Used Subaru Outback with High Hopes

[Fallen Angel]

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!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

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

[Xist]

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.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

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

[theplaidmutt]

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!

[drewbabich]

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.