DEALER FOCUS – Oakridge Automotive
If you’re a used car buyer on a budget, Oakridge Automotive has a range of pre-owned vehicles to suit your needs – and your wallet. From light commercials to family sedans, they also stock small crossovers, large SUVs and serious four-wheel drives.
With a sales team that boasts more than 40 years’ combined experience in the industry, Oakridge Automotive pride themselves on their expertise across a variety of pre-owned vehicles, plus their great service.
Located at Car City Ringwood, Oakridge Automotive has a stock lineup that changes regularly, so if what you’re after isn’t available today, it’s likely to be coming in soon. If you want something specific, Oakridge Automotive can find it for you. Test drives are available, too.
All vehicles in stock come with a Victorian RWC, plus all stamp duty and transfer fees. Each vehicle has also been thoroughly mechanically inspected to be eligible for an optional 5-year unlimited km warranty – in partnership with Integrity Extended Warranty.
Finance is also available on-site (in partnership with Horizon Finance Group), with a wide range of options available, plus low rates and quick approvals. The personalised service that Oakridge Automotive offers in helping you find the right car extends to assisting you find the right finance solution, too. The team are there to help you through the process, ensuring you get a finance package that best suits your circumstances.
Oakridge Automotive also buy cars. If you’re looking to sell your current vehicle, call into their yard at Car City Ringwood, or complete the online form to receive a free valuation. Same day payment and payout of finance contracts are available. Oakridge Automotive can also come to you for a valuation. Contact the team to find out more.
Oakridge Automotive, Yard 28, Car City Victoria (415-473 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood).
Open 8:30AM to 5:30PM Monday to Friday, 9:00AM to 5:00PM Saturday and 10:30AM to 5:00PM Sunday.
LMCT: 12361
CONTACT US
To get in touch with Oakridge Automotive, click HERE.
4x4 FOR SALE
Here’s a 4x4 currently available at Oakridge Automotive:
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
- 3.6-litre six-cylinder Boxer petrol engine
- Six-speed CVT
- Permanent all-wheel drive
- Sunroof, leather trim, 12-speaker stereo
- Impressive safety features
A couple of years ago, Subaru announced they were ending production of the Outback for Japan. That sent a scare through the local market, as Australian enthusiasts thought they’d be losing this popular model, too. Those fears have since been allayed, with the model continuing locally and remaining a key pillar of Subaru’s Australian lineup. The MY26 Outback landed earlier this year, introducing a new, more off-road focussed ‘Wilderness’ variant.
Thanks to Australian driving conditions that make a vehicle with AWD grip a practicality (and sometimes a necessity), we’ve been one of the Outback’s better overseas markets, at least per capita. Usually Subaru’s second- or third-best seller in Australia, the Outback has only been outsold by the Forester and, more recently, the Crosstrek.
It’s so ubiquitous in Australia that it may seem hard to believe the Outback has only been available here since 1996. The name seemed like it was selected specifically for our market, but was actually chosen to pitch the vehicle to the USA. Paul Hogan – still a hot property over there, despite Crocodile Dundee being released a decade earlier – was used to advertise the new model in the US in 1995.
Based on the Liberty station wagon (badged as ‘Legacy’ in some markets), the first three generations of Outback blurred the line between wagon and SUV, but more recently, the model has stepped firmly into the latter category.
The fifth-generation Outback arrived in Australia in 2015, offering revised styling, improved comfort and more standard features, but familiar engine options, transmissions and mechanical spec from the fourth generation, Subaru’s signature symmetrical all-wheel drive system as standard.
For a 2017 Outback, the lineup – 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 3.6R, 2.0D and 2.0D Premium - was largely defined by engine choices. All were of the signature Boxer type, ranging from a naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre petrol four, to 2.0-litre turbo diesel four and 3.6-litre naturally-aspirated petrol six. The 2.5 and 3.6 petrol engines were only available with a six-speed CVT, but the turbo diesel could be matched to a six-speed manual or seven-speed CVT. A curiosity was a six-speed CVT for the 2.0T/D, but only in a “Fleet Edition”.
A facelift for 2018 saw the manual finally dropped, making for an all-CVT offering.
One of the key things to note with a 2017 Outback like the example featured is that it was only available as a five-seater, regardless of trim level. In an SUV world where seven-seaters were becoming increasingly common, the Outback retained five chairs, which in turn meant decent luggage space and no compromises on fuel capacity. On the outback 3.6R, those chairs gained leather accents, with leather applied to the steering wheel and shifter boot, too. Other premium touches on what was the most expensive Outback variant when new included power front seats, keyless entry, push-button starting, a power sunroof and 12-speaker stereo system.
It should be noted that many of these features were also available on the MY17 Outback 2.5i Premium, so the choice really came down to the 129kW and 235Nm from the 2.5 engine, or the 191kW and 350Nm produced by the 3.6. By way of comparison, peak outputs from the 2.0 turbo diesel were 110kW and 350Nm. Another advantage with the 3.6 was its greater towing capacity – 1,800kg vs 1,500kg – but the six-cylinder was thirstier than the 2.5, with listed fuel consumption of 9.9lt/100km (combined cycle).
Luggage space ranged from 512 litres with the rear seats occupied to 1,801 litres with them folded. A cargo blind, optional when new, has been fitted to this vehicle.
Other standard features on the MY17 Outback 3.6R included powered and heated mirrors, a power tailgate, roof rails,18-inch alloy wheels with a full-sized spare, fully independent suspension, ventilated disc brakes front and rear, LED lighting (with auto dipping and see me home function for the headlights), DRLs, foglamps and privacy glass on the rear windows.
In the cabin, occupants benefitted from dual-zone climate control, multiple storage options and heated front seats, while the driver also got lumbar adjustment and memory function. Paddle shifters for the CVT were also on the 3.6R spec list, along with a multi-function steering wheel (with speed-sensitive power steering), electric parking brake, Bluetooth, satnav and voice recognition.
The 7.0-inch central touchscreen may seem small by modern standards, but was typical for when this SUV was new, as was the CD player and only a pair of USB ports. The age of this vehicle means Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity wasn’t on the spec list, nor was DAB digital radio.
Safety equipment started with seven airbags (including first- and second-row head airbags) and included ABS, EBD, ESC, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Sensor Emergency Brake Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Collision Avoidance with Braking, and a rear camera, all as part of Subaru’s ‘EyeSight’ system. This was enough to earn the MY17 Outback the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating when new.
In terms of off-road capability, Outbacks are pretty handy in mildly challenging terrain, as well as on slippery surfaces thanks to the standard AWD. This was enhanced by the selectable driving modes and ‘X-Mode’ torque vectoring that included Hill Descent Control.
The 213mm ground clearance and lack of underbody protection means that tackling anything more challenging is unwise, but for those determined to do so, there are enough products from the aftermarket to turn an Outback like this into a tougher beast.
Equipped with a nudge bar and roof racks as offered, the listed mileage on this 2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R was 195,125km at time of writing. As with all used vehicles, inspection is recommended, while the assurance of an extended warranty available through Oakridge Automotive is a smart investment.
For more details, visit Oakridge Automotive, or click HERE.
To see other used vehicles from Oakridge Automotive at Car City Ringwood, click HERE.
