Subaru Repair: 2.5 L Engine, boxer engine, shift points

Question
It's not that it runs rough.  At idle is sound normal and well as at a constant driving speed, but as I stated when you are revving up from 1st to 2nd to 3rd etc. it not as smooth as if you were driving a Toyota or Honda.  I'm new to Subaru.  The guy I'm buying the car from said that it the style of the engine; a sideways 4 cylinder vs. straight 4 cylinder.  He also said it's a boxer engine?Does that make sense?
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-----Question-----
I'm in the process of purchasing a 1998 Outback (5 spd manual) with the 2.5L engine.  When I first drove the car the engine sounded a little like a Volkswage Bug when your in 1st gear revving up to 2nd an dso on.

I then test drove the same year in a automatic and noticed the engine was a lot smoother.  Is this becuase it's an automatic?
-----Answer-----
Did it get better as the car got warm?You mentioned it was when you 1st drove the car.A 5spd gives you better control over your shift points over an auto and you may get increased noise with increased rpms but im not sure if thats what you are talking about.

Answer
I wasn't trying to suggest it was running rough i was trying to explain to you that in an automatic car.The transmission dictates the shift points.In a manual trans.car you dictate the shift points most of the time you will shift gears at a higher rpm then an auto trans car would the higher the rpm the more engine noise.So yes a manual trans car may have a different sound to it than a auto trans car.But all that being said you should have the car inspected by someone who knows Subaru prior to buying it.Im sorry but i just cant give you the piece of mind you are looking for based on your post.Yes Subaru has a different sound to it then the other Asian imports.But i don't know that the car you are looking at is ok.I hope this helps you