It really was. Subaru was looking at leaving the US before this redesign. My family has been driving these since '96 and have watched their sales jump year after year.
When they're in good shape, and in a good color combo. These look very good for 25-28 years old. Although my heart goes to the 2008 refresh. I really like the front end, especially in 2.5XT Guise.
The best wagon ever built in my opinion! My mom currently drives a 2017. Several of my relatives who live in western NY have owned quite a few, you can imagine they would with how snowy it gets there. My friend’s dad drove a 2003 for about 10 years, then handed it down to him after buying a new Prius.
@jeepthing98 Oh yeah, that's is the only time that has happened in the history of all the Outback restaurants and all the Subaru Outbacks in the world.
I remember growing up in Colorado my mom had a 97 outback in the green/silver two tone with the hood scoop, the best family vehicle and an absolute beast in the snow with studded tires. Always walking to the wrong outback coming out of the ski resort lol you still see this gen everywhere up in the high country.
My first car was a first gen Volvo v70 and my brothers was a 2007 Outback. Both were one owner low mile cars. Both ruined their manufacturer reputation for sturdy reliable vehicles in my family lol.
I still see plenty of these roaming around here in VT. Considering how so many newer Subarus rotted off the road long ago, that shoes how well loved these were when they came out IMO.
I adore this era of Subarus. I’ve had at least one second gen legacy since 2014. Currently daily driving my 1999 outback 5mt. It’s such a dependable and easy to work on car.
Always liked these Legacys/Outbacks...this one looks especially nice in that deep red. The cabin is full of black plastic but so were many Japanese cars of this price range back then. However, this Outback was very comfortable and the dashboard was nicely laid out, with plenty of room. Of course, any Outback today that you see from this era will likely be ragged and near dead. They are 25+ years old, after all, but they were prone to rust especially around the wheels rims and floors, and their paint wasn't always of good quality. Not everybody loves Subarus but I think they are pretty cool, or at least were. This one was very modern, very competitive against other sedans/wagons/small SUVs of the day, with the AWD being a weapon few others could touch. Living in the snow belt (or rust belt, more appropriately for Subies), having AWD is a huge bonus.
Motorweek missed how uncomfortable those seats of the Outback are. My In-laws had one, and you felt like you sat "on" the seat, not "in" them. NO cushioning. And very little sound insulation. My daughter later inherited the car and LOVED it.
Minivans cost $50k new now. I make more than my parents ever did when I was a kid in the 90s and we drive a 20 year old minivan and live in a smaller home.....a base model Subaru minivan maybe next?
@@workingcountry1776Accounting for inflation, minivans also cost the equivalent of $50k today. The cost of living is just higher and wages are stagnant.
Ej22 not so much ej25 is when it started. Plus ej22 none interference motor so timing belt changes not absolutely crucial if you're willing to gamble a bit
Love the Second generation legacy! Such an amazing car that is so overshadowed by its brother. Happy to see it still has a thriving community however. I’ve had 4 of em! Happy to own one of the best cars Subaru ever made.
I remember these new in commercials with Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) because of that, I always thought Subaru was Australian until 2006 when I saw under "origin" they were Japanese in a Consumer Reports book.
I had a 98 that I bought used…it was starting to rust out but was still running well when I sold it in 2010. This generation is almost the exact same size as the Jetta sportwagen circa 2009-2013 which is what I replaced it with.
AMC did it first sure, Subaru took the idea and made it reliable. Also good luck finding an eagle that doesn’t look like it’s had holes rotted right through it. If you look in the right places you’ll still find outbacks of this vintage still kicking
@@matthewcaughey8898 The Eagle was ahead of its time, wouldn't question that. It was also based on the 18 year old Hornet by the time sales ended in 1988, and somewhat crudely executed in places, because AMC didn't have any cash. The vehicle was barely updated between 1980 and 1988. The Outback suffered no such neglect. In 1995, it was an offroad trim package of the newly updated, and very functional, Legacy and it was a modern, competitive vehicle right from the start. It took the Eagle concept and really honed in on what buyers were looking for. However, just a year or two after this Outback debuted, the US market would see a new wave of small SUVs - essentially tall wagons with limited off-road capabilities - in the form of the Toyota RAV-4, Honda CRV and Ford Escape. It turns out these are even more what customers wanted, if nothing else for the higher seating positions and perceived cargo hauling.
@@matthewcaughey8898 Yeah, I get it. I would’ve never looked twice at the Eagle, however it was implied that Subaru thought of the idea first. Not so. Yes, the Subaru is MUCH more reliable and better built for sure. 😎
The lesbian cat lady car... before other carmakers ever thought of selling to that demographic. I miss that era of Subaru. Today's Subaru is too Toyota-fied.
This car led the start of Subaru's downfall from making reliability and longevity wonders. The Legacy that this car is based on had a vastly more reliable 2.2L engine. It was eventually discontinued in favor of the larger and more powerful Outback's 2.5L, which had inferior reliability.
Once you knew about the 2.5’s head gasket issue it was an easy fix to fit better aftermarket ones. Mine had it done at 7500 right after someone traded it in. That 2.5 ran fine for years until it just wore out. I swapped it out for a WRX drivetrain minus the automatic which I had rebuild for the job. Eventually the 2.0 turbo wore out and I had gotten my hands on an SVX transmission and a 2.5 STi engine and axle setup to replace it. Not sure how many miles were on the body at that point but the parts I got were freshly rebuilt so it was putting a new drivetrain in the car. It’s almost 25 years now and it can keep up with anything short of an F-150 raptor l if my kid wants it and he’s willing to treat it properly it’s his when I think he’s old enough. Had it for 25 years will probably live for another 25
Cab still find an outback of that vintage fairly easily. Jeep Cherokee ( Dust in the wind) Chevy Blazer ( good luck finding one that has any original parts on it) AMC eagle ( What AMC eagle they all rotted away ) Ford Bronco ( they all rotted away) Ford Bronco 2 ( Most of em rolled over ). Need I say more?
I finally get to see the MW review of my first car, I’ve been looking for this for years!!
Do you still have it?
@@bobhill3941 Unfortunately no
I miss my 97. Sold it with 259,000 miles. Still rolling along.
Yes, thw Subaru Outback is great, reliable and durable car
Yes, thw Subaru Outback is great, reliable and durable car
AMC eagle was basically the same formula 15 years earlier but the Subaru perfected it in every way.
Such a handsome vehicle for 96
It really was. Subaru was looking at leaving the US before this redesign. My family has been driving these since '96 and have watched their sales jump year after year.
and 2003 was even better!
When they're in good shape, and in a good color combo. These look very good for 25-28 years old. Although my heart goes to the 2008 refresh. I really like the front end, especially in 2.5XT Guise.
@@andrewcocos Had an '03 Outback LL Bean, thing was amazing with the 6 cyl.
looks way better than many new cars on the road today
The beginning of an era! It's hard to believe it's been 28 years 😢
The best wagon ever built in my opinion! My mom currently drives a 2017. Several of my relatives who live in western NY have owned quite a few, you can imagine they would with how snowy it gets there. My friend’s dad drove a 2003 for about 10 years, then handed it down to him after buying a new Prius.
I once saw an Outback towing an Outback, out back of an Outback restaurant!
@jeepthing98 Oh yeah, that's is the only time that has happened in the history of all the Outback restaurants and all the Subaru Outbacks in the world.
@@cdldriver2348we’re they able to back out? 😖
@@Cheezwizzz They had to use a helicopter to haul them out since they could not backout the Outback.
lol 😂
@@Cheezwizzz😂
Timeless design and superb quality.
I still occasionally see these cars in Mid-Atlantic and North East regions of the US (in 2024).
The 2.2 outback my dad had was awesome. Miss that car
I remember growing up in Colorado my mom had a 97 outback in the green/silver two tone with the hood scoop, the best family vehicle and an absolute beast in the snow with studded tires. Always walking to the wrong outback coming out of the ski resort lol you still see this gen everywhere up in the high country.
The Og..I’ve had several over the years..& a few Xc70s… love my wagons
My first car was a first gen Volvo v70 and my brothers was a 2007 Outback. Both were one owner low mile cars. Both ruined their manufacturer reputation for sturdy reliable vehicles in my family lol.
Totally agree! Subaru and Volvo make the best wagons. I love them both.
I still see plenty of these roaming around here in VT. Considering how so many newer Subarus rotted off the road long ago, that shoes how well loved these were when they came out IMO.
I adore this era of Subarus. I’ve had at least one second gen legacy since 2014. Currently daily driving my 1999 outback 5mt. It’s such a dependable and easy to work on car.
Always liked these Legacys/Outbacks...this one looks especially nice in that deep red. The cabin is full of black plastic but so were many Japanese cars of this price range back then. However, this Outback was very comfortable and the dashboard was nicely laid out, with plenty of room. Of course, any Outback today that you see from this era will likely be ragged and near dead. They are 25+ years old, after all, but they were prone to rust especially around the wheels rims and floors, and their paint wasn't always of good quality.
Not everybody loves Subarus but I think they are pretty cool, or at least were. This one was very modern, very competitive against other sedans/wagons/small SUVs of the day, with the AWD being a weapon few others could touch. Living in the snow belt (or rust belt, more appropriately for Subies), having AWD is a huge bonus.
I had one of these gen Outbacks come into work (I work for a Subaru dealership.) it only had 75k miles on it, it was pristine.
Thank Paul Hogan for a grocery getter, such as this. Wagons are always cool.
Motorweek missed how uncomfortable those seats of the Outback are. My In-laws had one, and you felt like you sat "on" the seat, not "in" them. NO cushioning. And very little sound insulation. My daughter later inherited the car and LOVED it.
The Subaru Outback actually outsold all of the remaining minivans for the 2023 model year. It’s funny how things can change.
Minivans cost $50k new now. I make more than my parents ever did when I was a kid in the 90s and we drive a 20 year old minivan and live in a smaller home.....a base model Subaru minivan maybe next?
@@workingcountry1776Accounting for inflation, minivans also cost the equivalent of $50k today. The cost of living is just higher and wages are stagnant.
Oh, those nasty Subaru head gasket issue headaches were just as prevalent back then.
Ej22 not so much ej25 is when it started. Plus ej22 none interference motor so timing belt changes not absolutely crucial if you're willing to gamble a bit
Love the Second generation legacy! Such an amazing car that is so overshadowed by its brother. Happy to see it still has a thriving community however. I’ve had 4 of em! Happy to own one of the best cars Subaru ever made.
I can't track down a clean 2.5GT wagon even in the PNW. These sold like hotcakes though and they're still kicking around.
I almost bought one of these about 15 years ago. The boxer engine "lub lub lub" sound put me off. I didn't realize that's just how they sound.
I remember these new in commercials with Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) because of that, I always thought Subaru was Australian until 2006 when I saw under "origin" they were Japanese in a Consumer Reports book.
I had a 98 that I bought used…it was starting to rust out but was still running well when I sold it in 2010. This generation is almost the exact same size as the Jetta sportwagen circa 2009-2013 which is what I replaced it with.
See these 1st gen outbacks on the road all the time still
Maybe because they look the same as the current Outbacks?
Outback is not a gen its a trim level, impreza outback is a thing
@@ynotkustoms they mean it's a first-generation Outback. They're not talking about trims.
@@Jonathan-bk3dq its not a generation its a trim level.
@@ynotkustoms 1995-1999 is a generation. 2000-2004 generation two and so on. 🤦🏻♂️
I had one of these for a short time. I liked it. I owned a wrx before and this thing didn't know it wasn't a wrx
Stick a 2.5 STI motor in one and an SVX transmission
Back when Subaru catered to enthusiasts and off roaders alike! Now they just make mall cruisers!
I can smell this car's interior through the video
The design aged so well.
These things were all over New England when I visited in 2007
Some of these 1996 Outbacks are still on the road in Quebec, Canada.
I should have bought this back in the day
0:34 John: AND INTO PLACES WHERE STATION WAGONS WERE NEVER MEANT TO GO! LOL
Pretty crazy how the latest 2.5L Outback is the same 0-60
Saab Japanese alternative back in the day.
And Subaru was never the same again after the Outback; with or without Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan himself in those ads.
AMC Eagle beat the Subie to the punch, sorry.
AMC did it first sure, Subaru took the idea and made it reliable. Also good luck finding an eagle that doesn’t look like it’s had holes rotted right through it. If you look in the right places you’ll still find outbacks of this vintage still kicking
@@matthewcaughey8898 The Eagle was ahead of its time, wouldn't question that. It was also based on the 18 year old Hornet by the time sales ended in 1988, and somewhat crudely executed in places, because AMC didn't have any cash. The vehicle was barely updated between 1980 and 1988.
The Outback suffered no such neglect. In 1995, it was an offroad trim package of the newly updated, and very functional, Legacy and it was a modern, competitive vehicle right from the start. It took the Eagle concept and really honed in on what buyers were looking for. However, just a year or two after this Outback debuted, the US market would see a new wave of small SUVs - essentially tall wagons with limited off-road capabilities - in the form of the Toyota RAV-4, Honda CRV and Ford Escape. It turns out these are even more what customers wanted, if nothing else for the higher seating positions and perceived cargo hauling.
@@matthewcaughey8898 Yeah, I get it. I would’ve never looked twice at the Eagle, however it was implied that Subaru thought of the idea first. Not so. Yes, the Subaru is MUCH more reliable and better built for sure. 😎
These were great cars when equipped with a manual.
nice always wanted one
AMC eagle called, they want their title back
The days you could look at a dash and still not see a stupid LCD screen in the middle of it.
I hate the EGR, Put I LOVE THIS WAGON
Laugh/crys in p0400, i just keep turning it off
Headgasket hell
Sorry, Subaru. AMC beat you to that title of "Sport Utility Wagon" with the 1980-1988 Eagle.
Just needs a jdm ej207 swap and a 6speed and its perfect
I just had my 99 outback with 400,000 die, dohc 2.5 and wish I had the 2.0
Can’t complain about getting to that mileage. If it’s in good shape I’d get a new engine popped in it
No 2.0 was available on these.
Fix it !!!!! Can you imagine if they junked cruise ships and airplanes because the engine died ???
It's a mighty expensive way of thinking.
type o there wasnt a dohc 2.2
these seats are kinda flat and not as supportive as seats offered in the early 90s
thats a lie. AMC EAGEL was first 4wd wagon.
Um AMC Eagle wagon was first. I liked these outbacks. Up until they got to be big ugly cuvs.
This is way before rge Symmetrical AWD system came along..
😀
😊😊❤❤😘
The lesbian cat lady car... before other carmakers ever thought of selling to that demographic.
I miss that era of Subaru. Today's Subaru is too Toyota-fied.
This car led the start of Subaru's downfall from making reliability and longevity wonders. The Legacy that this car is based on had a vastly more reliable 2.2L engine. It was eventually discontinued in favor of the larger and more powerful Outback's 2.5L, which had inferior reliability.
I have 2 of these 2.5 an nothing wrong with them
Once you knew about the 2.5’s head gasket issue it was an easy fix to fit better aftermarket ones. Mine had it done at 7500 right after someone traded it in. That 2.5 ran fine for years until it just wore out. I swapped it out for a WRX drivetrain minus the automatic which I had rebuild for the job. Eventually the 2.0 turbo wore out and I had gotten my hands on an SVX transmission and a 2.5 STi engine and axle setup to replace it. Not sure how many miles were on the body at that point but the parts I got were freshly rebuilt so it was putting a new drivetrain in the car. It’s almost 25 years now and it can keep up with anything short of an F-150 raptor l if my kid wants it and he’s willing to treat it properly it’s his when I think he’s old enough. Had it for 25 years will probably live for another 25
Junk then and junk now
Why?
Womp womp
No idea
Cool story bro, next
Cab still find an outback of that vintage fairly easily.
Jeep Cherokee ( Dust in the wind)
Chevy Blazer ( good luck finding one that has any original parts on it)
AMC eagle ( What AMC eagle they all rotted away )
Ford Bronco ( they all rotted away)
Ford Bronco 2 ( Most of em rolled over ).
Need I say more?
Thank Paul Hogan for a grocery getter, such as this. Wagons are always cool.