I Think I Finally Get Subarus

Doug DeMuro
by Doug DeMuro

Over the last month, I’ve spent more time driving Subarus than any other vehicle. This was not intentional.

It all got started in August, when I went to Pebble Beach and I asked Subaru for a press car. I don’t normally take press cars, but I decided that I wanted to continue my tradition of going to Pebble Beach in a station wagon, which now spans four years and four different wagons: a 1997 BMW 528i Touring, a 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, a 2000 Volvo V70 Cross Country, and now the Subaru.

But before I hit Pebble, I did a little tour of Northern California with my girlfriend’s family and we went to a national park, and a big reservoir, and a couple of cities — and so basically I just drove around for two long weeks in a Subaru Outback. I think I added about 500 miles to the odometer.

Then, two weeks ago, I went to Portland for the launch of the new Lexus RX, which is a luxurious new crossover that looks angry. For this event, I flew out a few days early and I rented my own car. But when you are in Portland, apparently you don’t get a Chrysler 200 or a Dodge Grand Caravan when you rent a car. You get a Subaru Forester. Then I visited Salem, and Corvallis, and Eugene, and basically all of Portland over a span of approximately four days. I think I put about 300 miles on that thing.

Now, at no time during either event was I really impressed with the on-road performance of my Subaru. The Outback has something like 173 horsepower, which really isn’t enough for a car of its ever-increasing size. The Forester has about the same engine, but it’s an SUV, and that much power isn’t exactly doing it any favors, either. So there was no point during either trip when I really felt exhilarated by these vehicles.

It’s the same story around corners. Yeah, sure, the Outback and the Forester handle a little better than their dullest rivals, but these things aren’t roller coasters. You aren’t going around turns and screaming for joy at just how well these cars hold the road and how much fun you’re having.

So these cars aren’t that exciting. Yet, here’s the thing: When you’re driving around Northern California and Northwest Oregon, all you see is Subaru. Everyone has a Subaru. Old Imprezas. New Outbacks. Modified WRXs. Foresters with kayaks on top. Every single person in this area is driving around in a Subaru. But why?

I started to understand it after only a couple of days in the Outback. It wasn’t about driving pleasure. It also wasn’t about style, or luxury, or power. It’s about the fact that Subaru makes good, solid cars that are tremendously easy to own.

I’ll give you a few examples. You get in most Subarus today and you turn a key. A honest-to-goodness, legitimate, automotive key. Just like in the old days. No trickery. No keyless stuff. No buttons. You just do what you’ve always done and you don’t have to figure out anything new.

Inside, the center control stack is so simple it’s amazing. All the buttons are big. They’re well marked. They’re well arranged. You don’t have to go searching for anything. You don’t have some weird gear lever with a strange shift pattern. There’s no style for the sake of style. Everything is simple, logical, and well placed. It might not be the highest quality, and it might not be beautiful, but it works — and this is how Subaru drivers want it.

Then there’s the whole “standard all-wheel drive” thing. Now, we car enthusiasts know that all-wheel drive isn’t necessarily the savior that much of the public makes it out to be. But to most people, the feeling of driving a car with the reassuring feeling of all-wheel drive is exactly what they want from their vehicle. For proof, all you have to do is consider the popularity of Subaru vehicles in Northern California and Northwest Oregon, where it never really even snows.

And so, I’ve started to understand the appeal of Subarus. No, most of their models aren’t driver’s cars. They don’t have the most stylish interior or the most beautiful exterior. They aren’t class leaders in technology, or equipment, or gadgets, but these cars are sold to people who want a car they can trust, a car that won’t give them any crap, and a car that makes them feel safe.

All those commercials with the dogs help, too.

Doug DeMuro
Doug DeMuro

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  • Wannabe Wannabe on Sep 21, 2015

    2014 Forrester XT Touring driver here. Never considered a Subaru before, and like every car that's engineered to a price point, this one has it's highs and low points. Pluses include great visibility and headroom, turbo provides better than decent motivation, FT AWD, a short wheelbase/length fits in the garage (plus a good turning radius) but it can carry a lot of stuff, it's great for light-off road or gravel roads (or where I live, snow and unbelievably bad roads due to potholes that feels like you're driving off road) and it offers excellent ground clearance for driving thru road flooding. Not so great are the very scuff-able interior plastics, cheap carpeting and cargo area material, questionable quality of the sheet metal, leather and paint. But, the price was reasonable. Driven conservatively the gas milage is good once the engine warms up, and I don't feel bad about filling the back with bags of mulch or taking it camping. I didn't buy it for it's looks; it was all about utility.

  • SCHONHAMMER SCHONHAMMER on Sep 21, 2015

    They're not perfect and they definitely have some quirks. With that said, they are safe and solid transportation especially during those winter months. Sure, plenty of vehicles offer better styling and interiors, but I can't think of another turbocharged econobox that I'd personally want more than the WRX. Over 10 years and 224K out of my 2.0 have cemented my devotion to Subaru. It ain’t flashy but it sure is damn good.

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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