Starting Problem with 2004 Outback when cool.

Does it crank briskly and never fires or does it seem like the battery is going dead?

When we picked up our car new, we had to insist on a new battery. When we test drove the car, the battery was dead and had to be jumped. Just a couple of deep discharges will ruin a battery. Perhaps this happened to yours and you need a new battery.

If it doesn't fire, I'd first dump a dose of water absorber in the gas tank and see if that helps.

I once had a Corolla that had a similar problem. Turned out that the clamps on the battery were loose. When it got cold enough, the clamps worked loose just enough to cause a mediocre contact. Tightened 'em up and the problem was solved.

The car has been fine since I posted the note. The dealer found no problem. My wife, her car, has a tendency to drive until the gas tank is almost empty. I never liked this practice, especially in the fall when the temperature can drop quickly and cause the moisture in the air to condense in the tank. I did add a can of "dry gas" or methanol for the purist. Hopefully the problem was moisture in the gasoline. Thanks for comments. John