[staceykoz]

So I test drove a 2013 2.5 with Eyesight yesterday and I am IN LOVE! It now comes down to that little, nasty decision of choosing a color. I'm usually not really picky about this part, but this is the first vehicle where I am really treating myself and I want an exterior color that accentuates the richness of the Outback and speaks to me. So right now I'm up against the wall with the caramel brown and white. With the caramel brown being my first choice.

Now I know color is preference, and you all can't make the decision for me but here's where I'm hoping the owners of the existing colors can give me some opinions. I've read that you cannot get Eyesight with the black exterior because high heat can damage the system, but all other colors are "fine". I put fine in quotes because I wonder if Eyesight in a white Outback would be more likely to have fewer problems in the long run. Also, being stuck with the leather, I really do want the car to be as cool as possible, but that darn caramel is just so gosh darn pretty to me. That being said I'm buying this car mainly for the Eyesight, keeping that in tip-top shape is my number one priority so if buying white is going to be the best bet, I would go that route.

Do you think that caramel brown is that much darker that heat absorption would be a pretty significant jump?

Another concern about the white is that all the ones I've seen at the dealerships seem to have dirt on the hoods and streaks down the back. The white car I owned in the past hardly ever looked dirty, but I'm wondering if that isn't the case with this particular white. My previous car was more of a flat white and I think the pearly white on the Outback is striking but maybe harder to keep clean? Thoughts? Those who have one in the Satin White Pearl, how dirty does it look between washings?

Thanks in advance for any advice! This forum has been a godsend getting me to this point to know the model I wanted to get - now just have to make that silly decision of color.

 

[upflying]

If you live in the southwest/south east get white.
If you live in the PNW, Colorado and north east, get the brown.

 

[scoobydoo2]

...don't like every little speck of dirt and grime showing up on your seats??? Get the darker colour. :2cents:

 

[EstateOfMind]

...don't like every little speck of dirt and grime showing up on your seats??? Get the darker colour. :2cents:

For 2013, White Pearl and Caramel Brown are only available with the tan interior.

 

[staceykoz]

Thanks all - I'm content with the tan interior - I can always buy seat covers ;-). I'm more concerned with how dirty the white exterior looks and how much hotter that caramel color might feel.

We live in Maryland and have had quite a few 100-105 degree days this summer so heat is definitely a consideration. It's no death valley, but it gets pretty toasty.

Keep it coming! I appreciate your feedback!!!

 

[subiesailor]

We have a pearl white Legacy and a dark blue OB. The white hides dirt like a magician also hides scratches too! - Any DARK color dark gray, blue, red, Brown etc will show dirt and scratches. The temp difference between the two is pretty big! We get 90-100 degree weather and the white Legacy stays tolerable while say sitting in the parking lot waiting for the wife with the engine and AC off. The dark blue OB you get warm sitting even with the AC ON given the AC heat exchanger gets hot when the car is not moving and the AC becomes less effective - not to mention you can cook an egg on the car's dark paint.

If I were to buy another OB I would get the pearl white tan interior without a second thought.
The tan leather interior by the way has held up fine with two kids - lots of camping and a dog - I wipe ours down every couple of weeks looks fine and the dirt wipes off no problem. The tan cloth interior in the Legacy however we cover the entire back seat any time the kids or a kid rides in the car. LOL

 

[ricyoon]

i have a white one and i don't think 2010 was available in brown.
i would definately get the brown over white. More than the exterior paint, i think the tint would play a larger role in temperature in the cabin.

Ric

 

[staceykoz]

i have a white one and i don't think 2010 was available in brown.
i would definately get the brown over white. More than the exterior paint, i think the tint would play a larger role in temperature in the cabin.

Ric

Why would you go with brown? Do you have issues with the white?

 

[ricyoon]

Why would you go with brown? Do you have issues with the white?

non at all other than more noticeable rock chips.

How many vehicles look good in brown?

 

[there4igraham]

Plenty of vehicles look great in brown. Most of the luxury marquees offer very tasteful choices in the dominant earth tone.

My advice to anybody buying a new car is to get the color you want. If you don't you'll regret it every time you see one in the color you wanted.

Don't worry about heat. Sun shades do wonders and the AC is plenty quick.

 

[iainb]

We have Caramel Bronze Pearl and I think it's a fantastic color. I hadn't seen one in person before we got ours so I was a little leery (my wife had seen one and insisted on the color) but once I saw it I immediately loved it.

Another bonus is that ours is pretty unique on the road, I have yet to see another CBP.

 

[11crv]

We just bought a 2013 white outback 2.5 last friday and love the color. I never thought i would buy a white car but i liked the lighter interior with the white

 

[foxrider68]

I just bought the white and LOVE the color. Its a different shade of white in the sun vs shade too. I waxed her up good and personally the contrast of white vs black against some chrome just makes this car pop in my eyes. My mom described the white exterior and tan interior as elegant. Pretty good praise as she is PICKY!!!

 

[Subyblue]

FWIW, the team that unloads the new OBWs from the car haulers at my dealer's told me that the caramel brown ones showed the least amount of road dirt. I did not want to wait for the brown, and the azurite blue was my second choice. It was on the lot with almost the exact equipment I wanted (not wild about the silver under front bumper shield). My advice, get the one you like.

 

[iainb]

FWIW, the team that unloads the new OBWs from the car haulers at my dealer's told me that the caramel brown ones showed the least amount of road dirt. I did not want to wait for the brown, and the azurite blue was my second choice. It was on the lot with almost the exact equipment I wanted (not wild about the silver under front bumper shield). My advice, get the one you like.

The brown definitely hides the dirt, we've had the car 4 months with no washes yet and it doesn't look dirty at all.

 

[Wagondude]

One of the science mags my father reads published a study of how color effects temperature in cars. I don't have the figures, but the end result was that interior temps of black and white cars measured the same. Other colors measured something like one degree cooler except brown which measured 1 degree warmer than black or white. The big temp difference is surface temp. The insulation seems to prevent much of the transfer to the interior. Of course this is all anecdotal with no figures to back it up.

 

[Latigo]

If your first choice is brown, get that. Leave no room for buyer's remorse when you're spending 30k on a car.

 

[Latigo]

Also, just looking out the window. All of the neighbors have at least ONE white car... including us lol. Get the brown.

 

[swissarmy]

The white may seem to be a good choice if you lived in the southwest.
But you live in the snow belt, as I do. Which makes me not a fan of white cars that blend into snow / snowbanks. Why add the danger of of not being noticed during already hazardous driving conditions? Just another line of thought for you to consider.
I'm also a fan of the looks of that caramel

 

[2013OB]

How about a custom order of "Light Jade"? My 77 Bronco Sport is Light Jade---same color it rolled off the factory line 35 years ago.