I am in the market for a new 2005 Outback. I am trying to decide on the 3.0 or 2.5 turbo. Most of the time I will be driving near sea level though every 4 to 6 weeks I will be in the Eastern Sierra over 7,500 feet. I will drive dirt roads and climb steep dirt-gravel roads in the mountains - I will be driving pretty slow usually due to the road conditions which are pretty bad - lots of rocks, ruts, snow etc. - and I am concerned whether the 2.5 turbo can lug in the same fashion as the 3.0. The power in the 3.0 is very linear but it really jumps in the 2.5 turbo when the power comes on. I have driven both though not on dirt roads. The power jump for the turbo could be an issue in my driving conditions. I no longer race over dirt roads as I may have in the past. I am leaning towards the 3.0. Any advice?

Well at high elevations the turbo will be less effected by the low oxy situations up there! I would go for a turbo in the high mountains, the N/A six will get wheezy up there!

 

 

 

 

I am in the market for a new 2005 Outback. I am trying to decide on the 3.0 or 2.5 turbo. Most of the time I will be driving near sea level though every 4 to 6 weeks I will be in the Eastern Sierra over 7,500 feet. I will drive dirt roads and climb steep dirt-gravel roads in the mountains - I will be driving pretty slow usually due to the road conditions which are pretty bad - lots of rocks, ruts, snow etc. - and I am concerned whether the 2.5 turbo can lug in the same fashion as the 3.0. The power in the 3.0 is very linear but it really jumps in the 2.5 turbo when the power comes on. I have driven both though not on dirt roads. The power jump for the turbo could be an issue in my driving conditions. I no longer race over dirt roads as I may have in the past. I am leaning towards the 3.0. Any advice?