I rarely drive mine and plan to sell it in the spring. It won't be replaced as my other vehicles are sufficient for now. The future no doubt will hold another minivan as a daily driver - the versatility can't be beat and the ease of entry/exit is superb.

 

Well yeah, it's the common GM trans that's behind near everything. Sorry if I'm jaded but the car doesn't impress me too much since it shares so much with the other GM cars, namely the engine is total garbage and will have timing guide failures as the accessories like the compressor and alternator will fail around 90-110k like on every other car that uses them.

 

Times have changed... there was a time when saying a mechanical part was prone to failure at 100k miles was said as an achievement!

 

Well considering it's only these 3.6 engined cars that fail on the short side of 15 years or 150-200k it leaves me really cautious since we have some land cruisers from 1988-1993 that all still on their original systems with 250k+ miles. Same story with a lot of cars not really having this issue, GM products that aren't the truck though eat through the accessories.

Contrast that to me never having to ever replace anything of that nature on a Lexus.

 

It is absurd and that's the great part; a luxury ride from something outside of the luxury class. While I don't own an Outback, I was impressed with the quality of the '19's ride and with the shift to the new platform, test drove a '20. While it doesn't have the serene feel of an LS430 due to more wind noise and engine noise; its a value proposition that is one of the few vehicles I could actually drive without experiencing pain in the back or while sitting.

The base engine (2.5l) is still pretty weak(182hp) but was redesigned in '20 for DI while the 2.4T is brand new (260hp DI and comes with a new beefed up CVT). I suspect Subaru owners are much like the garden variety Lexus owner and don't understand the inherent design weaknesses of a boxer engine or a CVT and for the most part don't do proactive maintenance. Their CVT has a lifetime fluid (sound familiar) and Subaru rolled back the oil change to 6,000 miles (the factory fill Idemitsu 0W20 synthetic oil is not certified for SN+). In essence there is a smaller margin of error with the engine and CVT as compared to an LS430 but if you do proactive maintenance and don't beat on it; it has promise. There are many articles on the new Outback and how surprised the journalists were about the quality of the ride and the interior.
https://www.cars.com/articles/2020-s...-class-408832/

Punching Above Its Class

Thanks to an all-new platform, torsional rigidity is up an almost unbelievable 70 percent, which gave engineers a steadfast foundation on which to build the suspension, steering and braking systems. Put simply, the Outback drives like a premium luxury vehicle.

 

My wife’s last car was a 2016 forester XT

The CVT transmission leaked fluid at 38k miles and had to be overhauled by the dealer (they did extend the transmission to warranty to 10yr/100k)

The boxer engine was loud and unrefined but it did make good power

The wind noise was terrible

I heard the outback was a much better car but Id be hesitant to get another Subaru

 

Whenever a Subaru comes in it's usually for engine failure or a blown trans.........at about 120k miles, sometimes less

 

What you guys think of the Mazda 6? Told my dad to buy a new one back in 2015 and it is the best car he's ever owned. at 100k miles now with absolutely zero issues. It only has 185hp/185 ft/lb of torque but feels very sufficient to me. I love the way it drives.

 

Mazda is extremely reliable and they have been making fantastic strides forward recently, I think you would quite enjoy one.

 

Mazda makes great cars...had a Mazda 3 and it was rock solid.

wish they would bring the Mazda 6 wagon to the U.S.

 

My next ride: A pristine and perfectly maintained W126 S Class Mercedes from the 1989-1991 period in 300SE trim. See this video to understand why. I have to have a car where I can do all the routine maintenance myself and avoid a dealer.



I actually spent quite a bit of time looking for one before I bought the LS430 but could not find one locally that had not suffered from neglect or rust or both.

 

Thanks for input on GM stuff I never owned one, many cars are having issues with timing chains with the extended oil change intervals and a GM master tech told me the 7500 mile oil changes where causing the timing chain issues. I have not owned GM cars ever just look at the reviews and they tout the reliability ratings on LaCrosse as very good.

 

OK quick search on line LaCrosse is too risky.

 

My next ride will probably be another Lexus. But hopefully thats far off. I plan to buy a press to start doing suspension bushings myself at home. I have 3 cars and really all of them will benefit from that tool. The LS probably just needs some nice shocks over the monroe's on it, new strut mounts since I think im running factory strut mounts at 188k and then a bushing overhaul lol. This car is just so nice, smooth, powerful. Just need to get the rattles taken care of from the suspension and rear hat rack.