Subaruable

Proposing this as a term for roads where moderate clearance is required and all-wheel drive helpful, 4x4 not required. Feel like this would eliminate half of the approach questions for most places.

But which model of Subaru? I am pretty sure that a BRZ or a WRX are going to have a hard time in a lot of places that most Toyota Camrys can get just fine.

Shane F wrote:

But which model of Subaru? I am pretty sure that a BRZ or a WRX are going to have a hard time in a lot of places that most Toyota Camrys can get just fine.

Next time you pull into a trailhead parking area, look around. Those.

I haven’t met many unsubaruable roads in my outback.

Made it down and up metal masher unscathed 

Just saw this term somewhere on 14ers.com. I like it. I’ll probably never own a Subi, but this usage is pretty descriptive. 

I’m on my third SW/Outback. Got 350k out of the first one (85 GL SW)- loved that rig, and did a shit ton of adventure road trips in it, until it finally died for good. Second one was an Outback- only had it for a couple years, until building a house made it clear I needed a Tacoma. Got a 2019 Outback a few years ago, which is nice.

OB’s are kinda like older Volkswagens- there’s a cultish group that loves ‘em, in spite of their quirkiness. They have definitely gentrified over the years, and are nowhere close to the kind of adventure rig that they used to be. Clearance is good for a SW, and the interior is big enough to sleep in- I’m 6’ 4”, and I fit just barely. I’ve taken my Subs into a lot of cool spots- gotta learn their limits, but you can do a lot more with them than most SUV’s.

Subarus are like approach shoes, I'm always wary when they say "ah it's no big deal I did it in my Subaru/approachies". It will, in fact, be a big deal.

"I saw a Prius in there" usually smashes all models. Used to be VW bus or bug, now it's Prius. I've seen them in the damnedest places!

Cherokee Nunes wrote:

"I saw a Prius in there" usually smashes all models. Used to be VW bus or bug, now it's Prius. I've seen them in the damnedest places!

In my neck of the woods there’s a creek that swells up in the spring with snowmelt and guards access to the mountains until early summer. Several weeks ago, when the crossing was still in the realm of lifted Jeeps, I heard, “well, somebody got a Prius through.”

YMMV with that term. Against better judgement, we managed to get one of those old boat style Subaru Outbacks down and back out Schnebly Hill Road in Sedona. You can get those cars into some places they really shouldn't be able to go.

I believe I first heard that term 3 or 4 years ago. But I live in a town where the Subaru symbolizes some moral quality that I've yet to grasp.

Too vague. I propose a grading system.

1st class: Porsche 911

2nd class:  VW Jetta

3rd class: VW Vanagon Syncro

4th class: Jeep CJ

5th class: Jeep CJ modified for the Rubicon Trail

I’ve owned seven Subarus, 4 sedans, an Impreza hatchback, an Outback, and a Forester. Five of them were manuals that I personally replaced the clutch in. It’s fair to say I’m a fan. I’d be happy to wax on and on about the Subaru’s virtues, but that’s not what the OP asked for…

I think Subaruable is a pretty good term. I’d interpret it as an access road that a reasonably capable “grocery getter” (think Subaru, RAV4, CRV) can get past as long as you are willing to take a little risk, get out of your driving comfort zone, and be ok with the occasional bump or scrape.

I’d also add that Subaruable (to me) also implies some basic skills in vehicular self-rescue… changing out a flat tire, piling up rocks to get out of a rut, knowing where to attach a tow strap in case you need a little assist from a friendly fellow climber.

On the other hand, Subaruable (to me) does not mean that your AWD, crossover, rental is gonna emerge from that crag in pristine condition. 

M A wrote:

Subarus are like approach shoes, I'm always wary when they say "ah it's no big deal I did it in my Subaru/approachies". It will, in fact, be a big deal.

I'm the opposite. Whenever someone in the mountainproject comments 'barely made it' in their outback I know it's not that bad. '4x4 + high clearance only' is like A5 - until there's a confirmed dead Subaru, I'm calling BS. I've lived by this skepticism for the decade I've owned mine and had precisely zero off-road related repair costs.

I've yet to find a climbing trailhead that's un-subaruable. There's certainly 4x4 roads I wouldn't take it on, but I don't know of any that guard a climber's trail of note.

TThurman wrote:

. I’d be happy to wax on and on about the Subaru’s virtues, but that’s not what the OP asked for…

What would MP be without a thread drift?

Subaru wagons were one of the first, best adventure rigs- the early wagons had a crank under the back seat that would lift the rear suspension. I ripped out the back seat of my ‘85 and built a sweet sleeping platform with a little storage under it- could fit me & my gf in it- it was a Subaru bivy sack. Drove that thing all over the western ranges on shitloads of climbing trips, including the Al-Can highway. Replaced the engine twice, and at least half dozen CV joints, and lots of brakes. When it finally died for good, I shed a tear- it was so emblematic of adventure.

As years have gone on, though, Outbacks are now pretty much gentrified SUV’s, still with a set of quirks to them. But they are still relatively affordable (dirtbag…notsomuch), capable cars- a good choice for mountain living. People seem to either love them, or ignore them.

Solid

imprezzas are useless as tits on a boar hog. they have zero clearance. they are basicly a sports car. The rest of them subies are great. Vanagon syncros are beasts. I got my 89 honda civic into almost anywhere but I bet i had more clearance than an Impreza.  I did have some big dents in my floor pans and a softball sized dent in my oil pan ;)

Slight topic drift, but how essential is AWD for taking a Subaru down these "subaruable" roads? Are moderate clearance (8") vehicles with FWD generally good enough for subaru-ing?

Reason for asking is that I'm in the market for a new vehicle and something like the Ford Maverick Hybrid has moderate clearance and great gas mileage, but is FWD only. And I'm basically trying to find a unicorn that I can subaru to the crag while contributing as little as possible to carbon emissions.

D D wrote:

Slight topic drift, but how essential is AWD for taking a Subaru down these "subaruable" roads? Are moderate clearance (8") vehicles with FWD generally good enough for subaru-ing?

Reason for asking is that I'm in the market for a new vehicle and something like the Ford Maverick Hybrid has moderate clearance and great gas mileage, but is FWD only. And I'm basically trying to find a unicorn that I can subaru to the crag while contributing as little as possible to carbon emissions.

The Subaru AWD system is aimed at being more useful for slick (snow, mud) conditions than it is for off-roading. If you're driving in on a dry forest road that's not steep AND loose, I don't think AWD is especially needed or helpful. If you're driving in when the roads are still snow covered, that's another story. Clearance and angles are more important for most of these roads, at least during the prime seasons. 

Brandon R wrote:

The Subaru AWD system is aimed at being more useful for slick (snow, mud) conditions than it is for off-roading. If you're driving in on a dry forest road that's not steep AND loose, I don't think AWD is especially needed or helpful. If you're driving in when the roads are still snow covered, that's another story. Clearance and angles are more important for most of these roads, at least during the prime seasons. 

I would say AWD is helpful if you’re going to be going over lots of big rocks/loose dirt. 90% of climbing/camping approaches aren’t that, though. 

Brandon R wrote:

The Subaru AWD system is aimed at being more useful for slick (snow, mud) conditions than it is for off-roading. If you're driving in on a dry forest road that's not steep AND loose, I don't think AWD is especially needed or helpful. If you're driving in when the roads are still snow covered, that's another story.

Very true. And this shouldn’t be trivialized, if you do any kind of regular mountain driving. It is quite difficult to completely spin an AWD Subaru in snowy conditions- I’ve tried repeatedly, with each of the SW’s or OB’s I’ve owned…they just tend to stick to the road.