Used Subaru 2013, 2018, 2017 OUTBACK Premiums & Limited, LEGACY . for sale in Medford, MA

Greetings, and welcome to October!

I'm a mostly-retired engineer who's been carefully sourcing and "certifying" pre-owned non-turbo Subarus for my clients for...gulp...36 years! Hence the moniker Ernie/TheSubaruGuru. (Note that I will be vacationing the first half of November.)

I take GREAT care in securing well-kept, highway-driven gems from the modern 2015-2019 Outback era, modifying them for peerless handling, as well occasional Legacy Sedans the next couple of years as I finish up my ersatz "career"; my greatest satisfaction is in seeing old clients again and perhaps procuring another modern Subie for them before we all fly around in spacesuits....

See what's currently in my tiny menagerie following each Subaru iteration description:

2015-2019 OUTBACKS
This OB body is stiffer and modern due to improved metallurgy, with fancier electronics and a very comfy, quiet ride; its 2nd-gen CVT is punchy, durable, and with improved aerodynamics this iteration garners +2 mpg from the 2010-2014 era. An aluminum hood is nice too. The leather LIMITED is equipped with very nice 18" wheels and stiffer tires, leaving only the too-conservative understeer to remedy. The cloth PREMIUM uses 17" wheels with softer tires for pothole comfort, with minor handling compromise. So I'm now modifying ALL the newest OBs' suspensions with Subaru's STI "hidden fix" thicker (20mm) rear anti-swaybar to reduce body roll and yaw, with amazingly neutral handling and far better body control for BOTH the cloth Premium and Leather Limited models!

(For those who insist on a CLOTH interior, there's a method of improving handling crispness of the Premium another notch by either upgrading to the Limited's 18" wheels ($$), OR continuing to use the Premium's smaller 17" wheels and downsizing to better, stiffer 225/60R17 size tires as used successfully in 2013-2014; ride height will drop about 0.25-0.4", which is meaningless. If you prefer pothole comfort to crispness in the twisties stick with the OE tires...or perhaps just change later when tires are needed for a boost of spirited fun at no additional cost. Feel free to consult with me further.)

Regardless of which model you prefer, my addition of that STi fatter rear anti-swaybar and end-links to improve body control and reduce understeer yields extraordinary improvements...more beneficial than tire/wheel upgrades mentioned above. So even the mid-grade Premium gets fine handling. So that's what I do...and nobody else!
(Note: SOA has just announced that the new "Global Platform" 2020 Legacy/OB will arrive with a fatter rear sway-bar! Guess they were listening...? Unfortunately the first serious pro review mag sites that it has only adequate body control and moderate roll...yech! We'll see, as I doubt that handling can be improved without serious expense in replacing the struts and springs, as there will not be a lucky fix as I discovered for the 2015-2019 models. Outside of direct injection (Toyota's forte) the new design seems derivative rather than seriously revised...unless you want to be a $35-40k guinea pig and spring +$5k for the 2.4 turbo XT! Maybe it'll have a stiffer suspension too?)

FOR SALE:

2017.5 OUTBACK PREMIUM, White Pearl w/ Charcoal, with EYESIGHT (NADA October ave $21.7k) Only 19.7k w/ extra brakes! Less than two years old!

2017 OUTBACK PREMIUM, Carbide Gray w/ Charcoal, with EYESIGHT. (NADA ave $21.7k) Only $19.5k!

New! 2018.5 OUTBACK PREMIUM, Twilight Blue w/ Lt Gray, EYESIGHT, etc. (NADA ave $24.6k) New UHP tires and extra brakes inc for only $22.3k!! Off 18 mo lease!

2016.5 OUTBACK LIMITED, Carbide w/ Charcoal Leather, all TOURING options, plus front hood guard, nice Vent-Shades, etc. Currently our (my wife's) Subie, but will sell to nice client who must have leather. Orig $36k (now $38k); only $21.5k inc extra brakes and tires!

Sold Recently:

2016.5 OUTBACK PREMIUM, Lapis Blue w/ Beige-Tan, with EyeSight, Remote Auto-Start $17.6k
2016.5 OUTBACK PREMIUM Crystal Black Pearl w/ Charcoal, Nav, Sunroof $18.8k
2015.5 OUTBACK LIMITED, Venetian Red (Maroon) w/ Tan "Touring" clone $19k
2016 OUTBACK PREMIUM, Twilight Blue-Gray w/ Charcoal, with EyeSight $17.7k
2016.5 OUTBACK LIMITED Tungsten Pearl "Touring" $21.1k

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If you're a prior client of mine and REALLY need to get another OB or Legacy under $14k please call me and I might start a search for you. (Note: See my daughter's '13 Limited below)

FOR SALE:

2013.5 OUTBACK LIMITED, Graphite, w/ Charcoal LEATHER, POWER SUNROOF, VentShades, etc. About 137k. Only $13,250!
My daughter relocated from Chicago to Northampton, and is willing to part with her beloved graphite LIMITED for any NEWER one I give her, of course, so I thought maybe I'd sell it to help someone with limited (npi) funds. What are Dads for, eh?
It's in stellar shape, with brand new UHP AS tires, recent full new brakes, and cute Vent-Shades. Can be seen in Northampton easily, or back here with sufficient lead time.
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DON'T NEED A "FIFTH" DOOR?

2015+ LEGACY Premium and Limited 2.5i SEDANS have the new 2.5i DOHC motor, 2nd gen CVT, folding rear seats (therefore a LONG trunk) and have a low center of gravity chassis on a stiffer suspension and wheel/tire setup, thus provide even crisper handling and body control than the otherwise same-body (unmodified) Outback; my choices will always have power driver's seat and alloys (Premiums) plus the Cold Weather Pkg and EyeSight. Also available are the wonderful LIMITEDS with heated leather, keyless start, memory seat, and maybe that nice moonroof too.... Interestingly, the superior aero of the lower Legacy body results in +2mpg compared to its taller OB sisters...another benefit.

FOR SALE:

2016.5 LEGACY PREMIUM, Platinum Silver w/ Charcoal, EYESIGHT, and Auto-Dimming Mirror. Only $15.3k! Phenomenal value if you don't require that tall hatch....

Recently Sold:

2017 LEGACY PREMIUM, Platinum w/ Charcoal, EYESIGHT, REMOTE AUTO-START $17.7k
2016 LEGACY LIMITED SPORT Black w/ Charcoal Leather. ALL OPTIONS! $19.8k!

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Modern IMPREZAS/CROSSTREKS have shorter wheelbases than their domestic Legacy/OB sisters, so although good handling, they suffer from somewhat skimpy rear seat legroom and child-seat access, as well much more road and driveline noise. Yet their excellent fuel eco will be compelling as fuel prices recover, maybe overshadowing the really annoying power loss from their smaller (2.0L) power-plants. But the Crosstrek version is overpriced, heavier, and thus MUCH too slow! This "butch" Impreza cross-over is wrongheaded and a bit silly. Consumers Reports has been hoodwinked by this iteration (as well the new so-truck-like Forester). The newest revision has been fraught with birthing pains, as well. Save your money.

FOR SALE:
None available now, and I see no reason to overpay for an Imp Hatch or CrossTrek. Call to be next on waiting list if a small Impreza fits your urban or secondary use needs better than a more commodious and quieter Legacy or Outback. Legacy SEDANS and Impreza HATCHBACKS wholesale for the same price! If you don't really need a 5th door the Legacy Sedan is CLEARLY a better value...especially re the bigger 2.5i motor and quietness at speed or if needing a roomy rear seat for tall adults or a children's car seat(s). The Legacy's folding rear seats often provide enough cargo room for long and relatively flat gear. It's also been noted often that the QA of the Japanese (Imps/Fors/CTs) is suffering due to forced overtime; the Indiana factory's output has clearly been superb. So stick with domestic production Legacys and Outbacks...as I do.

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ALL my perfected Subies have new or very recent: FULL front and rear BRAKE ROTORS and pads ($900-$1k value), all-season high or ultra-high performance TIRES ($600-900) and a full 60k/90k SERVICE ($600+) including all new fluids, filters, IRIDIUM plugs, additional rustproofing, wipers, mats etc. The result is invariably a trouble-free prognosis and no programmed maintenance (aside from oil change) required for 3-4 winters! Thus my Subies are in FAR better mechanical condition than those sold by ANYONE, and road-tested to confirm high-speed performance and 32+mpg!
Once prepped, my Subarus are test-driven and normally driven by ME for sometimes hundreds of miles to assure flawless ongoing long-term performance. So no unbalanced tire, brake-vibration nor groaning wheel bearing surprises either. The peerless handling provided by my beefier rear suspension mod is also extraordinarily rewarding.

Please note that I HAVE NOT, WILL NOT, and DO NOT recommend purchasing wonky-handling, truck-like Foresters or similar "sport-cutes" crossovers, nor premium-guzzling WRX or thirsty (-6mpg!) 6 cylinder 3.6R's.
My focus is on the current ultra-durable Subaru DOHC, chain-driven 2.5i 4 cyl non-turbo motor that operates on regular fuel, and gets excellent 24-26c/30-34h mpg in 5 door Outbacks and Legacy Sedans.

In conclusion, I've become quite enamored of the best (modified) 2015+ Outback 2.5i Premium and Limiteds for those who need a modern 5 door Subie with excellent city and fast highway use, and strongly suggest their purchase over the sloppy 2010-'12 predecessors (or UNmodified 2015+ Premiums on spongy SUV/truck tires). The newest '17 Global Platform 2017 Impreza/Cross-Trek may be interesting, reminding me of the compact first-gen Legacies of the early 90's, but with high eco; too bad first year teething pains are abundant, and the wimpy 2.0i motor is just too small...especially in the heavier CrossTrek. The 2019+ new Forester is essentially a sloppy-handling truck/SUV. Forget it. The bloom's off the rose there, despite the frothy press.

Call or write anytime for a careful focusing consult to help determine which Subie best fits your specific needs, and be careful out there: Subaru-fishing is NOT child's play...especially with older specimens!

Cheers.
Ernie Meunier
TheSubaruGuru
781 483-3922
Location: Arlington/WestMedford