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Posted by: Mitlov Feb 21 2006, 02:35 AM

The Outback XT is, by nearly any standard, a good car. For the enthusiast, it has a 250-hp, 250 ft-lb turbocharged flat four, permanent all-wheel-drive, and a manual transmission. For the outdoors-oriented, it has generous ground clearance, the aforementioned AWD, and plenty of room for camping gear. For the family-oriented, it has room for strollers or a dog in back, plenty of room for child seats, nearly-carlike handling, and fantastic safety ratings. For the practicality-minded, it costs less than $30,000 and is as reliable as a crowbar.

So the Outback XT is certainly a good car. But is it cool? That's a separate issue entirely.

Posted by: DakianDelomast Feb 21 2006, 08:13 AM

Its a lesbian's car so it can't be that cool.

Posted by: duality Feb 21 2006, 08:19 AM

all subaru's except the WRX Sti(I) are uncoool

Posted by: clarkma5 Feb 21 2006, 11:09 AM

Good, yeah, cool, no.

Not MJU but just uncool.

Posted by: moethepaki Feb 21 2006, 12:30 PM

Mixes decent on-road dynamics with sand-duning ability. I'll give it a cool...since I nearly bought a used one...

Posted by: Mr b00st Feb 21 2006, 03:10 PM

not cool for a simple reason:

the normal legacy exists, and is just as useful to real people. I mean let's be serious, no one's going to go offroading in an outback, ever.

now, compare:

Posted by: Mitlov Feb 21 2006, 03:28 PM

Drifting through a mudpit or bouncing over boulders? No. Driving down an eroded fire-road to get to a nice campsite or your remote house in the mountains? I know tons of Coloradans and Oregonians who use their Outbacks in that manner, including my brother (who destroyed his old Camry wagon by repeatedly scraping the bottom on the aforementioned eroded fire-roads).

Posted by: leif Feb 21 2006, 04:22 PM

Legacys are not cool (I consider the outback to be a legacy), thats the point...they are discrete, practical and relaible...if they were cool kids would be driving them and blasting JZ or fiddycent out the windows...

keep the Legacy un-cool!

Posted by: porschedream Feb 21 2006, 06:47 PM

I give it a solid cool, its useful, practical, has good looks and is wellpriced for what it offers. Lets not forget Subaru has an amazing AWD system too.

Posted by: z0ne Feb 21 2006, 06:52 PM

my sentiments, preciesely.

Posted by: leif Feb 21 2006, 06:53 PM

those dont make a car cool!!

Posted by: darinzon Feb 21 2006, 07:30 PM

i like how the legacy looks (at least this generation), however when they just jack it up and call it something else it just pisses me off. looks like shit, although i wouldn't complain about the motor...i think

Posted by: midnightdorifto Feb 21 2006, 09:16 PM

Legacy Spec B Wagon for me.

Uncool.

Posted by: Mitlov Feb 21 2006, 11:00 PM

And this does? "if they were cool kids would be driving them and blasting JZ or fiddycent out the windows..."

That's not cool. That's trendy. Cool and trendy are two entirely different things. Cool is what speaks to YOUR heart.

Posted by: moethepaki Feb 21 2006, 11:14 PM

Umm...I would be a counterexample as well. I was considering the Outback, and not the regular wagon, because the extra ground clearance made it a formidable maching on the sand dunes.

Posted by: DakianDelomast Feb 22 2006, 08:10 AM

Yes but PD described some very conservative points. Conservative is not cool. Let me put it this way. If your purchase on a vehicle is based on an "educated descision" and there was "much deliberation" then it is not a cool car. However if you buy a car on impulse because it grabs at you in ways that you have trouble describing, then yes its a very cool car.

Posted by: tune Feb 22 2006, 11:58 AM

Looks nice, but not cool.

Posted by: Mitlov Feb 22 2006, 02:16 PM

I'm not defending PD's definition. But Leif's is equally silly. He is using "cool" as a pejorative, meaning "popular with the hip-hop crowd." I thought that the whole point of the cool wall was to state what WE found cool, not what wannabe-gangstas found cool.

Posted by: RockStaRRR Feb 22 2006, 07:25 PM

nothing with an "outback" badge is cool

makes me think of some day trader-weekend warrior 30 something guy trying to be all extreme

Posted by: midnightdorifto Mar 1 2006, 11:08 AM

You mean, *looks both directions*, the voices?

Posted by: Keitero-sama Mar 1 2006, 04:42 PM

Cool for the fact that AWD wagons rock. +1 turbo!

Posted by: Mr b00st Mar 4 2006, 10:09 PM

that's why they make the Forester XT!

i'd take a Forester XT over a Legacy GT wagon anyway.

Posted by: DZ302 Mar 21 2006, 03:47 PM

Isn't it just a heavier, slower, more expensive Legacy?

Posted by: Mitlov Mar 21 2006, 05:08 PM

...with significantly more ground clearance and off-road-capable tires and suspension.

Posted by: Frederf Apr 1 2006, 10:42 PM

Legacy, Outback = Legacy chassis.
Impreza, Forester = Forester chassis.

With my WRX in the shop I got a 600 mi ODO loaner from Santa Cruz for a couple days. The thing is practical, powerful, purposeful, and had handling characteristics to make my car green with envy.

With the latest redesign it's stopped playing along with the dumb "I"m an SUV right? I guess I have to be boxy." game.

It's smart, attractive, fun, unique, car-like while still being the most badass snowtrip machine without tank tracks. It doesn't care if you think it's cool or trendy; it just does what it does with a grin. That's why it's cool.

Posted by: clarkma5 Apr 2 2006, 12:05 AM

...your loaner was a Forester, 'erf. It doesn't even apply here.