was the first generation Outback good?

My '97 Outback wagon (5-speed) is going strong at 96,000 miles. I did do some work on the clutch throwout bearing at about 80,000 miles and currently have a strange thump at engine start-up and shut-down, but otherwise the car is great. I can't stand the design of the new Outback body, the rear windows in particular, and will get a Forester or non-Subaru when I need to replace this car if they have not enlarged the rear windows.

-- Vic Roberts

81k miles on my '99. Had a torn cv joint boot fixed under warranty, new front brake pads at 40k miles, new battery at 75k miles, getting ready to do timing and fan belts, front brakes again and maybe water pump.

Couldn't ask for better.

I have the absolute first Outback, the '95 model. No lift kit or bigger tires, but it has all I can ask for and has served me well over the past

50,000 miles, for a total of about 160,000. Even so, it's getting older and I'm probably going to take over payments on my mom's Forester soon when she gets a new one. (I'm trying to convince her to get a WRX, or at least the turbo!) :)

-Matt

For the record, the original Legacy ran from 1990 to 1994, a restyled model went from 1995 to 1999, and the current version came out in 2000. The first so-called Outback came out in 1995 and was really just a Legacy with some decals and minor trim changes. The 1996 Outback was derived from the Legacy but was a totally different car with a higher roof, bigger wheels, stronger suspension, and various other changes. To add to the confusion, Subaru came out with an "Outback Sport" that was derived from the Imprezza. I had a 1990 Legacy, which I traded in for a

1996 Outback. The Outback probably could have handled rougher terrain than the Legacy (although I never ventured onto anything worse than a poorly maintained dirt road), but I always felt the Legacy was a more comfortable car - quieter, smoother ride, more power. The 1996 Outback performed well but somehow I never felt good about driving it. My 2003 Outback seems to have finally captured the better features of both cars. My only complaint about Legacy/Outback is that they seem to go through clutches rather quickly.

What year is your old GL? I had a 1984 GL wagon. By any metric you choose to employ, it was a lousy car. It was noisy, underpowered, difficult to handle (no power steering), small, rusty. But like an old pair of boots, it was reliable and trustworthy and reassuring to drive. I sold it to a relative who delivered mail with it for a couple years until every mechanical part in it failed more or less simultaneously.

It is a Dec 1993 - one of the last made.

Has power steering and no rust, but yes, it is underpowered and noisier than modern cars.

Like you say however, it feels like and nice old pair of shoes when I get in it. I will miss it when it goes. Its taken me to some great camping and touring places in Australia.

I was also wondering. Have all year models had the "hill holder" feature? I love the hill holder on my old Subie.

I have a '99 OBW with just over 106,000. It's been a great vehicle and I love it. Never broken down, but then I'm proactive with maintenance. Within the last year, I've needed to replace all drive belts, all four brakes (pads and rotors), timing belt, timing belt tensioner, and water pump. Total cost for all of this work was about $1500. The car is in great shape and good to go for another 100,000 miles.

By the way, the 96-99 OBWs are technically second generation. The 95 was the first year and was basically just a Legacy with a funky paint job. Beginning in 96, the OBW became a legit "outback" vehicle.

Does your '99 have the hill holder (if its manual)?

I have the automatic transmission.