We picked up a 2013 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited this past Friday evening. I've been looking at various mid-size SUVs for most of 2015 and this one provided the most bang-for-the-buck to fit our needs. It has been well-maintained with all service records now in my hands. Got it for about $4K under the Kelley Blue Book value. 25,600 miles with just over six months of the basic factory warranty remaining so I'll have plenty of time to shake it down and get it perfect on Subaru's dime before I have to assume all maintenance and upkeep responsibility in mid-May 2016....

We don't want or need four vehicles so something has to exit our stable. My wife refuses to let me sell her 2006 XK8. I want to keep my 1999 Ram for when I need to haul supplies that only a pickup truck can do. That leaves my 2005 S-Type as the odd man out, but this Subaru can do all the things my S-Type can do and more. I hate to lose my S-Type but that may be the best option for us. When I purchased it in December 2008 I set it up on a 6-year amortization schedule. I've had it almost 7 years now so it indeed delivered what I needed from it and more....

I'm going to take my time and make the right decision, so we'll see what eventually happens....

 

Bummer Jon. But at least you had a good run with it. Some lucky individual will get a car that has been well taken care of.

 

Wow Jon, I can hardly believe my eyes. If its time to go then its time. As was mentioned, you have gotten almost 7 years out of it, and she has been kind.

Congrats on the new to you Subaru! I am quite sure you will be getting the big bang for your buck on it. We will have to see if you up in mileage asy daily.

 

Thanks guys. I wish I could keep my S-Type (and I still may find a way to do so). I'm not going to sell it for next to nothing, that's for sure....

We always had at least one SUV from mid-1985 until mid-2012. When you always have multiple dogs to haul around and the wife's pottery hobby in various stages of completion it's tough to get along without one, but we did so for more than three years. This Subaru was a great deal and I knew we had to grab it. Jan knew I wasn't going to pay for a comparable Lexus RX again so we compromised. She gets to keep her XK8 and I get to keep my Ram. So we'll see how the story turns out....

 

Congrats on the new car. I have been an admirer of Subaru's from a distance. Never really got to test drive one yet.

 

No...Jon...say it ain't so!

Hope you can find a way to hang on to it, but if it's gotta go, its gotta go. And I guess you'll still be hanging around the XK8 forum.

If I had to get down to one...I'd be in the Excursion - not the most fun, comfortable, nor economical to drive, but will perform all the functions that the others will, and many that they can't.

 

Hey Jon, sad day for you and the S typers mate, you'll be sadly missed although I'm sure you'll still drop by and help out as and when you can.


Good to know the wife's putting her foot down and keeping the XK


All the best mate, whatever you decide to do


Jim

 

As has been said if it's time to go it's time to go.
It's been pretty good to you once the initial niggles were sorted out your attention to maintenance has paid off.
Enjoy the new car.

 

My Vote: You might as well keep it, because it is worth next to nothing!
$4K to $5k

 

Thanks for all the good wishes, guys. But don't write me off just yet. I still enjoy driving my S-Type....

We took the new-to-us Subaru on a 200-mile round trip today to pick up our new adopted female Greyhound. Very comfortable (at 6-feet-7 I have plenty of headroom and just enough legroom) and sneaky fast (several times I figured I was doing 65 to 70 mph on the interstate but when I looked down at the speedometer I was actually doing between 85 and 90 mph). Once we figure out all the bells and whistles I know we're both going to enjoy this vehicle. And it has the best factory audio system I've ever owned (Harmon Kardon 485-watt unit that is crystal-clear throughout its range). Even my Lexus RX-loving wife has warmed up to this Outback....

So we'll see what unfolds as 2015 draws to a close....

 

Just for a moment I thought "that's a BIG greyhound" and of course sneaky fast!!

The very comfortable part had me puzzled till I recalibrated my brain...

 

Hey Jon,

I don't blame you for thinning the herd, and the Subaru is a great, all around, general purpose vehicle which suits your needs.

If I had a choice, I would keep the XK8 over the S Type ( did I just say that?)

Good luck with whatever direction you choose!

 

Thanks Jimmy,

We would indeed keep my wife's XK8 over my S-Type....

I must admit that we are enjoying putting the Outback through its paces. My wife left in it early this morning for a 300-mile round-trip to visit her very ill 90-year-old uncle that she may not have an opportunity to see again. She's taking her local 80-year-old uncle with her (probably his last chance to see his older brother) and figured that he would be much more comfortable in the Outback compared to her XK8....

We appreciate the car-like ride and mpg combined with the ruggedness and capability of Subaru's best-in-class AWD system. That's why I chose it - this particular SUV delivers the best bang-for-the-buck for us. I told my wife we were not spending an additional ten grand to get a comparable Lexus RX and she would not be able to convince me otherwise so don't bother trying. Because she gets to keep her XK8, she kept her mouth shut this time....

I ran some local errands in my S-Type this morning. I still enjoy driving it but it's going to be tough to financially justify keeping it (maintenance, insurance, property taxes, etc.) with the Outback now in the stable. The Outback does much more than the S-Type can and has more horsepower to boot....