Armrest extension is an optional accessory across the board, including Limiteds. Still, most dealers will probably stock cars thus equipped whether you want it or not. There was a rumor once that the extension is not available on the stick-shifts, but the brochure doens't mention that.
I agree, they should make the moonroof an option for the cloth seat models, on both the Forester and the Legacy/Outback.
FWIW, I had an aftermarket ASI roof installed on my F-XT. Pics here: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286857491 Looks very professional and offers tilt (which the OEM moonroof in the Forester can't do). If you go to a reputable shop, it shouldn't be a worry at all.
One BIG problem: it doesn't appear you can get the factory-installed sunroof (a must have for me) unless you move into a model with leather (completely unacceptable to me). Is the dealer wrong on this?
I don't want to repeat anything that has been noted before but here's a suggestion:
All you guys that don't like leather, contact someone on this board that DOES like leather but doesn't want to have to pay for the limited edition to get it and swap seats.
Tonight I drove an OBXT Limited with the 5EAT. Here are my impressions:
- Very fast! Since I wasn't familiar with the car and didn't want to break the engine, I didn't push it too hard. But, my overall impression was that it's very fast! I'm guessing 0-60 in 6.5 to 6.7. Very quick off from a stop and nice acceleration on the highway. At one point, while entering the I90 East, I hit 80 and didn't even know it until I looked at the speedo. And, I didn't have the accelerator floored!
- Excellent handling! This car is VERY easy to drive. There are some cars that disappear when you drive them. I.e., the suspension is so well tuned good that you forget about the driving motions and the car becomes an extension of you. Your reactions become automatic. It's a very difficult feeling to explain.
BMWs and Mini Coopers are like that, but my Audi is not (it requires constant attention). I'm not sure yet, but I think the XT is like that.
Also, I took a tight cloverleaf exit at 40 MPH (the same speed as with my Audi) and the XT felt very stable. Except for a little more tire scrubbing than my Audi, it did very nicely. Since my Audi has Z-rated performance tires, and the XT has all weather tires and more than twice the ground clearance, that says a lot for the XT.
And high speed stability is excellent! It is VERY stable at speed. If anything, it might be too stable! You could be going faster than you think and attract "unwanted" attention from certain people that take a dim view of that sort of thing.
- Very good ride. The ride is a bit stiffer than the base OB, but it's comfortable and better than my Audi. At one point in my test drive, I hit some wavy bumps on I90. When I hit these bumps with my Audi, I get a constant SLAP-SLAP-SLAP sound and feeling in the car. With the XT, it was more like a muted thump. Thumbs up on the ride.
- I LIKE the 5EAT! I expected the 5EAT to shift nicely and it did that fine. And I expected the Sport mode to be similar to the 4EAT. And it did that too. What I didn't expect is how much I liked the thumb shifters on the steering wheel. The thumb shifters on the right side of the wheel are right under my right thumb. After about two minutes in the car, I almost ALWAYS shifting manually with my right thumb. It was VERY sweet! I LOVE that tranny!
And now some issues:
- Seat problem still exists. I still had a problem with back cushion being uncomfortable. :-( But, I think it's fixable at a local upholstery shop. We'll see.
- Funny pressure wave. There was a funny booming pressure wave in the car while I drove it. It was a very low frequency "thumping" in my ears. Very strange. This XT hadn't been completely prepped and the piece that fills the space between the luggage area cover and the rear hatch wasn't installed. I think that might caused the problem. I didn't encounter this in the other two OBs that I drove. I'll try the car again when it's fully prepped and see if it repeats.
- Black interior! I'm still not sure about a black interior. It's growing on me, but I'm also looking at the Gold exterior with the taupe interior. Again, we'll see.
Well that's it. Overall, I was very impressed. It's a good sign when your appreciation and liking of a car increases the more you drive it. (Not something that happened with my Audi.) I LIKE this car.
I've done more than my share of criticism of OB's headroom so I want to add a bit of counterpoint by agreeing with some of the offered "workarounds" to improve headroom.
I'm persuaded Subaru offers some of the very best values for those seeking light weight, agile, and safe vehicles with performance and reliability. A small amount of custom seat work or giving up the moonroof seems, to me, a price worth paying if the everything else is good to go.
It's may be useful to note that IIHS/NHSTA crash test dummies are within average male height ranges (exception is shorter dummy used by IIHS for their "T-boned by an SUV" test). I suspect Subaru, like most other automakers, optimizes crash protection with these heights mind. What that means is the more we deviate from this norm, the more crash protection degrades. Corollary is: a safe dummy is a comfortable dummy (if he's driving a Subaru).
Thanks for the pics. I also have a Java Black FXT but with the PP. I like the auto, leather and factory sunroof.
One recommendation I'd make is to get the windows tinted with True Grey tint. I am loving the tint on my car....one day I'll have to wash the car and take some pics! If you have a local tint dealer ask about True Grey. It's worth every penny (I paid $210)
..that from the Edmunds feature on the homepage. What market is Subaru aiming at? Sounds more like an ad for Dodge trucks aimed at beer drinking roughnecks. Not the image I would like to see for the Legacy.
Hi all. New, way-too-tall poster looking at an '05 Outback/Legacy turbo wagon to cart new dog, new kid and associated detritus around. (Sucker for punishment.) Thing is, on paper, the Subie doesn't seem any worse than the competition in the headroom area: 38.7 inches with the sunroof, the same as the Mazda 6 and Saab wagons, more than the Passat's 37.8 inches, and only slightly less than the Volvo V70's 39.3. So does anyone know how they take that measurement and if there's any wrinkle that renders the results not directly comparable? The practical feedback here certainly seems to indicate the Outback at least feels tighter somehow. The crown of my chrome dome thanks you.
That wouldn't have been an Atlantic Blue/Granite Grey OBXT from Chaplin's in Bellevue would it?
If so, I was out on some errands yesterday afternoon did a drive through of Chaplin's to see if they'd received any turbo models yet. Didn't see anything so continued on my way home and spotted said vehicle parked on the shoulder of a local street, hazards flashing and no one in it or near it. Since it was the first turbo I've seen I stopped for a closer look. I sure hope it was the car you drove as that would mean it's OK and not broken down as I had feared. Unless of course you drove it before 4 pm or so. ;-)
One of the minor drawbacks of an 05 legacy over more 'prestigious' competition (i.e saab, volvo wagons) is the less generous 3/36 warranty, and no prepaid servicing for a period.
However I note that subaru offers such items. Is anyone able to give an idea of pricing for the warranty extension, eg to 4yrs/50, or 5/50 or 5/60 , and the service plans. Are the service plans good value compared to pay as you go?
A warranty backed by the manufactuer is the only one Id consider, I was quite surprised by the mazda warranty - only $700 for 7/75 on a mazda6 - hopefully subaru has something similar.
I agree, when I saw the specs I thought fitting would be no problem. Generally, 38" is my threshold, so I was very surprised when my head was contacting the headliner with the sunroof. And yes the seat was as low as it would go-even had the dealer fiddle with it. I'm hoping that the 38.7" is for the Sport Seat, and I'll fit-Dare to Dream.
People will inevitably cross-shop with crossover type SUV's.
OB XT automatic = $29,770
Honda Pilot EX automatic = $29,960
About same level of equipment between the two, but Pilot is much bigger and has more seating. OB will have better performance. All in all, I feel the Pilot is a much better value.
I think I'd bite if the sticker on the OB XT was a couple grand less than the Pilot.
Depends what u r looking 4. Performace that rivals BMW, Audi, Volvo, Saab, VW. OB XT in my mind is not supposed to compete with Pilot.
For the 250hp and 250ft/lbs torque you can't match it with the other performance buiders. Not to mention reliability.
If a 7 seater is what you are looking for, Pilot all the way. If you want a 5 seater that is fast and handles well with off-road capabilit Outback XT it is. BMW, Saab, Audi can't beet that price...
Agreed .. no one is going to cross shop an OB XT with a Pilot. No one I know. Those looking at a Pilot will be checking out the Highlanders, Explorers, even the Odyssey since space is your concern. The OB XT is for the performance minded, those looking for AWD and safety. People will most likely cross shop the OB XT with the Passat wagon w/4motion, audi or volvo. If you compare those then you will see the true value of the OB XT especially since it will out perform those mentioned.
I'm persuaded Subaru offers some of the very best values for those seeking light weight, agile, and safe vehicles with performance and reliability. A small amount of custom seat work or giving up the moonroof seems, to me, a price worth paying if the everything else is good to go.
Agreed. Though I'm not seriously considering a new Legacy GT or OB XT, I am considering a non-PP Forester XT with cloth seats, followed by a trip to a good upholsterer to replace that cloth with alcantara, at least on the seating surfaces if not on the entire seats and door panels.
Perhaps for some, but I believe your comparison is focusing on size and seating. There are some people who want the features of an SUV but not the handling characteristics of a truck. Also, the OBXT is going to out-accelerate the Pilot.
Did a search of about 50 dealers or so at subaru.com and either all the major dealers sold their GT Limiteds or a lot of the smaller dealers are getting them and the major dealers are not.
I found one at a dealer about 70 miles away and they sell more VWs then they do Subarus, but they had a GT Limited and our major Subaru only dealer hasn't gotten their invoice on one yet let alone seen one.
What's up with this crazy distribution of the 2005 GT Limiteds???????????????????
crv, If you feel the Pilot is a better value because it can fit more people that's fine. I don't haul many people so I value the performance of the Outback XT over the room of the Pilot.
This is what makes America great...choices. You can choose seating for 5 and 2 kids while I can have seating for 5 (yes, it'll be tight) AND the quickest crossover on the market (OK, one of the quickest).
To me Subaru presents the best value for performance at all levels (i.e. hp,touque,handleing,safty,reliability,AWD) in a very competative package. The Legacy GT and Outback XT, 3.0R, LL Bean and VDC are the most bang for your buck when you consider all things.
Yes there is no such thing as a perfect car, but Subie has alot to offer.
Too expensive for sure in Canada, as we only get the LTD. It will be at least 45k out the door, there are not many folks that purchase cars in that bracket, and it is a car (truck prices are a little different...).
C'mon Subaru, give us the base Outback XT @ cnd$1.5K over the GT. Is this payback time for the US Forester XT nonsense (no moonroof in MT)??
I drove the Mazda6 wagon (posted my impressions on that board), but I am still waiting for my local dlr to get the XT Ltd in. They say any day now. I pulled my favorite trick - test drove the 6 over to the Subaru dealer and parked it right next to the OB. Very similar in size and mission in life I thought. Aside from AWD vs FWD w/traction ctrl, the amenities and price will seal it for me soon. The 6 with lux, bose, moonroof and side airbags can be had for $24K - and that includes heated seats in any color combinations you want, 6Cd in dash, audio controls on wheel, auto climate control, etc. I don't expect them to quote me less than $30K for the OB XT Ltd anytime soon. I like the look though. Anyone else shopping these two as well?
Actually, it was still going through the prep cycle. The one that I drove had the "Check Engine" light blinking and the heater and radio didn't work. That bothered me a bit, but it didn't take away from the driving experience!
My wife and I are cross shopping between the Mazda 6 Wagon Ltd, Outabck XT and Legacy GT Wagon Ltd. The 6 looks great but the GT may just edge it out b/c of the dual zone air, AWD, moonroof and basic power and touque. We haven't drove any 250 hp Subies yet. The 6 is a tremendous value at 25k.
My wife likes the interior in both cars, but she likes the Subie version better.
Also, I bet the Subie comes out on top with the crash test results.
I had a mazda6 already and I was lucky enough to get out of it.The doors were rusting.Just go to google and type mazda6rust and look at all the people it happend to.Even if it does not happen to you the resale is crap.Look at all that plastic around the dash,mine got scratched with just the vacuum hose reaching across.The front wheels screech ungodly when you turn sharp in a parking lot.The door speakers vibrate.I could go on and on.The problems I am telling you are common to all of them.Just go look at the problems bored on edmunds.And no mazda did not do anything about the rust other than cover it with a sealant which nobody was happy with.The test drive will sucker you in b/c the car handles like a sports car and its fun.But living with that car is a whole nother story.The subaru xt is dripping with quality and refinement if you really compare and know what your looking for.Im getting ticked off just thinking about that mazda.
Ed, Martin, DCStretch: Years ago I wanted a Subaru in the worst way, to replace an Accord, and the OB was my first choice. But I was very disappointed by the tight fit: head scraping the ceiling, a mirror blocking my central visual field. Then I tested the tall guy's Subaru, the Forester. Though the OB headroom specification is very close to Forester's, the big difference in driver fit is the angle of the roof: sharper in OB (vs Forester), as it slopes downward to the doors. I had OK headroom for the top of my head in the OB but the left side of the head overrode the OB door frame, and almosted kissed the side wall above it. Not comfortable, or the place I want to be case of side impact. The Forester provides much more space between occupants, B-pillars, and doorframes, than does an OB. Think comfort, and safety.
Side curtains for 2005 OBs may not offer tall guys much help if they deploy from doorframes, rather than from the side wall/ceiling. Better designed curtains deploy from the walls/ceilings, and are thereby able protect the heads of taller occupants during rollovers/side impacts. From looking at OB Owner's Manual, it appears the curtains cover only windows, not the door frames and walls. I hope to see photos of the curtains deployed, soon.
So what to do if you're too tall for an OB? Test out a Forester. Though a second-class citizen to executives who run Subaru (ie you arn't offered a VTD so no VDC either, or even an H6 engine, and no side curtains...), what the Forester does offer is well designed and executed, such as the XT version with a nice AT and identical brakes as the 2005 OB but on a lighter vehicle so you have more stopping power for that turbo engine. And don't forget the proven crash test results, best in it's class (OB owners must wait to see what 2005s do if and when the IIHS, NHSTA review them). If the OB fits I'd buy it. If it don't, check out Forester before you give up on Subaru.
ordered an atlantic blue pearl,limted turbo sedan yesterday, i'm fortunate to have a cousin who owns a dealership, got the car at invoice, and a great trade in on my 2000 gt limited.the transaction was done on the phone,and i should have the car in 3 to 5 weeks.looking forward to the boost in acceleration, that is lacking in my present gt.
I've driven both models and like 'em both a lot. I'm amazed they'd offer 2 models at the same price point - they're within about $200. I'm really having a hard time deciding which I prefer. Is the suspension the same - the XT felt a little tighter and more responsive but I drove them on different days. Comments?
Ah, Subaru2, but there's the rub, to get the extra inch or so you've got to sell your soul to the SUV tendency. (Not that some guys won't do all sorts of things for an extra inch or so, right?) I know the OB is now also classified as a truck, but if it doesn't look like a truck, ride like a truck or quack like a truck, I reckon it's still a sport wagon. Which is what I want. So I guess the only answer is to get my butt down to a dealer this weekend, plant it in a XT sport seat and see. Thanks.
Headroom is almost never a concern for me as I'm only 5'7". I'm also very long torsoed, very short legged; sort of the human equivalent of a bulldog or basset hound (not quite a dachsund; I'm not that thin). <:-(
The only car I've ever felt lacking for headroom for me was a Lotus Europa.
I currently own a 2000 Forester S and am planning on trading it for a 2005 or '06 Forester XT.
Has anyone else experienced Dan's "rain gutters" problem? Test drove an 3 OR yesterday, but it didn't rain! Looked for the seat problem mentioned by Dan in earlier posts, but could not find it. But when I had the lumbar support fully engaged (the handle to the right of the driver's seat), I could feel something sticking to the middle of my back. Perhaps this is too simple a solution?! Otherwise, the ride was very good. Left with the overall impression that this is a very solidly built car. But rain gutters, if truly a problem, could be quite annoying. So more input please.
Must be nice to have a relative with dealership....so far the 2 dealerships that have contacted me about a legacy gt limited want 5% profit on the invoice price of the car and no less. Even if i come in order it and put up cash oh well...hoping the other 3 dealers have a better deal.....
Thanx for the info on the 6. We have 1 subie and love it. We got out of an Audi and got the Subie b/c the Audi had too many problems. The M6 sounds like a nightmare which we would like to aviod. We just wanna drive, maintain and wash our car. So GT, XT or 3.0R it is. We just waiting on NAV and our IMBA membership...
Just returned from my dealer. Had 1 Legacy 2.5i in the showroom. As I was sitting and playing with everything inside, some salesman who I never saw before asked what I thought. Definitely put together better than the prior years. Dashboard layout is nice. Hated the manual seats. The trunk is huge compared to my 99 GT. Not as much leg room in the back. Not impressed with the stereo. After telling him that I was waiting for the GT, he stated that this was going to be the hottest car around, there was already a waiting list, and people are putting deposits down! Sounds like a good deal may be hard to find. Paid for my oil change and left.
Did you test the 3.0R in Canada? If so it's the first one I have heard of - mine must be coming soon. Was it the VDC or the base 3.0R with cloth seats? How were the seats? Did you like the 5EAT? How was it off the line, etc, etc. Thanks, JP
driven1, 5% over invoice sounds like a great deal to me. What's wrong with the dealer making some money? It is, after all, how they make a living.
I think the only way you're going to do better is to a) have a relative with a dealership or b) to join one of the organizations that offer VIP Partner programs with Subaru.
Have had the chance to drive 3 of the new OB models - LL Bean, 2.5i and XT Ltd, in that order. The Bean was a beautiful willow green; the XT Ltd. had the manual and STi short shift; and the 2.5i (which I drove the longest c. 100 miles) was nice (it is what it is - quiet, surprisingly quick...nice basic transportation). The Bean was quiet, quick and with a very impressive interior, so attractive a package that my superficial self is strongly drawn to it. The XT Ltd was even quicker and quite exhilirating, actually, on Vermont state highways and the Interstate...my more adventurous self (and 13-year old son) draw me to this model even more pwoerfully.
But, based on my extended drive in the 2.5i, I'm not sure about the driver's seat for long-term comfort. I'm above average size (6' and 200 lbs...maybe a little wider than most, but not excessively/embarassingly so) and was quite uncomfortable in the cloth seat of the 2.5i. The side cushions on the seat base dug into my legs, making it almost impossible to find a comfortable position. I'm in a '99 Volvo XC now, with great seats. When I drove the LL Bean (first), I was aware of the seat sides but not too uncomfortable. I drove the XT Ltd after the Bean and 2.5i and thought the seat bottom was much better.
Does anyone know if the seat bottoms are different sizes? I'm leaning strong toward the XT Ltd. with manual, anyway, and have generaly found leather to be more comfortable than cloth (2.5i), but can't find any info. on seat size to confirm that the difference is real and not imagined.
The slickness of the leather may make it feel less confining that the cloth even if the seats are the same. You could try the 2.5i with the leather seats to see if that makes a difference.
I don't know if the seat bottoms are a different size or not, but the XT does indeed have different seats. According to the Outback brochure the XT gets "aggresively bolstered performance-design" seats.
I just took the plunge! Just ordered the above with subwoofer, air filter, cross bars. The Legacy brochure just came in at the dealer and the center armrest extension is listed as an option, which I ordered(not listed in Edmunds options page.) I hope this vehicle is as good as you all have described. It's being ordered sight unseen, and untest-driven, using my VIP privileges. I vacillated between Atlantic blue and Regal blue, choosing the darker blue to blend in better with the black roof rails and black window trim. The blue color also matches the Subaru medallion on the wagon rear door. I was disappointed with the limited interior color choice(black tweed) in the gt non-limited, but I can always aftermarket a nicer lighter color leather seats if the black is too hot for Florida. Limited adds unnecessary weight with the sunroof (which also detracts from the sleek roof-line of the wagon). Dealer says 6-8 weeks, but, what do they know? Keep up the good posts. dbdy
Read that, too. But wondered if that referred to the seat back/side support or the entire seat. Hope to drive the Bean and XT-Ltd., again, tomorrow. Might actually measure.
Wanted to check opinions on the value of the VDC option/model. Have read - what seem to me - pretty different opinions on whether the VDC option makes that much difference on an AWD vehicle. Live in New England - snow/ice/slick roads. My wife's 03 Forrester has been great. Is VDC overkill? Thoughts?
Comments
Recommneded octane is 91 for the GT's.
FWIW, I had an aftermarket ASI roof installed on my F-XT. Pics here: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286857491 Looks very professional and offers tilt (which the OEM moonroof in the Forester can't do). If you go to a reputable shop, it shouldn't be a worry at all.
-Brian
Nope
DaveM
All you guys that don't like leather, contact someone on this board that DOES like leather but doesn't want to have to pay for the limited edition to get it and swap seats.
Is that allowed?
- Very fast! Since I wasn't familiar with the car and didn't want to break the engine, I didn't push it too hard. But, my overall impression was that it's very fast! I'm guessing 0-60 in 6.5 to 6.7. Very quick off from a stop and nice acceleration on the highway. At one point, while entering the I90 East, I hit 80 and didn't even know it until I looked at the speedo. And, I didn't have the accelerator floored!
- Excellent handling! This car is VERY easy to drive. There are some cars that disappear when you drive them. I.e., the suspension is so well tuned good that you forget about the driving motions and the car becomes an extension of you. Your reactions become automatic. It's a very difficult feeling to explain.
BMWs and Mini Coopers are like that, but my Audi is not (it requires constant attention). I'm not sure yet, but I think the XT is like that.
Also, I took a tight cloverleaf exit at 40 MPH (the same speed as with my Audi) and the XT felt very stable. Except for a little more tire scrubbing than my Audi, it did very nicely. Since my Audi has Z-rated performance tires, and the XT has all weather tires and more than twice the ground clearance, that says a lot for the XT.
And high speed stability is excellent! It is VERY stable at speed. If anything, it might be too stable! You could be going faster than you think and attract "unwanted" attention from certain people that take a dim view of that sort of thing.
- Very good ride. The ride is a bit stiffer than the base OB, but it's comfortable and better than my Audi. At one point in my test drive, I hit some wavy bumps on I90. When I hit these bumps with my Audi, I get a constant SLAP-SLAP-SLAP sound and feeling in the car. With the XT, it was more like a muted thump. Thumbs up on the ride.
- I LIKE the 5EAT! I expected the 5EAT to shift nicely and it did that fine. And I expected the Sport mode to be similar to the 4EAT. And it did that too. What I didn't expect is how much I liked the thumb shifters on the steering wheel. The thumb shifters on the right side of the wheel are right under my right thumb. After about two minutes in the car, I almost ALWAYS shifting manually with my right thumb. It was VERY sweet! I LOVE that tranny!
And now some issues:
- Seat problem still exists. I still had a problem with back cushion being uncomfortable. :-( But, I think it's fixable at a local upholstery shop. We'll see.
- Funny pressure wave. There was a funny booming pressure wave in the car while I drove it. It was a very low frequency "thumping" in my ears. Very strange. This XT hadn't been completely prepped and the piece that fills the space between the luggage area cover and the rear hatch wasn't installed. I think that might caused the problem. I didn't encounter this in the other two OBs that I drove. I'll try the car again when it's fully prepped and see if it repeats.
- Black interior! I'm still not sure about a black interior. It's growing on me, but I'm also looking at the Gold exterior with the taupe interior. Again, we'll see.
Well that's it. Overall, I was very impressed. It's a good sign when your appreciation and liking of a car increases the more you drive it. (Not something that happened with my Audi.) I LIKE this car.
Regards,
Dan.
I'm persuaded Subaru offers some of the very best values for those seeking light weight, agile, and safe vehicles with performance and reliability. A small amount of custom seat work or giving up the moonroof seems, to me, a price worth paying if the everything else is good to go.
It's may be useful to note that IIHS/NHSTA crash test dummies are within average male height ranges (exception is shorter dummy used by IIHS for their "T-boned by an SUV" test). I suspect Subaru, like most other automakers, optimizes crash protection with these heights mind. What that means is the more we deviate from this norm, the more crash protection degrades. Corollary is: a safe dummy is a comfortable dummy (if he's driving a Subaru).
The Headroom Vigilante,
Jake
One recommendation I'd make is to get the windows tinted with True Grey tint. I am loving the tint on my car....one day I'll have to wash the car and take some pics! If you have a local tint dealer ask about True Grey. It's worth every penny (I paid $210)
oh, it would entail swapping door panels too, if "leather" trimmed.
-Dave
-Brian
Thing is, on paper, the Subie doesn't seem any worse than the competition in the headroom area: 38.7 inches with the sunroof, the same as the Mazda 6 and Saab wagons, more than the Passat's 37.8 inches, and only slightly less than the Volvo V70's 39.3.
So does anyone know how they take that measurement and if there's any wrinkle that renders the results not directly comparable? The practical feedback here certainly seems to indicate the Outback at least feels tighter somehow. The crown of my chrome dome thanks you.
Thanks for your continued reporting!
That wouldn't have been an Atlantic Blue/Granite Grey OBXT from Chaplin's in Bellevue would it?
If so, I was out on some errands yesterday afternoon did a drive through of Chaplin's to see if they'd received any turbo models yet. Didn't see anything so continued on my way home and spotted said vehicle parked on the shoulder of a local street, hazards flashing and no one in it or near it. Since it was the first turbo I've seen I stopped for a closer look. I sure hope it was the car you drove as that would mean it's OK and not broken down as I had feared. Unless of course you drove it before 4 pm or so. ;-)
-Ian
A market that will help Subaru surpass their North America sales goals.
However I note that subaru offers such items. Is anyone able to give an idea of pricing for the warranty extension, eg to 4yrs/50, or 5/50 or 5/60
, and the service plans. Are the service plans good value compared to pay as you go?
A warranty backed by the manufactuer is the only one Id consider, I was quite surprised by the mazda warranty - only $700 for 7/75 on a mazda6 - hopefully subaru has something similar.
OB XT automatic = $29,770
Honda Pilot EX automatic = $29,960
About same level of equipment between the two, but Pilot is much bigger and has more seating. OB will have better performance. All in all, I feel the Pilot is a much better value.
I think I'd bite if the sticker on the OB XT was a couple grand less than the Pilot.
For the 250hp and 250ft/lbs torque you can't match it with the other performance buiders. Not to mention reliability.
If a 7 seater is what you are looking for, Pilot all the way. If you want a 5 seater that is fast and handles well with off-road capabilit Outback XT it is. BMW, Saab, Audi can't beet that price...
Agreed. Though I'm not seriously considering a new Legacy GT or OB XT, I am considering a non-PP Forester XT with cloth seats, followed by a trip to a good upholsterer to replace that cloth with alcantara, at least on the seating surfaces if not on the entire seats and door panels.
Ed
Ken
I found one at a dealer about 70 miles away and they sell more VWs then they do Subarus, but they had a GT Limited and our major Subaru only dealer hasn't gotten their invoice on one yet let alone seen one.
What's up with this crazy distribution of the 2005 GT Limiteds???????????????????
If you feel the Pilot is a better value because it can fit more people that's fine. I don't haul many people so I value the performance of the Outback XT over the room of the Pilot.
This is what makes America great...choices. You can choose seating for 5 and 2 kids while I can have seating for 5 (yes, it'll be tight) AND the quickest crossover on the market (OK, one of the quickest).
Cheers!
-Ian
Yes there is no such thing as a perfect car, but Subie has alot to offer.
C'mon Subaru, give us the base Outback XT @ cnd$1.5K over the GT. Is this payback time for the US Forester XT nonsense (no moonroof in MT)??
JP
Actually, it was still going through the prep cycle. The one that I drove had the "Check Engine" light blinking and the heater and radio didn't work. That bothered me a bit, but it didn't take away from the driving experience!
Regards,
Dan.
My wife likes the interior in both cars, but she likes the Subie version better.
Also, I bet the Subie comes out on top with the crash test results.
But I'm still doing my value analysis.
Years ago I wanted a Subaru in the worst way, to replace an Accord, and the OB was my first choice. But I was very disappointed by the tight fit: head scraping the ceiling, a mirror blocking my central visual field. Then I tested the tall guy's Subaru, the Forester. Though the OB headroom specification is very close to Forester's, the big difference in driver fit is the angle of the roof: sharper in OB (vs Forester), as it slopes downward to the doors. I had OK headroom for the top of my head in the OB but the left side of the head overrode the OB door frame, and almosted kissed the side wall above it. Not comfortable, or the place I want to be case of side impact. The Forester provides much more space between occupants, B-pillars, and doorframes, than does an OB. Think comfort, and safety.
Side curtains for 2005 OBs may not offer tall guys much help if they deploy from doorframes, rather than from the side wall/ceiling. Better designed curtains deploy from the walls/ceilings, and are thereby able protect the heads of taller occupants during rollovers/side impacts. From looking at OB Owner's Manual, it appears the curtains cover only windows, not the door frames and walls. I hope to see photos of the curtains deployed, soon.
So what to do if you're too tall for an OB? Test out a Forester. Though a second-class citizen to executives who run Subaru (ie you arn't offered a VTD so no VDC either, or even an H6 engine, and no side curtains...), what the Forester does offer is well designed and executed, such as the XT version with a nice AT and identical brakes as the 2005 OB but on a lighter vehicle so you have more stopping power for that turbo engine. And don't forget the proven crash test results, best in it's class (OB owners must wait to see what 2005s do if and when the IIHS, NHSTA review them). If the OB fits I'd buy it. If it don't, check out Forester before you give up on Subaru.
Hope some of this is helps,
Jake
The only car I've ever felt lacking for headroom for me was a Lotus Europa.
I currently own a 2000 Forester S and am planning on trading it for a 2005 or '06 Forester XT.
Ed
Looked for the seat problem mentioned by Dan in earlier posts, but could not find it. But when I had the lumbar support fully engaged (the handle to the right of the driver's seat), I could feel something sticking to the middle of my back. Perhaps this is too simple a solution?! Otherwise, the ride was very good. Left with the overall impression that this is a very solidly built car. But rain gutters, if truly a problem, could be quite annoying. So more input please.
The Legacy/OB dont really have door/window frames. Where else can Side Curtains deploy from other than the roof/A-B-C pillars?
~alpha
5% over invoice sounds like a great deal to me. What's wrong with the dealer making some money? It is, after all, how they make a living.
I think the only way you're going to do better is to a) have a relative with a dealership or b) to join one of the organizations that offer VIP Partner programs with Subaru.
Cheers!
-Ian
But, based on my extended drive in the 2.5i, I'm not sure about the driver's seat for long-term comfort. I'm above average size (6' and 200 lbs...maybe a little wider than most, but not excessively/embarassingly so) and was quite uncomfortable in the cloth seat of the 2.5i. The side cushions on the seat base dug into my legs, making it almost impossible to find a comfortable position. I'm in a '99 Volvo XC now, with great seats. When I drove the LL Bean (first), I was aware of the seat sides but not too uncomfortable. I drove the XT Ltd after the Bean and 2.5i and thought the seat bottom was much better.
Does anyone know if the seat bottoms are different sizes? I'm leaning strong toward the XT Ltd. with manual, anyway, and have generaly found leather to be more comfortable than cloth (2.5i), but can't find any info. on seat size to confirm that the difference is real and not imagined.
Experiences...information? Thanks. Peace.
-Ian
Keep up the good posts.
dbdy
Don't worry my friend, I've driven the 2.5i and it rocked. I can't imagine the GT. The reviews are trickling in and all are good .. check this out ...
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7169
Congrats! It's a great car. I'm looking at the Outback XT myself.
One issue to be aware of is that the subwoofer/amp goes under the driver's seat. This means that the rear footroom behind the driver is limited.
Regards,
Dan.
Craig