Cruise Missile

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
07/02/2017 at 20:33 • Filed to: SUBARU

Last post, I promise - arrived at destination :) 970 miles in 14h 20m for an average speed of 67.7 MPH. Not bad considering a break for lunch, 2 gas fills, and 2 rest stops. And not a car-related complaint from the passengers - human or canine! Only hiccup was we planned on stopping at a Chic-fil-A halfway, forgetting that it was Sunday. My son was unamused and refused to eat lunch when we stopped at a Chipotle. All in all, I’d say a success. While I would love a bit more sound deadening and a bit more passing power, the Outback is a great highway vehicle, especially considering the price point. It eats up miles comfortably in any weather and we just got something like 27-28 MPG cruising at 80 MPH with the AC blasting in the 110F Sonoran desert. 4 years in, and I am very pleased with this purchase, CVT and all. Wagon life!

Soon hopefully I’ll get the fender dents sorted...

Sonora, TX

El Paso, TX

Somewhere in New Mexico

Somewhere else in New Mexico. It pretty much all looks the same.

Old school Bentley R between Tucson and Phoenix, AZ

I am fortunate to have the most laid back dog ever.

DISCUSSION (25)

TheRealBicycleBuck > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 20:38

Congratulations! Is yours the 2.5 liter?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/02/2017 at 20:51

Yep. I’ve had the 3.6 as a loaner and it is heavenly. But it was also quite a bit more expensive and day-to-day my wife who is the primary driver would rather have a few more MPG and doesn’t really feel like it’s underpowered in city traffic or short highway runs.

TheRealBicycleBuck > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 20:58

The Outback I inherited is a 3.6. The thing that stood out in your post is the mileage. The 3.6 is thirsty.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:02

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Chick-Fil-A, but Chipotle is much higher quality food. Your son doesn’t realize how lucky he was.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:06

Indeed - but Chipotle doesn’t have a play area. And when you’re 4 and stuck in a car all day that’s a big deal. But yeah I’m happier with the Chipotle. My daughter has Celiac so the choice usually comes down to Chipotle, Chic-fil-A grilled nuggets, or In-n-Out protein style.

RTeeJay > TheRealBicycleBuck
07/02/2017 at 21:07

What’s the difference in MPG between the 2 engine sizes, 2-3 MPG? Or 6-7 MPG?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:34

You’re lucky to have that last choice. They haven’t made it this far north yet (and the few Chick-Fil-A locations here are packed any time they’re open around here)...

I see why he’d want a play area, though. I guess I’m coming at it from the perspective of the way I was as a kid and the fact I’d prefer better food than a play area full of snot-nosed bullies. I was always trying to go somewhere intended for adults with a salad bar as a kid...

WRXforScience > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:42

I’ve been unofficially boycotting Chick-Fil-A for the past 5 years because they aren’t open Sundays.

I don’t ascribe to their political/religious beliefs either, but having a fast food restaurant that’s closed on Sunday’s is a bridge too far. It’s bad enough that I can’t go buy liquor on Sunday or beer/wine before noon, but to have a fast food restaurant that chooses to be closed on the weekends is just annoying.

arl > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:48

Nice write up. My Mom has an Outback and it feels so comfy and cushy (in a good way) after being in my GTI. The Outback just floats over potholes.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 21:54

the 2.5 or 3.6?

TheRealBicycleBuck > RTeeJay
07/02/2017 at 21:59

In mixed driving over the last few months, the 3.6 in ours is averaging 22.3 mpg. On the last all-highway trip, it got 24.3 mpg.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > WRXforScience
07/02/2017 at 22:13

I boycotted them for a while because they got rid of the spicy chicken biscuit. But I caved in. I am weak.

Sam > WRXforScience
07/02/2017 at 22:14

As a gay, I very much disagree with them politically/religiously. But their chicken is pretty damn good, so I’ll indulge occasionally.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
07/02/2017 at 22:16

2.5. I made a reply to Bicycle Buck above, but in summary I’ve driven the 3.6, it’s awesome but when we bought the car we decided not to pay for it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 22:29

Speaking from experience with a 2010 Legacy 3.6r, the h6 + 5 speed auto combination is horrible. So much lag and it never knows what gear to be in. Don’t know what the 3.6 is like with the CVT but I really like the 2.5 + CVT in my mom’s 2017 Outback.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
07/02/2017 at 22:44

The CVT is better sorted with the 2.5 than the 3.6. With th le 3.6 it seems to know what “gear” to be in for the most part, but there is still too much lag when you floor it. If they fix that it would be great. Once it kicks down it just charges and it’s so much less NVH than trying to pass in the 2.5 which feels like driving in a giant kitchen blender when it gets above 4,000 rpm.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 23:04

Interesting. The lag must have more to do with the engine than with the transmission.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
07/02/2017 at 23:08

Throttle body? Could be done for fuel economy.

wafflesnfalafel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 23:12

nice write up - I’ve got buddies at work with both the current model 2.5 and 3.6, don’t see much reason for the 3.6 at this point other than to burn more gas. The new ones really are nice. The leather seats in the higher spec versions are super nice, on par with LT trim GM Impala or Tahoe...

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/02/2017 at 23:13

That could be it but it wasn’t consistently laggy making me think it might be more ECU software.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Sam
07/02/2017 at 23:13

I have conflicted feelings here, but I heard they no longer support the group that caused the uproar/boycott.

I appreciate that they treat their people well and respect that they stand by their religion.

My wife still won’t go there due to that big uproar/boycott, but I believe people/groups can be redeemed (which I think they’ve tried to do), and they do make some amazingly good guilty-pleasure chicken. My local CFA also employs at least two extremely flamboyant men (that I’m 95% sure are gay) that seem to love their jobs...

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > WRXforScience
07/02/2017 at 23:36

I agree with your boycot in principle; but it was really just the founder who had such backwards views. Most of the franchise owners themselves could care less, or so I have heard.

And I actually admire that they are still closed Sundays. Sure it sucks for you, but all the employees get at least an entire day they can spend however they wish not working. I’m sure some would welcome the money, but fast food jobs aren’t wonderful so I find giving them a break is rather kind.

You are completely on point about buying booze on Sundays though.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/03/2017 at 04:20

Chick-fil-a closed on Sundays?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour
07/03/2017 at 10:28

Yeah. It’s a big chain of chicken sandwich shops runs by Southern Baptists, so they have a pretty heavy Christian influence. A lot of them have little playgrounds so we usually stop on long road trips to get food and let the kids run around.

RacinBob > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/03/2017 at 23:22

Funny, I just spent 2 days towing my race car on trailer with my 3.9 Uplander and in the middle I drove an 2.5 Outback. The surprising thing was unless you gave the Outback the boot, it’s acceleration was pretty much the same as the Uplander with a trailer....