When Pieter got his driver’s licence, his grandfather gave him his 2004 Subaru Outback.
Six years later he still owns it, it’s in great condition, and it will likely stay his daily driver for years to come.
For him, there is no other brand that makes the cut.
He also owns a 15-year-old Subaru Forester, and he’s looking at expanding his garage with – you guessed it – another Subaru.
Pieter was happy to share his obsession with the brand with TopAuto, and you can read his views below.
What model do you own, and when did you get it?
I have a 2004 Subaru Outback 2.5 Limited with 190,000km on the clock.
My grandfather bought the car as a near-new model and gave it to me in 2015 after it had done around 85,000 kilometres.
What are your three favourite things about the car?
I like the air-conditioner. Even after 17 years it still works great and I use it every day.
The space is also a big plus.
I take a 2,000 kilometre trip every few weeks and my car always has enough space for whatever and whoever I want to take with, and for what I bring back.
It’s also highly reliable. I’ve never had a breakdown or any unscheduled services – and the four-wheel-drive system makes driving in any condition easy.
Which three things do you like least about the car?
It’s difficult and expensive to find parts in South Africa.
I had to replace my mirror housing once, and the part wasn’t easy to find or cheap to get.
The automatic door lock had to be replaced in 2019, too, which cost me more than I’d like to admit.
The 2.5-litre petrol engine is not exactly economical, either, but I don’t mind the weekly trips to the filling station as it keeps my windscreen clean and my oil levels full.
My biggest grudge with this car, however, is that it just does not break – and that means I can’t upgrade.
What is it like to drive your car every day?
The suspension is smooth which makes it feel like I’m floating, and the seats are very comfortable
I enjoy the ride and handling, and there is nothing I can, or want to, complain about.
What is the hardest journey you have ever taken with your car?
We went to the Lush festival in Clarens a few years ago, and while we were there a rainstorm came up like few before.
It created a lot of mud and overflowing rivers, and nearly every vehicle was bogged down – except for my Outback.
Even with the car packed to the roof with passengers and camping equipment, it drove across a flooded bridge like a breeze, and the only mud I had to touch was when washing my car when I got home.
Would you recommend your car to friends and family?
Yes, if they want a car for travel and adventure.
It’s an extremely safe and capable vehicle with a lot of extra features, and you can go anywhere with it.
Pieter’s Subaru Outback Adventures – Photos
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