Update on the outback H6

[DSLiverpool]

Only done 400 miles in it as I am still using the Leaf to commute and the Mrs wont drive it until the reversing sensors are fitted.

Sensors ordered from Dolphin at £55 and £45 fitting colour matched - will be fitted in 10 days or so.
The car is amazingly clean and "nice" I will pop a cheap plate on it and no one would think its 10 years old, however the wheels are badly corroded and a refurb is £75 anywhere decent, I noticed IMG had a few outback buts on ebay and asked if they had any wheels for 2006 H6 - they did - £320 delivered for 4 exactly the same as the ones on now - really good result. I will sell the corroded ones on ebay make it an even better deal.

The knock from under is going in for diag in about 10 days, if the dealer cant solve it as a "warranty" thing I am going to take it to a local 4*4 specialist who is a suspension guru and ask him to replace all the bits he feels need it - I want it to be as tight as possible, tightness is a nice feeling in cars.

So driving it - its like a turbo without a turbo, its all or nothing and dead under 2750 rpm then it all starts to happen, its low on torque but leaving it in sport helps - cruise is a no no it just plays tunes on the gearbox when it sees a hill. On a run I get 30 mpg round town 20 on premium petrol its had 2 tanks of Shell stuff.

Digging out my old tapes was fun, I put a few in the car - 30 years old CHRIST then it all came back to me, a glove box full of cassette cases rattling around not good, the radio and CD are fine.

So my first Subaru probably not my last - thoughts.
Stupid invisible digital read outs when you put the lights in - no heater, radio or odo all vanish
Lovely feel to the doors, not too light and just right - makes me happy in a tactile way
Bloody complicated alarm - the mrs will fall foul of this
Looks nice - after a XC70 last year the Outback is more sports estate
Crap headlights - will look at bulb upgrade
No armrest in centre and the extra bit you can buy at £100 maybe required - not sure yet
Wheel needs telescope I believe later models have this
Great soundtrack and good to rev in a straight line, less so on sweeping bends but bushes may be a factor.
Cream interior is wearing well but its only on 60k miles - looks classy

Off to Anglesey today to join family and I am looking forward to the drive, the big sunroof and old tapes will make it a fun event rather than a chore.

[74merc]

The 'Bright' button will brighten up the illumination when the lights are on.
I agree about the headlamps, Osram Nightbreakers are a good upgrade and make them acceptable, just. The only problem is that they don't last long.
The cream interior wears really well and cleans up so easily. Mine is regularly trashed by 3 kids and still looks virtually new after 160K miles.

[DSLiverpool]

74merc said:

The 'Bright' button will brighten up the illumination when the lights are on.

If you mean a extra bump on the dimmer mine doesnt have it - if you know of a bright button called that please tell me I havent seen it (may be in programming?)

[74merc]

If you have the big navigation screen, then I'm not sure where the Bright button would be. I don't have Nav in mine and the button is beside the clock.

[DSLiverpool]

May be in menu will check - thanks

[Ved]

Glad you're enjoying it. Not sure on the bright button but on ours it's actually on the climate controls, although does nothing. On the Forester it has the bright toggle on the left stalk but only changed the brightness of the clock. It's a Subaru thing...

Edited by Ved on Monday 24th October 14:45

[sawman]

there is a wheel on the dash to the right of the steering column which adjusts the display brightness on mine. Also if you close the cover on the sunroof you will stand a better chance of seeing them!

cant help on the lights mines got xenons,

just keep the transmission in sport....

Whats up with the alarm? the only prob I have had with this is remembering to get the key in and turned on before it times out - meaning that you have to press the button whilst turning it - I should know by now as my 2003 forester was the same!

Edited by sawman on Monday 24th October 18:47

[Ved]

Press and hold the bright button on your heating controls.... I did just that out of curiosity and found what it does.

[MDMA .]

on the alarm front, will be the same as my Legacy. when you unlock it, the small LED on the steering column lights up solid. you have about 10-15 seconds to start the car ( factory cat 1 immobilizer ) then it times out. so when you turn the ignition after this time, nothing. leave the key in position 1/2 and press the fob again and then turn over. if you are not in position 1/2, it will lock the doors again and you'll have to press the fob to unlock and start again. bit of a faff but you get used to it.

[sisley]

Hi

I've just got a 2001 one of these for "Winter" and well impressed with it so far

Can anyone tell me the difference please between Yokohama Geolander G900 and G900B and also is anyone running Michelin Cross Climates on their Outback or heard any reports from anyone that has?

Thanks in advance

[Freds]

sisley said:

Hi

I've just got a 2001 one of these for "Winter" and well impressed with it so far

Can anyone tell me the difference please between Yokohama Geolander G900 and G900B and also is anyone running Michelin Cross Climates on their Outback or heard any reports from anyone that has?

Thanks in advance

The G900, G900A or G900B suffix was an o.e application guide as the chart shows. We run specific winter/summer tyres on our Subarus so I've no experience of CrossClimates, however, from what I can gather from tyre tests they don't perform brilliantly in snow. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/928...

Yoko Applications.

[sisley]

Freds said:

The G900, G900A or G900B suffix was an o.e application guide as the chart shows. We run specific winter/summer tyres on our Subarus so I've no experience of CrossClimates, however, from what I can gather from tyre tests they don't perform brilliantly in snow. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/928...

Yoko Applications.

Thanks Freds, have seen this on their website, car has G900's on currently but wanted to know what the difference was between these and the G900B's (if anything). Car will need tyres before too long and was wondering what to go for for a good all rounder hence the interest in Cross Climates

[julianm]

I`ve got a `05 Outback & more by circumstance than real choice needed to fit a full set quickly - ended up with a 4x Cooper tyres ( maybe they bought out Avon or are part of the same group) - so far very happy.
There is a range of gnarliness in the different patterns depending how much off road / snow you`d be meeting. They get good comments on the US & Aussie Subaru enthusiast websites. Price was competitive, but the agent was one of their main dealers/promoters. I think they would be worth a look.

[sisley]

Just had 4 x Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons GEN2 fitted at a very good price, will let you know how they perform.

As the Outback has been bought as a WINTER car, wet grip and snow performance were the most important factors to consider.

[DSLiverpool]

I put my new wheels on this weekend same as old ones just new, Kwik fit charged me £7 each ! (Old wheels in the classifieds)
When on the ramp I asked if they could see the cause of a knock, n/s drop link they said in seconds. My local Subaru dealer wants £55 inc vat per link plus 30 minutes labour in total - very fair I thought.

Edited by DSLiverpool on Wednesday 23 November 19:47

[74merc]

You can get drop links for just over £20 per pair from ICP. Very easy to fit too, although you would probably need a grinder to take the old ones off.