Imho, it's no contest. 9-5 creams Subaru in everything but clearance + reliability. FWIW, my comments are based on long term rentals (2000+ highway miles + several weeks each) of 2009 Forester + 2008 Legacy.

First of all, if you get a Subaru, you need to get a stick. The 4 speed automatic, while probably reliable, is comparable to a 3.5 speed automatic in a Saab (think c900). It desperately needs another gear! The Subaru 2.3L engine lacks low end torque, so to sell cars, the first gear in the autobox gets it up to about 10mph (jolts you off the line). Fun around the city, but there's nothing left for the highway: cruises at high RPMs (= bad fuel economy), + needs to be downshifted to pass anything or go up a hill (=bad fuel economy). Not only that, I found that I had to leave the automatic in manumatic mode all the time, or it would randomly kickdown, bump up, kickdown again etc while passing or going up hills... My wife hated that Forester. Years ago I drove a top of the line Outback rental + also found the automatic to be extremely weak passing on the highway (even with the big engine). Friends who own Subarus also claim the automatics are no good.

Ergonomics, seat comfort, hauling capacity are all worse than 9-5 too (seats by a huge margin). Handling of the 2009 Forester was a world behind any Saab, but no big surprise, it's an SUV built on an Impreza base. Legacy was better than Forester.

In contrast, if you own a 9-5, you do not need a stick (though one might enjoy it). On the same route in a 9-5, I got better than 50% better fuel economy than the Subaru, stopped less often, was more comfortable, and the entire drive was totally effortless. Brilliant car.

Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great things about the Subarus: great engine design keeps the weight low, AWD in winter, good reliability, nice enough interior aesthetics, and good clearance.

My suggestion, sell the van, get another 9-5, but an automatic. Don't know much about the Audis. good luck!

James...

posted by 69.63.61...

• Thinking about selling the 9-5 Aero for Audi or Subaru?, JonAero1, Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:01:13
  • Ever consider the lexus 250is AWD sedan?, Alan, Sun, 1 Nov 2009 17:39:44
  • Ou Audi experiences...we have had four of them, bill h., Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:19:21
  • 9-5 vs Subaru..., James, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:44:15 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: All of Us Know What a Sports Sedan Feels Like, NDS, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:32:57
  • Well, what I did was..., john b, Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:44:33
    • Re: Well, what I did was..., saabsince 93b , Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:09:10
      • Re: Well, what I did was..., JonAero1, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:32:09
        • Wow, Link, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:25:39
        • teach her how to drive a stick...., Mark from Toronto, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:18:42
        • Re: Well, what I did was..., saabsince 93b , Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:12:46
          • Re: Well, what I did was..., yoeddy, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:16:53
            • leaning to the Audi, JonAero1, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:03:09
              • Don't understand fit/finish comment, john b, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:26:43
              • Re: leaning to the Audi, Mark from Minnesota, Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:42:04

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