2000 Subaru Outback Sedan review from North America

I'm just starting to hear the exhaust rattle.

Three recall upgrades have been performed at no cost to me.

A roomy, economical and reliable car that has served me very well for five years.

I bought the car new in May 2000 primarily for the All Wheel Drive and gas economy. I found, through on-line research and word-of-mouth advice, that the reliability was high and the cars tended to depreciate in value more slowly.

The car has averaged 24 to 26 miles per gallon around town and 29 to 31 miles per gallon on extended highway trips. The fuel economy tends to be lower in the winter by about 2 M.P.G.

Snow and wet pavement handling are excellent; there are places this car can go that even my wife's front-wheel-drive Volvo cannot due to surface conditions.

There have been no problems with the car to date. I've put one new set of tires on, had two standard preventative maintenance check-ups and changed the oil and oil filter about every 3000 to 3500 miles. The brakes were adjusted once, but still have not been replaced after almost 75,000 miles.

I do expect to put some money into the car soon, however. On the agenda are:

Flush/replace engine coolant

Replace transmission fluid/filter

Fix exhaust rattle

New brakes

Possibly replace drive belts.