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Comments
I'd go back to the dealer to cancel your order and let them know how and why they lost your business, in the hopes that they'll improve their service for the next guy. The $50 is not important IMO.
Bob: if the new Legacy arrives in 2005, I bet the Baja comes a year later.
Patti said something about driving in a figure 8 pattern a couple of times to break-in the AWD system. Try that and see if the tranny (drivetrain really) feels smoother.
But I agree with paisan - you've got 5 driveshafts slowing you down when you let off the gas.
Brown usually likes Subies, he gave the 2001 Forester a rave review, even mentioning the 2.5l felt like a 6 cylinder (he reached 60 in 9.1s with an auto), much quicker than his Sante Fe V6.
In a scale from 1 to 10, I'd give him about a 6 on technical accuracy though. 24 mpg is fantastic, no pickup could come close.
-juice
Bob
http://www.detnews.com/2002/autosconsumer/0209/10/g01-577594.htm
Ed
Bob
I say put the H6 along in the current model, call it the 3.0. Then create a cheaper 2.5 model with cloth seats, and maybe make the moonroof optional.
Actually went to a dealer yesterday, but they were swapping out the water pump for that recall IIRC. It was pre-sold, too, so I'm still waiting to sample one.
-juice
Stephen
You ought to head over there to drive one. The one I took out was yellow.
Bob
Just a reminder that every Thursday you can join the Subaru Crew for a chat session from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET. Stop in to talk about Subaru or just to say hello!... Hope to see you there!!
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It was red and the extensive cladding, to my eye, looked very "plactic-like" against that color. I was frankly pretty disappointed. The pass through into the cab is a neat idea though.
Per recommendation above, I'll be off to Stohlman's to check out other colors. My gut tells me the cladding is going to look best against a silver background.
Bob
Features: The pass-through is neat. Some wind noise from the crossbars with the moonroof open (as with all crossbars). The bed seems well thought-out, with drain holes, a gate-mounted license plate holder that folds so it's visible with the gate down, notches for cross supports (creating a two-level bed), and light.
Herb Gordon will receive a 5MT Baja next week. No brochures (nor at subaru.com).
I drove a Regatta Red/Silver Stone Metallic. A Baja Yellow arrived as I was talking to the salesman; it might have a bit too much orange for me but it does look nice. Funny that Subarus arrived on a covered truck carrier, while Mercedes-Benzs unloaded nearby arrived on (gasp!) uncovered trucks. (Usually, I see MB on covered trucks, this was an anomaly AFAIK.)
Cheers,
..Mike
..Mike
Regarding the 2-tier loading in the bed: Did you notice the slots, for the cross slats, have a small lip at the top, to keep the slats from bouncing out of their pockets. Question: How do you get the cross slats into those pockets, with that lip in place? You can get one end in, but you can't get the other end in, with that lip in place!?
I'm wondering if Subaru will be offering some sort of a spring-loaded slat, that you can compress just a bit, so that you can insert that cross-slat into the pocket?
What did you think of the styling? I think they look better in person, than in pictures.
Bob
There are are 2 small straps, with attachment clips, that slide on the bed extender. When the tailgate is down, you insert each strap-clip into the latch on both sides of the open tailgate. You need to insert until you hear "2 clicks" You then snug up the straps as needed. Then it's secure.
To unlatch those clips, when you want to close the tailgate, you use the tailgate release handle, as you would do when you want to lower the tailgate. That releases the straps/clips.
Also, when you want to remove the bed extender, you raise it vertically 90º, and it lifts right out! It's great for thieves...
Bob
C'mon Bob, they wouldn't call me Mr. Cup Holder if I neglected minutiae. Of course I looked at the slots! Glad you asked. The salesman said some pickups have slots to accept 2x4 lumber to create the 2nd tier. Subaru has a slot designed to work with dedicated cross slat members, not 2x4s. I don't recall if he said Subaru or the aftermarket would provide cross slat members. He said Subaru expects many aftermarket bed accessories, such as a bed cover.
Do any owners know more?
Styling: Definitely looks better in person. Normally, cladding isn't for me (why we choose GT monotone over Outback two-tone w/cladding) but if I were buying a Baja, I'd want it. I can't decide if it's overdone. It'll probably grow on me, like most things.
I just wish that Baja Yellow one had the protective white plastic wrap removed so I could get better handle how the Baja wears the color and cladding.
..Mike
..Mike
..Mike
I will probably buy one, but it won't be because of its looks. Hey, has anyone seen the kayak carrier that is an option for the roof rack? I'm told I'll have to pay for it (non-refundable) before my dealer will order one. Not too helpful.
I think all Crew Cabs look, well, awkward. It's just not a well proportional body style. The Sport Trac isn't pretty. The Tacoma is plain but boring, and the Frontier is downright ugly now that they went overboard. The Dakota is the least offensive of the compacts.
-juice
I'm satisfied with the power, tried it in a couple of freeway situations. Not as quick as the Mazda Protege I'm retiring, but quick enough.
Yeah, I was writing the check when I realized the date. But I figured I was already driving a weird car, no need to start worrying about what other rules I was breaking.
Mark
The dealership here in Plano TX still does not have a replacement for the one I grabbed and have no idea when they will get another. There were only 3 Bajas, all silver, delivered to the 3 dealerships in the Dallas area 2 weeks ago so for the moment I still have a fairly unique vehicle in an area where Subarus are not that common anyway. I have not had that many looks but so far all I've been doing is commuting and running around a bit on weekends. Since lots of people here drive Suburbans, F250 Super Duty trucks, etc. as commuter/mall shopping vehicles I am probably beneath their notice. I'm still on my first tank of gas and having a great ride. I hope Subaru comes out with more monotone color options for the Baja, the 2-tone colors really overemphasize all the plastic cladding.
Cheers!
http://www.mcgaughey.org/webpage/images/baja/
I would like to see a couple of subtle-contrast colors offered, such as: Titanium/Silver and SeaMist Pearl/Silver. The Titanium and SeaMist Pearl are currently offered on the Legacy and Outback models.
Bob
Subaru marketers really dropped the ball on this exciting new vehicle. The Baja has been on dealer lots now for almost two weeks, and no dealer (that I'm aware of) has gotten any brochures to hand out to interested customers!
Here you have an excited audience, about a really new product, and little information is available! The Baja web site does little to help. It's nothing more than a teaser to get you into the showroom; nothing more.
Only the barest of specifications is currently available, and little info on options. The sales people are equally at a loss. People come in with questions, and the sales people have few answers, because they don't know anything either. It does not reflect well on SOA, at all.
Bob
..Mike Smith
..Mike
That white is the VDC's prettiest color, IMO.
-juice
Maybe there will be some professional looking after-market option like this one day. Since
I don't have my bed extender yet, I can't really tell if it would interfere with this. If intersted, check it out. http://www.mcgaughey.org/webpage/images/baja/baja_review.html#09162002
Paul.
..Mike Smith
..Mike
Uh, where's the lime?
-juice
Bob
-juice
Bob
But I still wouldn't haul more than maybe 150 lbs or so.
-juice
FYI it took 3 Coronas to build this thing.
-juice
Alsdo, I think its about time that GM/Subaru hired some designers.
Tom
Unfortunately, the H6 isn't available right now. Although there are rumors that it will be. Some magazine (or web site) said that Subaru said we'll get it. That was one of the biggest complaints when the specs were announced. Especially since the concept version had a supercharged engine.
Don't knock the torquey flat 4 until you've tried it. :-)
-Dennis
Some pubs are already mentioning a more powerful Baja will be sold next year. I'm sure Subaru is waiting to see how well the Baja sells, and haven't made a final decision yet.
But I bet it will have the H6 in MY2004. It's a truck for CAFE purposes, so fuel mileage is completely a non-issue. They could put as much power as they want, basically.
-juice
-Frank P.
P.S. Saw my first Baja on the road last week.
-juice
Bob
They are pretty accurate (at least for this dealer). The car we bought was on their list and disappeared the day after we purchased it.
-juice
I drove by late today and saw several more Bajas: silver, red and black. It looked like they had finished up and were getting ready to ship out. The launch can't be far away.
John
Yes, the tailgate is VERY beefy (heavy!) for such a small vehicle. It's almost as heavy as the tailgate on my old F-150, and much heavier than those found on small truck-based pickups, as I recall.
Bob
-juice
Bob
-juice