Subaru Outback (2003 - 2009) 2.5 SE Outback 5d (06) (2006/56) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Someone more influenced by how a car is engineered than the badge on the front

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

really pleased with it

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes - because it perfectly fits our needs

What are you likely to buy next?

Won't be buying anything for a long time but unfortunately it won't be the bloated, ugly 2010 Outback that replaced this model.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchise

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£11,450

When did you buy the car?

February 2009

Did you get a good deal and why?

Yes - because with most Outback buyers looking for the diesel model this petrol model had been on the forecourt a bit too long. Low annual mileage makes the fuel type a non-issue for us.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

We need a 4x4 to get in and out of our farm in bad weather.

What was the dealer like?

The car we wanted was at a distant dealer and local dealer would not arrange a transfer through the network so we had a long trip to see and collect the car so I'd have to say they could have been more helpful.

What's it like to drive?

All the controls are light and nicely progressive - especially the clutch - and overall gives the impression of a car smaller and lighter than it really is. Seats are comfortable even on long journeys and the driving position gives good all-round visibility. The mirrors are excellent. Handling is surprisingly good for a car with so much ground clearance. In snow it is amazingly sure-footed and I found myself taking it out in the snow just to play - not something I would have considered with the 5 series BMW we had before.

What's it like to park?

Once I got the distance between the rear windows and the corners of the car weighed off it was fine so the lack of parking sensors was not a great issue.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Absolutely nothing

What's most practical about your car?

The rear seats are really quick to fold and can be done from the rear so loading stuff in crowded Ikea car-parks is easy. Unlike many 4x4s the roof is low enough to make loading the roof easy.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The huge sunroof in summer and the heated seats in winter