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Kris writes:
2001 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 VDC Review
Pros*Safety ratings are among the highest of any car: LATCH child seat mounts (not standardized until '03 or '04), all-wheel-drive, side airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes and ABS, traction control and an extremely rigid chassis. Cons*Oil leaks
85
Safe, Solid, Practical, And Powerful...but Leaky. — It's been a very good car at 100,000 miles I still have a lot of faith that it will remain a safe and sensible family car for years to come. The H6 engine provides plenty of power and very good acceleration once you figure out how to manage the throttle (the traction control system does not hesitate to interject when putting the pedal to the floor, and you can't manually turn it off). I've also had the mixed fortune of demonstrating how well the vehicle dynamics control (VDC) works in assisting with lateral stability, and I can say that it is impressive. It definitely safe to say that traction is not a problem in this car. The car makes a good towing vehicle as well. The 6 cylinder powerplant delivers adequate torque will pulling, and the extremely rigid chassis and disc brakes all-around make for a reassuring towing experience. Unfortunately, in the long-standing tradition of the Subaru...it leaks...and leaks. The car has been plagued with minor seepage since we bought it at 68k miles. These leaks are various and typically minor in their severity, but also fairly expensive to repair. Overall, I would certainly recommend the Outback--6 cylinder VDC model specifically, as a smart alternative to SUVs and minivans for small families.
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James writes:
2001 Subaru Outback H6-3.0 VDC Review
ProsPracticality, reliability, all-terrain/all weather performance, lovely burst of low end torque, rockin' all wheel drive system, really nice interior for a Subie ConsHate? Nothing, really - though the styling's a little frumpy and there's this weird bias against station wagons. Keep in mind all the real soccer moms are driving SUVs nowadays.
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Ideal Urban Assult Wagon - Tankish Build, Always Capable, Forgettable Styling, Lovely Interior. — I call her Moya, and she's a hell of a car. Subaru, back in 2001, realized their Outback was lacking in power and refinement. The old four-cylinder was a great engine as long as you took care of it, but it had issues with head gaskets and timing belts. The flat-six, new for that year, took care of that, as an all-new, bespoke engine for the Legacy/Legacy Outback models. It spits out 212 HP and ft/lbs of torque, and you get a big chunk of that torque right off the line, making the car feel swifter than it really is. Which, around town, is pretty nice. The Outback isn't the *perfect* car for any job, but it's the perfect car for ANY job. Shuttling people around? Road trips? Light off-roading? Trudging through snow and rain and whatever else? Moya's got your back. She will nom all of your cargo and not complain a bit. A nice thing about these cars is how DIY they are. The only real maintenance thing I've run into was that the pulley bearings on the front of the engine (specifically, the tensioner ones) tend to get clogged and break around 60K miles (and in my case, 10 years into the car's life). Changing them is pretty simple, as is replacing the serpentine belt. You can swap headlight bulbs in about 15min with hand tools. Reliability rocks and she runs like a top. Interior is very nice, and will surprise you if you've sat in other (even more recent) Subarus. The VDC model was completely loaded when they built her, with extra sound deadening to dampen road noise, and even came with a snazzy McIntosh stereo system. While it's somewhat dated compared to high end stereos of today, this was about the coolest factory stereo you could get in 2001. It's lasted brilliantly, and only now is one of the speakers starting to show its age. I plan to keep the awesome analog head unit and upgrade the front speakers. Just about the one thing this car isn't is a sports car, but why would you want it to be? She handles well enough to get out of the way of semis and crazed North Carolina drivers in their massive Ram Laramie Cummins Brokeback Edition pickup trucks, and will beat the pants off a SUV or crossover in the agility department. On a nice set of Michelin Primacy tires, she's rock solid even in Georgia monsoon season with oil on the road and she'll gladly schlep you and your buddies across the country, only occasionally requesting an oil change and some gas. I plan to keep her for years to come. Bottom line: she might not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. Primary Use: Commuting to work | ||
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Chris writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Base Wagon Review
Proscan fit almost everything had 30 pairs of skis in it once and a 10ft kayak inside (separate occasions) Consrust is an issue and parts are somewhat expensive because of foreign nature.
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Rust Is A Major Issue With These Cars But Other Than That They Are Nearly Indestructible — for a station wagon its performance is great its no Ferrari but it has minimal body roll and plenty of acceleration. the car has not needed any significant repairs minor maintenance such as brakes and some suspension parts. i like the looks of the car some say it is an acquired taste but whatever i guess i have acquired it. the mileage for a wagon is good i have gotten near 27 or 28 which is great for a full size wagon. Primary Use: Utility (towing boats, transporting cargo, etc.) | ||
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Emily writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Limited Review
ProsIts awesome Consoil leaks
45
I Love Iittt — My car rocks and I love iiitt! It has an oil leak but...its old so its okay! Its real pretty, the paint has damage from the previous owner letting it bake in the sun, but thats easily fixed. High miles but still works real good:) Primary Use: Commuting to work | ||
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Interceptor writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Limited Wagon Review
ProsAll wheel drive, handling in all conditions, Quality, Craftsmanship ConsWind noise is poor because of the tweeters, Head gasket every 100,000 miles, 
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245,000 Miles Currently, Great Value, Great Car, — You'll look forward to snow days... It's fantastic and still love driving it, especially in the winter. Considering other brands charge a $5000 premium for their AWD I'm completely satisfied. This Subaru has been a gem reliable and economical. Even with 245,000 miles everything still works and quality has been great there have been no broken interior parts, only had the bulb burn out for the drivers side heated seat (dealer wanted $120 to fix so it no longer lights). Primary Use: Commuting to work | ||
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zerogravity8 writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Limited Review
ProsThe one great thing, for anyone that lives where it snows, my outback never gets stuck in ice nor deep snow. As long as one tire in front and one in back is touching asphalt she conquers even the worst NYC blizzards. ConsI had a serious problem in the winter time, with breathing in gas fumes from the vents. It was finally 95% repaired. When the car was cold the tubes, which filter away the smell, would shrink in size from their clamps, which then allowed the fumes to come in. As the car warmed up the tubes would then expand to size and the smell would disappear . Hills aren't my best friend either. Acceleration is non existent until the ground became level. 
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When Taken Care Of And Driven Right, It Is A Good Vehicle. — Overall besides the vent situation & the lack of acceleration I would buy another Subaru. I am looking for a baja real soon. I will be purchasing a Toyota Sienna(Awd) in the next few weeks. Subaru's tribeca's 3rd row is way too narrow. Primary Use: Family transportation | ||
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jmdenali writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Base Wagon Review
ProsAWD ConsSubaru has little expesive quirks that cost $$$ at the dealer to fix. 
35
Great Car. — Great Car in the snow... We have awesome back country trails here in the mountains.. the car lives up to it's name. Once climbed a 60 - 70 degree 100' rocky incline... made it effortlessly. I would recommend this car. Buy it used... over 25K new! Primary Use: Commuting to work | ||
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Padre_Doc42 writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Limited Wagon Review
ProsIt is mine. ConsDoes not respond well when you punch the gas. My son-inlaw doesn't fit in it.
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Tough! And Dependable! — It works well in severe Winter weather and has safety standards to match. The performance is sluggish, but the car never quits. We took it to blizzard struck Colorado this past Winter and did not have a single issue on the road! Primary Use: Commuting to work | ||
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Dilbert writes:
2001 Subaru Outback L.L. Bean Edition Wagon Review
ProsAWD, Power, decent MPG if you drive smart ConsNo under seat storage, cup holders
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Best Overall Compromise Vehicle I've Owned; Does It All Very Well — Bought mine 6 months ago with 175k... the H6 is really the way to go! No head gasket / timing belt issues! And, GREAT Power! OK, so you do suffer a little in MPG AND have to buy Premium fuel, but the trade off for the POWER and the reliability do not outweigh the few pennies more for Premium fuel costs annually unless you drive over 25k miles per year. 2002 does have better cup holder arrangement... doesn't handle as well as my MR2 & Miata, but not as bad as my F250... This Subie replaced all three and has hauled my boats and loads of bricks, etc. better than the F250 4x4! Primary Use: Utility (towing boats, transporting cargo, etc.)
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Nicole writes:
2001 Subaru Outback Limited Review
ProsAll wheel drive, heated seats, leather, sunroof ConsCan be a bit pricey to repair if you don't know the right mechanic, or live in a SMALL town, gas mileage could be better, but hey, it's AWD, in a small package
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Awesome, Can't Wait To Buy A Newer One! — LOVE IT! Couldn't ask for a better car for Minnesota winters! Handles like a snowmobile...only HEATED! Love the fact that I own a Subaru, and like how it drives. The only downside is that the door seals have kinda withered, which results in some wind noise that moves through the cabin while driving, but they just need to be replaced, shouldn't be too tough..Overall, great car! Primary Use: Commuting to work |
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