Subaru Outback Problems

You are choosing from a good line-up as all three of your contenders get The Tick from me. My personal ranking puts the Passat ahead of the Outback but there is no reason not to go ahead with the Subaru.

You have clearly done your homework, from which you should be able to decide which is best for you. Without knowing what your needs and wants are all we can advice is that the three cars you have honed in on are good choices.

MY17 Outback is on sale now. There are no major changes from MY16 model.

It was an option.

That’s the problem with VWs, you can get six good ones in a row, but the next one could be a lemon. Rather than a wagon you’re probably looking at an SUV. I would suggest a Kia Sorento, Subaru Outback, or Toyota RAV4.

With 2000 kg towing capacity the Discovery Sport has the towing capacity you want, it's more than the CX-5, and it's not limited to 80 km/h like the Subaru is. That's a big plus. The only criticisms we've heard about are some niggling interior fit and finish issues, and one or two electrical gremlins. The Land Rover also has more ground clearance than the CX-5 and a traction control system better set up for actual off-road work. 

It's not unusual for diesel fuel-injectors to become noisy when they wear, I'm sure Subaru would have come across that before, and it's the same with all brands. The gearbox jumping out of fifth is also a fairly common complaint, one I'm sure Subaru has encountered before.

The steering failures are of concern, and should be of concern to Subaru, given that the steering is a safety item. That the parts are not stored here is nothing new, many carmakers rely on stores held in Asia for their parts, and bring them in as needed. That said, they should be available overnight given that we have jet planes these days and they no longer have to go by steam ship. You should not have to wait six-eight weeks for them to arrive. What that suggests is that Subaru does not care about owners of older models like yours.

Unfortunately you don't have any rights as such with the company, it's really down to your negotiating skills to convince them that they should come to the party and help with the cost of repairs. But with your car having done more than 200,000km I don't believe you would get anywhere on that front.

I would suggest you try an independent Subaru mechanic to repair it, and use second-hand parts, but more than that I would think about selling it.

Generally, the Outback is a good solid car, well designed and built. My only concern is the age of the cars you’re looking at. While the Outback is a good car all cars deteriorate as they age, so it’s vital when buying an old car to have it thoroughly checked by a mechanic who knows his way round the brand. It’s also best to look for a car that hasn’t been used off-road.

I would use the factory recommended oil, at least while the car is under warranty. Once the warranty has expired you could use the Mobil oil and shouldn’t experience any problems.