Scoobyfoz

The vacuum pump on my 1017 Levorg has been noisy since I got the car more than 4years ago with no ill effects. There are a few used ones for sale on eBay, depending on whether yours is diesel, petrol, 1.6, or 2.0.

Firstly, I don't have an Outback currently, but I've had my Levorg for 6 years now with zero issues. It's my seventh Subaru, all of which have been 100% reliable. I am currently thinking of changing to a Gen 5 Outback too, and having driven a Gen 6, I totally agree with your comparison to the Gen 5. It sounds like the perfect car for your needs, the motoring press have never understood these cars, and Subaru don't do extravagant launches with freebies galore for the press, which might have something to do with it. For example, reviews of the Levorg mainly said I'd be better off with a Skoda Octavia, which is a very different sort of car, and so bland I'd have died of boredom by now. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a 2018+ (facelift) Outback from a main dealer with a full history (very important with any Subaru).

Self levelling rears were standard on Outbacks of that generation, nivomat type ones, very different from the wonderful hydraulic sphere system on the Mercs though. I replaced the knackered ones on my '08 Outback with the non self levelling Peddars offering, since the original KYB ones failed at around 100k miles so not worth fitting second hand ones. https://pedders.co.uk/pedders-rear-suspension-conversion-kit-standard-height-subaru-outback-bp-803055