Ex - A men's or a women's car?

[sashki2]

I liked ex ever since it came out & thought that might be my next car since Subaru stopped making Legacy GT wagons. Well, my GT's engine went south about a month ago & now I drive EX. Anyway, ever since buying it I started noticing EX's more on the road - a natural human phenomena. What's strange though, I've never seen a man driving it. Obviously, I'm not saying there's no men owners, but nevertheless I find this my observation curious

[jmess]

There are a surprising number of women in my town driving Porches (other than the ugly Cayenne). A lot of women can appreciate a car that performs well and can afford to buy them. I personally really enjoy how the EX doesn't stand out in traffic or attract much attention from the street racers. If people think these car aren't manly it makes it even better. You get some pretty surprised looks when you pass somebody going around a corner or easily merge with traffic. Little SUV looking things aren't supposed to be that fast.

I share you lament about the Legacy GT wagon. In 08 I would have take a serious look at a GT Wagon. I am not an OutBack fan and never will be. What is the point of taking a good handling car then making it handle worse by adding additional weight and raising the center of gravity.

[sashki2]

I found interesting, that I've never seen a man driving an EX. Of course, statistically speaking, this doesn't mean much.

I was thinking to get a Outback XT (the turbo version) & put a GT suspension on it - a day long project. You can find a brand new OEM suspension for practically nothing on LGT forum. However, it was hard to find a good car with low miles for a right price & I stumbled on a deal on EX first. It's not like I regret it, but Subaru would be a "smarter", more practical choice in my situation. It's 0.3 seconds slower on 0-60 then EX, but has better suspension and more trunk space.

[EXceptional]

We've beat this topic to death.

A simple SEARCH would have turned up these...

ex35-a-man-s-car-or-a-woman-s-car-t310430.html

post5375360.html

post5371498.html

[PolarDog]

I found interesting, that I've never seen a man driving an EX. Of course, statistically speaking, this doesn't mean much.

I was thinking to get a Outback XT (the turbo version) & put a GT suspension on it - a day long project. You can find a brand new OEM suspension for practically nothing on LGT forum. However, it was hard to find a good car with low miles for a right price & I stumbled on a deal on EX first. It's not like I regret it, but Subaru would be a "smarter", more practical choice in my situation. It's 0.3 seconds slower on 0-60 then EX, but has better suspension and more trunk space.

I came from the Outback XT to the EX. The Outback XT had much more forgiving suspension than the GT. I had a WRX prior, and it beat this old man's bones up pretty good, so I was looking for a softer ride. The XT had power, but wasn't very tight in the turns and it was much much worse than the EX on gas mileage. That said, there were much more serious problems with the XT that caused me to check out the EX. In all respects, the EX feels much more solid than the XT, but this is just one man's opinion...

Pdog

[sashki2]

I test drove XT before I bought the GT & found no similarity in how they drive - like absolutely different cars. XT is simply not my kind of car, I absolutely prefer GT over XT. XT handling was numb in my opinion, I didn't feel the car.
What problems have you had with your XT? Mine was low compression in cylinders; probably due to bad exhaust valve. But it was too expansive to find out what really caused it. I had this crazy plan to fix the engine myself but everyone I know tried to talk me out of it and finally they convinced me.
I had 21.5 mi/galon on my GT with manual transmission, EX is a bit worse at 20.5.

[PolarDog]

I test drove XT before I bought the GT & found no similarity in how they drive - like absolutely different cars. XT is simply not my kind of car, I absolutely prefer GT over XT. XT handling was numb in my opinion, I didn't feel the car.
What problems have you had with your XT? Mine was low compression in cylinders; probably due to bad exhaust valve. But it was too expansive to find out what really caused it. I had this crazy plan to fix the engine myself but everyone I know tried to talk me out of it and finally they convinced me.
I had 21.5 mi/galon on my GT with manual transmission, EX is a bit worse at 20.5.

I totally understand about the XT not being your type of car. I was lucky that this one fit my need perfectly, but understand that the experience would be muted for most.

The "check engine" light went on one day and a failed oil pick-up tube was diagnosed. This caused me to question the integrity of the engine (and oil cooler, banjo filters, turbo-drive, etc...) I love the line that I saw in one of the posts: "...it's not a 'check-engine' light, it's a 'change-engine' light..." Anyway, with this being my everyday-driver and with driving two kids to and from daycare, I couldn't risk another failure.

EX has been great ever since.

[sashki2]

back to man/woman car.
Still seeing women driven EXs & yet to see a man
I wander what make a car attractive for women - in general and EX in particular?

[TomT]

Yesterday I saw 2 EXs with handicap tags. Now I'm wondering if it's a handicap persons vehicle?

[sashki2]

Yesterday I saw 2 EXs with handicap tags. Now I'm wondering if it's a handicap persons vehicle?

Your logic comparison is flowed.
My statement is: I've never seen men drivers, so it's a woman car since there's only two sexes as far as I know (with very few exceptions)
Your statement does not contradict mine but extends it. Some of those women are handicapped. :
I think I figured the cause for my observation. Though Ex is seemingly a station wagon G, it has less leg room then G. There's virtually no leg room for a back seat passengers when a driver is tall. On average, men are taller then women so for them Ex is not practical. I bet most men EX drivers either short, don't need room for a back seat passenger (no or small kids), or don't care if a back seat passenger is comfortable
We could do other stupid polls :
How tall are men EX drivers?
How selfish are men EX drivers?

[TomT]

Also
How gay are men EX drivers?

Just kidding, of course.

Honestly since your 1st post I have been looking and I agree women are the predominant drivers of EX's. But I live in Texas where it seems most men feel they have to drive the absolute biggest vehicle they can still see over the steering wheel with.

[RedwinGV]

Just like wearing pink. Men who feel good about their..... can wear pink and drive the EX

[EliB]

I bet most men EX drivers either short, don't need room for a back seat passenger (no or small kids), or don't care if a back seat passenger is comfortable
How tall are men EX drivers?
How selfish are men EX drivers?

Tall, yes. Selfish? I hope not.
At 6'1" I can sit normally and have another 6 ft guy in the rear seat behind me. I can drive 3 grown co-workers to lunch in comfort; nobody wants to be the 4th because of the hump. It's cozy but the concave seat back keeps it from feeling cramped. (yes, I have sat in the back).

On weekends, our 3 kids (3, 5, 7) fit just fine. When they are teenagers, maybe not so much, but that's why we also own a minivan.

-Eli

[Peaches57]

I'm female and I think the EX35 is one of the nicest looking cars out there. I love its smooth, svelte lines. Not that it's a "girlie" car, though. Definitely unisex in my opinion. Mine is the Dark Currant color, which I find to be pretty unique. I do see a lot of people, men and women, turning their heads to check out my EX as I'm driving down the highway. It's one gorgeous car!

As if the body wasn't enough, its performance is outstanding. Handles beautifully, and has such a powerful engine. I think it takes a lot of other "fast" car drivers by surprise. When I want to win ... believe me, I do!

[EXceptional]

Peaches... you've been a long time driver of an EX35.

How is the Color holding up? Does it show scratches?

[Peaches57]

Yes ~ 2+ years old, 34k miles, and it still looks gorgeous! Of course, I am an absolute crazy woman about where I park it. I'll search high and low for a huge end spot or sometimes you can even find a parking space all by itself, with curbs on both sides!

So I wouldn't say it's scratched, but from all the highway driving I do, it does have a few tiny chips on the hood from trucks kicking up rocks, etc. The touch-up paint works pretty well for these.

The Dark Currant is a really rich, gorgeous color. I get a lot of compliments on it, probably because you don't see this shade that often.

Love my EX-35!

[sashki2]

I love slow looking fast cars! Ex doesn't look all that slow, but it definitely much faster then it looks. My previous dorky Legacy GT Wagon looked even slower, but according to specs only about .3 sec slower then EX. Surprise is a beautiful thing, isn't it?

[RedwinGV]

Yup, I'm in that wolf in sheep's clothing camp. Although, I used to own a g35 coupe.

[Jason Tucker]

back to man/woman car.
Still seeing women driven EXs & yet to see a man
I wander what make a car attractive for women - in general and EX in particular?

Interesting...I see few Ex's in general and live in a population of a million...but have never seen a woman driving one with the ones I've seen.

Last week I had a woman yell at me in the grocery parking lot from her Jeep Cherokee...how do you like your EX...followed that two days later at a gas station with a man at the pump next to me say...hansome car, how do you like it?

[XIS]

Man here... women like it too because it is sexy!

[jmann]

I have to throw my .02 in here.... This was definitely a compromise vehicle for me, I wanted a g37x but it was my wife's turn to pick out a car, so I suggested the EX to her and she fell in love with it. She likes that it's not too big but you still ride up high, she hates being low to the ground which is how I prefer to ride. I had a lot of say in the decision as I am the driver most of the time when we ride together. It is big enough for a rear facing child seat (in the middle) that our 1 year old requires, and my 10 year old has plenty of space beside her. The stroller or the dog can fit easily in the back. We both agree that the EX meets our needs as a family without being gender specific, both of us like cars that go fast.