Newbie concidering buying an outback?

[cropwalker]

Hi I am new to the forum and looking for some real life information regarding the 2017-2018 Outback's please!

Background , looking to retire in a few months and I will need to replace my company car. Currentlly a Land Rover Discovery Sport SE Tech pack approx 20,000 miles a year, my current MPG Average is 39 MPG and upto 56 on longer moterway trips useing cruise control where possible at approx 65-70 mph. I have looked at a variety of options and I have narrowed them down to  the Subaru Outback (or another Discovery Sport)

A couple of questions 1) Petrol or Diesel?

My future milage is unknown but I would expect it to be between 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year and I will be towing for some of this milage both in the UK and on the continent. My initial thoughts were to go for Diesel but as Subaru have stopped makeing/ importing them I would have to have one of the few 2017 models left. Or with the current governments lack of direction would I be safer going for a Petrol?

2) Fuel consumption?

I have tried to find some real life figures for both Petrol and Diesel and the does not seem to be much on the usual websites, just manufacturers figures stated. so anybody with some rea life figure would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation!

Chris

 

 

 

[Jay762]

Wotcha and welcome - Subaru do not make a great diesel, they do have some issues, but their petrol options whilst a being better solutions throughout can be comparative with diesel mpg dependent on the type of mileage you do - urban vs distance.

So if you were to go Subaru go petrol not diesel is what I would suggest - members have also been very pleased with the XV, have you considered that model?

[shms]

+1 for petrol...but despite being  tough as nails, go anywhere, brill in snow etc you'll be lucky to see much more than 30mpg,,maybe closer to 40 if you drive

like a sleepy vicar... even the diesel (noisy compared to german equiv's) is hard pressed to hit 45mpg

 

i don't think anyone ever bought a scooby for economy !! but it's pretty much the only drawback. jmo🙂

[cropwalker]

Thanks to both Jay762 and Shms for your thoughts, I did try to reply last week while in France but the website thought that my account was being hacked and locked me out!

I will try the Petrol Outback hopefully tomorrow as so far I have only driven the Diesel. I expect that my delema will continue as I believe that Subaru are offering some fairly substancial discounts on the last few Diesels availble (upto £5,500?) 

Shms:- Unfortunately I am having to drive like a sleepy vicar as the moment as I do not want  to get another ticket!! had to go on another driving course 10 days ago....

[Judd]

Do Subaru still offer LPG converted cars new with full warranty?, if so that puts them in a whole new segment for economy.

We've had two Subarus LPG converted, a previous H6 Outback and the current Forester XT which was converted about 3 months ago, no better on fuel obviously but at around 56 to 60p per litre it's less painful at the pumps...obviously if you are buying new or still in makers warranty then you'll only want to consider this if Subaru are still supplying pre converted cars.

[cropwalker]

not sure if they do or not , I had thought of this option as many  years ago I used to drive a landrover that was converted with no issues except when it was realy cold and gas lines would freeze up! this was about 40 years ago so the problem would have been sorted by now. I have a Calor depot only a couple of miles away so filling would not be a problem. If I find out I will post back. Thanks C 

[shms]

been there, done that and got the t'shirt with the SAC !! 4 hours of my life i'll never get back !!

😇

[cropwalker]

Apparently Subaru used to have an approved conversion specialist that they  used, and Subaru would back warrenties. Not available now.

Having taken a terst drive in the new Petrol Outback I have rulled out Diesel,  taken the plunge and ordered the Petrol!!

Thanks all for pointing me in the right direction! I should be taking delivery in early September. C

 

[Judd]

Oh well done, good choice, manual? auto? colour?

Pity they've moved away from offering LPG conversions, but for some reason the official converters for several makes failed to universally fit Flashlube dispensers and one thing Japanese engines must have is flashlube (oil dispensers) running with LPG or valve seat recession is almost a dead cert after a while, as with many things the ship spoiled for a hap'orth o' tar.

Even if flashlube is fitted, it uses the product (cheap enough and as simple as topping up your washer bottle) but as so many car users are bone idle and seem incapable of lifting the bonnet, if the lube runs out it might as well not have been fitted in the first place.

The LPG specialist who converted cars for Mitusbishi didn't fit flashlube, and VSR was a big problem on Outlanders, then the converter went out of business...one has to wonder if that was due or in any connected to vsr problems returning re-warranty work?

Happy retirement anyway.

[Jay762]

Excellent - keep us posted and have a camera handy 😀

[Geoff P]

I got a petrol Forester XT a month ago having changed from the non turbo. Fuel has gone down overall about 5 MPG but so much more fun to drive. Like you I retired and don't do anything like the mileage I used to. With the current anti diesel climate I went for the petrol. I enjoyed the non turbo model but the difference with the turbo is well worth the hit. Only thing is that the turbo Forester is going out of production...hence reason I changed. Still to play in snow with the new one but the old non turbo was a dream in the snow.

Sure whatever model you choose you will enjoy