I love it. I’m glad I got the 3.6r. It’s got plenty of power for accelerating at a reasonable rate (though I wouldn’t call it speedy like my old Mini was) and I don’t have to worry about hauling cargo or my boat.
Interestingly, when I last took it on a road trip out to Glacier National Park, some guy saw me getting into it and was so excited because he used to have one that was a couple of years younger and he missed it that he felt compelled to talk cars (I’m a woman–this is not a thing that happens to us). He went on and on about how much he loved and misses the 3.6r engine and how they’re just not the same anymore.
But I do use it for things like hauling boats and the occasional UHaul trailer or similar. If you’re just using it as a commuter car, the better gas mileage would make more sense.
I did test drive a 2018 before buying the 2017 and the 2018 had a nicer sound system.
Yeah the 2018 got the face lift with a bunch of new features, most important to me was carplay.
The 2020 Outback with the same engine and a slightly revised transmission design is rated for the same 3500 pound tow rating as the 3.6, and in Europe it’s rated for 3500 pounds. So if I ever get adventurous I might try finding a super light weight trailer and tow my Miata around. The car itself is right at the 2700 pound limit so I need to find a SUPER light trailer and probably go really slow. I have hauled around a few trailers and it did alright.
But the 4 cylinder just can’t compete with the flat 6 being perfectly balanced. I’ve joked before that if you put in Outback in reverse it’s now a Porsche.
I love it. I’m glad I got the 3.6r. It’s got plenty of power for accelerating at a reasonable rate (though I wouldn’t call it speedy like my old Mini was) and I don’t have to worry about hauling cargo or my boat.
Interestingly, when I last took it on a road trip out to Glacier National Park, some guy saw me getting into it and was so excited because he used to have one that was a couple of years younger and he missed it that he felt compelled to talk cars (I’m a woman–this is not a thing that happens to us). He went on and on about how much he loved and misses the 3.6r engine and how they’re just not the same anymore.
But I do use it for things like hauling boats and the occasional UHaul trailer or similar. If you’re just using it as a commuter car, the better gas mileage would make more sense.
I did test drive a 2018 before buying the 2017 and the 2018 had a nicer sound system.
Yeah the 2018 got the face lift with a bunch of new features, most important to me was carplay.
The 2020 Outback with the same engine and a slightly revised transmission design is rated for the same 3500 pound tow rating as the 3.6, and in Europe it’s rated for 3500 pounds. So if I ever get adventurous I might try finding a super light weight trailer and tow my Miata around. The car itself is right at the 2700 pound limit so I need to find a SUPER light trailer and probably go really slow. I have hauled around a few trailers and it did alright.
But the 4 cylinder just can’t compete with the flat 6 being perfectly balanced. I’ve joked before that if you put in Outback in reverse it’s now a Porsche.
Interesting. I didn’t know that about the more recent builds. It’s good to hear that there are still some options.
I bought my car at the beginning of 2020, and I wasn’t looking for new car prices, so I didn’t look at anything more recent than the 2018.