Help on choice for 2005 Outback

[chipsoars]

I have a 05 LLBean Wagon and average 20.8 driving mixed back roads and
urban and in-town about 18. Haven't had a highway trip to compare. I
have managed an extra 0.5 mpg shifting manually with the upshift at
when the light comes on. But I get bored on a 55 mile commute and it
gives me something else to do.

Better gas mileage would have been nice and with regular fuel, but I
needed something with enough power to comfortably tow a sailplane and
trailer and make it up a mountain.

Other than that, the car is comfortable and drives well. It is not the
same as the MB 230K I had before, but it isn't close to being the same
thing to compare.

Chip F

 

[Bruce Helms]

I have an '05 OBW 2.5XT. I religiously track my mileage in a spreadsheet. In
about 7200 miles I have averaged 21.2mpg actual. (The trip computer tends
to indicate about 0.3mpg on the high side.) That's on 92-93 octane and
about half on open road. My best ever fill-up yielded over 24mpg with a
tail wind, worst was 19.8. The 5-speed auto xmission has been an absolute
delight, especially with the Sport mode and the wheel-mounted manual shift
controls that I use a lot to reduce brake usage. Be cafeful not to overrev
in manual, however! The system will downshift in manual as you slow down to
prevent lugging, but in acceleration it is slow to jump back into auto.
Best to use Sport mode for spirited acceleration. Overall this engine /
xmisssion combination has lived up to my expectations.