Other sites
NADA, Kelly Blue Book, Carfax

note- added 3/18/10; an aftermarket upgraded head gasket is available aftermarket

April 2000, Institute for Highway Safety rates Legacy a 'BEST PICK'  in the front end offset crash test!  See for yourself: Legacy test.

WILDERNESS TIRES, and the Firestone tire recall. The Wilderness tires used on the 2000-01 Legacy Outback are NOT the same as the recalled Wilderness Light Truck tires used on Ford Explorer and other SUVs. Subaru uses a passenger tire made with a different process than the truck tire. You don't have to worry. If you have questions please contact your local tire company or 

NOW Available October 27, 2000: new 6cylinder models:  3.0L H-6 cylinder Outback Limited LL Bean and VDC wagons with 212 horsepower. 

• L.L. Bean model
• VDC (Variable Dynamics Control all wheel drive) model. 
• note: I've heard there may be a few 6 cyl Limited that aren't LL Bean or VDCs. These would be very early models. 

New on all 2001 Outbacks: 
new all 2001 Outbacks get larger front, 11.4-inch ventilated disc brakes with twin-piston calipers
new all 2001 Outbacks get a dual-mode digital trip odometer in the dashboard.
new all 2001 Outbacks get an outside temperature gauge in the dashboard (except LL Bean and VDC with outside temp. in climate control panel)
new all 2001 Outbacks have front seat back net pockets
new all 2001 Outbacks rear wiper now one speed intermittent.
new all 2001 Outbacks have rear outboard child seat anchor tie-downs, metal hooks that you attach the child seat base to.
new all 2001 Outbacks center armrest cupholder no longer has the little 'pop-out' thing that holds cup tight.

new warranty all 2001 Outbacks- 3year/36,000 mile warranty now includes service adjustment (adjustment performed one time)
new warranty all 2001 Outbacks- 3year/36,000 mile warranty includes Wear Items: covers keyless remote battery, brake pad/shoe linings, clutch disk lining, wiper blades

New on standard (in other words on *non* Limited) 2001 Outbacks
new The viscous limited-slip rear differential now standard on all Outbacks
new Dual illuminated vanity mirrors now standard on all Outbacks
new Birch White now with beige cloth, so *gray* cloth is only available with Sapphire Pearl Blue

New on all Limited 2001 Outbacks
new New Color: White Frost Pearl on the 3.0L models.
new Limited wagon is now available in Wintergreen. 
new Limited Outback Sedan now available with beige leather interior.

new two new Limited models with the new 3.0 H-6 cylinder: LL Bean and VDC

new on the H6 models (other than the 6 cyl engine)
Climate control with outside temp guage
New design alloy wheels
Momo leather and wood steering wheel
8 way power driver's seat (power reclining)
Rear seat armrest
McIntosh Stereo (VDC only)

Maintenance

• Oil : 1st oil change 3months/3,000 miles. 
• 3,750 oil change interval or 7,500 interval under easy drving conditions
• 7,500 miles: rotate tires
• 15,000 miles: replace filters check hoses, belts, brakes etc
• 30,000-60-90,000 miles: 15,000 service plus replace spark plugs, all fluids etc
• 105,000 miles: timing belt

• Phase II, 2.5L  SOHC 4 cylinder boxer

• Horsepower: 165 hp at 5600 rpm, 
• Torgue: 166 ft. lbs at 4000 rpm 
• Fuel system: multi-port sequential fuel injection with distributorless electronic ignition
• California Low Emission Vehicle (LEV), all 2000 models

• new 3.0L DOHC H-6 cylinder engine.

This all new  engine has an aluminum crankcase, double-overhead camshafts (dohc) chain-driven with four valves per cylinder. The timing chain does not have a replacement schedule- suggested replacement of the rubber belt on the 2.5L 4 cyl is 105,000 miles.
The 6 cylinder uses Direct Ignition with an individual ignition coil  for each cylinder so there is no distributor or sparkplug wires.
The H6-3.0 produces nearly 30 percent more horsepower and  torque than the 165-horsepower 2.5-liter H-4 and is only 0.8 inches longer. Premium fuel, 91 octane, is recommended.

• 212 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
• 210 lb.-ft. of peak torque @ 4,400 rpm
• 174 lb.-ft of torque @ 2,200 rpm

 
Dual-Stage Intake And Exhaust
The H6-3.0 uses a variable intake manifold and a dual-stage muffler to optimize power delivery throughout the
engine speed range. Low-speed and mid-range power have not been compromised for high-rpm power, and vice versa. The
variable intake manifold features an induction control valve that provides two intake characteristics. Below 3,700 rpm the valve remains closed to create a long intake runner length, helping to boost low-end and mid-range power. When the valve opens above 3,700 rpm, the manifold creates a "scavenging" or light supercharging effect, allowing each cylinder to catch
high-pressure waves of intake air bouncing off the opposite side of the manifold. 

A mechanical valve in the rear muffler varies muffler volume to help enhance engine power in different speed ranges. At lower
engine speeds (around-town driving, for example), the valve remains closed to provide a smaller-volume muffler chamber. The resulting level of exhaust back-pressure enhances power at these speeds. When exhaust pressure reaches about 22 psi -- which occurs at about 2,400 rpm -- the valve opens to allow exhaust gas through an additional chamber. The resulting
increased muffler volume reduces exhaust back-pressure, enhancing power at higher speeds. Muffler valve operation does
not affect the noise level. 

• Active All Wheel Drive, all models except VDC Limited. 

Manual transmission: Center differential that splits and constantly varies power, usually 50/50 front to back
Automatic transmission: electronically controlled, constantly varying front-to-back power split.

• new VDC, VTD All Wheel Drive, VDC (variable dynamic control) model only

VDC: (variable dynamics control) The overall name of the system (also the model with that system) of full time traction control that senses vehicle direction and uses brakes, throttle and engine management to control and maintain stabilty.
VTD (variable torque distribution) new All Wheel Drive system that transfers powers front to back. Usually 45/55 front to back split.
The way the system operates, the VDC Outback is always in all wheel drive, using a Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) of 45/55 power split. When there is slipping the VTD system will vary and adjust that front to back 45/55 power split. 
When the wheels are spinning or the vehicle is not going in the direction it is being steered, the  VDC (variable dynamic control) engine management system kicks in and will use brakes to slow down wheel spin and control vehicle direction, and also control engine output to cut back power to the wheel (wheels) that do not have traction, again to reduce wheel spin and re-direct the vehicle in the direction it is being steered.

2.5L 4 cyl: Manual transmission: 21/27
2.5L 4 cyl: Automatic transmission: 22/27
regular unleaded gas, low fuel warning light

3.0L 6 cyl: Automatic transmission: 20/27
no manual transmission available
Premium unleaded gas recommended, low fuel warning light

Fuel tank capacity: 16.9 U.S. gallons

Ground clearance: 7.3"
Wheelbase: 104.3"
Overall length: wagon 187.4", sedan 184.4"
Overall width, all models: 68.7 (78.2. including mirrors), 
Overall height: wagon 62.2" with roof rails, 63.3 with roof rails plus crossmembers, sedan 58.3"
Head room front/rear:  Outback wgn 40.2"/39.1", Outback Limited wgn: 38.5/37.2, Outback sedan 38.1/36.3
Leg Room front/rear: Outback wgn: 43.3"/34.3", sedan 43.3/34.2
Turning radius: 36.7 ft 
Angle of approach: wagon: 18.3 degrees, Angle of Departure: 21.0 degrees, Ramp Breakover angle:  17.3 degrees
Angle of approach: sedan: 18.3 degrees, Angle of Departure: 22.9 degrees, Ramp Breakover angle:  17.3 degrees

Outback: 3415 manual, 3480 auto
Outback Limited: 3,500 manual, 3,565 auto
LL Bean: 3,715
VDC: 3,735
Outback Sedan: 3,485

Front: MacPherson struts
Rear: single upper, dual lower links with coil spring and shock absorbers

New Dual stage deployment front passenger airbag
New Child seat anchors for the rear outboard positions
Child seat tethers (3)
Crumple zones front and rear, drop down motor design.
Rear seat shoulder harnesses with 3 headrests (except with optional child seat)
Double front door beams, rear door beam 
Height adj. front seatbelts with electrical pre-tensioners, force limiters
Dual airbags (plus front side airbags on Limited model only)