[edmsvx]

I experience this often when it is very cold out (-20 degC or colder). On both svx, my wife's 01 Outback and the old 90 legacy. In most cases the pedal responds okay after the first application. In other cases (like today) half a dozen or so applications.

It feel like exactly like there is no vacuum assist. Not sure what causes this but brakes always okay after they function correctly once. Never dug into this but I expect there maybe a check valve in the brake booster that maybe frozen in place. Maybe someone has more information to help explain.

The brakes feel worse than normal application without vacuum assist was normally the engine ilde is higher because it is still cold.

Something I was taught years ago was to test all safety systems before you drive way. Move a couple of feet and then do a brake test.