Is A Brand New 2020 Subaru Outback Better Than An Old Subaru Off-Road? This 42-Year-Old DL Says No! 

Man I love that old Subie!!! So down to earth and practical!! Great video guys!!! Thanks for the upload!!!

I love it that you guys have brands that don’t want to loan you cars(Subaru) and/or are mad at you guys(Ford). I means you are doing it right, keep it going.

I'm glad you added that comment about Claire giving permission... all I could think of while watching this was... OMG it's a Turo rental!

That old Subaru is pretty dope. Like that blue paint.

Next video: "Why TFL has been banned from Turo!"

After all these years, they are still using XMode with Traction Control. 🤦🏻‍♂️

They perfected those older Subarus when the introduced the low range, It sure helped overcome the underpowered engine.

I like the mechanical simplicity and easy maneuverability of the old one, but you can’t argue the safety and comfort of late model cars and trucks.

Tommy: “was that full throttle?” Andrey: “yeah”. Andrey: “ok, hold on” Andrey: “There it is, more full throttle”. Andrey needs to teach everyone what “more full throttle” is, I always thought full throttle only had one mode.

“I took like 25 years off the clutch” lmao

Love the video. Brings back so many memories of our 78 Subaru 4x4 wagon we bought new in Colorado. Yours still performs great considering age and low HP

Love the old DL. They were always a joy to drive. I worked at Arnold Brothers Ford/Subaru in Boulder from 1977-80 as the service department gopher while I was in school, so if the original owner ever took it to the dealer for service, I probably have a few minutes seat time in that particular car. It's nice to see one still out there doing what it does best.

Make it a thing. Classic Mustang v new Mustang, classic Dart v new Dart, classic C10 v Silverado and so on...

Tommy: "Edit that out, Alex..." Alex: No.

That old Subaru is a freakish billy goat! :D

I bet if Subaru started making a cheep, bare bones throw back wagon like the DL, it would sell like crazy.

Gotta go for the old Subie! It looks Better, more capable and it's much older!

I’ll take the ‘78!!! Amazing condition on that car

Tommy going up the first hill: “can’t take it too slow here” Literally everyone that has to deal with his off road skills/mindset: THATS THE SPEED YOU SHOULD ALWAYS GO!

I've recently been driving my friends1986 BRAT around town and the attention it gets is unbelievable. Women and girls love it and think it's cute, I have rarely gone anywhere without someone making a comment about it and they always have a big smile on their face. It is a loveable litle rockstar that everone loves

I love that little Subaru.. you are the best .. thanks for the morning vids

You guys need to get your hands on one of the new hybrid Subarus coming through now. I'm not sure what you have in the US, but in Australia both the XV and Forester are now available with Subaru's boxer engine mated to a Toyota hybrid "eCVT" system. Those are far more rugged and can do a lot more torque at zero speed. Should be a piece of cake for one of those. I love how Subarus with CVT drive on normal roads and gentle tracks, but there's no doubt they're not intended for steep hills rough enough you need to take them at under 15 mph.

OMG, I back in the day, my first new car was a 78 Subie 4x4 wagon! Still my favorite. It was unstoppable in snow. The only limiting factor was ground clearance. It needed a running start to get up the hills of western PA; if I was lucky, it would crest in 3rd gear...on pavement. I traded that Subaru for a Scout II. I shoulda kept the Subie...

For the love of god, we said this with the previous gen outback the 2015 Andrey had and the 2018 you guys put on rollers; TURN OFF TRACTION CONTROL AKA VDC.

Narrow wheel base, good clearance, and very little weight. It's the perfect setup for climbing loose rocky trails.

The old one was designed for the consumer, rugged, easy and inexpensive to repair and maintain, therefore it is still going strong after 42 years. They don't make them like this anymore as they say. Todays new cars are made to be liked by the automotive press, they are not made to be owned for many years after the warranty is out. And despite all the electronic controls and gizmos, it is behind the old one off road. The new ones will certainly not last for 42 years, because after 10-15 years repairs will be so expensive it is much more likely to be written off than repaired. Hopefully you will make more videos like this, good video by the way. It can also be a good idea to do more video-tests that compare old and new, to show that todays cars are made for the lucurative aftermarket for the car brands. They have appearant good quality on the surface, but they are too expensive to repair and will be written off after not so many years, that is not friendly to the consumer or the enviroment, new cars are not green despite lower emissions per gallon. New cars are better than the old ones when it comes to passive safety and comfort, that is all. Cheers.

I was impressed how the new Subi crawled up despite their best attempt to stop it mid-hill to “check the clearance” 😂. Junior really really hates Subaru’s plastic cladding.

It still baffles me why they drive like a grandmother and not how you should drive off-road

That old Subbie is fantastic, I love it.

1. My 2006 Outback has dual zone climate control and a standard transmission. The best of both. 2. You can get the steel skid plate as an option on all levels of the 2020 Outback.

6:12 👀oh, just ignore the spare tire in the engine bay❗️😳🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

I had a 79 Subaru brat, word of advice if you have trouble going a hill, Go up backwards the reverse gear down is better than first gear.

TFL's got the hate on for Subaru...lol 😆 🤣

8:39 yeah you murdered the clutch😂

I'll go for the 1978 model. Light, nimble, no electronics, GREAT!

Had an old 1982 (UK X reg) Subaru ‘282’ 1.8GL AWD Estate with Manual 2WD/4WDHi/4WDLo while a trainee Civil Engineer. Utterly unstoppable here in rural Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. Probably the best Subaru I’ve ever had. Full leather interior, Sunroof, Mud-flaps, FM/AM Radio/Cassette Player with surround sound, Roof Rails, & various Chrome enhancements being the GL model. Now drive a 2010 (UK 60 Plate) Subaru Outback 2.5i GX NavPlus (full leather) with CVT transmission. CVT is pants 🩲 if you’ve ever had a Subaru with manual transmission 🙁. Built and drives like a bus 🚍☹️. Now with nearly 40 years experience of driving various Subaru’s around UK 🇬🇧, recently picked up a 2007 2.5i Outback GX with a 5-speed Manual AWD Hi/Lo gearbox to replace. Has Full leather interior, Sat-Nav, Twin-electric tow-bar, Mud-flaps, Alloys all round. Normally has a 4-speed auto-box. So quite rare 🙂.

In my opinion the old timer wiped the floor with the new fancy shmancy one 🤟 Keep it stupid simple vs complicated af

Also, when going up a hill that steep turn the traction control off and quit turning the steering wheel back and forth, it just confuses the AWD system.

Enjoyed the video and the back-and-forth between you two. Keep up the great work.

I would've liked to see the Onyx XT on here. I have one and live a few hours away. Do I have to bring it up there?

If the new one had a real transmission it would be far more capable. CVT killed Subaru’s reputation.

Grandpa Scoob hands down. :) You might get a 1980-84 version Subaru. Aside from the mountain goat 4wd, the manual has a "hill holder" feature. Awesome on hills as it holds the brakes on till you depress the clutch. Great in the winter or on the dry stuff. Another cool feature is with the 4wd Wagons, you can actually jack up the rear end and front end by turning a (i believe) 19mm socket head under the rear seat and raise the back end an entire inch. The front struts can also be adjusted! Its used if you get high centered in the snow, or when you want more ground clearance for off road. Drives like a brick if you leave them jacked though. :)

Great video! Still interesting to see how the new Crosstreck with manual transmission would do on those hills in Colorado...

Traction control is what kills you when you trying to climb up a hill on dirt or snow, you can’t let the car keep cutting power from the wheels. Gotta turn off traction control and you’ll be good to go. Fun video though!

You may not like the size but my 90 pound dog enjoys his space in the back!

The blue color of the DL is now back in Crosstrek 2024 (2.0 engine only) and because it is so nostalgic, I decided to buy it. I hope Subaru will do some worthwhile spring sales.

Your making me miss my 78 Brat. Bought it for $200

I learned to drive stick in a '77 DL wagon that looked exactly like the one you guys have. It was a neighbor's car, early 80's timeframe. Awesome little bugger.

Curious to see how the Dual X-Mode, larger turbo engine Onyx XT performs

Whoop dee doo for my Subaru! Had a lot of seat time in one in the early 80s driving up and down the East Coast...not the most comfy but got the job done even in torrential downpours if not too windy 😂

Getting ready to lift my 05 outback and start the battle wagon build.

If I had to pick from these two Subarus, I'd pick the new one...and then sell it so I could use the money to buy two or three of the old version. Love the old ones. I remember as a child riding in the back of my grandfather's Brat in those rear-facing seats. Good times.

On the Mid-Atlantic Coast, pretty much everyone, ourselves included, buy these things because they are one of the few affordable wagons on the market. (Also AWD for the 3 days a year that we get snow.) Here, it's bought a lifestyle vehicle, like most SUVs. It's marketed like one and most often reviewed like one as well. It is really cool to see you guys actually taking a rented one offroad and making it earn its keep. This is real car reviewing.

I really enjoyed this video. I had the MY wagon and a few L series plus 2 foresters. Now I have a turbo forester for off loading and an outback 3.6. Subaru's are such fun cars to drive.

Would like to see the 2020 XT (4 cylinder turbo) vs the 2019 3.6R (6 cylinder)

You grind gears, not clutches - youngsters!

Someone has probably already posted. FYI, the 1978 is a "GL" model not "DL". DL's only had 2 headlights, GL had 4 headlights.... Great Video, I still own my 1979 GL Wagon.

The Outback really needs the dual X mode from the Crosstrek and Forester...

FYI the 2020 Subie Outback engine skid plate is, as you pointed out, an option: Steel for NA Subies, aluminum for turbo Subies.

👍 I would take my 82 GL wagon over my 2017 crosstrek any day of the week. The 82's true 4 wheel drive with solid rear axle, and the 2017's crap transmission (for off roading) make it not even close. P.S. The 82's steel skid plates were awesome.

New Subarus don't do anything slowly or smoothly either. If you drive it with the same mindset as the old subie, the tech works like magic. Can't expect a CVT to "crawl" up anything. If you change your driving style to something a little more "reckless" it will be plenty capable, and Subaru might email you back haha. Not hating, just sharing my experience with the 2.0L non-turbo Foresters they offer in my country.

i had one of those Brumbies, essentiaally a pick up DL. Four speed manual with a low range box. Thing was unstoppble. wish i never sold it.

I had a 3door 1.8 1986ish follow up to that DL, it was permanent 4wd with a Hi/Lo selector between the front seats then had a slightly later one, 5dr and it had a 2wd, Hi and Lo selector, that thing was awesome in snow. My dad had a Series 2A Landy and we used to go out in the forests getting wood, the little 3dr Subaru usually had to tow the Landy out of the mess it would get into. Haha. Subaru made aware small 4X4s, really good fun and useful in the snow.

These guys are having such fun doing this comparison.

I'll take the old one , when Subaru went cvt they lost me .

Asking Subaru to provide you a car so you can do a "fair test" is rich considering you failed AGAIN to do the two things everyone does when offroading. 1) turn off the electronic nannies. 2) air down the tires.

Subaru really needs to ditch that CVT. either that or drastically change the low end gear ratios. You can hear the thing struggling. Or perhaps they need to do a low gear for starting off. I believe Toyota uses that in the Corolla, I think Nissan also. So that when you first take off is using a mechanical gear not stressing the CVT belt. Or Subaru needs to go to a multi speed traditional automatic. I would definitely take the DL, get the air conditioning working, and perhaps see about putting an aftermarket fuel injection system on it. That would help when you're off-roading as you get into some pretty crazy angles carburetors get unhappy.

Omg. Tommy is the best with the crazy commentary. "Squash"! Where does he get this stuff? And my favorite Russian. A great team!

I thought i had deja vu for mimute and swore I already saw this video but it was the previous gen. Love that old subby

I have an Outback Wilderness and the only Mods I made to it is slightly larger hybrid AT tires which gives me a bit over 10" clearance, and the stock skid plates which I installed myself. It has a lot of power with the Turbo and also it is geared lower than it's brothers, which is slightly offset by my slightly larger tires. I think it is the best of both worlds. If I baby it thru stop and go traffic I can get about 22 MPG (before break in it wasn't nearly that good, so I disagree that cars no longer need a breakin period). I;ve had trips where it got much better than that on the Freeway..As far as offroad capability it has handled everything I've needed it to with so much ease that I really haven't found the limits yet. I bought some gear to air down the tires, but on sand and snow I haven't needed to yet. But I haven't been on any really hard trails either. Nothing close to the left handed trail in this video, however I feel confident that my trim could only do better with almost twice the disposable power and lower gearing to boot. I also have much more control over modes, but frankly, again, tho I've been in snow and sand and some rough gravely truck trails, I have never felt the need to use Xmode, and Xmode is the kind of feature that unless you DO need it, you are better off with it off, because you will get a better ride with more fuel efficiency and overall smoothness. I'd like to try some of those roads and see how the Wilderness trim stacks up. Maybe if I get some time off (we are severely undermanned atm at work) I can arrange a hookup with the TFL guys for a day. I still have my stock wheels and tires (they are for sale) but I'd rather use the slightly larger and slightly more aggressive Falken Highpeaks Trail AT's I bought for it. Perfect tire for the car. The reason car manufacturers use the tires they sell the cars with is for purposes of better MPG ratings. It is not really a valid test of capability. But I get the need for consistency in testing over inflated stock tires on dirt trails despite the severe handicap it may introduce. Anyhow, great video. I like the older Subaru's, and the newer ones. Some of the ones in between were experiments when it came to offroad capability with CVT and Xmode evolving and some underpowered solutions to power some models. I think this is a fair test to compare against other AWD rigid frame cars, and in that respect I think the Subaru does fantastic. Of course if you compare it with real 4x4's, lower gear ranges, and articulating solid axles, both the capability and the METHOD of driving obstacles is changed, and you cannot compare METHODS, only results using different methods. You can literally crawl up with 4x4's, with AWD's and auto or auto cvt tranny's and torque vectoring you will have PAUSES, hesitations, and irregular power to the wheels in comparison. That is the compromise, but it gets the job done (most of the time). And that is all you can hope for with AWD Torque vectoring compromises. Personally I love em, because I love the ride, the lightness, the quiet, and the room, not to mention fuel economy in most cases. Anyhow, nuff said Databyter

I started out with a 1978 Brat, no low range so it struggled on steep hills, but it was the most enjoyable vehicle I have owned on the curvy gravel back roads. Next Sub was a 1982 GL wagon normally front wheel drive. pull up lever for 4 hi, and another pull for 4 low, that wagon could climb amazing muddy hills...best off road capability of any Subaru I've owned. Next was a 1991 Legacy wagon with 5 speed manual, the 82 GL was a tractor compared to it, but off road capability was no comparison. Current Subaru is a 2007 Legacy wagon with 5 speed manual, very similar awd to the 1991 with more features and power. Bottom line, I'd take the newer Legacy for everyday use and icy highways, and an old Subaru with low range for off road fun.

Like Old Subaru DL reminds me of my 84 Honda Civic wagon which I loved. Remember the days when small 4cy came with 5sp.

I had one of those old little DL when I was in my mid twenties, and it was one of the most fun cars I have ever owned until I rolled it. I always had a suspicion that it was better off road than the newer ones thanks for confirming it for me.

"Woah, that was some...motion." 🤣

Love the oldies- I’ve had a couple of DL hatchbacks 78&80 - one was a 4x- they rock on snow! Great cars-

Sorry I am late You may already know this but Anderson Design Fabrication in Oregon has what you need, maybe even on the shelf. They built a bunch of cool stuff for a Subaru Ascent video and that back spare tire/gas can nerfbar tailgate is probably both the best designed and built on I've ever seen on any 4x4 rig, ever.

That old subie is a beast... I think y'all should try some forester test. I own one and I think it's the most capable Subaru model personally.

Modern cars have improved drastically over the years in refinement and performance but they are still too heavy, like the new Outback.

What does it matter if the new Subarus have so much more horsepower and torque, if their computer system is going to decide for you, that you don't need all of that horsepower and torque, and take it away from you? Let's be honest. Subaru knows exactly who their consumer base is: soccer moms who commute daily on solid asphalt to and from the grocery store and to little league games. They may occasionally have to deal with snow in the winter, but that's about all they deal with. And since asphalt bound soccer moms who are more concerned with fuel economy, than offroading, are Subaru's measuring post, they go with a CVT transmission instead of a capable and competent automatic 5 or 6-speed. Instead of helpful offroad software (for those who need it) that can be disabled, if need be, for those experienced offroaders, they design an intrusive and debilitating "X-mode" software that effectively neuters the car, so it can protect the fragile CVT transmission. Just cut to the chase, and let your AWD system go, Subaru. If you can't handle the offroad heat, get out of the offroad kitchen!

Oh, man! I clicked on hoping to see Blaze! I'm so glad that Andre is still working.

Again, the same 2 issues you guys did in the last model Outback you did with this one. 1) Applied full throttle. 2) Didn’t turn off traction control.

You have to put the Subaru in manual mode and use the paddle shifter to put the car in 1st gear. In manual mode you put more hydraulic psi to the transmission.

Man I would love for you guys 2 put my all-wheel-drive Chevy Astro with the G80 rear Locker and 225 75 R16 all terrains with the 10 inch clearance at the differential and torsion bar lift on your video to see if I can make it one of your Trail you guys do videos on the Sprinter van but what about older conversion vans and passenger vans like mine but otherwise great video I love watching you guys

Try the Subaru "Onyx" turbo next. It has more AWD options than X-mode.

I was reading that when you lose traction in 1 front and 1 rear wheel, you should press the brake to "re-calibrate" the power distribution between the 2 wheels that has traction. Is that true in these new Subarus? (Outback, xv, forester)

I'd like to see the old DL against a 6spd manual Crosstrek with skids...or against the Wilderness Outback, Forester, and Crosstrek. The newer Subies can also be equipped by an owner with a Cusco LSD and a Torq Locker. Mudders and a winch can be bolted on now too.

You guys should drive the Onyx XT with dual X Mode. Mine has conquered everything I threw at so long as I had ground clearance. Night and day compared to that base model outback.

That 78 is so sweet did u see Andres fast when the front wheel lifted give it hell Andre,have u ever popped a tire on those rocks

I always look forward to seeing that old DL Subaru show up in a video.

I am surprised by a manufacturer that I wouldn’t have my “potential buy list” until now.

That old Subaru is in mint condition 🤤🤯♥️

Those aren't tow hooks on the '78, those are tie-down points for the boat ride.

These two cars are a metaphor to what happened to life in the past 40 years. People used to be happy-go-lucky, most people weighed less because no one had money to indulge, and everyone was active rather then sedentary. We did not need air conditioning, or power steering, or Bluetooth connectivity, radio, and maybe an 8 track player. We had a much fun, probably more and could do the same things that people do now. Life has become bloated like this new 2020 Subaru. It is a capable car, but it is too much. If I was a Subaru, or Peugeot, or Nissan, or Ford executive I would start marketing new cars with modern engines, brakes and materials but with old designs, like this 78 beauty. The old Peugeot 504 is another good example, and it might actually be able to do these challenges.

Thanks guys for testing Subaru’s. I have a 2017 Forester and for best results when off-roading, put the CVT in either low or manual-first gear. It makes a significant difference.

Everybody needs an Andre hug

I had an 81 Subaru and it had a low range in 4 wheel drive. It made a huge difference off road.

I really prefer that old Suvaru. It looks inexpensive to maintain and easy to park. I would be disappointed if Subaru doesn't granted Tommy's wishes. Tommy has been putting in great efforts of testing different ways whether the old or newer Subaru can do. We are a huge Subaru cars owners. Great work as always!

I loved Tommy’s impersonation of the new outback!

Some modern cars are high rated.Except for some few safety features added but in terms of engine out put and efficiency some old cars are still kings of the jungle.

Less electronic nannys wins and All Mechanical is still the king.