Subaru vs. Delica

[brewskie]

My wife and I are considering both vehicles. I know there drive trains are very different as subaru outback is awd and mitsubishi is 4x4. Here in Manitoba we tend to have a lot of variable driving conditions in the winter, everything from dry pavement to snow covered to icy. I have heard that driving in 4x4 on dry pavement is bad for the transmission. Is this true?

Subaru is also known for its poor milage. Can anyone clarify this and how the two vehicles compare.

Thanks

Rob from Winnipeg

[loki]

Well I sold an impreza wagon to buy my Delica if that helps? the Delica has way more room in side and is way more capable off-road.

[marsgal42]

My second choice was an Outback when I was shopping for new wheels last year. I wonder how many other Delica owners came via this route?

For what I was prepared to spend ($15,000) I knew I could get a significantly newer Outback (late '90s/early '00s), but I knew I wouldn't get as much interior room or ground clearance, and would be getting a newer car that, like all newer cars, is largely non-repairable. When they break, you scrap them.

The Delica's 4WD system is a strength. You can turn it off when you don't need it, saving both fuel and mechanical wear. In dubious road conditions it's common to leave the front hubs locked and engage or disengage the shift-on-the-fly 4WD as needed. I did this in several snow storms last winter. Gumdrop was unstoppable.

...laura

[Weasel]

The Outback/Forester were at the top of my list when I was looking for a vehicle, until I found the Delica. Coming from an old Dodge Caravan, it was just plain hard to picture giving up all that room, especially when going to a smaller vehicle wasn't going to save me that much on gas since I wanted awd/4wd of some sort.
As far as I can see, the only thing you give up with a Delica is acceleration/speed.

[Delica]

We switched from a Legacy wagon to the Delica a year ago and have been very pleased. More room - way more room, stuff all our bikes inside - greater visibility and it's better in the deep snow. Also, it's a hellava lot cheaper than a Subaru in simialir condition. And you can get a full sheet of plywood in a Delica - try that in a Subaru - or any minivans for that matter.

[mmilotay]

We replaced our 2001 Forrester with a 92 Delica, and don't regret it a bit. The Forrester with a baby seat in the back required the front seats to be pushed so far forward that it was uncomfortable for me to drive for any length of time in it. With the Delica we have room for a passel of kids.

[josh]

Bought a Delica, sold the subaru. Now i own 3 delicas (one off road beater, one daily driver, and the third making the trip over the ocean) need I say more?

Josh.

[Erebus]

I had an 82 Subaru for 8 years and 250,000 km, then an 86 Subaru (the pre-Legacy/Outback ones). Did tons of offroading and camping in the '82. Loved them both. Then owned the Mothership from 95 (and it is still sitting in my driveway, needs to have some gear removed before selling.)

When looking to replace the Mothership (don't ask) last year, Subaru was my first choice until I discovered Delicas. Don't regret the Delica decision in the slightest.

I found that the Outback and Forester had nowhere near the interior space compared to the old Subarus, and nowhere near as capable offroad.

[brewskie]

My folks own a 96 outback. The last subaru I owned was an 86 GL10 wagon. I too found the old subie had more room than the outback.

I asked earlier about 4x4's and dry pavement. Is it hard on the transmission when in 4x4?

cheers

[Erebus]

The last subaru I owned was an 86 GL10 wagon. I too found the old subie had more room than the outback.

I asked earlier about 4x4's and dry pavement. Is it hard on the transmission when in 4x4?

For everyone else's info, these older Subarus were front- and four-wheel drive, compared to rear- and four-wheel drive for the Delica.

The Delica uses pretty much the same system as the GL10 had. The big difference is that it has autohubs for the front axle, whereas the Subaru's rear axle didn't have hubs that unlocked. So the rear driveshaft on the Subaru was equivalent to the Delica with the hubs locked.

Basically, don't put it in 4WD on bare pavement (okay, actually, any surface with good traction) or you will wind-up the drive system. If the terrain is at all slippery, no problem. Running on good traction with the hubs locked but in 2WD is perfectly fine (theoretically a slight increase in fuel consumption).

Also, putting the Delica into Low range requires coming to a complete stop and putting transmission in neutral first, unlike the Subaru that could be shifted into Low at very slow speeds.

[brewskie]

Great! Just the info I was looking for.

Thanks