If you need to do towing -> Skoda. Subaru´s clutch is not for it IMO. This is the first thing that came in to my mind when I think of diesel Subaru.

I´ve driven Skoda Octavia quite a lot (not Scout though) and I have to say it pretty darn good car. It is definitely noisier than Subaru and not as nice to drive, but the suspension very good and also the powertrain. Seats are very good, though a bit too "german" for my liking. With this I mean that they are very hard. But size and support is very good. Subaru has a lot more room inside even though Skoda has huge boot considering the size of the car. ut if youlook at it really, you´ll notice who the boot is so huge. The rear overhang...

Scout has been around for while already so there should be not so many problems with it. Subaru seems to be playing now with their DPF on 2010´s. There´s problem, no doubt.

I´m ready to say that we do not know the resale value of diesel after 10 years since regulations are getting tighter all the time. But I´d still go with Subaru diesel out of those two.

I strongly suggest you to go and take both of those cars for a nice, long test drive where you test everything what you normally need on your car. Drive your usual places etc. And choose whichever feels better to you.

And the last comment is what my wife said when we tested Scout to see if we´d like it. She said that it feels like sitting in a hard, plastic container. Rattly, noisy and ugly. Nuff said to me!

 

Thanks Hakkapeliitta,

I live in New Zealand and little known about skoda. I found the dash and stereo and controls on the skoda better a little less plastic, Plus the outback Had a big plactic silver strip about mid way thur the dash which is a little off putting.

I have taken them both for long test drives and the outback twice!, Outback have grown but in a smart way wheel base and not total length.

I really think its going to come down to a saving of $6000 and the skoda engine gear box being more proven. It revs lower at 100 kms and seams to engine brake better down hill.

The boxer Diesel is a very cool engine and I hope its hit but new tec always could bite you later on if you know what I mean.

 

Btw, Skoda will offer DSG transmission with diesel on Scout as MY2011. This was on our Local Skoda forum and from various sources. Though DSG has been really, really PITA for so many...

 

PITA I assume means pain in the.... Why is that Hakkapeliitta? I want to buy my wife a TDi Polo with DSG. I thought they were brilliant. Help!

 

Here in Australia, the diesel Scout costs the same as a diesel Outback. According to the specs, the Scout has less torque/power, is smaller, weighs more, uses more fuel and has the part-time Haldex clutch 4WD, not AWD. Having said that, I haven't actually driven one but I wasn't going to buy a car with worse technical specs for the same price as the Outback diesel.

 

Just one more thing. I agree that the Outback could have a better geared 6th gear - there's very little difference between 5th and 6th at 100Km/h - around 2000 vs 1800 rpm. They could have made 6th about 1500rpm - it still has lots of torque at that speed and would save more fuel.
Even so, the outback is more economical.

 

They also could´ve made 1st gear at least 60% shorter (and second gear too). One could use 2nd when normally get going and first gear on tougher situations, like towing up a ramp etc. MY09´s 5spd gearbox is perfect except the 1st gear.