Used Subaru Outback with High Hopes
 

Hi, all. I've been in Memphis, TN for five years and I'm looking to move out to the Pacific Northwest. I'm a senior software engineer and team lead with experience as an IT Manager and CIO for a 90's startup. It's been a pretty amazing ride overall and when I took a vacation to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, well, John Denver said it best: "He was born in the summer of his 27th [sic] year, coming home to a place he'd never been before."

With a move to the PNW now considered inevitable, one month ago I bought a 2004 Subaru Outback with a manual transmission. I've been stuck driving automatics for the last 8 years or so, so it's been great having a stick again. I LOVE THIS CAR! I think it's just slightly TARDISlike, being a few dozen cubic inches bigger on the inside than the outside.

I wanted a car with better fuel economy than the 21 MPG the EPA gives the Outback, but I also knew I usually got about 10% better than the old estimates so when I found one I jumped on it. My 3-tank average is 27.97, 33% better than EPA. The third tank was 28.65. I'm delighted with these results and looking forward to breaking the 30 MPG mark!

That's one of the coolest wagons available at its time. But featuring AWD has some effects into the mileage...

I just drove 164 miles each way to my parents' house in my 99 Forester. I got 26.4 MPG for the tank that included the trip up, but about thirty-seven coming down--literally, they live a mile higher than I do.

I have an automatic. From what I can tell, the AWD reduces mileage more than the automatic, but I have both!

Then there is my weight problem and being built like an ice cream truck.

At least they have a good way to work in weight reduction :D

I have a 2000 Outback and I just bought my new car to replace...a 2011 Insight. I enjoyed every minute of my drive but it was time for change. My lifetime average was 24.6 mpg. Mine was an auto and well I didn't drive very economically. I would cruise right around 75-85 on my daily commute. But otherwise nice car!

Fallen angel, have you done anything to improve your mpg? What speed are you driving to get your three tank average at 27.97? Its incredible mileage out of a 04 automatic outback.