2008 Subaru Outback: Long-Term Update
We don’t have an official long-term fleet here at Cars.com, so I’m always willing to offer up my own new car for the role. As some might remember, my wife and I purchased a 2008 Subaru Outback in July 2007. We were looking for a low-$20,000 vehicle with all-wheel drive and some utility.
The odometer is still under 5,000 miles even after seven months of ownership. There are a few reasons for that. One is that we live in the city, so my wife’s commute is pretty short in terms of distance. Mileage remains around the 20 mpg mark if not below, mainly due to so much city driving.
Since the last time I updated everyone on the Outback, one thing has changed that has drastically altered my opinion of the car: We’re no longer in the DINK category, as our first child was born in February. You know what that means — car seats and strollers.
Having the infant car seat in the back drastically reduces any feeling of spaciousness. Both grandmothers have ridden back there with the baby and have found it not so roomy. I find it darn uncomfortable.
Getting the baby seat in and out isn’t hard, but the doorway could be slightly larger. Of course, the seat is also gigantic. Installation of the seat base was pretty easy using the Latch connectors, and we did have it inspected for safety. I’m also glad we didn’t get an SUV, as lifting the seat up and into the car could be a pain.
We made one trip to the grandparents’ house in the suburbs for Easter, and getting back was troublesome. We had a dog cage, stroller, my suitcase from the trip to the New York auto show, a bag for mom, a bag for baby and assorted shopping bags from a trip to the mall. It was a tight squeeze. We actually left the dog because we didn’t think she’d fit. It turns out she could have, but grandpa was coming into the city the next day anyway and dropped her off.
It’s funny that what I thought was a pretty substantial vehicle when we purchased it now seems on the small size. In fact, during the ride back to the city after Easter brunch I turned to my wife and seriously said, “Next kid we’re getting a minivan.”
Previous
Subscribe to our feed
Email us your tips!
Always good to see what happens to our car purchases long-term and in real life. I would have ditched the stroller and just Baby Bjorn-ed it through the mall. Strollers are a pain, aren't they?
Oh, one thing: how do you keep that big stack of cargo from sliding over into the backseat?
not for nothing, but you knew baby was on the way, didn't you take that into consideration? and do you recommend people in similar situations to take a baby seat to the dealer or something?
Baby's got arms, it can protect itself from sliding cargo.
and to think i've always thought of wagons as 0ne-baby-friendly ... :(
I think the Subaru Outback is more than enough room most average families. My family has two 3-year old kids. When it came time to replace our '99 Accord, many of our friends and family suggested that we need a minivan or suv. Being an environmentalist, we decided to get an '07 Civic Hybrid and haven't had any problems with space for a whole year and 15k miles. We've taken several road trips and lots of day trips without any problems. We simply reduce on what we take due to the limited trunk space. The Civic hybrid model even has a smaller trunk compared to other Civic models, due to the battery. We also use smaller child seats and strollers. My wife usually sits in the back with the kids, so even the front passenger seat is often empty.
It's funny how everything is relative... I remember as a kid taking long-distance trips during a year in Europe--with 5 people and luggage in a late-80s 2-door Renault 5 hatchback with a 0.9L engine. By those standards, an Outback would seem immense even for a family with three children.
My last 12 years have been spent riding in (and now driving) a 96 Legacy wagon. I would never trade the sporty driving dynamics, AWD and relative fuel efficiency for a minivan's extra space unless I really had to. I haven't ever found it cramped for a family of 4 (with the occasional 5th passenger) and it's hauled several times its weight in cargo over the years. But then, compared to a Renault 5...
we did take the baby into consideration. We didn't test the baby seat though although we knew our seat fit the OUtback properly, I think we didn't imagine just how big an "infant" seat really was. It's not a real problem if just the baby is back there though.
The cargo isn't really stacked up that high. The strollers are on top and actually slant downwards below the seats. The only thing that could have toppled was the bassinet attachment of the stroller which is flexible and was later moved to the side to get wedged in tighter.
The problem with Americans is they design for their peak use. Why not just buy a regular small sedan for daily use and rent a bigger car for occasional weekend trips. The money you save in gas and in price of the car over 5 years will make up for the cost of renting a large wagon or minivan for the occasional weekend trip.
Americans are so wasteful. I knew of someone who bought a full-size van years ago for the family's yearly trip to Florida! So, they drive this behemoth around getting 12mpg when they might really need it 2-4 weeks of the year. The other 48 weeks - a Civic would do just fine!
LM,
To battle your point I think Americans pay for convenience quite a bit and I'm one of those people. i'd much rather buy a slightly larger car than I need (our Outback vs. an Impreza) just so I wouldn't need to rent a car. Plus we routinely go to the suburbs so it's not a rare trip.
I wouldn't call an Outback excessive.
My point is for people who go full-boat minivan (or heaven forbid a Tahoe/Sequoia) just so they can buy more crap to fit in an over-sized house is the theme I was going for. At least now with gas over $3/gal and heading higher these folks will twice. If they even still have a home to stuff.
The dog guard may prove a useful addition: it doesn't just keep dogs in the back, it'll restrain piled up luggage too.
I'm considering buying a 2008 Subaru Outback. I'm having twins in April & want to be sure that two infant car seats will fit. Do you have any thoughts/recommendations? I really do want to avoid a minivan or big SUV. Thanks!
Suzanne,
Congratulations! I'm sorry this is a bit late, but...
I have a 2007 Subaru Outback and (2) boys; 5 yrs & 21 months. They fit just fine. You will have no problem with the twins.
My current dilemma is how to cram a third into the same Subaru. I hope its only (3), we have not had out first ultrasound so I don't know. I don't want to get rid of a great car, nor spend the money required on a new vehicle.
Good luck.
For anyone considering the Outback who will be using infant carseats...
We have a 3.5 year old and a 3 month old in an infant carseat - car is a 2008 Outback. It is so tight with the infant carseat that the front passenger seat is almost all the way up and the seat back is almost straight. We just returned from a weekend trip and I was in pain sitting so upright in the front seat.
I would not recommend this car if you will be using it with an infant carseat, or any rear facing seat for that matter.
We have had this car for 2 months and are considering trading it in. Too bad since it handles so well and like it otherwise...ugh...wish we would have known before the purchase.
Now we know a real manufacturing need. The slim infant baby seat...somone invent it.
Jennifer,
I've actually got two different posts about your very problem and the new 2010 LEgacy/outback coming up this week.
Since we had kid 2 we've really had issues getting the infant seat to fit right.
They've fixed that for 2010 but doesn't do us much good as current owners does it? Perhaps Subaru could offer a "2 kid" discount for us on the 2010.
The other option too is since the used car market is so dry I wonder how much you'd get for your hardly used Outback. You might not be so negatively effected as you think although you'd still take a depreciation hit.