Advice on 06-08 Outback specs
Discussion
Hi all, first post here. Because Volvo haven't made a car I like for many years I'm thinking of ending a near 20 year run of owning a variety of P80 850/V70s with a 3 litre Outback of the 06-08 generation. Appreciating that even these are thin on the ground here I've started looking at imports. I have read up on the general pros and cons etc, but my query is more about the spec you are likely to find.
It seems JDM car owners in general do like to load their cars with all the toys which is nice when it comes to electric seats etc, but not so nice when they all seem to come with blackened pimp glass, mudflaps and air deflectors which just scream IMPORT!
I have a slight preference for the 06/08 facelift but after comparing adverts over the last few weeks it seems that as well as the styling tweaks there seems to have been a slight downgrading of spec for the latter years of this bodystyle, am I correct? i.e. hardly any cars with leather, fewer panoramic sunroofs, generally blacked out inside rather than the light beige of earlier years that I like. Were these ever available on the facelift or do I just need to look harder/longer?
It seems JDM car owners in general do like to load their cars with all the toys which is nice when it comes to electric seats etc, but not so nice when they all seem to come with blackened pimp glass, mudflaps and air deflectors which just scream IMPORT!
I have a slight preference for the 06/08 facelift but after comparing adverts over the last few weeks it seems that as well as the styling tweaks there seems to have been a slight downgrading of spec for the latter years of this bodystyle, am I correct? i.e. hardly any cars with leather, fewer panoramic sunroofs, generally blacked out inside rather than the light beige of earlier years that I like. Were these ever available on the facelift or do I just need to look harder/longer?
There's not many Outback 3.0 imports around, and the spec isn't usually as good as the UK versions. The only advantages an import will have is (probably) lower mileage, lack of exposure to salty roads, and lower tax. Facelift UK Outback 3.0 has all the bells and whistles as standard - leather (black or light tan), sunroof, cruise control, xenons, Si drive, electric heated front seats etc, I think the only build option was nav. Facelift tax is £550. Imports tend to be around twice the price of a UK car.
I spent a fair amount of time looking at the H6 Outback of that generation and settled on the pre-facelift version (55 plate) as it half the RFl, cheaper to buy, and lots more available for sale. The facelift was pretty minor; the Si drive mode, flappy paddles, and the Aux-In in the cubby hole seemed to be the only things of useful note. Much later it got a 3.6 litre engine but no more power.
I found one for £2k, with 100k miles and it's been faultless, and it kinda feels it will outlive me - the interior is also unmarked, the outside is pretty good apart from clouding on the headlights (a cheap fix I never got round to doing). Fuel consumption is grim (30 on long journeys and mid 20s everywhere else. And the gear box is out of the ark so don't expect 250bhp to feel fast, nippy is the best description.
But I've grown very fond of mine and once used to driving it it just a plush, smooth and wafty place to be - without worrying about where to park it. I looked at JDM versions but they were all stupidly over-priced and these wagons don't suffer with miles so why pay for a compromised version (clocks, speed limiter, radio, info screen, no underseal, odd specs etc).
I found one for £2k, with 100k miles and it's been faultless, and it kinda feels it will outlive me - the interior is also unmarked, the outside is pretty good apart from clouding on the headlights (a cheap fix I never got round to doing). Fuel consumption is grim (30 on long journeys and mid 20s everywhere else. And the gear box is out of the ark so don't expect 250bhp to feel fast, nippy is the best description.
But I've grown very fond of mine and once used to driving it it just a plush, smooth and wafty place to be - without worrying about where to park it. I looked at JDM versions but they were all stupidly over-priced and these wagons don't suffer with miles so why pay for a compromised version (clocks, speed limiter, radio, info screen, no underseal, odd specs etc).
Thankyou for sharing your experience. Redards economy I would call mid 20s to 30 to be rather good compared to most ars I have owned! I had a 2006 V70R (2.5 litre) which struggled to better 20mpg anywhere, and I drive like a retired vicar.
Can anyone explain the merit (if any) of the Si drive, and whether thfacelift car had a fundamentally revised gearbox? I recently accosted an Outback owner in a car park, complimenting him on his choice etc, and he gave me the familiar story about the car feeling like it was built by Mercedes in the 70s and outlasting him, but he said the gearbox was out of the ark. I had a quick test drive in an 05 H6 recently and it felt fine to me, but then my garage collection looks like a prestige car showroom circa 2005, I dont have everyday experience of anything much newer.
Can anyone explain the merit (if any) of the Si drive, and whether thfacelift car had a fundamentally revised gearbox? I recently accosted an Outback owner in a car park, complimenting him on his choice etc, and he gave me the familiar story about the car feeling like it was built by Mercedes in the 70s and outlasting him, but he said the gearbox was out of the ark. I had a quick test drive in an 05 H6 recently and it felt fine to me, but then my garage collection looks like a prestige car showroom circa 2005, I dont have everyday experience of anything much newer.
All UK Outbacks around 2006-2008 (Gen IV) will have AirCon, full leather, electric heated & adjustable front seats, sun roof, self levelling rear suspension, front & rear limited slip diffs, Sat Nav etc. All have a proper full sized spare wheel and can tow 2000kg.
The 3.0 H6 engine is generally sound and it's chain cam too.
I have a 2006 Legacy 3.0Rn, Gen IV, with the normal auto box: by modern standards it's a bit slow witted but still an enjoyable drive, especially in "Sport" mode. Being an earlier model it was about £250/annum road tax in the UK. (I bought this new; it's now on 101K miles and has failed to start just once, reason unknown; nothing has actually ever failed).
I also have a 2008 Outback 3.0, Gen IV, facelift model with Si drive: this gets you flappy paddles and a fairly manic engine map (in S#)! It's quite useful for those rare overtaking moments but S# is simply too extreme to use all the time. Overall I wouldn't pay more for the "Si Drive", these facelift models run around £500/annum UK road tax.
My take on the facelift vs pre-facelift: -
Pre-facelift - 6CD/radio, Facelift - single CD/radio; both with pretty poor speakers.
Pre-facelift - dismal dipped beam headlights; facelift has xenons, a lot better but not spectacular.
On board Sat Nav: horrible in both versions; mapping rubbish (and expensive to update from Subaru), route finding peculiar. On the pre-facelift you can at least turn off the entire display.
Both: If you are 6 foot or over check you are comfortable with the seating, a Saab it is not.
If I'm towing I take the (facelift) Outback, otherwise I prefer the earlier Legacy but I don't have to pay UK road tax! I think in your position I'd buy a pre-facelift Outback.
I get ~22mpg in the Legacy and ~24mpg in the Outback: many internet posters say they get ~30mpg on a long run: I've no idea how they do this!
The 3.0 H6 engine is generally sound and it's chain cam too.
I have a 2006 Legacy 3.0Rn, Gen IV, with the normal auto box: by modern standards it's a bit slow witted but still an enjoyable drive, especially in "Sport" mode. Being an earlier model it was about £250/annum road tax in the UK. (I bought this new; it's now on 101K miles and has failed to start just once, reason unknown; nothing has actually ever failed).
I also have a 2008 Outback 3.0, Gen IV, facelift model with Si drive: this gets you flappy paddles and a fairly manic engine map (in S#)! It's quite useful for those rare overtaking moments but S# is simply too extreme to use all the time. Overall I wouldn't pay more for the "Si Drive", these facelift models run around £500/annum UK road tax.
My take on the facelift vs pre-facelift: -
Pre-facelift - 6CD/radio, Facelift - single CD/radio; both with pretty poor speakers.
Pre-facelift - dismal dipped beam headlights; facelift has xenons, a lot better but not spectacular.
On board Sat Nav: horrible in both versions; mapping rubbish (and expensive to update from Subaru), route finding peculiar. On the pre-facelift you can at least turn off the entire display.
Both: If you are 6 foot or over check you are comfortable with the seating, a Saab it is not.
If I'm towing I take the (facelift) Outback, otherwise I prefer the earlier Legacy but I don't have to pay UK road tax! I think in your position I'd buy a pre-facelift Outback.
I get ~22mpg in the Legacy and ~24mpg in the Outback: many internet posters say they get ~30mpg on a long run: I've no idea how they do this!
MCR01 said:
I get ~22mpg in the Legacy and ~24mpg in the Outback: many internet posters say they get ~30mpg on a long run: I've no idea how they do this!
I have a 4.2 supercharged Jag XJ and get mid 20s knocking about with early 30s on a motorway cruise.On Jag forums about half the people say this is familiar, the other half struggle to get out of the teens. I actually do think cars have a bit of a "personality" in this regard!
MrOrange said:
I spent a fair amount of time looking at the H6 Outback of that generation and settled on the pre-facelift version (55 plate) as it half the RFl, cheaper to buy, and lots more available for sale. The facelift was pretty minor; the Si drive mode, flappy paddles, and the Aux-In in the cubby hole seemed to be the only things of useful note. Much later it got a 3.6 litre engine but no more power.
I found one for £2k, with 100k miles and it's been faultless, and it kinda feels it will outlive me - the interior is also unmarked, the outside is pretty good apart from clouding on the headlights (a cheap fix I never got round to doing). Fuel consumption is grim (30 on long journeys and mid 20s everywhere else. And the gear box is out of the ark so don't expect 250bhp to feel fast, nippy is the best description.
But I've grown very fond of mine and once used to driving it it just a plush, smooth and wafty place to be - without worrying about where to park it. I looked at JDM versions but they were all stupidly over-priced and these wagons don't suffer with miles so why pay for a compromised version (clocks, speed limiter, radio, info screen, no underseal, odd specs etc).
face lifts have dvd based navigation w/ bt and mp3, auto level hid lights with wash jets, multi function steering wheel, dual climate control and also the AVCS is altered to have improved response at lower rpm - its not just the Si drive which itself is very useful as S# can be remapped which turns it into something entirely different...in manuals anywayI found one for £2k, with 100k miles and it's been faultless, and it kinda feels it will outlive me - the interior is also unmarked, the outside is pretty good apart from clouding on the headlights (a cheap fix I never got round to doing). Fuel consumption is grim (30 on long journeys and mid 20s everywhere else. And the gear box is out of the ark so don't expect 250bhp to feel fast, nippy is the best description.
But I've grown very fond of mine and once used to driving it it just a plush, smooth and wafty place to be - without worrying about where to park it. I looked at JDM versions but they were all stupidly over-priced and these wagons don't suffer with miles so why pay for a compromised version (clocks, speed limiter, radio, info screen, no underseal, odd specs etc).
Loose_Cannon said:
Thankyou for sharing your experience. Redards economy I would call mid 20s to 30 to be rather good compared to most ars I have owned! I had a 2006 V70R (2.5 litre) which struggled to better 20mpg anywhere, and I drive like a retired vicar.
Can anyone explain the merit (if any) of the Si drive, and whether thfacelift car had a fundamentally revised gearbox? I recently accosted an Outback owner in a car park, complimenting him on his choice etc, and he gave me the familiar story about the car feeling like it was built by Mercedes in the 70s and outlasting him, but he said the gearbox was out of the ark. I had a quick test drive in an 05 H6 recently and it felt fine to me, but then my garage collection looks like a prestige car showroom circa 2005, I dont have everyday experience of anything much newer.
Si drive is 3 modes, economy sport and Sport sharp, denoted I, S and S# respectively. I mode is useless and turns it into a fiat 500, S mode is pretty much fine for 60% of the time but for open roads and long runs leave in S#. You can also remap these for a particurlar mode, my S# mode is remapped which has a very agressive throttle response and too much for city driving but great for long runs and motorway wafting. I dont notice much or any mpg difference between S and S#. Can anyone explain the merit (if any) of the Si drive, and whether thfacelift car had a fundamentally revised gearbox? I recently accosted an Outback owner in a car park, complimenting him on his choice etc, and he gave me the familiar story about the car feeling like it was built by Mercedes in the 70s and outlasting him, but he said the gearbox was out of the ark. I had a quick test drive in an 05 H6 recently and it felt fine to me, but then my garage collection looks like a prestige car showroom circa 2005, I dont have everyday experience of anything much newer.
I have a 2009 H6 (after using Toyota 4 and 5 speed autos, invariably in "sport", for 15 years).
I like the Subaru, but I have to say I'm not impressed with the gearbox. It's not a patch on the Toyota/Lexus/Aisin Warner 'boxes.
I've never used "I", and I find "S" rather dull-witted, especially around town, so I use "S#", which is then a bit too aggressive and doesn't automatically change into 5th until beyond 70mph.
I also wish that it was possible to set the "highest gear" in town and slow traffic, but I suppose that option is removed with "tiptronic" type autos.
All IMO, of course.
I like the Subaru, but I have to say I'm not impressed with the gearbox. It's not a patch on the Toyota/Lexus/Aisin Warner 'boxes.
I've never used "I", and I find "S" rather dull-witted, especially around town, so I use "S#", which is then a bit too aggressive and doesn't automatically change into 5th until beyond 70mph.
I also wish that it was possible to set the "highest gear" in town and slow traffic, but I suppose that option is removed with "tiptronic" type autos.
All IMO, of course.
Extreeeemly belated reply, but I was appreciative of the advice dished out so thought I'd update for the benefit of those who took the time.
After a very long but casual search I have a 2007 UK spec gold 3 litre. I had seen it locally on rare occasions, and this week saw the owner popping into a local curry house so followed him down and expressed an interest! He was selling, so a deal was swiftly done.
It wasn't exactly a bargain, but I had sort of played all my cards when I flagged him down
, It will need a good deep clean but overall I'm very pleased. The misses is too with the Bentley-esque ride quality and general cruisability.
I'm less pleased to find a few rust spots near the rear arches, but the PO said it had been recently rust proofed so no smoke without fire. At the minute I cant tell if these are inside coming out or other way around. On the plus side it has a very solid history and has been meticulously maintained by an enthusiast.
So I'll be frequenting these parts, is there another good UK based forum for these away from PH?
After a very long but casual search I have a 2007 UK spec gold 3 litre. I had seen it locally on rare occasions, and this week saw the owner popping into a local curry house so followed him down and expressed an interest! He was selling, so a deal was swiftly done.
It wasn't exactly a bargain, but I had sort of played all my cards when I flagged him down
, It will need a good deep clean but overall I'm very pleased. The misses is too with the Bentley-esque ride quality and general cruisability.I'm less pleased to find a few rust spots near the rear arches, but the PO said it had been recently rust proofed so no smoke without fire. At the minute I cant tell if these are inside coming out or other way around. On the plus side it has a very solid history and has been meticulously maintained by an enthusiast.
So I'll be frequenting these parts, is there another good UK based forum for these away from PH?
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