4Gen Outback Upgrade Options

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:37 am

Well my GX Wagon (1991) has a busted head gasket and is a pretty tired piece of equipment so I am looking at purchasing a new car at the moment.

In my sights is something to tow my trailer and get my trailbike to and from riding areas and some mild 4wding. Looking at either an 4Gen Outback Wagon or possibly an Xtrail.

Just wanting to know what the 4wd ability of the Outbacks are and what upgrade options are about.

What LSD options are there ?

What options for lifting it slightly ? (I have read they have self leveling rear susp so just raised spings not an option ?)

Do they have any Stability Control/ABS style issues in terms of if you are offroad and you get wheel spin does ESP or anything kick in and kill the fun ? and if so can the stability control etc be turned off ?

Anyone got some real world economy figures from the latest H6 in the outbacks ?

Cheers

(as a side note the wagon is obviously for sale so if anyone is keen on a 1991 Auto GX Wagon with newish WRX susp, Forester rims etc make an offer. Also have a mint condition 1991 Liberty RS Turbo that is for sale).

Post by **Alex** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:49 am

go the outback, youll only be dissappointed with a x-trail.

The outbacks have heaps more luxurys than a x-trail, the dual sunroofs is enough to sway me

not sure how they go offroad, byb should be able to give ya some answers, same with lifting it etc.

The H6 motors are a real good motor. Ours uses an average of 8-9l/100km in the city and slightly less on open roads. Heaps of torque, heaps of power.(in a lib tho) expect it to be a tiny bit extra in the outbacks.

alex

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:54 am

Cheers mate, yeh I agree that the Subaru is far and away nice inside and a better quality car (better resale also). Just thought the new T31 Xtrail might be a bit better offroad.

I figured if there were some basic options like a bit of extra ground clearance and an LSD then the Wagon would pretty much go anywhere I needed. I was quite suprised at the overall ability of my old GX at times.

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:09 am

If i were ya, i would go for outback. I can't help as above, but i've seen lifted outback, someone a while ago i meet, he upgraded to raised springs and he said it was worth the upgrade also he had a bit of more clearance.
Cheers
AP

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:13 am

Ok cheers. Was it the current 4gen model ? Hoping to hear from someone who has one in their garage and can give me some ownership feedback

AlpineRaven · Post by **AlpineRaven** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:37 am

Tuckerman wrote:Ok cheers. Was it the current 4gen model ? Hoping to hear from someone who has one in their garage and can give me some ownership feedback

Yeah it was 07 model, i told him abt ausubaru and he doesn't have the net at home. So if i see him again i'll get a number.
Cheers
AP

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 11:50 am

Thanks mate, much appreciated!

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:03 pm

I don't have a 6 in my Gen 4 but I do use it offroad. All I have done to it is a 2" lift, inch lift springs and some 225x70 16" AT tyres. I have driven all over Fraser, Bribie and some 4wd track around here with it. We also did a 9-10,000k 4wd trek across the Simpson desert to alice, up to the gulf country and a lot of 4wding in and around there.

I was very surprised at how and where it went in basically stock form. Having said that I will be fitting an LSD to the rear in the not to distant future. Purely to make it easier on the car.

I got bogged once on the trip due to a lack of power while towing the camper. A 6 would have fixed that. I was also towed while driving across the mud flats. I wasn't bogged at that stage but knowing the flats I also didn't want to get bogged or it would probably still be there. The wheels were starting to spin/sink so I stopped. Mud tyres and more HP and I wouldn't have hesitated.

None of what we have done would have been any easier or better in an Xtrail. In fact we drove around a bogged Xtrail at Fraser last year, along with other mid range 4wd's.

Pic of it's first beach trip to D.I.

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:11 pm

Thanks mate, now that is the sort of information I am after. Yeh there was a couple of dunes I conquered in my GX Wagon that other proper 4wd's had trouble with (but that is pretty common, soft roaders seem to be a bit better on sand but not so much in full offroad territory).

Does your model have the self levelling rear suspension ? how much were your springs ?

Outback bloke · Post by **Outback bloke** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:25 pm

No self levelling in mine. I think stamp_lickers car has got it and his is lifted. He will have to confirm that though.

Tuckerman · Post by **Tuckerman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:29 pm

Did it cause any issues with your lift in regards to shaft angles etc ?

Do you have any abs/traction control issues and can you turn that off when you are off the beaten track ?

Cheers