (sales increased 21% in 2014) which is streets ahead of any European maker including VW.

  OP, the new Outback is a very nice ride. The 2.5i is the newer FB25 motor and goes well. The technology in the Subaru's is as good as, if not better than many rivals, including European marks. The Eyesight System is excellent and the new Outback gets the second generation version. The original eyesight system was rated best out of anti collision systems on 70 cars tested independently - it put the Euro's to shame. Google eyesight and IIHS test. The Suby's were the only ones that completely avoided a collision at both 20 kmh and 40 kmh.

  I have an MY14 Forester XT and love it. It has the CVT and there is nothing wrong with the transmission. In fact, The Subaru CVTs are considered one of the better implementations of that transmission. I can't speak for the CVT in the Outback, but the combination of the 2.0 turbo and CVT in the Forester is superb. Smoothest car I've ever driven, relatively economical but will suck the doors off other cars when you need to give it some.

  The Passat is also a very nice car. A mate has the Passat Alltrack and swears by it. Just make sure you do your research on the VW first - the 7 speed dry clutch DSG was the gearbox causing all of VWs woes in recent times. The vwwatercooled forums is a good place to get some reliable info.

  The Subaru servicing is still stupid at 6 monthly intervals, but they now have capped price servicing for the life of the car, not just 3 years etc like some other manufacturers.

  At the end of the day, I don't think you'd go too far wrong with either the Suby or VW. As the Outback is a new model, you might struggle to get a discount but it might be worth waiting until some demos start to become available.

  Just wanted to put some balance into some of the one-sided bullshit that was being sprouted here.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/01/2015 - 23:16

    -1

    News flash pal, the world isn't North America, and the average American buyer isn't as discerning as the average European buyer, hence cars like the Chevrolet Malibu and the Ford Explorer. You can flog antiquated automotive junk off to the American public and they lap it up. Worldwide all the Europeans outsell Subaru on a massive scale. Trading on a reputation established in the 1990s will only get you so far, and Subaru are suffering for not innovating.

    Claiming Subaru have a new motor is hog wash, it's the same old piece of crap, with new heads or a new turbo. Their 2.0-2.5 h4 has been around for donkeys years in different forms. It's long in the tooth and has nothing on euro rivals. Most euro diesels of the same capacity are superior in every way (look at the new Passat 2.0 Tdi, 260hp).

    No one who knows anything about cars will ever call a CVT superb, it's a flawed design from the outset, inferior to good torque converter autos and DSGs. A massive mistep on Subarus part when the rest of the world is moving as far away from CVTs as they can.

    I'll reiterate again, the only thing new about subarus these days is the marketing and disinformation campaign.

    Oh and highlighting the collision avoidance system as one of the car's key feature is hardly a ringing endorsement. For starters, they are off the shelf OEM units straight from Bosch or Magnetti, you'll find they share the same system across many manufacturers. Judging a car on that is like judging a house on the thickness of its carpets.

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  mmmbeer on 27/01/2015 - 23:58

  +2

  Sigh. Our opinions differ then.

  Yes, North America is but one market, but it's a damn big one. It's the same market that makes your precious Jeep, so don't be too harsh on their level of discernment.

  The FB25 and the Fa20 are entirely new engines - new block, new heads, new tech. Google it.

  Please don't talk about refinement of DSGs - ask anyone with the VW DQ200 gearboxes who utterly failed out of warranty or were one of the 2.6 million subject to recall.

  CVTs aren't for everyone but to say manufacturers are moving away from them is a lie. Ford, Peugeot, Renault, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Nissan/Infiniti, Toyota/Lexus to name a few all use CVTs. Not all CVTs are good but then again, nor are all conventional or DSG transmissions. As I said before, Subaru's implementation of the CVT is regarded as being among the best.

  And highlighting the collision avoidance is probably one of the most ringing endorsements you can make. You're kidding yourself if you don't think safety is crucial in a modern car. The eyesight system is a Subaru proprietary system developed by them and found to be superior in independent testing to other radar or laser based systems.

  Edit: removed personal comments

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 28/01/2015 - 08:06

    It's sad that you believe all the marketing mumbo jumbo, over the facts. The new Subaru engines are merely evolutions of the old engine. New mount points does not constitute a new block imo.

    I never spoke of the refinement of a dsg, just it's fundamental superiority. Vw had some problems, but it was new tech and they are ironed out. CVT has been around for years. As for your list im afraid you are grossly mistaken and shouldn't use Wikipedia as a reference point. Mercedes do not make CVTs, audi stopped production of them in favour of dsg, and Toyota only use a chain driven variant on their hybrid models.

    Believing that the Subaru collision avoidance is custom made for their cars is like believing in the fairness of Eussian democracy. Even if they had made their own, wouldn't they have been wiser to invest the money in making a better car?

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  peuwayaqdq on 28/01/2015 - 09:09

  Thank you all for your feedback … something to think about. I like the ride of Outback, the noise is minimal and as a normal driver, I don't see anything wrong with the "power" produced through CVT. But then, I am not technical at all when it comes to cars.

  I will definitely give Passat a go but to put it into context here, Passat all-track is definitely beyond my budget. So if I get a Passat it will be 118TSI or 130TDI. Sedan or wagon is to be decided too. This is not the first time I heard about issues with VW transmission … a friend of a friend of mine got the same issue while the car is still under warranty and keep returning the car for service.

  Also, Subaru as unlimited kms warranty for 3 years … that's also a consideration.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 28/01/2015 - 10:07

    You will see a problem when the CVT fails after 3 years.

    • 

      plasmapuff on 29/01/2015 - 11:07

      A new gen CVT (of which Subaru are one of the best implementers) is much less likely to fail than a VW DSG.

      Fact.

      http://autoexpert.com.au/buying-a-car/new-cars/qaare-volkswa…

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 29/01/2015 - 17:12

        A fact based off what? Your link doesn't support what you are saying at all. CVTs are inherently flawed, they will fail by design. They also do not offer the performance and efficiency of a dsg or good auto ie ZF 8 speed.

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  wchau on 12/07/2015 - 20:24

  Never ever buy from Suttons CHULLORA Subaru, Sales MANAGER just a rude arrogant person,

  Even ripped up a pricing list in front of me.

  Only is nice when the $$ are in his range, anything else is wasting his time, get out quickly attitude, even told me that my sales experience here is about to get nasty.. it sure did. He even got angry because I was going to compare prices to see if his price was comparable..
  Told me that they only made profit from the Dealer delivery.. crap!

  The other sales guys are ok.. but the Manager really needs some people skills, jekyll and hyde symdrome. Has lost me as a customer forever as well as anyone else I happen to see never to come back. Don't even bother.

  What a waste of time. Bought it elsewhere $1500 off his "best price" the same day. Never believe them when this is their best price!

  I'm just digusted with the attitude, obviously been there too long and zero respect for customers.

  Never going to even step back at that place and waste my time.