Well, guys, It's been a long day for me.....and I'm tired. Just getting around to posting now.
After all the time, chat, recommendations, and shopping with so many other people for their new cars, it's my turn now. I usually...not always.... get new wheels at 4-6 year intervals. Some of you know I was somewhat torn between the excellent 2005-2006 Legacy / Outback, the much more expensive ( and also excellent ) 2006 GS300 AWD (which I test-drove and wrote-up several months ago ) , waiting for the upcoming 2006 IS250 AWD, and indulging in a Detroit muscle-car like the GTO, Mustang GT, or Charger RT.
Though it would be nice to go back to my youth with the late 60's muscle-cars, I was not impressed with the overall build quality on any of American muscle-cars I looked at. The Mustang's interior, especially, was C-H-E-A-P even if nicely retro-styled. I also considered a top-line L.L. Bean Forester but was not impressed with the steering and ride.
The GS300 AWD was excellent in many ways but was a pretty good chunk of cash.....even after selling my IS300. The upcoming IS 250 AWD, while having a nice interior, is going to have minimal ground clearance and somewhat harsh-riding ( for my tastes ) ......45-series tires. 55-series tires like on my present IS will not be an option like it was 4-5 years ago. Also, DIY oil-changes and minor service is difficult on many Lexus products I've seen. I like some Buicks and the way they ride, but I am not impressed with their build quality....although Consumer Reports ranks the reliabilty of some of them quite high. While I personally don't believe in auto stereotypes and have written at length against them........most of you who know me know that.......the unfortunate fact is that Buick DOES have a reputation, justified or not, as a Grandpa / Grandma car. But you also have to consider that I am not a very young person myself anymore.

So....you guessed it.....I came home today with a new 2006 Outback. Atlantic Blue monotone with a light beige (taupe) brushed-aluminim and wood-trim interior. This color scheme is new for 2006, although i would have preferrred the two-tone blue / gray they had last year and dropped this year. I don't have a digital picture I can load, but here is a rough picture of it on a Subaru website: It looks bright blue in the picture but is actually a very sophisticated gunmetal-blue.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/outback/outback2006.html

I have thought for some time now that this car, along with some new Hyundais, represents one of the best bargains on the marketplace....but Hyundai / Kia does not produce a vehicle like the Legacy or Outback. Their AWD's are essentially tall, tipsy, narrow, car-based SUV's. IMO the Outback was a steal at $25,000 out the door ( yes...out-the door-everything) .....4-stage heated seats, 8-way power driver's seat, electric de-icers in the lower windshield for the front wipers, a slick, Lexus-like fit-and-finish inside, and a proven AWD system.....one of 5 different AWD systems Subaru produces. And, of course, knowing the salesperson very well and having dealt with him several times before with my brother and neighbors didn't hurt either.....he bent over backwards to give me a good deal.
There are turbo Legacy / Outback versions for the speed freaks but most of you know I'm not a hard driver and don't need the extra power. In fact, with gas prices headed up even more the way they are ( this is going to be a serious concern....trust me) I wanted something with fairly good mileage and regular gas. Subaru, of course, does not market diesels....all of their engines are either H4 or H6 gas-powered. I also wanted foul-weather TRACTION...something my IS300, while a superbly-built car, never had. I've said many times....and still honestly believe....that Subaru does the best job in AWD systems in the $30,000 and under class. Lexus, of course, builds excellent AWD systems, but they all run at least $40,000....and sometimes much more. Ditto for the sophisticated Acura RL SH AWD....it is $50,000.
Anyhow, I had PLENTY of money in my checking acount saved up for a new car and COULD have bought a much more expensive car than I did, ( yes....even the new GS 300 AWD ) but I felt this was the wisest thing to do now.....and use the extra money I didn't spend to buy tax-free bonds for my retirement income.....something I will be glad I have later.

OK.....I know some of you may think I got an old man's car...too stodgy, too low-powered and too mundane for your tastes. You're entitiled to your opinion...but I am quite satisfied.