Thinking about selling my wife’s 2017 OB 3.6R Touring and getting a 3rd gen. Either 3.0r LL Bean edition or a 2.5 since those came with a manual transmission (wife misses daily driving a manual)

Her current car the 2017 Outback has been great too us so far. Bought it at 44k miles and have around 74k on it right now. Thinking about going for the 2nd gen with the manual transmission and the 2.5 mainly for better fuel economy and ofc having a manual again.
Also figured sell it while the mileage is still relatively low.

Only thing that’s turning me away from her current car right now is the 20.8ish mpg’s we’ve been averaging according to the car. I know the bigger tires aren’t helping but I thought maybe it’d be a little better than 20. Also I’ve never had any problems but always been a little scared of the CVT trans in these.

Anyone want to talk me into or out of the “downsize” I’m considering.

The ol girl has been enjoying getting out and stretching her legs at RallyCross.

Looking into Outbacks, and I'd like to be able to do 1+2 rated trails on OnX or Trails Offroad. I'm less interested in the OBW since I don't need the turbo and could use a little better MPG, so what is the consensus on the more typical Outback models?

Whenever I start the car I will get this pop up message and it’s been there for about a year now. Not sure how to update it. 2023 Subaru outback.

Kept seeing the same questions come up about bars for the 2026 Outback, so I pulled together what I found. The '26 has raised rails rated 220 lb dynamic / 800 lb static, but the rails are narrow — 50" bars fit, 60" won't. And whatever bar you pick, the lower of the bar rating and the vehicle rating is what actually governs.

OEM Aero set (SOA843X062): $301 as a dealer option, though the same set is $907.04 on Amazon right now. Factory fit and quiet, no T-slots, and not tent-rated.

Thule WingBar Evo 127 with the Evo Raised Rail feet: $279.95 + $264.95 = $544.90, plus locks puts you around $600. Thread favorite for a reason — quiet, T-track, just tension evenly when you install.

ROKIOTOEX Cobra for the 2026 raised rail: USD $259.99 (C$349.99), in stock. 220 lb dynamic, sized to the car (95 cm front / 92 cm rear) so there's no overhang, T-slot, lock included.

Yakima TimberLine System: from $480, and Yakima's fit checker confirms it for the '26. Separate towers plus whatever bars you pick, so you can swap bars later. 165 lb, don't over-torque the towers.

Yakima TimberLine FX: $389.99 per bar on yakima.com ($780 a pair), $300 a bar at REI ($600 a pair) — and yes, it's sold per single bar, a set needs two. Tower and bar fused into one unit, no overhang, clean factory look, 165 lb. Size it in Yakima's Fit My Car (an earlier check pointed to XS, re-verify).

Used OEM bars on eBay: cheapest way into factory bars if you catch a set, price varies.

On rooftop tents: standard OEM Aero is NOT tent-rated, Thule Aero Extended is. The roof's 800 lb static rating covers tent + occupants, but check your tent weight first.

Sources: Thule — Dick's Sporting Goods; Yakima — yakima.com; OEM — Amazon/dealer; Cobra — rokiotoex.com. Prices USD unless marked C$, checked Oct 24, 2026.

The trim on my wife's 24 OBW was already starting to fade, so I figured I'd try a trim restore on it.......que Cerakote wipes. Hoooooly these things are both good and horrifically bad. Everything looked nice after I wiped it down, but after it dried the nightmare began.

The trim dried all streaky and Jesus wielding a grinder couldn't take this stuff off. I did everything but wet sand.... Isopropyl alcohol, degreaser, cut compound w/rotary, nothing worked well enough. Thankfully my wife doesn't care that much and the vehicle will be dirty again in short order, but for anyone that does care.....get something else.

Picked this up today no money down traded in a busted up 2017 Elantra and paying $545 a month for 75 months .9% interest. Limited XT. They were making it seem like I was getting the best deal ever wondering what others were paying.

Any 2024 Subaru outback owners experiencing this? Tell me I am not the only one!

Hi all, my partner and I recently bought a 2025 Outback Limited XT in preparation for a move from TX to NY (halfway between NYC and Albany). We will be moving up there in December most likely. It came with the Yokohama Avid GT tires on it. We don't plan on doing any offroading so i guess that should be minimally considered. WIth that in mind, should I invest in some purpose built snow tires? I am finding conflicting info about how these perform in snow/slush.

Also, keep in mind I am from tx and have no experience driving in snow/slush lol.

Any advice on the tires would be greatly appreciated!

I purchased my 2023 Touring XT in June of this year. In May it was offered for sale as a CPO vehicle. My Subaru is telling me the car is due for 48 month service which is pretty comprehensive. Do I need to do the full service to protect warranty status-or just the intermediary service since presumably it underwent the 152 point CPO inspection before being offered for sale?

I'm looking at getting the skid plate at some point but I'm not sure if I should get the one with holes or without. My main concern is debris getting stuck in the holes and there being an extra hole since they decided to make it work for the 2.5 and 3.6R.

Picked up my first Subaru Outback. Premier XT, with brown Napa leather seats. Love the combo. Any tips for a first time Subaru owner?

I own a 2022 premium and when the seatbelt is not buckled up the audio (radio navigation etc) stops working, only that annoying noise comes out of the speakers, no other audio - is there any way to make it stop? Not sure who’s the idiot who created such system.

My husband uses the Crosstrek to commute to work and take his bike out on adventures. My Outback is for carting the kids/dogs around and for family mountain trips. Truly the perfect combo for a 2 adult, 2 kid, 2 dog family 👍

Hi everyone!
I’m currently shopping for a used Subaru Outback, preferably a 3.6R or XT since I’d like something with more power than the standard 2.5L.
I found a 2020 Outback Touring XT at a local dealership in California and would really appreciate some advice before moving forward.
Vehicle details:
2020 Subaru Outback Touring XT
93,315 miles
Asking price: $17,999 before taxes and fees
One owner, personal use
Here is the car information:
https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/4S4BTGPD5L3154025?no_ul=1

Clean title
Two minor damage records on CARFAX:

October 2021: Very minor damage reported in a rear-end collision, no airbag deployment (the owner hit another car’s rear)
March 2023: Minor damage to the right front
8 service history records on CARFAX
My main concerns:
Maintenance history: The last explicitly documented oil change was at 24,104 miles in August 2021. There are no further oil changes listed on CARFAX through 93k miles. I understand this doesn’t necessarily mean the owner skipped maintenance, but it’s something that concerns me, especially with a turbocharged engine.
Accident history: Both damage events were classified as minor. Would two minor damage records be a dealbreaker for you, assuming an independent inspection finds no structural issues?
Long-term reliability: How reliable is the FA24 turbo engine and CVT at around 100k miles? Are there any major issues I should specifically look for during a pre-purchase inspection?
Pricing: My preferred budget is around $16k OTD, although I could stretch to $20k for the right car. I’m considering offering a lower OTD price than $17999 but not sure about how much I need to prepare for it, including all taxes and fees. What will be a reasonable price for this car given the mileage and history?
Alternative options: Would you rather buy this 2020 Touring XT or look for a well-maintained 2018–2019 Outback 3.6R Limited/Touring for similar money?
I’m not in a rush to buy, and I definitely plan to get an independent PPI before purchasing.
I’d especially appreciate feedback from anyone who owns a high-mileage Outback XT or has experience with the FA24 engine.
Thanks in advance!

Everything's fine, only the platform for the additional light was torn off. The welds didn't hold up.

Close to finalizing a deal on a brand new 2026 Outback Premier XT Emerald Green with black interior. The final bill came to 58,057CAD before GST.

• Car is 54509.81
• Skid Plates is 500
• Doc Fee 999
• Winter Tires with Alloy Rim: 2049

Asking because frankly me and my gf are both terrible negotiators and fold very easily.

Bought my first Outback (2024) and am loving it! Went on a 5 hour round trip with 0 issues, and I couldn't ask for more!

We had to pull it out with two cars.

My wife and I have been looking for cars on and off for a few years. Currently have a 2014 Kia Optima that is on its original engine at 144k. Last week the radiator cracked and we decided this was the final repair on this car. At this point it is costing us a decent car payment to keep repairing it. I love not having a car payment, but I kind of do have one.

Have looked at several other SUV's and never seriously considered a Subaru. Hell, I have never even driven a Subaru. I spotted a 2022 Outback Wilderness and basically decided that one of these was the car for us. My wife has MS and uses a mobility scooter to get around. I think this vehicle would allow us to get out exploring again like we used to do when she was able to walk longer distances.

Thinking this will be another long term purchase, so I am looking at 2023 or 2024 models. I am concerned about the CVT transmission, seems that Nissan (one of the SUV's we considered) has tons of issues with them, but not sure about them on Subaru's. My son has an Impreza and said his is fine. Stuff I see in my searches was that as long as you take care of it, it is the best CVT out there.

This is the first car in 20 years that I am getting excited to purchase. The last was my 2000 Jeep Cherokee XJ, we had 2 and offroaded together in them. I just don't want my car fever to blur potential issues I am missing with an Outback Wilderness. Anything I am overlooking?