Which Outback should I purchase, the '05 4-cyl or the '01 6-cyl?

[147_Grain]

Have a 2 month old 6-cylinder Outback with no regrets for not getting a 4-cylinder after 4,100 miles.

Highly recommend the H6 for increased satisfaction in the long run.

[cardoc]

Originally Posted by grossgary

The 6 does okay and can get 27 even 28 if you keep the speedometer to 55 or 60...but who can do that? It decreases much quicker and we just got 21 mpg on our current 1,000 mile holiday travels when you're doing 75 mph. But that's on our 200,000+ mile wagon which seems far pickier for some reasons. Our H6 sedan does a few mpg better for some reason.

Its lighter.

200k on a Subaru is nothing. The only factors that need to be taken into account are driving conditions/habits, throttle response, carrying capacity, maintenance cost over time and comfort/safety conveniences.

The H6 Outback models, especially the VDC, come out on top in everything you can think of in use and versatility, plus it has more power and torque output. Fuel economy on any car is dependent on many factors and can be fine tuned by the operator in type of gasoline, maintenance and the right foot.

Open up a H4 on the highway, then do the same with the H6. Big difference.

[jp1203]

Originally Posted by cardoc

Open up a H4 on the highway, then do the same with the H6. Big difference.

Agreed. Off the line there isn't a huge difference, but there sure is there! My '04 H6 MOVES if you punch it anywhere past about 55 MPH. Our H4s aren't nearly as exciting.

My best highway MPG is about 26, though I did get about 25 holding 85+ MPH for three hours through upper Maine...really can't complain about that! Our 1st gen H4s will do almost 30 MPG holding 65 on the highway. I know my H6 can't touch that, but around town the difference is much less--typically only about 1 MPG. If there weren't so many hills, the difference might be bigger (I think the H4 loses a great deal of fuel economy to them, while the H6 doesn't so much).

Interestingly enough, my mom's 01 H4 sedan does no more than 1 MPG better than my H6 wagon on the same roads (not sure about highway), and she has a very light foot--me not so much! I would have thought there would have been a bigger difference.

Though I think the 2005 looks nicer than the 2nd gens, the H6 is definitely the better ride.