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As I mentioned in Part One of You Bought What?, there were a variety of cars that caught my eye as I shopped for a new vehicle for my family and me. Narrowing down to just a couple took a few weeks and several additional test drives. My final list included the Volvo V50 T5 AWD, the Subaru Outback XT Limited and the Baja Turbo. The Volvo V50 T5 is a very nice wagon, although the rear seat is a tad small for adults. The V50 and Outback were fresh designs for 2005 and both are handsomely sculpted. Both of these cars have won various awards for their style and innovation. You really can’t go wrong choosing one of these cars to take home.

The Baja’s design is based on the 2000-2004 Outback and while dated, the previous generation Legacy platform is still attractive. But let’s be honest - the overall shape and flow of the Baja will not win any design awards. Similar to the Subaru SVX, owning a Baja requires a step off the beaten path, but as an added bonus you will not pass another one on a daily basis.

The 2005 Outback XT Limited is a fun to drive yet very practical wagon. With room for five and luggage, it is a great choice for families on the move. Its 250-hp 2.5L has a bit of turbo lag and its taller suspension is softer than its Legacy GT brethren. Going head to head with the Volvo V50 T5 6-spd, I give the Outback XT the nod. The V50 is smaller and more nimble but its price is its downfall in this comparison. The XT has better rear seat legroom and cargo capacity. The performance between the two is nearly equal. Both of these cars are very refined and equipped with all the goodies to keep you comfortable on long trips or sprints to Home Depot and Blockbuster. The aftermarket performance scene may lean toward Subaru, but there are tuners developing power packages for the Volvo as well.

My search ultimately came down to the Outback XT Limited 5-spd and the Baja Turbo 5-spd. Odd choices to some but in the sub-$30k price range, these are a pair that I might consider best in their respective classes. The Outback XT Limited is an unmatched package at its price point. Sure, the Volvo Cross Country wagon may be a bit more refined at a slightly higher price but it is the combination of performance, features and price that put the Outback XT at the front of the pack.

After several back-to-back test drives I chose the Baja Turbo. Was the Baja Turbo the car I really, really wanted? No. But for $22,800 it was the less expensive of the two. The Baja is one of those cars that you can just drive and add miles to without worry. You can live with it day in and day out through all four seasons. Other more expensive cars will have you worried about stone chips and finding parking spots fifty yards from any retail store and whether or not you will have enough ground clearance to not scrape as you enter the parking lot at Taco Bell.

On paper and on the road, the Outback XT is a better car. So how and why did I choose to buy the Baja Turbo? The $8000 price difference was a large factor. But it was the minor things that really pushed me to the previous generation Legacy-based vehicle. Adding satellite radio and iPod integration into the 2005 Outback is very challenging given that the HVAC and head unit controls are all integrated on the dash panel. The Baja offers a double DIN head unit that can be replaced with your choice of audio system. I have been using XM Radio for the past six months and I have really grown to enjoy listening to CNBC, commercial free music as well as my local traffic conditions. I did not want to use an FM modulator. While this may seem like a silly reason not to get the latest generation vehicle, it did weigh heavily on my decision. I also like the fact that the Baja’s interior is simple. There is no automatic climate control system or other cutting edge innovations that would be expensive to repair out of warranty. While they are preferred safety items, the lack of seat side airbags actually allows easy installation of aftermarket seats.

When I finally made my decision, my local dealer found a Garnet Red Pearl Baja. Before it arrived I sat down to talk numbers. I asked to see the invoice and my salesman was happy to show it to me. I don’t like to beat around the bush and waste time when I begin the negotiation process. I looked to the lower left of the invoice, reviewed the holdback and floor plan values and made my one and final offer. The sales manager soon came over and gave me the old, “I spent money to get you the car you wanted. If I would have known it was going to be this kind of deal I wouldn’t have done it.” I replied with, “Okay, I can appreciate that but this is what I am willing to pay for the car. I am in no hurry so I can keep looking.” I closed up my folder and prepared to leave when in a fit of frustration the sales manager signed the paperwork.

Do I feel like I made the right choice? The truth is I still question the decision. I really wanted a car that I could potentially take to a track event. After researching, there really is no easy way to lower the 2005 Baja. Perhaps if I could simply bolt on a few 2000-2004 Legacy GT suspension components I would be more satisfied but for now that does not look like a possibility. The additional ground clearance has been fantastic in several inches of snow as well as rain-flooded streets. I also have to take into consideration that my wife and I have two kids and saving a few dollars here and there is always a good thing.

The Baja Turbo is fun to drive. I am finding small quirks with owning a Subaru. The metal is thin, the glass chips easily and you do hear road noise more so than you do in an Audi or Volvo. Subarus are less expensive for a reason but they are, more importantly, reliable. The manual gearbox is also more notchy than other brands and the stock seats are far less comfortable than the 2005 Legacy GT and Outback XT.

My future plans for the Baja include:

• Recaro “Style” seat installation
• XM Satellite Radio installation
• Tuning for additional horsepower
• Wheel and tire upgrade
• Suspension improvements

2006 will be the last year for this generation Baja. The cost of integrating smart airbags and with US Baja sales currently at or below 500 per month has brought an end to this unique truck-let. Perhaps the next time Subaru introduces a niche vehicle they will actually include it in their advertising.

Outback XT Standard Features:

• 250-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged boxer engine with Active Valve Control System (AVCS)
• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with limited-slip rear differential
• Heavy-duty independent raised suspension
• Reinforced 5-speed manual transmission
• 17 X 7.0-inch 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with high-performance all-season tires
• Performance-designed front seats

Horsepower / Torque (lb.-ft.)
250 hp @ 6000 rpm / 250 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity
16.9 gallons

Fuel Economy (city/highway)
Manual: 19/25 mpg, Automatic: 19/24 mpg

Brakes
4-wheel disc, ventilated front. 11.5-inch front / 10.6-inch rear. 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).

Turning Circle, curb-to-curb
35.4 ft.

Wheels
17x7.0-inch 5-spoke aluminum-alloy. Silver finish.

Tires
225/55 R17 95V high-performance all-season

Ground Clearance
8.7

Headroom: front/rear
40.5/39.1

Legroom: front/rear
44.1/33.9

Curb Weight (lbs.) (w/Manual Transmission)
3415/35001

Maximum Towing capacity (lbs.)
2700 (Class One)

Baja Turbo Standard Features and Specifications:

• 210-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine with Active Valve Control System (AVCS)
• Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with viscous-type limited-slip rear differential
• Heavy-duty independent raised suspension
• Switchback System: fold-down rear seatback with pass-through door to cargo bed area
• 5-speed manual transmission

Horsepower
210 @ 5600 rpm

Torque (lb.-ft.)
235 @ 3600 rpm

Fuel Tank Capacity
16.9 gallons

Fuel Economy (city/highway)
Manual: 19/25 mpg, Automatic: 18/23 mpg

Brakes
4-wheel disc, ventilated front. 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Front: 11.4. Rear: 11.3.

Turning Circle, curb-to-curb
36.7 feet

Wheels
16 x 6.5-inch 5-spoke aluminum-alloy. Gray finish. With optional Leather Package: 16 x 6.5-inch 6-spoke aluminum-alloy. Silver finish.

Tires
225/60 R16 97H M+S all-season

Wheelbase/Length
104.3 in./193.3 in.

Minimum Road Clearance (at curb weight)
8.4 in.

Headroom: front/rear
38.3 in./37.3 in.

Legroom: front/rear
43.3 in./33.5 in.

Curb Weight (pounds) (w/Manual Transmission)
3610

EPA Interior Volume (cubic feet)
90.5

EPA Cargo bed
Length: 41.5 in., Width: 49.0 in. (between wheelhouses: 39.2 in.), Height: 17.0 in.

EPA Cargo bed capacity (cubic feet)
17.7

Maximum Towing Capacity (lbs.)
2400 (Class One)

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