July 7, 2018 marked the first year of life with Oliver the Outback. It’s been a beautiful year, filled with commutes and adventures, and I am beyond happy that I chose Subaru. At the one year mark, I had over 28,000 miles on the odometer and countless hours of rocking out to my jams. (Check out my 6-month update here)
Features I (still) Love
- Climate Control - The system has me cooled off before I leave the parking garage, it's fantastic and stays strong as the sun beats in on my hour long commute home. Good cooling goes a long way during Texas summers.
- Entertainment - My music has never sounded so good, and I've always had upgraded sound systems in my cars. I love the steering wheel controls and the Bluetooth connects swiftly every time.
- Visibility - Driving through traffic can be hazardous, but I have great lines of sight in the Outback that pair nicely with the safety features to ensure I get home in one piece.
- Safety - EyeSight has saved me more than once, both in alert and automatic braking, as well has eased commutes with adaptive cruise control for the less congested areas.
- Interior Design - Controls, handles, and storage are logically laid out and my RTIC tumbler fits perfectly in the cupholder
- Gas Mileage - With a large tank, long range, and excellent highway mileage, the Outback is designed for road trips. Added bonus, I only have to fill up once per week for commutes. Total win.
The Places We Went
- To Work - as boring as it may seem, I need to get there to make money to take adventures so I'm glad I don't have to worry about anything because Oliver the Outback is takin' care of business.
- 52 Hikes With Mike - While I've had to fly and rent cars for a few hikes, I've taken Oliver to places both near and far to get a good hike in. I love the custom rubber tray in the back because it contains the mess from my sweaty pack and dirty hiking boots.
- Michigan - I'm from the mitten state, so in June of 2018 we drove on up to visit my family and it was a superb ride. We only had to stop a few times for gas, which made me happy. Oliver the Outback crossed the Mighty Mackinaw Bridge, got dusty on the Northern Michigan back roads, and took us safely 3145.1 miles.
Oh, the Places We Will Go!
Going forward, I have a few trips in the back of my mind that I want to take that Oliver the Outback will be perfect for. Once the weather cools, we'll hit up the campgrounds out west in Texas, and visit Big Bend. Until then, I plan to make an appearance in the Santa Fe National Forest and take a quick trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Here's to another year of safe commutes and amazing adventures!