david1972

Today I've agreed to buy my next Subaru :D : http://uk.subaruownersclub.com/forums/topic/8066-my-outback-30r-auto-test-drive/

I just knew taking all those pics would pay dividends ;)

Ah yes, I see it - so that was an option, was it?

Cheers Jay :D

Is that something you can tell from the pics (if so, which one - I need educating!! haha)

What did it cost you for your Parrott bluetooth system? - on my wish list

Are they stickers mate?

Haha oops, forgot all about some of the specifics in the excitement of picture posting!! 64k, Full Subaru History including all invoices, religiously serviced annually by the previous 3 owners and top quality oils and OE parts used. Came in at just over £3.5k to trade for my 03 Foz......think I might just have found a gem like yours Steve :D .....and the grins going nowhere fast mate :P

Hello Folks, Well I'm back home now from my 7.5 hour round trip to test drive the Outback 3.0r Auto. I'll come on to the outcome in a bit, but just to tease you, here's my Subaru story thus far (apologies to those I've already tortured to death these last 3 months or so (Stanton!!) I only got my first taste of Subaru ownership in January this year - why oh why did I waste all those years previously!!?? I rather stumbled across my current drive, an 03-plate Forester 2.0X (AWP), as a result of desperately trying to relieve myself of my one and only (touch wood) bad car purchase to date. It was a 55-plate Focus Auto - slow, with intermittent CEL issues that made the engine all lumpy. I read up on this to find it was a known issue (any one of 6 faults) and there was no guarantee replacing one or all 6 parts would resolve it. So cut my losses, I hoped, with my well travelled Forester. It had 128k on the clock but the fullest history I'd ever seen. So I bought into the Subaru life and wow - it may only be a sluggish 11.5 secs to 60, but the feel of the engine, handling and that badge staring back at me from the steering wheel just made me smile. The first 3 months passed without incident - a few cosmetic enhancements made, but a happy chappy. Then I started taking a more active interest in the forum and found my head turned by the promised land of POWER :D I became a more regular poster on here, and kept hearing more and more about 'boost' this and 'boost' that.....it was just too much :P So I started to browse the trader and started reading up on our turbo charged family members. I was particularly drawn by the stealth-like power of the Forester 2.5T, although even to this day I still haven't driven one. Then in May I saw there was a reasonably priced red 2.5XT Foz for sale in Leeds. The 'top man' as he shall now be know (Stanton) offered to do a quick inspection for me - what a star. The report came in and all sounded promising. I raised the issue with SWMBO and was given the green light - great stuff, here we go. I could hardly contain myself. So rang the dealer - "Is the car still available?" I asked, intending to go the next day. "We've just taken a deposit this morning, sorry mate" - truely gutted doesn't come close. This proved to be the tipping point ultimately that has led me to this test drive - I've been lusting after some stealthy power ever since. So to today - over the weekend I'd agreed a price to trade in my Foz in against the 3.0r Outback Auto, ahead of us both viewing the respective cars based on honest appraisals of both. I arrived there today just before 11am after 3 hours on the road. First impressions of the car and salesman were both good. He was genuinely impressed with the condition of my Foz and the Outback was as described. A couple of stone chips around the front end and a small dent on one of the rear quarters, but nothing to shout about for a 55-plate. On the test drive I got the salesman to take me along a selection of roads, including in town, housing estates with speed bumps and some motorway. The first feeling was my god, how smooth is this. You have no idea the car is changing gear and can barely hear the thing - wafting along with little effort was an absolute joy. Then we got to the motorway section - here we go I thought, the meat of the matter. "Right, floor it" the salesman said.....so I did....oh my god, where the hell has that power come from. I must have unleashed all 245 ponies at once - the surge was incredible. The engine kicked down beautifully and started to sing a raucous yet still smooth and sweet tune. Before the smile crossed my face I'd hit 70 - "Jesus, that's quick!" came from my mouth - I think! That was it - I was won over in that instant. The fact that everything else to do with the car was right was a bonus too - 4 decent tyres (2 nearly new Bridgestones, 2 half-worn BF Goodrich!), full size alloy spare (unused) with Yokohama rubber, a fresh and unmarked interior and decent paintwork. The exhaust looked a bit tired in parts, but no obvious blowing on running. If this turns out to be 'my keeper', the stainless steel research will start before long. So anyway - I'M BUYING IT :D :D :D :D Here are some extra pictures I took today to show SWMBO this evening. Provisional pick-up agreed for Saturday, assuming my funds clear in time. First thing on the shopping list - a plastic boot liner so my boy can enjoy his new view from the boot. The Outback adventure starts here....

Do you run yours on normal or super unleaded? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

loving the thought of 'boot full' - I'm thinking that will happen on the test drive tomorrow. I plan on asking to be directed to a roads, b roads and dual carriageways to sample all of the joys ;)

Cheers Alan...the excitement is building.... tells self....must stay calm, must stay calm :P

Today I've washed and prep'd the old girl ahead our view-to-buy roadtrip tomorrow ;)

Cheers bud - I caught your other post just now too :) I'll report back tomorrow evening - going to be roughly a 6 hour round trip, but based on what I know about the car already, probably well worth it (touch wood!)

My pot from subaru only cost £11 mate.....can't go wrong for that Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The grove mate, but we only moved there 18 months ago. Nice spot we've found though Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Has anyone any advice for things to look for on a 55 plate 3.0r auto to add to the above please? I've already established it has a full main dealer history with low mileage. Are there any known obvious faults with these luxury cruisers? Thanks guys [emoji106] I'm viewing tomorrow at 1100 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Easy, tiger! [emoji234] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm in consett itself [emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome fella....whereabouts in Durham? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They give a nice, clean white light and compliment the nightbreakers really well. Yes, I had to remove the grill and headlamp units to change mine - a bit fiddly and you dice with death a bit (just ask Stanton) with the plastic clips, but worth the difference they made :)

I'm the same as Tom too....made a big difference to my Foz, both during the day when I run with sidelights on and at night (sides are osram cool blue as above, mains are night breaker unlimited) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's very kind of you, but the car I'm going to look at is a 2005 model so will be the same spec as yours. Might help you to sell it to others though[emoji106] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk