The Battleship: 01 Outback Wagon

[UndercoverObbie]

My Subie is an 01 Outback wagon. It was originally my mother's car, but was bought for the purpose of carrying my dogs around. When she decided that renewing her license was too much trouble, it became mine- and I've been driving the ever-loving wheels off it ever since. It's faster than it looks- I mean, it is heavy and it corners like a battleship, but it's big and sturdy and likes to do donuts ;) Its local claim to fame is having had two Firebirds crash into the back of it, totaling the first one and badly damaging the second. My subie came out unharmed on both occasions- the bumper is original and bears only some surface scuffs. I love this car.


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c7/Kiishka/PICT0048.jpg



Haven't done any mods on it voluntarily, though I have had an ARGH!! moment:


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c7/Kiishka/P1030210.jpg :machinegunleft: This is the face of a door eating, seatbelt gnawing, Subaru destroying little $#*&.



http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c7/Kiishka/PICT0050.jpg <<< I've not had much luck finding a replacement.


Anyway. That's my baby. If I want to start messing around in the mud with it, I should probably do some work to it. Suggestions?

[409industries]

OMG the battleship! that is the best name evar...

.... right next to my friends "Brown Trout" OBXT

[BlackParis]

Aww.. Cute dog ;)

I think your car looks to clean paintwise, to go out blasting through mud... But hey whatever floats your battleship ;)

[RoadRunner]

Does your dog have a lazy eye? lol

I think if you put forester struts on there it will give it more ground clearance and would probably look pretty good.

[409industries]

keep it slammed!

[Blix666]

skid plates, mud flaps, snow/rally tires, light bar!

[RoadRunner]

skid plates, mud flaps, snow/rally tires, light bar!

+1..

BIG mudflaps

You could probably fit a pair of 500's and a pair of FF1000's on a light bar. Maybe replace the stock fogs with 500's too.

[409industries]

Get some yakima racks and throw 4 more lights up there too!

[UP2MTNS]

lift kit, truck tires, lots of lights!

[BlueRu]

You should put a 12" lift kit on the ship. Add 31's and as many lights as you can! :tongue:
Dont do that please. I would feel bad if you did.

[Blix666]

You should put a 12" lift kit on the ship. Add 31's and as many lights as you can! :tongue:
Dont do that please. I would feel bad if you did.

:lol:

[UndercoverObbie]

You should put a 12" lift kit on the ship. Add 31's and as many lights as you can! :tongue:
Dont do that please. I would feel bad if you did.


God, that would be funny. Someone needs to photoshop that...

But in all seriousness, I'm going to put skid plates and mud flaps on it as soon as I can find them for this model... and have money to buy them with. Money helps. Lights will come later, but they'll happen. The main cosmetic issues at the moment are getting the chewed up passenger door replaced, and also the missing bit on my front bumper that you can see in the big picture. That seems to commonly go missing on this model of car- I've seen at least three or four others driving around with that same piece gone.

I'm going to take it out, possibly tomorrow morning, and get it nice and filthy. Then take pictures. Then post them here :wink:

[Blix666]

now THAT'S what we like to hear!

[UndercoverObbie]

(and yes, the dog has funky, not-pointing-the-right-way eyes.)

[UndercoverObbie]

So. The time has come. I'm on the lookout for a new car.

The perfect opportunity is presenting itself- there's a used 04 WRX wagon at the local dealership that is calling my name, and it'd be priced nicely with the trade-in my Obbie would provide. The problem arises with the fact that I have never driven a manual transmission, except for the two times Zebrasinamerica has nudged me behind the wheel. That, coupled with the fact that I'm only just learning how to drive 'em dirty, makes me a little hesitant to go for that particular car.

What do you guys think? Is it a car that I can learn on, or is it like putting a three year old on a motorcycle when he's not even off training wheels yet?

There's a used 01 manual Outback wagon at a nearby car lot, too- it'd definitely be an easier car for me to learn on, but I've already found that getting skid plates/mud flaps/etc for that model is not exactly easy. Plus, you know, it's the same massive and under-powered car I drive now, just in a manual.

Suggestions?

[409industries]

In all honesty, any new subaru MT is a piece of cake to drive. I had been driving the RS around for the past few days and i got into my STi and was relieved to feel how easily the clutch engages, and how easy the gear shifts are.

In all honesty, you would have no problem learning how to drive stick in a WRX as compared to any other car (i learned on a 94 nissan sentra). It really is like learning to ride a bike, at first youll be nervous and it seems like theres so much to remember, but you'll be heel-toeing in no time.

If the WRX is going to be a good deal i say go for it. Coming from the OB, itll be night and day! As you said, the 01 Outback wagon you saw is going to be just like what you already have... I'm all about "if you gotta replace it, upgrade it!" thats my $.02 :)

[Blix666]

i'd buy the WRX. it's not gonna take you that long to get the hang of it. not only that, but stock clutches are pretty forgiving.

[JacksonRally]

Yea baby another wagon, I say go for it. Ive got no complaints about my wrx wagon. I love and I think you will be just fine driving the 5spd. My chick drove mine just once and I was trying to calmly run her through what to do with the clutch etc.. then all of a sudden she just took off and had no prob. Very easy to get used to.