2003 Subaru Baja from North America - Comments

I am looking to replace a GMC 1 ton pick-up and a small sedan. I don't need to haul big stuff anymore and was wondering if the Baja would haul 2 bales of alfalfa (3 wire bale) or even three. I guess a small utility trailer would also work. How is the rear passenger seating? Is it for 2 or 3 people, and is the legroom cramped? Please explain the boxer engine configuration... is that a horizontally opposed 4 cylinder?

The 24th, called himself a tech, but indeed has no knowledge about subaru vehicles.

Subaru's center differential mechanism is not simply a viscous -coupling, which as some awd car utilized, it actually has the differential, and the coupling acts like merely a lock. So subaru does NOT drive only on its two wheels and totally feels like an AWD.

The Explorer SportTrac, for the guy a few comments back, the new ones have 8.4 inch ground clearance minimum.

Even though the sport trac now has 8 inches of clearance, I bet it still tips over easier than the baja. I'll take the baja.

And to the other questions...

1) I don't know how big a bale of alfalfa is, but you could get the bed dimensions off subaru's site. I believe the bed is around 3-4 feet long I think. It's a 4 passenger car/truck and I have no idea on legroom. The boxer engine is like this, it has two pistons on each side and they are layed down flat, like a pancake. So in a way if you looked down at the engine it'd look like a sideways H (the pistons, crank, and all that).

I have a 2005 Baja and the bed, while small, has been the the transporter of a vibrating tamper, a rented rototiller, cabinet additions for the kitchen (securely lashed down of course), lumber of many sizes, scads of camping gear, firewood, paving stone, bags of concrete... heck all kinds of stuff.

It's not the workhorse that a full, or even mid-sized, truck is, but the mileage that I've been getting handily beats what I used to get with a truck. And that doesn't even get into the way it ignores snow...

That said, a couple of things could have been done better.

The all-wheel drive is great, but I sure wish it had a low range. Navigating tricky hills on snow or ice is easier when you can slow down and ease through them. And handling prolonged steep grades on forest roads is a pain if you have to stay "at speed" to keep from lugging the engine... and a person with a low range is in front of you. Let me tell you, backing down a mountain side to take another run at the road is tricky!!

The support bars on the bed are fine, but their shape gets in the way of rectangular objects. For example: leaning plywood, or boxed cabinets... They can be worked around, but I sure wish I could have taken them off.

The back seats barely have any leg room if the people in the front have even normal legs. It just limits the ability to use the vehicle for longer trips...

And that's about it.

All said, it's a good blend of car and truck and it has served me well... both on-road and off (for those that argue it shouldn't go there...).

My 03 Baja is at 53,000 miles and has not only served me incredibly well both in town (hauling supplies for my restaurant) but out and about with my kayak, bikes, compost, lumber, trees, whatever I can get into the bed. Mileage averages 27 and have had no work done on it except for rear brakes and rotors. And WITHOUT FAIL, every time I hit a major parking lot, someone stops me and wants to know about the Baja..."I've been thinking about getting one of these, they look pretty useful." From back roads to the SF Opera, this car has surpassed any other I have owned, including Jeep, Volvo, VW, or Ford..

I've had my Baja Sport four years now. It can be driven offroad, but not very far. I got stuck in mud twice and hung up on a rock once. It's really very good for nasty road conditions with the caveat that like all large vehicles in slippery conditions, sometimes Newton's Laws will win and you will not.

Can haul most things, but plywood is still a problem. I experimented once with a 4 by 8 sheet of drywall and had trouble getting between the chrome "D" pillars.

Reliable beyond belief, but then I used to own Fords... Having spent it's life as a beast of burden, it's definitely not pristine, gets washed once a year and is generally full of tools. Nice big scratches where the bungee cords have tried their best to maim me. I am a fanatic about regular maintenance though. So far, only oil changes and a window adjustment in 52,000 miles. 28 miles to the gallon at 70 MPH or better. This is with the roof rack taken down and tires at 35 PSI all the around.

Looks, well they grow on you. I like the two tone look now. Also incredibly easy to find in a parking lot.

About the design... it did not come from Japan, it's the same team that came up with the Avalanche. It was also built in Indiana.

No, no. Don't take those chrome bars off. They are actually your "D" pillars and are needed for structural integrity.

I have owned my Baja Turbo coming up on a year now. Awesome car. Initially, I bought the car for little hauls, computers while still having a lot of space for fellow employee commutes to work. MPG isn't great, but when you buy a turbo, you have to ignore that factor. The Baja can be used for larger item, you just have to think a little in advance to get the items in there.

ITEM: 2 250CC Dirt bikes in the bed. With a little engineering and welding. I have gotten two full size dirt bikes in the bed and not hanging past the tailgate. See picture. http://upload7.postimage.org/515158/photo_hosting.html.

ITEM: 8 Sheets of 3/4 Plywood; 18 2x4x10; 6 2x4x12 Using some of my ramp mounts, tailgate down, bed-extender on, all wood placed angle up toward the front of the car. Plywood on top of that and winched down.

I love my Baja. Stay on top of changing the oil (synthetic) and a tune up everyone and awhile, the car will last forever.

Hi.

I've owned my Baja for 18 months. I live on dirt roads and have a small ranch. I got tired of paying insurance and high gas bills for my ranch truck, a Ford F150, and wanted to replace it with a daily driver that could be used to haul items as I need.

I use my Baja extensively for hauling feed. Yesterday, I hauled 700 pounds of bagged feed from the feed store. The feed store is not far away and I drove slowly with no problem. I've also hauled a jacuzzi bathtub, large desks, building materials, hundreds of pounds of pavers, long pieces of wood using the backseat door, and many other large items too numerous to list, and have scooted around town with four people comfortably.

I get over 30 mpg on the highway, probably even higher when driving conservatively.

I'm a skier, and regularly drive into the blizzards of the Northern Sierra Nevada mountains (I live at 5,900 feet and the resorts are at 8,000 feet), and have never had a problem getting anywhere any other bigger SUV or truck can go. In fact, during storms, I pass many larger vehicles that have slid off of the road, and I don't stop to help them. I wouldn't try to tow them out, and they have to pay a tow truck for that, and I feel they need to have some consequence for driving their large top-heavy vehicles too fast anyway.

The only limitation is when we have R3 road controls. At that point the sheriff is checking IDs, and only letting local residents through anyway, and the ski resorts are usually closed, snowed in or the winds are too high, so I don't bother.

I'm a mid-40s woman and find this vehicle to be the perfect mini quad-cab pickup for the rugged tomboy or outdoor type. I am able to spontaneously pick up large items when driving home from work. I also have two utility trailers and rarely use them, the Baja is so great.

I laugh at those driving the larger SUVs and trucks; most people don't haul anything more than I do, or have four people in the vehicle any more frequently than I do, and I'm a lot happier at the pump.

I love this car and hope that someday Subaru ramps up production again; this time with a hybrid engine.

I have owned my baja since March of 2004 and let me say, it's the best vehicle I've owned. The practicality of the baja is great. Like some have stated, I love the fact that I can throw my camping gear in the back & take my mountain bikes without having to put anything in the cab. The baja has also helped me when I had to move & not have to depend on someone with a truck to move somewhat large items like TV's, coffee tables, love seats and plastic totes filled with items. I love this because it saves on tearing the interior & I don't have to make as many trips either. With the way gas prices are, this is a huge plus.. I love having the AWD system too. People tend to think by having awd, you can drive like ya normally would when the roads are dry. I'm still cautious though I do feel safer in it. The baja isn't for everyone but it's a lifestyle. I chose the baja for my lifestyle. If ya want a vehicle that's all about style & conversion or rugged, buy a truck or sedan/sports car. All the power to ya. I won't be the one calling to help move small items or putting small items in my truck because they won't fit in my wife's car & waste gas.

I never had any problems with my car since I got it, I keep the maintenance up which on it. I will admit, I don't take to the dealership cause it's a rip-off. I do admit one thing, the price. For the price, I wish it came with a few accessories. Even though this bothered me, I thought of the practicality and how it was going to fit my lifestyle. The best choice I made. I wish they didn't stop making them but its more of a reason to keep it forever. I won't take punches at people who choose to buy something different because that's their choice. What's important to them isn't important to me. I do love the way it looks. When I looked at, it said this vehicle is for the well grounded person who is reserved & has the sense for adventure & exploration. You can take me to work & you can take me to the mountains. I LOVE THE BAJA!!!