Well here we go just back from a round trip from Perth up to Exmouth across to Tom Price and back again over two weeks of School, Hols.
Overall fuel average 8l/100 including offroading but mostly towing a full 7x4 trailer and full car 2 adults 2 kids. This mind u was with no concern for economy.
Only problem was a blown tyre on a dirt track but it was mostly iron ore and quite sharp. There was a noticeable difference in speed necessary to skip the ruts between us and the the other cars with us a jackeroo and a new prado, they could skip em at 80 I needed 90 to 100 with the smaller wheels.
Did a river crossing sand driving up hills down hills 100's km of dirt driving and I must say that for all the criticism I have read of the new outbacks I found it comfortable, powerful, economical and above all bloody tough. I showed it no mercy and it shows not one rattle or any change in driving habit, aside from more power as its just ticked over 20000km.
It took diesel from all sorts of places and I never saw a light or anything unusual.
Must say though the temporary spare is a joke and left me with no choice but to have a tyre trucked in at a ridiculous price.
So it really is for me a perfect car at the moment and suits the lifestyle I can achieve with a baby and small boy. For more serious adventure the traditional 4wds certainly take the hits in their stride and have a looseness about them that allows more absorption plus the separate chassis stops the shocks traveling through the body as much.
But thats not the outbacks job description
