[jp1203]

We went from 0-3 in one year! I bought a 2004 Outback H6 LL Bean, shortly after that my father bought a '98 Outback Limited, and my sister just bought a '98 Legacy GT Wagon today.

Son #2 with the legacy GT Limited made the better choice. I still regret selling my 01 limited with 5spd fantastic car and makes the OB feel like a boat.

Having driven the one my sister bought a few times now (a couple test drives and today after she bought it), I agree that it handles a heck of a lot better than my Outback does...but it's very low to the ground in comparison, and I wouldn't dare take it some of the places I take my Outback. I think I prefer sitting up a little higher (it IS noticeable, I have to step up out of her car, not so with mine) and being able to go up some rocky CCC "roads" a little more than having the handling. To each their own, though.

EDIT: Just did some quick measurements between hers and mine and there's roughly 4" difference all around. Mine is about an inch higher than stock, and it's an H6 which is a little higher than the H4, though.

 

[jp1203]

Having gone the other way GT to OB and the GT saw way more off road so far than the current OB not to mention huge snow storm epic ski trips I'm pretty convinced that the GT and OB are the same in that regard given the OB is just as sensitive to riding over something you probably shouldn't have ;-) however what 99.9% of the time your on the pavement anyway so GT is way more fun for sure.

I am on pavement 99% of the time, I'll give you that.

Just edited my first post. Quick measurements on level ground show about 4" of difference between hers and mine--granted, mine is about an inch higher than a stock H6 Outback, which in turn is slightly higher than a stock H4.

I just barely have enough clearance in some places with mine (and I have to be careful not to bounce too much--which isn't much of an issue with the King Springs)...if I tried hers in some of these places, it would definitely hit bottom quite a few times...possibly wouldn't be able to go all the way up the road because of clearance issues.

On a road trip, I'd be torn--hers handles WAY better, but at highway speeds and on hills I'd definitely miss the extra grunt my H6 has.

She looked at a 99 Outback and this 98 GT (everything else was ruled out right away by me due to very obvious issues that showed up when we looked at them). The GT will be perfect for her, since she doesn't even take dirt roads and it'll do great in the snow when she has to go back and forth between work and school...given it's her first car, I think she'll be hooked on AWD right away.