Fully loaded VDC outback

It all started with a Ford Ranger (2000) 4x4. Prior to that is was always a sedan with front wheel drive for added traction. It was beautiful but sluggish and had a strong hint of instability during normal highway speeds and adverse weather condtions. Yep..traded up to an Explorer XLT 2000 model fully loaded with every option available. Ahhhh..this was better, more power with the V-6 DOHC engine,and more interior plushness. On the road it even felt smoother with the additional power but cornering on these Allegheny mountains gave me a feeling that a roll over could easily be achieved if the oversensitive steering wheel were turned just a tad more.
Two weeks ago while just driving for something to do I decided to stop at Subaru dealership to look at what I heard about in these cars with NO intention of every trading in that beautiful and plus Harvest gold (color)Explorer of mine.
A saleman met me as I was coming to a stop (naturally) and said.."want to see a cream puff just turned in?", this turned me off but what the heck...I was there and thought I'd pasify this guy or at least make him look good to his boss stareing through the window. Both my wife and I got out and followed him to a 2001 Subaru known as the Outback VDC model with the big 6 cylinder. Having never been in a Subaru I agreed to sit in it while he went through more technical information than I had in Mechanical engineering 101 while in college. While sitting in that car I starting feeling like PART of this SUV, unlike the Explorer where I felt like I was in control of a big machine of some kind. Next thing I knew he jumped in the back seat, handed me the keys and said "let's take it for a spin". What the heck, my wife and I had gotten this far, why not drive it a mile or so. The first sound of the starter brought the engine to life, although I couldn't feel it or hear it. Very carefully I dodged all kinds of cars getting out of that auto display area and I was surprised how easily I could do it. After finally making it to the highway I was immediately over-whelmed with the smoothness and effortless ability to reach highway speed. The ride was like going from a toy kids wagon on a gravel road to a limo on a newly paved highway. Was I becoming impressed at this time..a little to say the least. My "saleman" passenger said "try out the passing power" which I did and found myself being pushed against the seat..enough already! By the time we tried out a couple winding narrow roads and returning back to the dealership my mind boggled with the thought..where has this car been all my life?
There are so many pluses and darn few (if any) minuses for this car that it would take a book to explain them all so my recommendation for the "technical" aspects is to continue reading all the prior reviews. In conclusion, this is the finest SUV of it's type in the world and improving on it seems nearly impossible less it might be lowering the price a little but that would be it. Did I go home with it..you can bet your bottom dollar I did and even after a couple thousand miles I still can't wait to go out to the garage and find an excuse to drive it..I noticed my wife doing the same thing. "Try it and you'll like it" was the commerical by the little boy and the cereral but when it comes to the Subaru 2001 VDC Outback the saying changes to "Try it and you'll LOVE IT!!