It doesn't need cladding. I think that would detract from the overall design. The flares are already built-in and the J-curve at the back echoes those flares.
Cladding could spoil the design.
But Tribeca has less standard towing than the Outback, no roof rack/cross bars, and tires clearly biased for pavement.
Explain to me the logic of having an Outback version of the B9. Isn't the existance of the B9 to have the ruggedness of the Outback plus with more space and cargo?
Yeah, but I don't see it here. Subaru is trying to combine aspects of the Legacy, Outback and Forester into one vehicle; and as with most compromise solutions, it fails to satisfy any one group.
The B9 Tribeca—as it currently stands— will more likely appeal to those who favor Legacy-like attributes, rather than those who favor Outback/Forester-like attributes.
Granted, a lot of this is how Subaru is marketing the vehicle. All you see in images is the Tribeca in cityscapes. There is absolutely no imagery that includes a tree, mountains, or any of that. I think that is a marketing mistake because it is not speaking to those Subaru owners who identify with the outdoors.
I live in the country, and the last place on earth I want to be associated/identified with is an urban environment.
Call me dumb.. (don't you dare :-p), but other than cosmetic pampering, what other advantages would a Outback version have if you can add the roof rack as an option.
See, with the Legacy and Outback, there are differences and productive ones. I just see a B9 Outback as overkill.
Well for me, it would involve far more than just a roof rack. I want better towing, and would love to see a dual-range tranny, for the times I take my trailer to our rut-strewn county landfill, which I do fairly frequently.
Keep the current Tribeca as is for those who like it the way it is now. I'm just saying offer another version for those like me who want one that is just a bit more heavy-duty.
Taller tires would give it more clearance and let it be more gravel/dirt ready.
The roof rack is in line with what the Outback Sport and the Outback offer - standard cross bars that the Legacy and Impreza lack.
Oil coolers could beef up payload and towing capacity, again the heavy duty A/T tires help build these up.
Give the rear bumper a standard step cover. Give the cargo area a standard rubber liner. Maybe toss in a couple of skid plates, for the rear diffy and for the front bottom engine cover. Steel, not plastic like allroad quattros and Volvo XCs.
Lower gearing to compensate for the taller tires, and to give it a granny gear.
Idea: maybe tune the VDC differently? Or offer switches like the LR3 does for different types of road surface?
Just some ideas I'm brainstorming. I think they could offer most of these for about a grand, maybe all except for the LR3-like switches, that's costly I'm sure.
Ok... now that will be logical if those things are added which will bring the "Outback" version into a area that Subaru should've offered years ago. Though most of what you mentioned are 'options' anyway. But if they make it a standard package, then it would sell, as long as they stay within price reason.
for a rock-crawling Jeep, just something a bit more capable than the current model, that's all.
Subaru has offered dual-range manual trannys for years overseas (and here too for a while!), so this is not an new area for them. I don't think it should be that big of a deal, frankly.
you hear all the time that there's no need for any real off-road capability on most modern SUVs, as they rarely go off road. Well, I think most of those claims are by people who don't live in the country.
As I said, I do go to the county landfill a lot on weekends, and I can tell you for a fact that there are a lot of homeowners like myself who also go there. I'm not talking about the dumpster area, which is on a paved surface. I'm talking about in the back, which is nothing but dirt, mud, rocks, and so forth.
Our landfill won't allow anyone pulling a trailer to use the dumpsters on weekends. If I'm pulling my trailer on a Saturday, I HAVE to go in the back with all the mud and dirt.
All you see in images is the Tribeca in cityscapes. There is absolutely no imagery that includes a tree, mountains, or any of that. I think that is a marketing mistake because it is not speaking to those Subaru owners who identify with the outdoors.
Point taken, but none of those images are in the brochures I've got.
The marketing, so far, is very Murano-like, in that there are no references to the great outdoors, which is what would appeal to Outback and Forester owners.
I agree. To a certain degree, the pics tend to look alittle 'commercialized' as opposed to rugged outdoor adventures.
Maybe Subaru's advertising would be smart to address this.. oh wait... that's the account our sub-company (DAS) won. Need to get in touch with the contact person....
Dead bodies? Oh, that's right, you live in Tony Soprano's state. Not a problem here in rural Maryland, just yard waste, leaves, branches, etc; the only dead bodies would be occasional road kill
Don't think I can use it, as I'm not a resident of that county. Besides, my county landfill is about 4 miles from where I live.
But the point I was making... I think that belief that very people who have SUVs ever go off road may be a little misleading. It may be true for urban and suburban owners, but much less so for rural owners—and there are a lot of rural owners.
Do you think the Tribeca will appeal to that demographic? I don't.
No, not as it currently exists; but it "could" if it offered the right features.
Not everyone who lives in the country buys domestic full-sized trucks. I see lots of Lexus RX330s and MDXs out here. Not everyone who chooses to live in the country are farmers. There are a lot of affluent country gentleman out my way; folks who own 3+ acres of land.
Well there's rural, and there's rural. Yes, I'm 20 miles from Baltimore, and within a half mile of my place there are horses and cows.
I'm not talking about Nebraska-rural. I'm talking about where I live. Yes, there are Subaru dealers near me, and yes there are are large 3+ acre lots, and yes there are some big horse and dairy farms too.
Comments
Benign Excess! :-)
I can see the marketing now: It's a bit much but it's harmless, we swear.
-juice
Cladding could spoil the design.
But Tribeca has less standard towing than the Outback, no roof rack/cross bars, and tires clearly biased for pavement.
-juice
Yeah, but I don't see it here. Subaru is trying to combine aspects of the Legacy, Outback and Forester into one vehicle; and as with most compromise solutions, it fails to satisfy any one group.
The B9 Tribeca—as it currently stands— will more likely appeal to those who favor Legacy-like attributes, rather than those who favor Outback/Forester-like attributes.
Granted, a lot of this is how Subaru is marketing the vehicle. All you see in images is the Tribeca in cityscapes. There is absolutely no imagery that includes a tree, mountains, or any of that. I think that is a marketing mistake because it is not speaking to those Subaru owners who identify with the outdoors.
I live in the country, and the last place on earth I want to be associated/identified with is an urban environment.
Bob
See, with the Legacy and Outback, there are differences and productive ones. I just see a B9 Outback as overkill.
Keep the current Tribeca as is for those who like it the way it is now. I'm just saying offer another version for those like me who want one that is just a bit more heavy-duty.
Bob
The roof rack is in line with what the Outback Sport and the Outback offer - standard cross bars that the Legacy and Impreza lack.
Oil coolers could beef up payload and towing capacity, again the heavy duty A/T tires help build these up.
Give the rear bumper a standard step cover. Give the cargo area a standard rubber liner. Maybe toss in a couple of skid plates, for the rear diffy and for the front bottom engine cover. Steel, not plastic like allroad quattros and Volvo XCs.
Lower gearing to compensate for the taller tires, and to give it a granny gear.
Idea: maybe tune the VDC differently? Or offer switches like the LR3 does for different types of road surface?
Just some ideas I'm brainstorming. I think they could offer most of these for about a grand, maybe all except for the LR3-like switches, that's costly I'm sure.
-juice
Subaru has offered dual-range manual trannys for years overseas (and here too for a while!), so this is not an new area for them. I don't think it should be that big of a deal, frankly.
Bob
I'd like to see a functional change, not just cosmetic.
The way it is now is fine for me, but there will be critics that call the current format a "soft roader".
-juice
wanna be associated with a swamp, thats tough
hell going thru airport security, the B9Patdown with easily removed tires for scanning?
the one with armor plating, the B9Iraqi Series? thats tough
the one for hauling horses the B9 Trifecta
I think they might drop the "B9" part of the name in some of the marketing, let's see.
Wasn't it "Legacy Outback" at first, then when it was successful they dropped the Legacy part?
I like the name Tribeca by itself better.
-juice
Bob
Big box stores, easy parking, easy access to city and a short drive to the country.
Fave quote from a movie:
"Nothing bad ever happens in the suburbs"
I think Melanie Griffith said that, can anyone recall the movie?
-juice
-juice
hmmm hard to top that one
-juice
As I said, I do go to the county landfill a lot on weekends, and I can tell you for a fact that there are a lot of homeowners like myself who also go there. I'm not talking about the dumpster area, which is on a paved surface. I'm talking about in the back, which is nothing but dirt, mud, rocks, and so forth.
Our landfill won't allow anyone pulling a trailer to use the dumpsters on weekends. If I'm pulling my trailer on a Saturday, I HAVE to go in the back with all the mud and dirt.
Bob
Those 18" rims would be damaged in anything remotely off road.
-juice
Well, almost, the dog will take care of his interior. :-)
-juice
The marketing, so far, is very Murano-like, in that there are no references to the great outdoors, which is what would appeal to Outback and Forester owners.
Bob
-juice
Bob
Bob
Maybe Subaru's advertising would be smart to address this.. oh wait... that's the account our sub-company (DAS) won. Need to get in touch with the contact person....
Bob
guess bob brings new meaning to trailer trash :-)
For my suburban-type use, the Tribeca is plenty.
-juice
But the point I was making... I think that belief that very people who have SUVs ever go off road may be a little misleading. It may be true for urban and suburban owners, but much less so for rural owners—and there are a lot of rural owners.
Bob
<ducks for cover>
-juice
Bob
Do you think the Tribeca will appeal to that demographic? I don't.
Maybe a retired white collar guy who moved back to the farm where he grew up, something like that. But how many of those are there?
-juice
No, not as it currently exists; but it "could" if it offered the right features.
Not everyone who lives in the country buys domestic full-sized trucks. I see lots of Lexus RX330s and MDXs out here. Not everyone who chooses to live in the country are farmers. There are a lot of affluent country gentleman out my way; folks who own 3+ acres of land.
Bob
I don't consider your area rural, to be honest. Any place between DC and Baltimore has basically become an extended suburb due to sprawl.
-juice
I was about to ask how rural is the area.
IMHO, anything within 30 miles of the RT 95 corridor between Portland, ME and Richmond, VA is pretty much suburb.
I'm not talking about Nebraska-rural. I'm talking about where I live. Yes, there are Subaru dealers near me, and yes there are are large 3+ acre lots, and yes there are some big horse and dairy farms too.
Bob