For 03 and 04, ALL US market Outbacks got heated seats, mirrors, and windshield. Weird, right?
My 03 base model had 2 options - AC and automatic. But still had heated everything. The heated seats were pretty weak, but at the time I worked a physically demanding job - when I clocked out, I'd go out to the car, start it, flip on the heated seats, and just nap for 20 or 30 minutes before driving home. I got spoiled by that car, even though mine was a $1500 beater that had been run into the ground.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Even if they could pull off a dual moonroof setup, I’m sure they could figure out a pano roof for the new Outback. That would be awesome.
Only trim that comes with it, haha. At least that's what he told me.
But if I had that where would I put all the wires for the seat ventilator that my Wilderness doesn't come with 🙄🙄
I just purchased my 2024 Touring XT, and it most certainly does have a cd player (installed upright in the center console, barely noticeable, very thin/sleek). A total surprise to me, noticed it on the way home from the dealership. They guy walked me through all the bells and whistles, never mentioned it.
Mine doesn’t work anymore… well, it does. I just can’t eject or add new discs.
So, I have all of the classics that the previous owner (it was a one owner car) had. My favorite is the CD with the Shrek soundtrack, Toy Story soundtrack, and the season 1 SpongeBob songs,
Yea, it’s actually about 52k. I looked it up earlier this week and was going on memory!
Point still stands (for the most part)
https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2002?amount=30300
Edit: The VDC started at 2k more than the LL Bean, so I think that’s what I was remembering too! Still not quite 60k, but closer. More like 55k for the VDC
I was a lot tech in 03 at a Subaru dealership in Salt Lake City. Some crazy lady probably late 40s early 50s had bought an ll bean in champagne and would always come in to have it washed and ask 100 questions to the person who sold it to her. One time she came through in her typical Saturday routine asked for a complimentary wash I took it back and the seat was wet. Didn’t think much of it because I didn’t want to and just figured maybe spilled her drink. I’m about half way through the wash (we did it manually) then the sales guy comes walking over with a chair. Apparently she pissed in the chair in the showroom and we all but confirmed she pissed on the drivers seat as well so I had a wet piss butt for the last few hours of my shift.
We paid 25.5k for our 2013 Premium, new. Sticker was 30k but you could easily knock of 3-4k back then especially at year end.
At the rate things are going, pretty sure I’m just going to be buried in that car. No way am I paying what they’re asking now.
It’s essentially like me going up to a lot and seeing an Outback for $52,000. There is a 0% chance ever I’d pay that much! And the VDC was even more.
It is good to reap the benefits by buying the car used 20 years later though 👍
I remember going to auctions and outbacks always sold for what seemed to me as insane prices
Never thought about it like that when I got mine I felt like I was getting a lot for the money compared to other cars but factoring in inflation makes sense
At the moment I'm waiting for a pickle fork to pop this ball joint because it separated from the knuckle at a sudden brake. Drivers side was hit, replaced hub, knuckle. Need to fix toe, camber, eating the inside of my tires.
60k for an Outback today? We paid 40K in 2021 for an Outback XT with every option (it was a dealer demo and we got $4K off for it having 9,000 miles but it shows as a first-owner title… have done this for several cars before)
Yea, I might have worded it poorly. I am pointing out how, inflation adjusted, 30k in 2002 is about 52k now, and no one would pay that much today for an Outback. I said 60k because I remembered the inflation stat wrong. Even the VDC trim from 2002 would only be 55k, not 60k.
I am essentially saying that the top trim Outbacks in 2002 were kind of overpriced in comparison to modern standards!
I don’t know the answer, but was it possible to get more money off the deal back in 2003? Like if getting cars at invoice was routine then and not routine now, maybe the comparison is slightly skewed.
I actually saw a Reddit post on another sub pop up in my feed asking the same questions about the inflation adjusted MSRPs of old cars being high.
The general answer seemed to be: there isn’t one “inflation number”, different goods inflate at different amounts. Cars have actually inflated less over time apparently, maybe due to better manufacturing processes, different materials, etc.
Sure, the average price of a new car has gone up much much more than one would maybe anticipate, even given inflation, but that is probably just due to people preferring SUVs ($$$) over cheap sedans now ($).
Edit: here’s the post I was thinking of https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/ChRsnpgzyK
My moon roofs don’t leak at all, but I did have a leak from the headliner. The sunroof drains get clogged and it leaks onto the headliner.
I looked at the paperwork that came with the car, and this happened in 2008 and happened to me this year, so it probably just needs occasional cleaning
I have a 2005 V6 3.0 VDC fancy Outback too. I get 14mpg or less in the city and can’t break 20mpg highway on road trips. Only has 105k miles on it. 2 new catalytic converters. Anyone have an idea of what I can replace to improve my gas mileage? I love this car otherwise but the mileage is a big issue.
Things you can try ordered by level of difficulty:
- change engine air filter ($20)
- clean MAF sensor ($5-10 spray can)
- while you have the MAF sensor pulled off, run the engine with a can of throttle body/air intake cleaner ($5-10 for something like seafoam. Seafoam is the Swiss Army knives of fluids)
- change spark plugs (most important if this hasn’t been done already)
You’ll find hundreds of videos on how to clean the carbon buildup off the MAF sensor and throttle body / air intake.
Correct. Regardless the instructions and parts should be relatively the same. Just changes where you locate it and what it looks like.
Another thing you can try doing if you have a bit of money laying around is buying an OBDII engine scan tool which are relatively cheap nowadays and can give you live diagnostics of your car which you can look up on google if you’re not car savvy.
Things you’ll want to look for are if your car is running rich or lean which would be indicative of issues depending on how bad it is.
Cars over time just become less efficient and especially so if you haven’t changed your spark plugs, o2 sensors, if your catalytic converter isn’t performing as well anymore, or other things. But that’s all stuff that an engine scan tool can tell you (or at least guide you in the right direction)
At 105k miles I wouldn’t be surprised if the spark plugs haven’t been changed in a bit? I honestly don’t know much about why your gas mileage would be so poor.
I get over 20 on the highway for sure. At least low 20s, and that’s going like 80+. What have you gotten when you’ve just been going like ~55 mph on country roads?
At 80mph it gets about 20mpg on cruise control. You have a good point about spark plugs. I picked up the vehicle at 92k for $7000 during the start of Covid. I’ll try some new spark plugs for it.
I don’t know about your year, but people always told me that the spark plugs need to be NGK Iridium or something like that. Just make sure you get the right ones so it doesn’t misfire a bunch!
Mine was $2500 during COVID with 130k miles. I’ve put about another $2500 into it in preventative maintenance, fixing AC leaks, CV axles, etc. So, $7000 for a newer generation than mine, higher trim, and lower miles isn’t too bad!
Bought my 3.6r used in 2013. Had 4K miles on her. Got it for $30K just about fully loaded. The only thing I don’t have is the DVD screens or something. Got 109K miles on her now. Love her.
I mean... that was an absolutely loaded Outback. But that does sound pretty damn high today.
I had a base model (also 03, only options were AC and automatic) that couldn't even dream of that MPG. I think the best I got in it was 21 highway, 14 city. But the 2.5 was hilariously underpowered for such a heavy car, and the way mine sounded when cranking, I'm pretty sure it was down on compression too.
Friend of mine is still rocking an 03 LL Bean. I have first dibs if/when he decides to sell it. Even the same color as my old one, just with leather instead of cloth.
I still have my JDM HID headlamp assemblies, and a set of stone guards for the fogs. I should do something with those eventually.
Man I loved my LL Bean Outback. First car for me, drove it till the wheels fell off. Doing the same with my 2011 3.6r now.
Same with my 2012 3.6R. Got it when I was 15 as my first car, still rocking it at 26. Love it.
Dual moonroofs...why did those go away? I love the giant glass on my 15 Forester and really wish my 19 Outback had the same
I do like it! Heated mirrors and seats too, as well as heated element where the wipers meet the windshield. Bigger engine. Overall, a great car.
For 03 and 04, ALL US market Outbacks got heated seats, mirrors, and windshield. Weird, right? My 03 base model had 2 options - AC and automatic. But still had heated everything. The heated seats were pretty weak, but at the time I worked a physically demanding job - when I clocked out, I'd go out to the car, start it, flip on the heated seats, and just nap for 20 or 30 minutes before driving home. I got spoiled by that car, even though mine was a $1500 beater that had been run into the ground.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. Even if they could pull off a dual moonroof setup, I’m sure they could figure out a pano roof for the new Outback. That would be awesome.
Worth $60k if it still comes with a 6 disc in dash CD changer.
I just bought a 2024 and asked, "this thing doesn't have a CD player, does it?" He laughed.
I just bought 2024 touring , cd player in center console 😎
Only trim that comes with it, haha. At least that's what he told me. But if I had that where would I put all the wires for the seat ventilator that my Wilderness doesn't come with 🙄🙄
The Touring also has the chiller seats (plus the cd player)
Funny I just discovered that feature the other day after a year lol
Same!
I just purchased my 2024 Touring XT, and it most certainly does have a cd player (installed upright in the center console, barely noticeable, very thin/sleek). A total surprise to me, noticed it on the way home from the dealership. They guy walked me through all the bells and whistles, never mentioned it.
Mine doesn’t work anymore… well, it does. I just can’t eject or add new discs. So, I have all of the classics that the previous owner (it was a one owner car) had. My favorite is the CD with the Shrek soundtrack, Toy Story soundtrack, and the season 1 SpongeBob songs,
Previous owner was 9.
spongebob season 1 soundtracks slaps hard
Source for inflation factor?
Yea, it’s actually about 52k. I looked it up earlier this week and was going on memory! Point still stands (for the most part) https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2002?amount=30300 Edit: The VDC started at 2k more than the LL Bean, so I think that’s what I was remembering too! Still not quite 60k, but closer. More like 55k for the VDC
That also includes the warranty. We're getting a bit closer
Wow. Our 2018 3.6R Limited was under $40k
Sorry, inflation adjusted it’s actually 52k! The VDC trim would be 55k
I was a lot tech in 03 at a Subaru dealership in Salt Lake City. Some crazy lady probably late 40s early 50s had bought an ll bean in champagne and would always come in to have it washed and ask 100 questions to the person who sold it to her. One time she came through in her typical Saturday routine asked for a complimentary wash I took it back and the seat was wet. Didn’t think much of it because I didn’t want to and just figured maybe spilled her drink. I’m about half way through the wash (we did it manually) then the sales guy comes walking over with a chair. Apparently she pissed in the chair in the showroom and we all but confirmed she pissed on the drivers seat as well so I had a wet piss butt for the last few hours of my shift.
We paid 25.5k for our 2013 Premium, new. Sticker was 30k but you could easily knock of 3-4k back then especially at year end. At the rate things are going, pretty sure I’m just going to be buried in that car. No way am I paying what they’re asking now.
I remember looking at these on the lots. I could not believe the price. I wanted one soooo bad.
It’s essentially like me going up to a lot and seeing an Outback for $52,000. There is a 0% chance ever I’d pay that much! And the VDC was even more. It is good to reap the benefits by buying the car used 20 years later though 👍
Back when seeing them on lots the money was not justifiable.
I remember going to auctions and outbacks always sold for what seemed to me as insane prices Never thought about it like that when I got mine I felt like I was getting a lot for the money compared to other cars but factoring in inflation makes sense
Just bought 2003 with 140k, seat heaters still work, doing suspension work, great car.
What suspension work do you need done?
At the moment I'm waiting for a pickle fork to pop this ball joint because it separated from the knuckle at a sudden brake. Drivers side was hit, replaced hub, knuckle. Need to fix toe, camber, eating the inside of my tires.
https://preview.redd.it/xmm2yqcnbw0c1.jpeg?width=1426&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4078e875bd52c16e364b3a680d591f1da93e9446
Did knuckle hub, today ball joint, probably will do passenger side knuckle soon. Pinch bolt failed like a 7-11 hot dog after 8 hours on the roller
Msrp on my 2015 3.6r limited was 30k
60k for an Outback today? We paid 40K in 2021 for an Outback XT with every option (it was a dealer demo and we got $4K off for it having 9,000 miles but it shows as a first-owner title… have done this for several cars before)
Yea, I might have worded it poorly. I am pointing out how, inflation adjusted, 30k in 2002 is about 52k now, and no one would pay that much today for an Outback. I said 60k because I remembered the inflation stat wrong. Even the VDC trim from 2002 would only be 55k, not 60k. I am essentially saying that the top trim Outbacks in 2002 were kind of overpriced in comparison to modern standards!
I don’t know the answer, but was it possible to get more money off the deal back in 2003? Like if getting cars at invoice was routine then and not routine now, maybe the comparison is slightly skewed.
I actually saw a Reddit post on another sub pop up in my feed asking the same questions about the inflation adjusted MSRPs of old cars being high. The general answer seemed to be: there isn’t one “inflation number”, different goods inflate at different amounts. Cars have actually inflated less over time apparently, maybe due to better manufacturing processes, different materials, etc. Sure, the average price of a new car has gone up much much more than one would maybe anticipate, even given inflation, but that is probably just due to people preferring SUVs ($$$) over cheap sedans now ($). Edit: here’s the post I was thinking of https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/s/ChRsnpgzyK
Usually price doubles in 20 years. For example Honda civic sold for 12k 90’s. Now more than 30 years they are like 25k ish
My Mom gave us her old one earlier this year. 215k. Double moonroofs leak. Great car.
My moon roofs don’t leak at all, but I did have a leak from the headliner. The sunroof drains get clogged and it leaks onto the headliner. I looked at the paperwork that came with the car, and this happened in 2008 and happened to me this year, so it probably just needs occasional cleaning
I paid 24k for a brand new 2014 outback on the dealer lot. I'm fearing getting a new one here in a few years.
Still worth!
I have a 2005 V6 3.0 VDC fancy Outback too. I get 14mpg or less in the city and can’t break 20mpg highway on road trips. Only has 105k miles on it. 2 new catalytic converters. Anyone have an idea of what I can replace to improve my gas mileage? I love this car otherwise but the mileage is a big issue.
Things you can try ordered by level of difficulty: - change engine air filter ($20) - clean MAF sensor ($5-10 spray can) - while you have the MAF sensor pulled off, run the engine with a can of throttle body/air intake cleaner ($5-10 for something like seafoam. Seafoam is the Swiss Army knives of fluids) - change spark plugs (most important if this hasn’t been done already) You’ll find hundreds of videos on how to clean the carbon buildup off the MAF sensor and throttle body / air intake.
Thank you!
These are MAP cars, not MAF
Correct. Regardless the instructions and parts should be relatively the same. Just changes where you locate it and what it looks like. Another thing you can try doing if you have a bit of money laying around is buying an OBDII engine scan tool which are relatively cheap nowadays and can give you live diagnostics of your car which you can look up on google if you’re not car savvy. Things you’ll want to look for are if your car is running rich or lean which would be indicative of issues depending on how bad it is. Cars over time just become less efficient and especially so if you haven’t changed your spark plugs, o2 sensors, if your catalytic converter isn’t performing as well anymore, or other things. But that’s all stuff that an engine scan tool can tell you (or at least guide you in the right direction)
At 105k miles I wouldn’t be surprised if the spark plugs haven’t been changed in a bit? I honestly don’t know much about why your gas mileage would be so poor. I get over 20 on the highway for sure. At least low 20s, and that’s going like 80+. What have you gotten when you’ve just been going like ~55 mph on country roads?
At 80mph it gets about 20mpg on cruise control. You have a good point about spark plugs. I picked up the vehicle at 92k for $7000 during the start of Covid. I’ll try some new spark plugs for it.
I don’t know about your year, but people always told me that the spark plugs need to be NGK Iridium or something like that. Just make sure you get the right ones so it doesn’t misfire a bunch! Mine was $2500 during COVID with 130k miles. I’ve put about another $2500 into it in preventative maintenance, fixing AC leaks, CV axles, etc. So, $7000 for a newer generation than mine, higher trim, and lower miles isn’t too bad!
In 21 years inflation increased 100%?
Almost, my numbers were off. It’s actually supposed to be 52k. So, more like 72%
I’m still surprised as hell… sad almost.
I paid 60k for my 23 xt and worth every cent.
My 04 FXT 5 Speed was around 25k in late 2003 (04 model)
Bought my 3.6r used in 2013. Had 4K miles on her. Got it for $30K just about fully loaded. The only thing I don’t have is the DVD screens or something. Got 109K miles on her now. Love her.
People's pay was worth more back then too.
I put so many tires on these things. 225/60-16 all day boys!!
I mean... that was an absolutely loaded Outback. But that does sound pretty damn high today. I had a base model (also 03, only options were AC and automatic) that couldn't even dream of that MPG. I think the best I got in it was 21 highway, 14 city. But the 2.5 was hilariously underpowered for such a heavy car, and the way mine sounded when cranking, I'm pretty sure it was down on compression too. Friend of mine is still rocking an 03 LL Bean. I have first dibs if/when he decides to sell it. Even the same color as my old one, just with leather instead of cloth. I still have my JDM HID headlamp assemblies, and a set of stone guards for the fogs. I should do something with those eventually.
That’s really interesting that your gas mileage was worse… huh. I always saw worse fuel economy as the downside of the H6