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Comments
Lancer Evo
Let's see how this plays out before jumping up and down and saying "waa waa waa I want my money back !!!"
Also, note that the Lemon laws typically has requirements that the dealer be given a chance to fix the problem. It does not mean that if the manufacturer finds a severe problem and is aggressively working to fix it, you still would automatically qualify for a refund.
Mitsu's current 6 speed auto has not been out for 5 years, so by your standard that's not proven either.
The paddle shifters are OK, but they are only simulating what the Twin Clutch SST can do.
That trans would have been in the EVO for about a year by the time the Outlander comes out with it.
Actually, a CVT is due next year, so you're just plain wrong about that.
Plus, batman47 is looking for a transmission that has been in production for 5+ years and had proven reliable.
The Subaru 4EAT qualifies for that, the 6 speed Mitsubishi does not (not 5 years yet).
How about some definitions?
As you said, a lemon is a vehicle in customer's hands that a manufacturer has already attempted to repair (3 times in most states) where the problem still persists.
Kurt's XT is not showing symptoms, nor has Subaru tried to repair it yet. The stop sale means a lot of them aren't even in customers' hands. The engine has been in production since 2004. Show me one lemon that was bought back by Subaru. That is not a lemon by a long shot.
And remember, if this were Mistubishi, they would keep right on selling the defective parts, hiding the recalls, and end up with half the execs in jail like last time. :P
Let me guess - that was a long time ago, and only affected a few Mitsubishi cars.
Really? Try from 1977 until 2000.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:DeLarge/recall
The fact that this went on for 23 whole years shows there was a corporate culture that allowed this fraud to continue. Best-case scenario we can hope that all the execs are in jail so you'd hope the entire corporate culture has changed 100% from that 23 year era of corruption.
"arrest of 26 members of staff"
"The reason for this immediate Quality Assurance action is that there have been several reports of “Engine Knocking Noise” from other markets on vehicles produced after the production dates listed."
Also unknown is how much use those other vehicles "in other markets" had before they failed.
So while I am concerned, my Forester (other than chirping dash) is not "knocking" nor beltching oil smoke. I checked its oil level yesterday and after nearly 500 miles it's used very little oil, while its economy may be improving (the dash indicator's certainly more optimistic )
BTW, Consumers Union recently published a ranking of service quality of both Auto dealers and Independent shops. Subaru was just above average, followed by Chevrolet. The bottom dwellers were Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.
Also, in CU reliability rankings, Mitsubishi doesn't do as well as the other Japanese brands.
I'm shopping for a normally aspirated model, so it won't affect me at all. In fact, now that the VIP program is in affect I just requested a letter so I can qualify for that pricing.
Hang in there, we have to wait and see what the verdict is on the turbo engines. Worst case scenario, they would replace the affected parts and you would get a free extended warranty for 100k miles.
If you're reading this post in this Forum, and want to tell me how great your Mitsubishi is, please post in that forum. I'm sure that anyone who wants to find out about that vehicle can find that Forum as well.
This forum has one or two members that are objective in their judgments and I like to read them. What downgrade any forum is those jingoists that just want to listen the same music on an on. In spite that anything are being said about Subaru Forester XT, and all the reasons to justify the problem, that I think are valid. However the occurrence of the problem has been a frustrating experience for those who managed to buy the 2009 Forester (full of hope) before the problem was published. It is truth that other manufacturers have had similar problems and perhaps worse problems, but that was OK as far as it was not a Subaru. We felt protected driving and buying a Subaru. When the news of the problem came to light, I think many Subaru patriots felt that they have been raped and left unprotected.
I think some level of comparison discussion is fine, but there are forums that compare the Forester to other cars that are more appropriate for specifics, and there are forums about other cars for details about those vehicles.
-Frank
For the record, I have a vehicle with a 4-speed auto. I chose it over the same rig with a 5-speed auto, because of the issues I read about in an Edmunds Forum - for that vehicle.
The huge moonroof is a great feature on a sunny day~~esp. after this crappy winter.
The only thing I would change would be adding fold-in rearview mirrors~~a minor but nice feature; esp. for city parking.
I am thankful I didn't get a turbo and feel for those who did~~that sucks and wish you the best!!
I am hearing a rattling from the rear but have been too busy to investigate it thoroughly~~might just be the tire or cargo cover. Anyone else have rattling from the rear/storage area?
In addition, I did take my car in for the Ipod interface and now, the right dash has been rattling (over bumps). I am taking it back in Sat morn for them to fiqure it out as I won't accept a rattle in a brand new car~~esp. dealer caused!
I am still not used to having the gas tank on the right~all my previous cars have had the tank on the left~~no biggie; just an adjustment.
Overall, I would highly recommend the 09 Forester. It is my first Subaru and so far, so good. I also gets lots of compliments on the color, Newport Blue.
The center rear seat belt needs to be securely positioned within its roof holder to avoid rattles from it. Another potential areas is the crossbar for the rear cargo area screen.
Sorry to hear kahanatina is having rattles in the dash. Anyone else?
At 500 miles on car, fuel economy is 20 mpg.
I have not bought my Forester yet. It is on the top of my shopping list. I am considering a few different cars. 2009 Subaru Forester, VW Passat, 2008 Cadillac CTS. Nissan Murano, Hyundai Sonata or Santa Fe. The forums at Edmunds are a valuable resource to help me decide. Anybody has the right to be here and say good or bad stuff. Thats what the forums are all about.
2009 Forester
Most logical choice. Good price compared to my other choices. Gets average to decent gas mileage if you get the normally aspirated model. Lots of cargo room to replace utility of my 2001 Trooper. AWD which I think is safer on wet Florida roads and would be great to have for the snow if/when I visit or move to NC or MA. Should have great crash test results like all Subarus. Should be reliable like its' ancestors.
VW Passat
This is a pretty sharp looking car. And all of the reviews say that it drives great. Fast with the 4 cylinder turbo. From the forums here at Edmunds, it gets excellent gas mileage 30-35 mpg., better than the EPA estimates on the sticker. They seem to be well made. I have read both good and bad comments about reliability from the VWs. Overall, it's a sharp car that is quick, fun to drive and gets great mileage and under $30K. If I want utility, I can always get the wagon although the cargo room would not be as good.
2008 Cadillac CTS
This car is at a different price point than the others. Could be double the price of a Forester. But I still like it. The reviews speak for themselves. Keeps up with a 5 Series and less money. And I would like to support the American manufacturers for finally building a competitive machine. Gets decent mileage for what it does. Handles great. Lots of prestige for the price.
2009 Nissan Murano
I saw one of these recently at a local burger restaurant. Spoke with the owner and he was raving about it. Said that he LOVES the CVT and gets 30mpg on the highway even with the 6 cyl engine. Said that he got it for only $25K. This is the basic V6 model with cloth seats. But seems like alot of car for $25K. I will have to check it out before taking the plunge on the Subaru. I know the Subaru has the AWD but if I really fell in love with the Murano, seeing that we don't often get snow here in South Florida, I could probably get by without the AWD.
2009 Hyundai Sonata
As a work car, again it's alot of car you can get for under $20K. Rides quiet and smooth. Gets pretty decent mileage. Excellent warranty. Very reliable from what I read here at the forums. Bad part is that I would have to tell friends that I drive a Hyundai. Most of them say that they would not drive one. Funny thay they think it's OK to drive an Altima or Jeep or Toyota. That's OK.
2008 or 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe
Alot of SUV for the money. Rich looking interior for low $20's. 6 cylinder engine. Great warranty and reliability. Would give me the same cargo room and utility as the Forester. What I am worried about here is the resale value down the road. Also the Santa Fe would not get as good gas mileage as the Forester. So I am leaning towards the Forester if I get a small SUV.
First choice at the moment is the Forester because it seems to be the most well rounded as far as what I need.
2nd choice at the moment is the VW Passat. because it's cool looking, decent price and good gas mileage. The others would still have to convince me to get into the top 2 slots. I plan on buying some time this year or might wait for the 2010 Forester.
Thanks for the rattle advise~~hate em!
Pot calling the kettle black?
the problem was published
We don't know that yet. You keep skipping over the fact that it was models in overseas markets that have had the "problem" you refer to. We don't know if US engines are even affected yet, we'll have to wait and see.
left unprotected
Again, this story is far from over, so your conclusion is premature at the very least.
Last time Subaru had a head gasket problem, owners got free repairs and a 100k warranty. They were not "left unprotected" as you stated.
The people who were "left unprotected" were the 23 years' worth of Mitsubishi owners (1977-2000 models) who had cars with safety recalls hidden by the 26 Mitsubishi employees that are now in jail.
Link in case you forgot already:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:DeLarge/recall
The question for Subaru owners and potential buyers is, would you rather know, or be kept in the dark, about a potential problem?
Should Subaru stop selling the cars until the concern is addressed, or hide the problem and just keep selling the cars. For 23 years! :surprise:
But Mitsubishi has changed, you say.
Maybe, after all those 26 people are in jail!
Sadly Mitsubishi has not changed. Check out this comparison chart, thanks to chelentano for the image:
chelentano, "Outlander vs. Forester" #14, 5 Apr 2008 9:58 pm
Look at how many mistakes (lies?) they publish about the Forester in order to appear more competitive. Here is my rebuttal, where I point out the, oh, 19 or so mistakes made in that chart:
ateixeira, "Outlander vs. Forester" #29, 8 Apr 2008 7:37 am
So Mitsubishi is up to the same old, same old. I think they need to throw a 27th Mitsubishi employee in jail. Then maybe they will start telling the truth.
Bottom line?
No vehicle is perfect. I think we all can agree.
Can you trust Subaru to fix the problem, if it does affect US models? Yes.
Can you trust Mitsubishi on anything? No.
FYI - I bought a Murano when they first came out (Jan 2003). I got the hi-end AWD; paid about $33K. It was a nice vehicle. But my gas mileage was at best 20 mpg & never came close to EPA rating of 24, even on staight hwy cruise. I also never got used to the CVT...it just didn't feel crisp...like there was a rubber band between the engine and the wheels. Also (and this was important for me) even tho the vehicle is AWD it was terrible getting thru snow and/or off road mud/trails/beach. So if you want an AWD vehicle for on-road performance or wet-road slippage safety, the murano is good. But if you need to traverse snowy unplowed driveways or soft sandy beaches, the Forester AWD system & ground clearance is way better.
Your posts have been constructive and fair. You've pointed out facts to inform people and kept this thread balanced, which I appreciate.
We have had a healthy and productive back-and-forth discussion of the pros and cons of the new design vs. the old one.
So there's your criteria.
This is why even cars like the Corvette have many speed transmissions when they also have plenty of torque, and wouldn't seem like they need the extra speeds. They want "control" of the typical RPM used, especially through a test cycle.
I have kept a spreadsheet for a number of years on the various trans and final drive ratios Subaru has used, and they do a great job matching torque needs, including launch characteristics. Too bad they didn't think they needed the "control" of the 5 speeds. Nonetheless the 4 speed is an excellent unit.
My wife an I like the 09 Forester and what they have done. I am a little disappointed in that they didn't go to the 5 speed auto because it would have allowed a lower highway RPM and better MPG for me, while maintaining a good set of 1 through 4 ratios. I get good mileage in normal use with my 06 Premium but on the highway it doesn't jump up like it should because I drive too fast.
I don't like what they have done with the new Premium because I now can't get the power seat which gave me more leg room. My wife will probably trade her 05 Bean Forester for an 09 Bean at some point, and we both like the fact that the tan interiors are gone. She doesn't mind the leather but I am not a leather person, so I don't know what I would buy if I were in the market.
Bob
I'm having trouble finding one! The 2 nearest dealers to me sold out of LL Bean models already. They had 4 last time I checked, but zero now.
So demand seems to be very strong for the LL Beans. Not sure why they're dropping that partnership.
It will be a while before she makes the jump, but she is thinking about it, and liked the red Bean she saw at the dealership while she was having her sunroof track and motor replaced.
I'm recently married and my wife has driven Outbacks for 10 years and we just got her a new 08. She swears by it, but she never leaves the paved roads of the city in her car.
I'm just having a tough time deciding whether I can move on to a Forester or not.
Let's be realistic, though, in 18" of snow any vehicle could high center and get stuck. If it's 18" packed, at least.
This video shows a lot of promise, if you think 9" of clearance is enough for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki9ad5UCmwo
No it's not. In the same way I would buy a Honda after the tranny issues and a Toyota (and have) after the sludge issues, and an Explorer after the ignition fire issues, etc.
In the scheme of things this means zippo. That does not mean I wouldn't be upset if I had the issue, but I have confidence Subaru will do the right thing.
But the exterior looks like the front was crashed before delivery and the rear vision is terrible. I have friends who just bought a Forester because of those shortcomings of the CRV.
Not encouraging.
Drive before you buy and listen carefully. If it chirps, beware. :surprise: It will get worse.
Comparing a Premium w/an EX:
Forester has more horsepower, more torque, lower emissions, equal fuel economy, 40-mile-greater range, an inch-and-a-half more ground clearance, nearly 1,000 lbs more towing capacity, more headroom (front & rear), 1.3" more total legroom (1.8" more in front, 1/2" less rear) and a $400 lower invoice.
CRV has 2 c.f. greater cargo capacity.
JUST KIDDING!
I wouldn't mind having a PZEV logo on the back on mine, not at all. In a way I wish MD was a PZEV state. I'd get that model and then enjoy a 150,000 mile warranty on all emissions related items.
Plus it's just cool to be green. :shades:
Toyota just upped their share of ownership of FHI, so they may want to hedge their bets a bit. Pushing HSD on Toyotas while offering diesels on Subarus allows them to spread the risk a bit.
I bet we'll see a 2010 Outback diesel in the USA.
The response from most people is that this is a seasonal effect due to demand for heating oil that should cool off (pardon the pun).
I certainly hope so. That extra cost would offset any efficiency gains, for the most part.
Here is the list of accessories from Subaru USA website. I'm expecting that we'll likely see very similar accessories here in Canada.
Anyone purchase/seen any of these? Opinions?
..
Appearance
Bumper Corner Molding Kit $60
Front Underspoiler $370
Spoiler $335
Sports Grille Kit $277
Tail Pipe Cover - for Dual Exhaust $40
Performance
Momo Shift Knob, M/T $84
STI Metal Pedal Kit - M/T $160
STi Shift Knob 5MT Black Duracon $80
STi Shift Knob 5MT Leather & Aluminum $170
Severe Weather Companion $40
Short Throw Shifter $295
Wheel Locks $24
Protection
Bag - Car Cover $10
Battery Warmer $30
Body Side Molding Kit $220
Bumper Underguard Front $240
Bumper Underguard Rear $290
Carpeted Floor Mats $95
Engine Block Heater $30
Floor Mats, All Weather $60
Forester Car Cover $100
Hood Protector Kit $73
Rear Bumper Cover $60
Security System Shock Sensor, Individual $100
Splash Guard Kit $100
Wheel Arch Molding Kit $400
Sound
$160
Sirius Satellite Radio $398
Subwoofer Kit $270
Tweeter Kit $90
XM Satellite Radio $398
Utility & Convenience
Aero Cross Bars $180
Anti-Slip Mat $20
Ash Tray Adapter $20
Auto Dim Mirror w/Compass and Homelink $240
Bike Attachment - Hitch Mounted $230
Bike Attachment - Roof Mounted - Dual $240
Bike Attachment - Roof Mounted - Single $123
Bike/Kayak/Roof Bskt Mtg.Clamps Aero Bars $12
Cargo Area Spotlight $40
Cargo Net Seat Back $28
Cargo Net Side $25
Cargo Net Vertical $28
Cargo Tray $70
EC Mirror Compass Camlock $165
Fog Lamp Kit $325
Fork-Mounted Bike Carier $140
Front Wheel Holder $25
Heavy Duty Roof Cargo Basket $320
Kayak Carrier $135
Luggage Compartment Cover $150
Moon Roof Air Deflector $80
Puddle Light Kit $150
Roof Cargo Basket $118
Roof Cargo Carrier $335
Roof Cargo Carrier Extended $425
Round Crossbar Kit $240
Ski Attach Mtg Clamps Aero Cross Bars $12
Ski Attachment, 6pair $113
Trailer Hitch - US & Canada $390
iPod - Phone Console Tray $9
There are the other 5 reviews, they are linked on the editors review page.
In any case, I was under the impression that it would be cheaper to buy in the US...