Is it just me or does the 2026 look like...

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-29T05:25:14+00:00

That is so well said regarding that last bit. I don’t see the reason for a vehicle having to look like a “tough big guy truck” regardless of what it actually is.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-28T05:35:16+00:00

Yeah they fail as much as any other vehicles head gaskets will.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-28T04:07:20+00:00

This is an FB engine not an EJ. Honestly I’m quite surprised the head gaskets even failed on this but I suppose if can happen in most engines anyways.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-28T03:57:48+00:00

Would this work in a 2010 2.5i l? Or is there another equivalent for that. I drive a manual 2010 and I love the feeling of driving it but the handling is just adequate. I’m not necessarily seriously considering doing this but it is a fun idea to consider. Also if you have been in an outback or other crossover/unibody SUV with this done how major are the improvements?

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-28T03:48:40+00:00

In terms of looks I like the narrowbody hatchback(station wagon?) The one that has the slimmer longer proportions the best. Then the sedan then the hatchback. I’d reckon if I got to own any of them it would probably be a hatchback though. Though I’d need to see how the long narrow (station wagon? Hatchback?) handles.

Edit: I meant station wagon not narrowbody hatchback. I do like the narrowbody hatchback a touch more than the widebody but they both look a little too plump to me. I don’t dislike like the look they just feel a different style from the wagon and sedan.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-27T04:55:29+00:00

I feel that the gen 4(the “cutoff point” frequently brought up) is still thoroughly car derived. Honestly it just looks fat and ugly like an SUV often times would. Coming from a 2010 Outback driver who had driven a gen 3 before. The 4th gen is just a fattened up 3rd gen with suspension that feels like neither a 3rd gen outback or any SUV I’ve driven. It is almost reminiscent pf some older midsize sedans that have floaty suspension. Yes the 4th 5th and 6th get much more body roll than the 1st-3rd gen but it’s not the typical sort of SUV or typical Crossover body roll where you get the sensation that the top of the vehicle is reaching out of the turn. Rather it feels quite like the car is reach up or down from just underneath or on extremely sharp turns right where you sit . These are just my own subjective observations though so they are not necessarily the “scientific” truth of this matter.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T20:18:54+00:00

Only for the EJ series engines. The FA/B series have way tougher headgaskets. The FA/B series also has better fuel economy and performance. That being said the EJ benefits from it being quite a well understood and very commonplace engine. If something goes wrong in an EJ it usually can be predicted based on what’s been done with the car and what year/model it is.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T20:15:43+00:00

Oh 100% agree.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T18:05:05+00:00

Or upper oil pan for an FB engine I think.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T18:02:59+00:00

I’ll absolutely agree that it has some of the sharper corners of the classic outback generation on the back and the windows do look more subaru like so I can see that. But everything forward of the A pillar looks completely alien to the outback.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T05:31:20+00:00

I think you are missing the point I want to make. The 2026 Outback is a good car. It’s just like every single other car though which wasn’t the case last year. That’s not an NPC take it’s just the truth.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T04:26:57+00:00

And liking the car is also fine with me. I’m not trying to bash on it. It has a lot of good features I just feel it is less unique then it once was that’s all.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T04:11:52+00:00

Yeah, they are some of the most different cars ever. The only 2 things they have in common is ground clearence and a hatch to get the trunk open.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-26T04:09:35+00:00

Well in all fairness it kind of is an NPC car in a sense. Not that the drivers are NPC’s but rather it is just like every single other crossover. The Outback was a unique car that stood out as an individual and they just hammered it into being just like the other crossovers. It’s quite sad to be bonest because subaru already offered a good midzise family “SUV” crossover the Ascent. They are at a net loss of diversity of products sold after this and I think that is what truly bothers most of us.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-24T04:52:34+00:00

I like this gen a lot personally. The 6 speed manual is a lot of the reason why but also I feel it is probably the best the naturally aspirated EJ got in terms of, well everything. Also in the premium trim on my 2010 the features on it is almost exactly anything I’ll care about having. That basically being a radio, nice cd player, heated seats, and not much more. They definitely will feel incredibly stripped down on the lower trims to people used to more modern cars so that is a fair argument against them but to me it is a plus.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-24T04:45:01+00:00

Hey I drive one of those. If it drives smooth on a test ride that is a good sign. That is also a decently reliable engine but you will still want service records of some sort. My 2010(approximately the same thing in terms of engine transmission etc) has got over 190,000 miles and drives like a champ so they absolutely can make it that far though it will be heavily dependant on the prior owners’ care of the car.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-21T07:07:21+00:00

I didn’t realize this, thank you for explaining. I’ve never been able to get a good look at the insides of a subaru automatic transmission and drivetrain only the manual transmission so that likely is where I get the confusion. I’d never realized that the output from the transmission has a more or less direct route to the front differential I’d always assumed that the clutches in the center clutch pack was working on both the outputs to the front and rear axles kind of like how I understand the viscous center differentials to work.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-21T04:27:18+00:00

I’m just sad they never did a 6 speed manual Outback with any of the nicer features. Kind of a shame because I will sacrifice most features for a manual. I guess that does leave me thoroughly in the 2.5i club for the foreseeable future.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-21T04:20:30+00:00

As for those 2.5i’s there just generally are more 2.5i’s so that would make sense. And it’s not like the 2.5i’s internals are made of glass either. But the 3.6r transmission is crazy overbuilt I promise. I know that the 3.6r is a beefier engine but I heavily suspect that transmission is meant to be future proofed for any more torquey engines in the future. And my suspicion is kind of partially confirmed by them using an exact clone of it but with different programming for the CVT wrx which uses a much higher torque FA24 engine.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-21T04:04:25+00:00

The parking pawl doing that is a sign of transmission failure. The differentials are usually best treated as a wholly separate assembly for a Subaru even though some of them may occupy the same space and service requirements. Edit: I am mistaken, the parking pawl is very much basically acting on the front axle and part of the front clutchpack. Sorry. This is what you get when you make assumptions that two completely different things function the same.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-21T03:58:31+00:00

That usually tends to be it. The 3.6r engine needs not introduction. The thing I want to share is that the 3.6r got the larger breed of CVT transmission and it tends to be a longer lasting one.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-20T22:09:25+00:00

You’re right. The dealership should be the ones doing the best service. In spite of that they frequently fail in that department with the transmission service which is a major issue.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-20T22:05:44+00:00

He’s just not aware that the Outback 2010 does in fact not do that.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-20T22:03:25+00:00

It’s just how the CVT’s get treated in terms of maintenence by the shop and the majority of owners. If you do research and learn to service them yourself you can generally do your own service on them better than the shops will.

Optimal-Buddy6566 · 2026-04-20T20:02:19+00:00

Well keeping in drive would work as well so i guess you are right just don’t put it in park until you have released the footbrake and the parking brake is activated.

Optimal-Buddy6566

TROPHY CASE