Can my Subaru make it to certain trailheads?

[pmeadco]

Yeah, every car is a collection of trade-offs, and many of us have settled on the compact SUV, such as a Subaru, as the car that best suits our needs. Are they ideal 4wd cars? Oh hell no. The lack of a 4wd-Low transmission is a big drawback (as I've stated in other SUV threads), but they are still capable of getting to a lot of places. As far as 14ers go, I have only backed off on two roads: the Lake Como road (parked in the trees where it gets steep) and the Lead King Basin approach to Snowmass from Marble (seemed too risky to try). I've owned a Honda CR-V and currently own a Forester.

Now, as far as the OP's question about the Outback goes, I believe the Forester is only slightly higher (sorry, I'm too lazy to look it up), so I would guess they have comparable clearance. If that is the case, then, as others have stated, it comes down to driving skill and how much risk you are willing to take with your car. If you are reasonably competent, you can safely back off from anything that you feel exceeds your limits, so give it a try, learn your limits, and have fun in the mountains.

I wouldn't sink a lot of money into modifying an Outback for off-road. Seems like you would be better off to get an old, used true 4WD rather than trying to create a serious 4WD from a car that wasn't designed for that use.

[Matt]

I don't get the subie hate. Not all of us can afford to have a separate off roading rig or 16-18 mpg daily ride cars. Subarus are great to use as daily vehicles and take it to THs on the weekend. Can't really compare it with a legit 4x4.

No hate here. I drive an FJ now, but my 2003 Forester made it to many of the 14er THs and plenty of others.
American Basin
Over Cinnamon Pass from Silverton (not recommended)
Huron TH
Matterhorn Creek
Grays Peak TH
Over Medano Pass
I beat the shite out of it, though, and it was almost dead at 100k after I banged it on a rock coming down from Kennebec pass and cracked the block.
I wanted a new one, but the Toyota dealer looked at me and said, "If you get another Subaru, it'll be just like that one in three years." He won.

Places I never dared take it besides Como:
Nellie Creek TH
Lead King Basin
Old S. Colony Lake (before they graded it and put up a gate). The new road should be a piece of cake in a Subaru.
Creek Crossing at the bottom of Castle Creek--even if the water is low, the exit on your return looks problematic

Besides clearance, the main enemy of Subies is steep, rocky terrain where you need low range to crawl. You just have to know your limits and those of the car. They can take ya more places than people think.

[crowdsurf]

" Seems like you would be better off to get an old, used true 4WD rather than trying to create a serious 4WD from a car that wasn't designed for that use."


Yes. If it is a question of environmental impact, we should all be driving Smartcars and Teslas to the TH. But we wouldn't get there and that wasn't the OP's question. Sure, I have seen some Subarus make it some crazy places. Just not sure how. or why...

[mtree]

To the OP:
You should be fine on all your listed roads with one exception possible...the Castle/Conundrum approach. Depends on muck and water depth and how high you want to attempt. Have fun!

[TallGrass]

the Castle/Conundrum approach. Depends on muck and water depth and how high you want to attempt.

For two-wheelers, the foot bridge was a nice discovery at that crossing.

If you go on a popular weekend, you might be able to thumb up the road from the 2WD lot. It can help to go with a hiking partner who can double as a spotter on 4x4 road tricky spots.

[Gene913]

[eskermo]

Not sure why people insist that Subys are such good mountain cars. They are just sporty station wagons that create this kind of question. I am partial to 4 Runners myself. Jeeps are sweet too but they break down a lot. This car would be a much better investment.

Ghostbusters.jpg

This.

I'd you actually want to get to difficult trailheads, not worry about destroying your car, AND be able to get to work on Monday, you don't buy a Subaru.

I don't think the MPG thing is an issue... my stock 93 Toyota pickup gets 22 MPG... just a couple lower than my GFs Forester. I love driving her Forester 99% of the time, but I wouldn't trade 4 wheel low and the extra few inches of clearance for anything. Certainly not for 3 extra MPG (go buy a Prius or bike to the TH!).

[Otzi]

Ghostbusters.jpg[/quote]

I don't think the MPG thing is an issue... my stock 93 Toyota pickup gets 22 MPG... just a couple lower than my GFs Forester. I love driving her Forester 99% of the time, but I wouldn't trade 4 wheel low and the extra few inches of clearance for anything. Certainly not for 3 extra MPG (go buy a Prius or bike to the TH!).[/quote]

What's wrong with her Forester?! Mine gets 30-32mpg highway, slightly less on interstate...I'm not saying I wouldn't rather have a Toyota Tacoma or 4Runner but I travel frequently and it saves me money. It obviously isn't as capable in the mountains as the aforementioned vehicles, but I got up to Uncompahgre 4WD trailhead without even a scrape, didn't want to chance the drain pipe on the Crestones but might have even been able to do that. A vehicle that can get up those roads and gets that kind of gas mileage is darn impressive in my book. There are a lot of good choices for vehicles in the mountains, it just depends on your unique situation in and out of the mountains.

[Dan_Suitor]

The short answer to your question is snow driving. I live in Vail and nothing beats a Subaru up here in the mountains in a wicked snow storm on I-70 traveling through the valley. 4x4s are inferior in those conditions.....

Why do Subaru drivers all think their cars are superior in snow, especially to 4x4s? Without going into a long debate, I could not disagree more. A good 4X4 with good tires does extremely well in snow.

Second, from an environmental standpoint, a Subaru that gets 22-39 MPG (that's the range I've got in my various Outbacks and smaller Imprezas depending on where I am) versus a dedicated off roader that gets 13-20 does less damage.

Why do Subaru drivers think they are the only ones saving the environment? As mentioned before, there are more environmentally friendly vehicles than Subarus. Before you judge me for driving a truck, I work from home making my daily commute 0 miles.

Lastly, the majority of the Subarus I've owned are economical and reliable.

Why do Subaru drivers think they are the most reliable? They are known for blowing head gaskets and leaking or burning oil. There have even been lawsuits over these issues.


Don’t get me wrong. Subaru’s are good vehicles, just not the best.

As far as the OP’s question. I think you will be fine, but go as far as you feel comfortable. Then pull over or back-up to a safe parking location and hike. That’s what you are out there for in the first place.

[TallGrass]

Lastly, the majority of the Subarus I've owned are economical and reliable.

Why do Subaru drivers think they are the most reliable? They are known for blowing head gaskets and leaking or burning oil. There have even been lawsuits over these issues.

Maybe making sure the maintenance is up to date would be wise. A tow bill from SCL TH for a blown head gasket would be hefty.

[LURE]

Subarus do have a tendency to leak oil like a sieve, and blow headgaskets, and have leaky headgaskets, and allow oil into the cooling system, and have been known for their "glass transmissions", and always have the most obnoxiously loose heat shields.

Great cars tho.

[benlen]

The short answer to your question is snow driving. I live in Vail and nothing beats a Subaru up here in the mountains in a wicked snow storm on I-70 traveling through the valley. 4x4s are inferior in those conditions.....

Why do Subaru drivers all think their cars are superior in snow, especially to 4x4s? Without going into a long debate, I could not disagree more. A good 4X4 with good tires does extremely well in snow.

Second, from an environmental standpoint, a Subaru that gets 22-39 MPG (that's the range I've got in my various Outbacks and smaller Imprezas depending on where I am) versus a dedicated off roader that gets 13-20 does less damage.

Why do Subaru drivers think they are the only ones saving the environment? As mentioned before, there are more environmentally friendly vehicles than Subarus. Before you judge me for driving a truck, I work from home making my daily commute 0 miles.

Lastly, the majority of the Subarus I've owned are economical and reliable.

Why do Subaru drivers think they are the most reliable? They are known for blowing head gaskets and leaking or burning oil. There have even been lawsuits over these issues.
.

You're overreacting.

The choice to drive any type of vehicle is personal and financial. Subarus are fantastic in snow in their class. IE, you can get a Subaru in the $20,000-30,000 new, drive it for 10+ years, get decent mileage.

Every car burning gas is damaging the environment. The question for me, and it's not for everyone was, "What car can I get that does enough of what I want it to without being awful during daily driving, roughly 99% of what I do?"

What seems to have been missed by my comments is the Subaru is a great compromise vehicle. It does pretty good at a lot of things.

My family has had 7 Subarus since the 80s and we've never had the reliability issues described. Only our 06 Legacy was a bit funky, otherwise they've all been great.