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review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:09 pm
by Ric
This chap was in a very similar situation to me, looking for a replacement for a Gen-4 Liberty wagon, with decent towing ability.
https://www.drive.com.au/reviews/2021-s ... ner-story/
He seems pretty happy with his choice.

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 9:54 am
by Ric
... (and his garage looks about as tidy as mine! ;) )
I'm not sure it's a good idea to post so many photos that it's easy to work out where he lives.
I wonder if they want a review of a 15 year old Subaru. The reporter looks pretty cute :D

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 3:39 pm
by bigBADbenny
How about the actual boat tho? Very nice :)

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 4:53 pm
by Yowie
Cons
Speed Limiter function mated to EyeSight has trouble with school zone 40kph signs outside of school hours


You mean the driver has to control the speed of the car & look around at the situation outside the car him/herself? Outrageous.

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 5:11 pm
by Ric
I suspect it's the opposite. The car seeing the (time based) speed sign, and thinking it applies at all times.

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2021 6:15 pm
by Yowie
Yeah I'm sure that's the issue.

I'm just having a little rant based on a dislike of any technology that makes a driver less engaged with the situation.

[Just to continue that rant, this "self-driving Tesla" stuff is a nightmare even if the driver does the "right thing" per the loose laws which is staying in the driver's seat and being ready to take over driving.

Think of the near-misses on the road any of us have had when our mind is elsewhere and it has taken us an extra half-second to brake. Now consider how long it would take a person's situation awareness to catch up if the car has been driving itself for half an hour. ]

Anyway, sorry for the minor derailment of a perfectly good "new model review" thread. Have a good weekend. :)

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2021 8:57 am
by bigBADbenny
How bout that VW ad on telly where they proclaim the tech as a cure for driving fear?

The scary thing is a big wet roundabout at night.

Something an aficionado might consider an opportunity :P

Imho the level of safety tech and its continued reliability outside of warranty is a major downside regarding new cars…

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 2:45 pm
by OzSTi
Really hoping to get back into a Subie and the 2.4 turbo in an Outback would do it for me.

I read Subaru Australia would like to offer this, anybody got some further insight?

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2021 4:35 pm
by Ric
I've just had a 2021 Touring Outback on loan from Subaru for the weekend.
First impressions, it's very nice to drive, and all the new technology features work very well together.
I must say though, the "Premium 9-speaker Harman Kardon" audio system is not in the same league as my Spec-B's 13-speaker Macintosh system.
In the Outback, you are very aware that most of the sound is coming from the two mid-range speakers mounted in the dashboard (and bouncing back from the windscreen), so it is all from in front of you.
The big speakers in the front doors are just woofers.
The rear door speakers are full range, but contribute little to the front sound unless you fade the front speakers right down.
The big speaker in the boot must be a sub woofer, and even with a bass drum thumping, you can barely hear anything come from that speaker, even with your ear right next to it.

In contrast, the Macintosh system has four individual speakers in each front door (a woofer, two mid range, and a tweeter), and very much gives an all around sound experience.

Certainly the media player itself is miles ahead of the Mac, but that doesn't make up for a cheaper speaker system.

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:12 am
by bigBADbenny
Would you consider keeping the car beyond it's warranty support?

The potential for eg cvt, eyesight issues and cam zero angle vvt ecu burn-in would give me pause once the car is out of warranty.

Re: review of 2021 Outback Touring

PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:32 am
by Ric
bigBADbenny wrote:Would you consider keeping the car beyond it's warranty support?

I had similar worries when I bought the MY06, but it turned out most problems that happened were either burst hoses etc. that I could do myself, or aircon etc. where I had to get a professional anyway.