Pilot versus Subaru Outback

[colorider]

Did anyone consider the 2005 Subaru Outback in the their selection process before buying a Pilot? If so, I would be interested in hearing comments - both pro and con as to how you felt it compared to the Pilot. Granted, the Subaru is in a different class simply by virtue of it's size and and hauling capacity - but I'm still interested in comments.

TIA

[b7xv]

Don't know about the '05, but I have owned two Outbacks, a '97 and an '01, both were very nice cars with lots of room, power, great in bad weather, easy on gas and dependable. I got the Pilot because I needed more room and towed a boat which the Outback couldn't handle. I would buy another with no problems and the '05 are pretty sharp looking.

[savg99]

My wife and I traded our 97 Outback in on our 05 Pilot. My mother-in-law has a 02 Outback, so we have experience with two of the last three generations of Outbacks.

We've been extremely pleased with both cars and the 05's look to be very good as well.

We ended up choosing the Pilot because of the added room and the ability to have a third-row seat. The extra towing capacity was a plus as well.

I haven't driven the Pilot in bad weather yet, but I think the Subaru AWD system is the best out there.

If we didn't have two little boys in car seats, we probably would have gone with another Sube, but are really happy we bought the Pilot.

[waynerd]

Uh Oh! I figured THIS would happen after seeing your accident photos! Been snoopin' over at Outback.com again, haven't ya? Yup, drooling over a turbo'd Limited Outback, aren't cha?

Our '02 Sedan in much smaller than the Pilot, and long distance driving isn't as comfortable. I looked at the '05's while ours was getting serviced and they didn't look substantially bigger. Ours is a 4-banger, not the 3.0, so acceleration isn't it's strong suit, but it'll get out of it's own way. It's a pretty heavy car, and well built. Ours has averaged about 26 MPG in the last 5000 or so miles, mostly highway/city mix. I do like the integrated weather band on the radio...comes in handy traveling this time of year.

You have a couple of Subies in your past, don't cha? As I recall, they were older,though.

[colorider]

Originally posted by waynerd
Uh Oh! I figured THIS would happen after seeing your accident photos! Been snoopin' over at Outback.com again, haven't ya? Yup, drooling over a turbo'd Limited Outback, aren't cha?

Our '02 Sedan in much smaller than the Pilot, and long distance driving isn't as comfortable. I looked at the '05's while ours was getting serviced and they didn't look substantially bigger. Ours is a 4-banger, not the 3.0, so acceleration isn't it's strong suit, but it'll get out of it's own way. It's a pretty heavy car, and well built. Ours has averaged about 26 MPG in the last 5000 or so miles, mostly highway/city mix. I do like the integrated weather band on the radio...comes in handy traveling this time of year.

You have a couple of Subies in your past, don't cha? As I recall, they were older,though.

I'm on the fence. Totally happy with the Pilot - but unsure of the outcome of our recent accident. There is nothing in the Pilot class that I would consider other than a MDX. But I'm at the stage that I may be able to get by with less room - hence looking around at options. My main concern with the Subaru is the low seat height. I like sitting in a higher seat - easier on the legs. The Mrs. feels the same way (and you know we need to keep the Mrs. happy).

I've had 5 Subarus and happy with all ('cept maybe the Justy). Two were turbos and two were not. Love the turbo, but I would likely go for the straight Limited - not the XT. 3.0 is nice, but big $$$.

[waynerd]

Well, the Outback is a higher ride than most cars, but not at the height of the Pilot. The seat bottom height, or lack there of, was our main complaint on the one long trip we've taken the Outback on, but it seems higher than most cars.

[Mainer]

I have a 99 Outback with leather and love everything about it except the seats. After 2 hours of driving my butt is killing me. It will keep me from buying another as I don't notice it on short trips so the test drive was fine. There's been two model changes since mine so maybe they've got better seats now. I have friends with the same concern in the 01-02 era model.

In my Pilot - I can do a 10 hour trip just fine.

[kevinsmiley]

I was looking at the Suby or a used Volvo XC70.

Here in Michigan, there are so many big trucks and SUVs on the road that if you don't get up off of the road, you'll never see what's beyond the monster in front of you.

I was concerned with the comfort of the Outback seats for long trips too. I thought I'd get better mileage with a station wagon, but the boxer 4 seemed underpowered, and the b4 turbo eats premium and doesn't get much better MPG than a Pilot.

You'd probably be shocked at how few Pilot's I see on the road here. A lot of competition and foreign car haters I guess.

[colorider]

Originally posted by kevinsmiley
I was looking at the Suby or a used Volvo XC70.

Here in Michigan, there are so many big trucks and SUVs on the road that if you don't get up off of the road, you'll never see what's beyond the monster in front of you.

I was concerned with the comfort of the Outback seats for long trips too. I thought I'd get better mileage with a station wagon, but the boxer 4 seemed underpowered, and the b4 turbo eats premium and doesn't get much better MPG than a Pilot.

You'd probably be shocked at how few Pilot's I see on the road here. A lot of competition and foreign car haters I guess.

I've considered the size issue as well - I just don't like sitting so low.

The seats are REALLY what makes me the most hesitant about the Subaru - and it's strange cuz I have about 400K miles in Subarus from when I used to own them and never found the seats less than ideal.

I'm at the point that we will either make the best of getting our Pilot back on the road - or take the money and run - to the Honda stealership that has the best price on a new EX-L.

[savg99]

I think the seats are all a matter of personal preference. The 97 was cloth seats, and I logged quite a few all-day sessions in them without trouble. The 02 is leather and is really comfortable. The most I've driven it is about 7 hours at a stretch and couldn't complain any.

I always found the boxer to accelerate decently once you got on it--it definitely likes to be up near it's redline. Passing and top end are where it shines.

[b7xv]

Funny that so many people mentioned the seats. My '01 had cloth seats and the drivers seat was very comfortable, but my wife complained about her left leg going to sleep on long trips. I sat in the passenger seat while she drove on some trips and mine did the same, but only in the passenger seat. Very odd. This was also a reason to change to the Pilot. With the issues I have had with the saggy leather seats in mine, I am thinking I should have gotten the EX without the leather. The seats are very comfortable in the Pilot, so no problems with legs going to sleep. I like the higher ride and visibility also in the Pilot.

[Patrack]

it is funny how many poeple say that engine is underpowered and slow. granted the out back is higher than our legacy GT, but it has the boxer 4 in it and it gets down the road in a hurry. It is also a 5 speed and as with any stick you just have to know when to and not to shift to early and well you just go move and too late you go passed the power band. Never driven an automatic subie so they might not move down the road very fast.

I wish car companies would offer more stick sifts, automatics are so boring. Plus less people would drive and talk on cell phones if they were driving a stick , that is right darn hard.


p.s. The seats on our 03 are very comfortable it has been on a 14hr trip to Mass. and a 16hr trip to Nebraska from VA. with no complaints

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by Patrack
. . . I wish car companies would offer more stick sifts, automatics are so boring. Plus less people would drive and talk on cell phones if they were driving a stick , that is right darn hard.
. . .

LOL, nope, just more of them would sit on the lot unsold and we would all have to pay the cost!.

[Patrack]

very true america is full of lazy poeple that want someone or something else to do the work for them.

No that is not an insult to anyone cause my truck is an automactic also, but if I could have got it the way I wanted then it would have been stick (it was used and the right price as used as 1500 miles can be). It used to be you paid more for automatic then it was you paid more for the manual now alot of companies do not offer it. Example the new dodge magnum R/T it has a 5.7 liter HEMI with an autostick or whatever you call it no true manual. I have a friend that just bought a little kia cause it is cheap took him forever to find a stick shift. Next thing you know we won't even be driving the car it will do it for us


I know off topic sorry both vechicles are very nice and treat their owners nicely

[idahopilot]

I owned a 2002 Outback L.L. Bean before my Pilot. I wish I would have never gotten rid of the Subaru. The Pilot's a fine car, but the Subaru drives better and the transmission is much smoother, plus no saggy leather seats (Unacceptable for a $32K vehicle). Two reasons I went with the Honda -- reliability (I've owned several used Hondas and never had a problem) and third row seating. After owning the Pilot I would rather take two cars. Just my opinion.

P.S. The Outback is much quieter than the Pilot.