We just purchased a new LL Bean and have been having problems with the remote power lock/unlock control. It works inconsistently at best and has already been back to the dealer who tells us that it won't work no matter what they do (they blame it on interference but I have a '99 Toyota Sienna which works well anywhere and from distances from 30 to 40 feet.) If any other owners have experience with this problem please let me know. Thanks
Thanks, Juice and Tom for the info. Tom, wouldn't I need to put cables on all 4 tires? Any idea how much the cables sell for? I wish I knew how to change my own oil!
My brakes are still squeaking just the same after the dealer cleaned and lubed them. Guess I'll just have to learn to live with this "normal" sound. And the clicking sound is still there when I shift into 2nd gear even though the dealer lubed the shifter rods. These are minor problems...overall, I love my new Outback!
I live in Northern Virginia -- Loudoun County. We had bought a 2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 wagon in December -- which is being bought back by the manufacturer under the Virginia Lemon Law. Faulty transmission(s); long story.
We went out to visit Dulles Motor Cars in Leesburg to look at the OB LL Bean. We really liked the car. Went in to talk to the salesman, and he said he'd give us the car for $27,992 -- including the $475 freight. The options on the car are the 6-Disc in-dash CD changer, subwoofer and amplifier as well as the "rough road package" which includes front and rear wind deflectors and a rear differential cover. Invoice for the car was $27,891 including freight -- so I feel we got a really good deal.
The best part, however, was the dealer experience. I have NEVER had a better car buying experience than I had with this dealer. You can be sure that I will consider going back there again in the future should the need arise.
Juice, I know we pretty much exhausted this topic once before when I was looking at the new Sears carrier......I ended up not getting anything last fall, cash crunch. The more I think about this the more I'm leaning toward a soft carrier. I recall you saying you or someone you know has one that you are happy with. Which one is it? Some of the name brand ones I've seen are almost as much as the hard Sears, but I'm concerned about the weight limits and the weight of the Sears, plus I just really don't like how huge it is on top of the OB. Storage when it's not on the car is an issue for us too, so I'm liking the soft style more and more. Any input, advice, would be appreciated.
One tip I got from my dealer when I had this happen: give the brakes a hard stop once or twice. Basically, just brake hard, but not slamming on the brakes. Nice and steady.
This hard braking helps clear some of the glazing that can happen. I only get the squeaky brake noise maybe once a week now - and whenever it happens, I give the brakes this cleaning. Works every time!
Remember, don't do this on a busy street. Go somewhere safe; a side road, parking lot, etc. And it may take a couple of runs to get the squeaks to go away. (disclaimer: YMMV )
To the best of my recollection, all SVXs were AWD. There were two models; one with leather, a rear spoiler and all the goodies and the other with cloth. So, obviously, mine was AWD!
I'm certain that Subaru offered FWD, although, now that I think about it, I believe it was towards the end of the SVX model run. The sales were so slow, and the vehicle was perceived to be rather expensive, Subaru (towards the end), tried to stimulate interest by offering an entry-level FWD version. Obviously it didn't succeed.
Looking at these prices I almost feel buyers regret. However I realize that none of you guys are in CA. And that makes a big difference. There was only one advantage this year in CA. The state is refunding all fees paid to register cars. So when my Subie gets registered at DMV, I should expect a 400 dollar check in return. However Dealer said it takes up to 90 days to register and I presume DMV will follow suit. Hey but at least I know it is coming. Also, the next closest dealer to me is 35 miles. Why would I do that when this dealer is 5 mins and I can walk to work.....What American Culture pays for convenience!!! After reading the posts I am definitely happy with my OB. No squeeks in brakes, no rattling when I hit bumps. And it steers straight ( after alignment and tire rotation). If I knew I could get LL for 1600 more I would have done it in a heart beat though. But then for just another 1600 I could get the Volvo XC. So I could go on and on! My stereo speakers seem fine. I don't understand all this talk about faulty speakers.......And I have had pioneers and the best already. I would not change anything in my stereo. Ateixeira, can I get oil filters shipped to CA for free from Darlene??? What is Web site? And can someone respond to an earlier question about which is best oil to use??? What grade and what brand and should we do synthetic??? Thanks guys.....Love these posts!
anibalb. I don't think anyone is saying that the OB speakers are faulty. It is just that they are not very good for much beyond casual low volume listening. The quality of even a moderately inexpensive set of replacements (<$100 per pair from Crutchfield) far surpasses the paper and plastic factory speakers. Installation is really easy too even though Crutchfield does not have step by step instructions for the OB01.
I am also in the market for an LL Bean. Seeing lots of criticism for "premium" sound system offered by Subaru. Apparently I should (hopefully) find one with stock stereo/CD and go the aftermarket route for better sound system -- not only in dash 6 CD changer plus better speakers. I presume it's no problem to replace the whole shebang. Many posts have just focused on the poor quality speakers. I presume it's not a problem to have an aftermarket in dash system installed as well. Better system for less money. Seems like a "no brainer". Is there a downside? Obviously I don't want to pay for a factory system that I know that I'm going to replace!
Over on the club link a Forrester owner is complaining about gas mileage and I don't have any reason not to believe he is telling it the way it is. What I have observed in my 61 years is that the great american pastime is lying about gas mileage. It goes something like this: I'm going to carefully check my mileage so I fill up and head out to the interstate and put her on cruise control and drive 400 miles @ 55mph. Then I carefully calculate the mpg. Now I can go back to driving like a bat out of hell and when someone asks what kind of mileage do you get, I can honestly say I got (you fill in the blank) the other day. So how much money did I save and what did I gain (unless I count salving my ego as gain)
So it is with great blocks of salt I entertain mileage stories. What you get is what you get and quite frankly it usually doesn't amount to a hill of beans. For example: the H6 is supposed to use prem gas which is about $.10 more per gal around here. I drive about 15000 miles a year (about 500 gallons) so that's $50 bucks a year. Big deal.
All that to say this: A friend of mine bought a new Dodge diesel and he routinely drives from the coast to eastern Oregon. He is a person whom I trust with mileage stories cause I've known him for 20 years and he has proven he tells the truth. He was ecstatic about getting 21+ mpg trip after trip (this is a 6300 lb rig guys) After a while winter started coming on so he decided to put on some aggressive snow tires because you get some pretty nasty weather in the cascades and eastern oregon (btw it is a 4WD truck). He came to me crying the blues that his mileage dropped to 18 something. Just from changing tires. And keep in mind that diesels are famous for getting almost the same mileage when loaded. He put his other tires back on and the mileage went right back to 21. Is it possible that there can be that much friction generated just by a different tread (he says both sets of tires are the same diameter)
Anyway it's something to consider. The guy did seem very thorough about what he has checked and it seems like his mileage has been terrible since day one. But your never know, sometimes the answer is right under our nose.
O.T> my wife just said they have 6 to 8 inches of snow in Seattle (it's 45deg here) Enjoy folks
To anyone who takes the time to read this thanks for letting me rant
Cable chains are fairly cheap, I paid about $60.00 Canadian which would be about $40.00 U.S. You could put them on all four wheels but it isn't necessary. If it came to needing chains on all four wheels of an Outback, you don't want to be there! Most vehicles just get stuck going up hill but going down is another matter. The cable chains on the front wheels rather then the rear would help prevent any unintentional off roading while going downhill by improving steering and braking (that awful thing called understeer).
-juice, I agree about your assessment of the Firestone tires. I think they went with a less aggressive tire to cut back on the road noise. The Michelin tires worked better. Tom
Yeah, they're right, there were front wheel drive SVX models. The first year, '92, and maybe the second year, '93, were all AWD, but then they made the FWD available. Of course, when Subaru went all AWD (was that '95 or '96?) the FWD version of that died too. But the cheaper, cloth seat L model did live on, even to the last year, '97.
I can't wait untill Subaru comes out with the larger version. I still have my 97 ob limited we gave to our son to drive, he loves it now that he is in college and the roads are always bad here in the winter. The 2001 we had was just to small for my liking on a trip , not wide enough in the floor boards for leg comfort. But I will definatley look at any larger vehicles Subaru comes out with, I am more than sold on all wheel drive. Just need to build these cars to fit americans now that they are assembled here.
Oh Yeah Ramey Subaru here in Princeton WV has 12 LL Beans that they are selling at invoice. The salesman told me their Sub rep told them the sales are down nation wide , they will be offering deeper finace cuts and more cash back as time goes on
My wife and I took a test drive today and made a purchase. I am 6 feet tall and found more than enough legroom and headroom. I'm fairly thin so the width of the seat is fine. I can see someone who is wider would have trouble fitting. But Subaru's marketing is aimed at active outdoor people so that is their niche in the car world and probably explains the size of their vehicles. We drove the 5 speed and found the power more than adequate. We've owned mostly economy cars and a 1990 Pathfinder (153 horse) so we aren't use to powerful engines. Anyways, the salesman's first offer was for $690 over invoice. I told him the quote I received from an Autobytel salesman and I thought he was going to faint. But I made the purchase for the invoice price. Subarus have become very popular here in Madison, WI, so I was surprised at the price I got. After I bought it, they told me they sell there monthly allotment immediately and have to buy more from other dealers. It arrives next month. We're getting a 5 speed wintergreen with the all-weather package and rough road group. Then having an Eclipse sound system installed.
I don't know what you consider loaded but if the MSRP is 30,920 you should be getting at least $3,000 off that. In Portland, Or 2 dealers with LLB's with MSRP's of $30,920 are offering them for $27,388 and $27,277 respectively. Mind you this is openly advertised in the Oregonian with no negotiation whatsoever. I called another dealer and told him this and he is supposed to call me back with a better offer. We'll see.
Anyway I am hearing that you should be able to buy at invoice just about anywhere. Offer it and walk if you don't get it.
I would like to pick your brains again about the the amp subwoofer you have at the minute in the outback, I know you said you never heard the standard system but are you impressed with the overall cound reproduction you are getting with the system you have now? the fact that the Sube amp subwoofer is designed to fit under the drivers seat is very appealing like I said I am not looking for boom boom base just a nicely balanced system I know I can get lots of variety in the aftermarket but then the location becomes a problem. Cheers Pat.
one of the local Subaru papers offered to sell any Subaru in stock (except LL Bean's) at invoice until Feb 28th (I am assuming some sort of incentive stops then). They also have the low finance offerings.
I noticed different web sites list different invoice price for the LLBean Loaded with premium sound w/ cd changer, Spoiler, and gate bar. Can somebody tell me where can I find dependable information for the invoice price.
Does anyone know if the Subaru round tube rack which clamps onto the 2000+ model Legacy/Outback roof rack rails are 100% identical to the Yakima DoubleCross set? I was planning on using my Subaru/MBNA vouchers to order a set and put them on my 2000 Honda Odyssey EX rack. Also, going to get the Subaru Igloo cooler for plugging into the back of the Odyssey.
Does the Subaru bike rack come with clamps for the standard round tube or is it a Yakima MightyMount clamp for the ovalized factory Subaru crossrails?
Hi bg18947 - sorry I can't provide any info on the tube racks, but you mentioned something about MBNA vouchers . . . what are these? Is it something like the rebate I get on my GM Mastercard? I might get an MBNA Visa or MC if it works the same. Thanks, - Doug
The original pads on my '93 Prizm were very quiet. When it was time to replace them, I went to Midas. Their pads squealed when the brakes were hot. The second set Midas installed, in an attempt to fix the squealing, did the same.
I then went to my independent mechanic. (Where I should have gone in the first place, except that his shop has a four-week waiting list.)
They installed a set of pads from a company called Axxis, called Deluxe Plus "high performance disc brake pads." They are Australian made, and the box says "formulated from the latest premium quality non-asbestos organic materials."
I no longer frighten small children and pets with my squealing . . . and the brakes are quiet, too!
I don't know if these pads would help on a Subaru, but it might be worth a shot.
Pat: Yes, I am impressed at the sound quality. I am aware that there are aftermarket systems that would even be better but at what price? I'm not talking initial purchase price but fit and finish similiar to factory fit, hassle of going elsewhere to buy and get installed, etc. I listen to a variety of music. Most of the time I am listening to Enya, Sade, Q-Tribe...mostly soft jazz and ethereal type of music, something about calming my nerves in traffic before it becomes road rage,ahhhh Seattle, :-). Sometimes I up the ante by listening to heavy dance music...thumpin' base and such. Either times the upgraded system is sufficient for me. I hope that the std system is close to this as my new WRX wagon will not have the upgraded system. I hope this helps a bit. BTW, I got a call from my salesguy to tell me that my car is officially on order (complete w/internal SOA order#) and should arrive about the middle of March. I have yet to call him back to get more details but will shortly.
Retro: The card is similar to the GM card. For every $3,333 charged, you get a $100 voucher good towards the purchase of a Subaru vehicle, Subaru service, or Subaru accessories. The voucher has a lifespan of 4 years from the date of issue. You can earn up to $2000 per 4 year period. There is no annual fee for the card. Who knows, maybe we're a year away from a merged GM/Subaru partnership?
MBNA has a lot of deals with many vendors. I'm getting rid of my Chase Continental card for a MBNA/RCI card because RCI (the timeshare exchange coop) has more airlines to redeem air miles with than Chase and there is no annual fee. I also get the flexibility of redeeming for car rentals and other services. I found being stuck with 1 airline too restrictie when trying to redeem miles. It does require a few more miles per redemption, but the trade off is worth it for the added flexibility.
Thanks for the info, I am going aftermarket for a combined cassette cd unit as the standard unit in the Gt wagon is just a cassette unit and I can get a far better aftermarket unit for less money than what Subaru wanted for the single cd player that adds on to the cassette that comes with the car I also plan on changing the speakers but I was stumped as far as the amp subwoofer because there are very few places in a wagon to hide an amp so I think I will get the Subaru amp sub for the ease of installation and actually I can get one at a good price. Cheers Pat.
They have alredy changed the terms once and probably will do it again. It used to be a decent card...$3500 max over 7 years at $500 max a year with 5% return. Roughly the same as the GM card so I got it. Then they changed it to $2000 max over a shoter term AND a lower rate of return AND you have to deal with coupons which are only good at dealers. Yes you can do your oil changes and buy Subaru stuff at the dealer with them. Yea, so I can leave my car there all day and buy an overpriced cargo carrier????....no thanks. They pitched it like they were helping me....yea right. Reduce the max earnings by $1500 and making things irritating....thats helping. Yea right! They refused to let me keep the old terms where you can earn $3500 over 7 yeras so I cancelled the card that minute. The card had $300 in Subaru cash on it over the 3 months I had it and they were shocked that I would just give that up. Even called me back!!! Give it up??? Now I have a GM card. I just GAINED $1500 the way I see it. Since we are going to be seeing GM use some Subaru platforms and technology and perhaps some blatantly rebaged models.....I dont think I LOST a thing.
anibalb - I think the real altitude problem for the auto H4 is for people who (like me) already live at 5000+ feet (e.g., Denver, CO) and the only real direction from here is up (mountain passes at 12,000+ feet). Living here you can really notice the difference between the H4 and H6. (My jeep, even with its V6, has a lot of trouble making it over the mountains). Super or turbo charging can make a lot of difference at altitude (yay WRX).
donbenson - I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that there are two main reasons for engine starting problems at very low temperatures - poor battery performance and frozed (gelled) transmission fluid. If you regularly deal with really cold temperatures, it might be worth getting a battery warmer (its like an electric blanket for your battery) although you'll need access to a power outlet. I've only experienced frozen transmission fluid in older model Montero, but it was a very weird experience (the damn thing actually slowed down if I took my foot of the gas even when heading down a steep hill at 70mph until it warmed up). You can get engine heaters as well, but I think they're really only necessary in really severe winter climates (e.g., like northern Alaska).
Has anyone got any experience with upgrading from Subaru's standard AWD to the new VDC H6? Can you really notice the difference in poor road conditions (e.g., snow and ice) and would you consider it worth the $2K+ price difference over the LL Bean H6 version?
Okay, this sounds like a strange question, but does anyone have any thoughts about whether I should buy one of the H6 models now, or wait and see if Subaru will do some nice incentives and stuff? (Especially I'm thinking when the WRX comes out?)
Just purchased a 01 Outback Wagon Limited today. Very happy with the vehicle. Love the interior and comfortable ride. Signed the deal at $25,400. The invoice that I saw at the dealership was $25,100. Thought I did good then I saw some of the posts here which made me think I could have done a few hundred $$ better. Any thoughts on $25,400???
I purchased a '00 Outback in October and absolutely love it. However, there's just one small problem. Whenever I use the car for short trips with lots of stop and go, the car emits an awful rotten egg odor whenever it is idling. I took the car back to the dealer in early January for its first oil change and asked the tech to check it out. He ran diagnostics and found nothing. But the smell still persists. The tech thought it might have something to do with the emissions control equipment or possibly a tank of bad gas. Well, I've been sticking with the well-known brands of gas and it still stinks. When I take the car in for the next oil change, I'm going to insist that the tech ride with me for a bit to smell it. This problem doesn't effect the performance of the car at all, but it sure is annoying. Any suggestions out there as to cause and how to stop the smell? Thanks.
You have the same problem I have. I do not know if I should buy now or later. I heard something about the price coming down. I am hoping with the recesssion we might get good deals
Yes the old Subaru card had a 5% rebate, they changed it to 3% but you can use it for parts or service. In addition, your 5% GM card gives you up to $3500 off a car, however you get to use the money at GM's whim. You go to the Web site, put in the car you want and they tell you how much you can really use. Perhaps the entire $3500 for an Aztek, and $1000 (the minimum) for something else. The 5% was a strong deal... too strong, Ford had the same deal as GM and dropped it. The old Ford card became a Citibank 2% rebate card. I liked the 5% as much as anyone, but I could see that it just cost them too much to continue. I also like the coupons, they send them to you and you turn them in... Instead of calling the company and trying to get someone for your points etc. They work like signing over a check. I went over to the GM site and I lied, you can only use $1,500 for a Pontiac Aztek (they must be hot!), Now you can use $2,500 for a Cadillac Eldorado. (Even the Oldsmobiles I looked up were only $1500) perhaps the GM card is being overrated?
I think now would be a good time to buy. There's a lot of incentives going on, at least out here, on all the 2001 models. 3.9% APR is pretty tempting, huh? If there's a time to wait for, this summer, picking up a leftover 2001 when the 2002's come out would be a good deal. Of course, you're gambling that there'd be one left in the color you want with the options you want, etc.
As for the advantage of the VTD AWD vs. the normal AWD.... well, all I can say is that my Dad tried all winter to get the VDC light to come on on the dash. No success, no matter what crazy stuff he did on slippery services. But that's still inconclusive, since at least I've never done similar things in a non VDC model (2000 model +) to see the real difference.
You have to be careful when you use the rebate. For example my inlaws got the full $3500 + $1500 incentive toward their loaded Intrigue. If they had waited a couple of months the max rebate fell to $2000...a $1500 swing!!! The incentives also vary greatly by region so that has to be figured in too. Another example is the Grand Prix. The current max is $2000 (I think) but it varies from $2000-3500 depending on market condition and time. Ours will likely be used for a minivan (which Subaru does not make) and they are currently capped at $2500 (I think) but around NOV and DEC they creep up much closer to $3000. I really like the 5% return because we can max that in 4-5 months then switch to either a gas card or Discover. The GM card is not better for everyone. If you really want a Subaru, then you should get the MBNA card because it is FAR better than nothing.
I used our Edmunds.com New Car pricing which, has up to date pricing information and usually more consistently accurate than other invoice sites. As you will see we list invoice, msrp, and TMV (or the True Market Value of what you should pay for the vehicle)
Options Selected Invoice MSRP TMV PIO- CD Auto Changer $390 $520 $420 PIO- Rear Gate Bar $45 $69 $50 PIO- Spoiler SW Black Granite Pearl$192 $295 $216 Premium Sound Package 3 $475 $635 $513 Total Options $1,102 $1,519 $1,199 Invoice MSRP TMV Base Vehicle Prices $26,687 $29,495 $27,356 Optional Equipment $1,102 $1,519 $1,199 Destination Charge $495 $495 $495
Thanks for the info. Someone mentioned to me, though, that there was a specific problem with "ECT" in some Outbacks that led to problems starting at extremely cold temperatures. They further advised that the dealer would fix this defect.
I bought LLbean today. I decided to do that for the following reasons: 1-More standard equipment such as security system, dimmer mirror w/compass, wood grain trim 2-4x4 system is proven as dependable system while VDC is new technology 3-the price is at least 2K dollars lower. For all of the above I selected LLbean. Sidly
in your pricing of the LLB. If you buy the prem sound package for $635 MSRP, the 6 CD changer is bundled in the option (L06) and the $520 for the CD changer is eliminated. That comes to $30989 MSRP instead of $31,509 as you stated. The reason I know this is because I am about to buy the same car except no rear gate bar ($69) so my MSRP is $30,920 for which I have offered $27,000 cash. Don't know if the dealer will go for it or not. We'll soon see
on your purchase. With my opinion and $.75 you can buy a cup of coffee but I think you got an excellent price. When I first started looking about 3 weeks ago the best price I could find on a LTD was $25,988 with the same equipment except no gate bar. They are coming down a little but I fear the bottom is near. In the Portland paper Sat, Dick Hannah Subaru was offering 2 LLB for $27,277 so since I will not be using the Subaru subsidized financing I'm trying for 27k even.
The reason I changed from the LTD to the LLB was simply because I wanted the H6. I drove both and the H4 with auto just didn't cut it with cruise control engaged. The H6 was much smoother and no slowdown on uphill runs.
I think you did great! I paid 26 for my LTD. But I am in Bay Area. It seems that prices vary in different areas. I bought mine in January to take to Tahoe. I am sure that I could have done a few hundred dollars better, but is it really worth the time and effort?? If you had to pay yourself for that extra time it might not be worth it. Hey for me it would mean a 35 mile drive to the next nearest Sub dealer. And this one, is 5 mins away and even closer to my job! And the good thing is that the State of CA is rebating money for newly registered cars in 2001. So not bad! For those of you that can wait......I would. Mkt seems to be doing horrible and you will most likely get some nice rebates!!! For under $60 I added the acrylic hood deflector! Doesn't look bad and protects from all that stuff that knicks your hood! After trip from Tahoe, I realized I needed it. I would love info on the upcoming bigger Subie!!! Anyone have it? And what is the web page for parts from Darlene??? Anyone? Thanks
After quite some time lurking, and quite a few questions too, I finally (yesterday) picked up a new 2001 Outback VDC in Wintergreen. Gosh, I can see why so many people say the more they drive it, the more they love it. I LOVE this car, although I haven't put many miles on it (yet). Can't wait for the next dump of snow...
Theob, thanks for your posts about your experiences buying your VDC in the Denver/Colorado area (both here and in the owners forums). I eventually got Burt Subaru to sell me the VDC for about $700 over invoice (including their D&H fees) after arguing with them that I could get a better deal at lots of other places, so I'm pretty happy about that. BTW, I like the Burt Subaru dealership a lot (and its nice and close to me) and the people there are pretty nice too (no hard sell, etc.) but just don't believe them when they tell you they won't sell for any less than MSRP ;-)
Like many other people before me, I'd like to say thanks to everyone on the Subaru boards for making this such a pleasant place to hang out...
Wow, I take a weekend road trip, and we have half a dozen new owners suddenly! Congrats to Eric, Anibal, CF, griffin, and Sidley. Did I miss any?
Eric: Sorry about your VW lemon. Glad that was resolved, and I certainly hope (and believe) your Soob will server you better.
Jeanette: just got back from a road trip where I used the Samsonite carrier. It was the 3rd time I used it, and this time the rain was heavy enough to soak it from the bottom up, so some contents were a little damp. Not soaking wet, but damp.
That was $50, though I've seen it at luggage outlets for $40, so shop around. If you really need something water-proof, stick with the hard tops.
Anibal: call Darlene for the quickest service. It's 800-287-1281, ask for parts, then tell Darlene juice sent you (and say hi for me). The oil filters are $4 and you get a drain plug gasket free, and yes they ship to CA for no charge.
Comments
My brakes are still squeaking just the same after the dealer cleaned and lubed them. Guess I'll just have to learn to live with this "normal" sound. And the clicking sound is still there when I shift into 2nd gear even though the dealer lubed the shifter rods. These are minor problems...overall, I love my new Outback!
--ShoobSube
We went out to visit Dulles Motor Cars in Leesburg to look at the OB LL Bean. We really liked the car. Went in to talk to the salesman, and he said he'd give us the car for $27,992 -- including the $475 freight. The options on the car are the 6-Disc in-dash CD changer, subwoofer and amplifier as well as the "rough road package" which includes front and rear wind deflectors and a rear differential cover. Invoice for the car was $27,891 including freight -- so I feel we got a really good deal.
The best part, however, was the dealer experience. I have NEVER had a better car buying experience than I had with this dealer. You can be sure that I will consider going back there again in the future should the need arise.
Jeannette
This hard braking helps clear some of the glazing that can happen. I only get the squeaky brake noise maybe once a week now - and whenever it happens, I give the brakes this cleaning. Works every time!
Remember, don't do this on a busy street. Go somewhere safe; a side road, parking lot, etc. And it may take a couple of runs to get the squeaks to go away. (disclaimer: YMMV
-brian
Bob
To the best of my recollection, all SVXs were AWD. There were two models; one with leather, a rear spoiler and all the goodies and the other with cloth. So, obviously, mine was AWD!
Don
Bob
Best wishes
Thanks.
Don
Thanks joeb24 and ateixeira. I'll have the service guy flush and re-fill the transmission fluid on my next service.
--Suresh Raman
So it is with great blocks of salt I entertain mileage stories. What you get is what you get and quite frankly it usually doesn't amount to a hill of beans. For example: the H6 is supposed to use prem gas which is about $.10 more per gal around here. I drive about 15000 miles a year (about 500 gallons) so that's $50 bucks a year. Big deal.
All that to say this: A friend of mine bought a new Dodge diesel and he routinely drives from the coast to eastern Oregon. He is a person whom I trust with mileage stories cause I've known him for 20 years and he has proven he tells the truth. He was ecstatic about getting 21+ mpg trip after trip (this is a 6300 lb rig guys) After a while winter started coming on so he decided to put on some aggressive snow tires because you get some pretty nasty weather in the cascades and eastern oregon (btw it is a 4WD truck). He came to me crying the blues that his mileage dropped to 18 something. Just from changing tires. And keep in mind that diesels are famous for getting almost the same mileage when loaded. He put his other tires back on and the mileage went right back to 21. Is it possible that there can be that much friction generated just by a different tread (he says both sets of tires are the same diameter)
Anyway it's something to consider. The guy did seem very thorough about what he has checked and it seems like his mileage has been terrible since day one. But your never know, sometimes the answer is right under our nose.
O.T> my wife just said they have 6 to 8 inches of snow in Seattle (it's 45deg here) Enjoy folks
To anyone who takes the time to read this thanks for letting me rant
Guy
You could put them on all four wheels but it isn't necessary. If it came to needing chains on all four wheels of an Outback, you don't want to be there! Most vehicles just get stuck going up hill but going down is another matter. The cable chains on the front wheels rather then the rear would help prevent any unintentional off roading while going downhill by improving steering and braking (that awful thing called understeer).
-juice, I agree about your assessment of the Firestone tires. I think they went with a less aggressive tire to cut back on the road noise. The Michelin tires worked better.
Tom
Mike
Oh Yeah Ramey Subaru here in Princeton WV has 12 LL Beans that they are selling at invoice. The salesman told me their Sub rep told them the sales are down nation wide , they will be offering deeper finace cuts and more cash back as time goes on
Anyway I am hearing that you should be able to buy at invoice just about anywhere. Offer it and walk if you don't get it.
Good Luck
Guy
Cheers Pat.
Frank
Does the Subaru bike rack come with clamps for the standard round tube or is it a Yakima MightyMount clamp for the ovalized factory Subaru crossrails?
Thanks!
Thanks,
- Doug
I then went to my independent mechanic. (Where I should have gone in the first place, except that his shop has a four-week waiting list.)
They installed a set of pads from a company called Axxis, called Deluxe Plus "high performance disc brake pads." They are Australian made, and the box says "formulated from the latest premium quality non-asbestos organic materials."
I no longer frighten small children and pets with my squealing . . . and the brakes are quiet, too!
I don't know if these pads would help on a Subaru, but it might be worth a shot.
BTW, I got a call from my salesguy to tell me that my car is officially on order (complete w/internal SOA order#) and should arrive about the middle of March. I have yet to call him back to get more details but will shortly.
Stephen
MBNA has a lot of deals with many vendors. I'm getting rid of my Chase Continental card for a MBNA/RCI card because RCI (the timeshare exchange coop) has more airlines to redeem air miles with than Chase and there is no annual fee. I also get the flexibility of redeeming for car rentals and other services. I found being stuck with 1 airline too restrictie when trying to redeem miles. It does require a few more miles per redemption, but the trade off is worth it for the added flexibility.
Cheers Pat.
They have alredy changed the terms once and probably will do it again. It used to be a decent card...$3500 max over 7 years at $500 max a year with 5% return. Roughly the same as the GM card so I got it. Then they changed it to $2000 max over a shoter term AND a lower rate of return AND you have to deal with coupons which are only good at dealers. Yes you can do your oil changes and buy Subaru stuff at the dealer with them. Yea, so I can leave my car there all day and buy an overpriced cargo carrier????....no thanks. They pitched it like they were helping me....yea right. Reduce the max earnings by $1500 and making things irritating....thats helping. Yea right! They refused to let me keep the old terms where you can earn $3500 over 7 yeras so I cancelled the card that minute. The card had $300 in Subaru cash on it over the 3 months I had it and they were shocked that I would just give that up. Even called me back!!! Give it up??? Now I have a GM card. I just GAINED $1500 the way I see it. Since we are going to be seeing GM use some Subaru platforms and technology and perhaps some blatantly rebaged models.....I dont think I LOST a thing.
donbenson - I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that there are two main reasons for engine starting problems at very low temperatures - poor battery performance and frozed (gelled) transmission fluid. If you regularly deal with really cold temperatures, it might be worth getting a battery warmer (its like an electric blanket for your battery) although you'll need access to a power outlet. I've only experienced frozen transmission fluid in older model Montero, but it was a very weird experience (the damn thing actually slowed down if I took my foot of the gas even when heading down a steep hill at 70mph until it warmed up). You can get engine heaters as well, but I think they're really only necessary in really severe winter climates (e.g., like northern Alaska).
Bargle
Has anyone got any experience with upgrading from Subaru's standard AWD to the new VDC H6? Can you really notice the difference in poor road conditions (e.g., snow and ice) and would you consider it worth the $2K+ price difference over the LL Bean H6 version?
Cheers,
Bargle
Bargle
Cheers,
-wdb
The invoice that I saw at the dealership was $25,100. Thought I did good then I saw some of the posts here which made me think I could have done a few hundred $$ better. Any thoughts on $25,400???
I also like the coupons, they send them to you and you turn them in... Instead of calling the company and trying to get someone for your points etc. They work like signing over a check.
I went over to the GM site and I lied, you can only use $1,500 for a Pontiac Aztek (they must be hot!), Now you can use $2,500 for a Cadillac Eldorado. (Even the Oldsmobiles I looked up were only $1500) perhaps the GM card is being overrated?
Frank
As for the advantage of the VTD AWD vs. the normal AWD.... well, all I can say is that my Dad tried all winter to get the VDC light to come on on the dash. No success, no matter what crazy stuff he did on slippery services. But that's still inconclusive, since at least I've never done similar things in a non VDC model (2000 model +) to see the real difference.
Mike
Options Selected Invoice MSRP TMV
PIO- CD Auto Changer $390 $520 $420
PIO- Rear Gate Bar $45 $69 $50
PIO- Spoiler SW Black Granite Pearl$192 $295 $216
Premium Sound Package 3 $475 $635 $513
Total Options $1,102 $1,519 $1,199
Invoice MSRP TMV
Base Vehicle Prices $26,687 $29,495 $27,356
Optional Equipment $1,102 $1,519 $1,199
Destination Charge $495 $495 $495
Total $28,284 $31,509 $29,050
Tara
Host
Station Wagons Message Board
Thanks for the info. Someone mentioned to me, though, that there was a specific problem with "ECT" in some Outbacks that led to problems starting at extremely cold temperatures. They further advised that the dealer would fix this defect.
Has anyone heard about such a known defect.
Don
1-More standard equipment such as security system, dimmer mirror w/compass, wood grain trim
2-4x4 system is proven as dependable system while VDC is new technology
3-the price is at least 2K dollars lower.
For all of the above I selected LLbean. Sidly
The reason I changed from the LTD to the LLB was simply because I wanted the H6. I drove both and the H4 with auto just didn't cut it with cruise control engaged. The H6 was much smoother and no slowdown on uphill runs.
I think you did great! I paid 26 for my LTD. But I am in Bay Area. It seems that prices vary in different areas. I bought mine in January to take to Tahoe. I am sure that I could have done a few hundred dollars better, but is it really worth the time and effort?? If you had to pay yourself for that extra time it might not be worth it. Hey for me it would mean a 35 mile drive to the next nearest Sub dealer. And this one, is 5 mins away and even closer to my job! And the good thing is that the State of CA is rebating money for newly registered cars in 2001. So not bad! For those of you that can wait......I would. Mkt seems to be doing horrible and you will most likely get some nice rebates!!! For under $60 I added the acrylic hood deflector! Doesn't look bad and protects from all that stuff that knicks your hood! After trip from Tahoe, I realized I needed it. I would love info on the upcoming bigger Subie!!! Anyone have it? And what is the web page for parts from Darlene??? Anyone? Thanks
After quite some time lurking, and quite a few questions too, I finally (yesterday) picked up a new 2001 Outback VDC in Wintergreen. Gosh, I can see why so many people say the more they drive it, the more they love it. I LOVE this car, although I haven't put many miles on it (yet). Can't wait for the next dump of snow...
Theob, thanks for your posts about your experiences buying your VDC in the Denver/Colorado area (both here and in the owners forums). I eventually got Burt Subaru to sell me the VDC for about $700 over invoice (including their D&H fees) after arguing with them that I could get a better deal at lots of other places, so I'm pretty happy about that. BTW, I like the Burt Subaru dealership a lot (and its nice and close to me) and the people there are pretty nice too (no hard sell, etc.) but just don't believe them when they tell you they won't sell for any less than MSRP ;-)
Like many other people before me, I'd like to say thanks to everyone on the Subaru boards for making this such a pleasant place to hang out...
Cheers all,
Bargle
Eric: Sorry about your VW lemon. Glad that was resolved, and I certainly hope (and believe) your Soob will server you better.
Jeanette: just got back from a road trip where I used the Samsonite carrier. It was the 3rd time I used it, and this time the rain was heavy enough to soak it from the bottom up, so some contents were a little damp. Not soaking wet, but damp.
That was $50, though I've seen it at luggage outlets for $40, so shop around. If you really need something water-proof, stick with the hard tops.
Anibal: call Darlene for the quickest service. It's 800-287-1281, ask for parts, then tell Darlene juice sent you (and say hi for me). The oil filters are $4 and you get a drain plug gasket free, and yes they ship to CA for no charge.
-juice