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2011 Subaru Outback Hard / Mealy Shift 1st & 2nd

in Subaru
I purchased a 2011 Subaru Outback two months ago without seeing the specific vehicle (I had test driven the exact same model for ~45 minutes in all different driving conditions) and I've been experiencing some very hard / mealy shifting into first and second (and sometimes third) gear while downshifting. It was very frequent/evident for the first couple hundred miles (I picked it up when it had ~ 230 miles on it) and now at 2200 miles it's feeling a bit smoother but still very noticable and very unlike my previous MT vehicle. My first inclination was that this was a problem with the synchros, since it feels just like I'm trying to shift into reverse (where there are no synchros).
The only other MT vehicle I've owned was a FWD 2003 Honda Civic EX Coupe. Dispite the lead service tech saying it feels very strange, the dealer has all but stated that it's a non-issue. They chalk it up to it being an AWD and there being more components that need to be synchro'd than I had previously experienced in my Civic. Whether this makes sense or not, I don't know and haven't looked into.
I've driven two other 2011 Outbacks with MT's. The first one was a 2.5 Premium, exactly like mine except in a different color. This was the vehicle that I did my primary test driving on, and I don't remember noting this issue in my ~45 minute test drive. My memory, admittedly, isn't the greatest sometimes- but I'd like to believe that this is something I would have noted. The second one is a base 2.5 model that I drove earlier today as a comparison and I'm noting the exact same issue as I'm experiencing with my 2011 Outback.
"A case has been opened with the Subaru engineers" as the service department put it and they came back with "no issue" and have claimed that no one else has reported this problem to them. Is anyone else having or has anyone else experienced this issue? Is it not an issue?
Thanks for your anticipated input/information.
The only other MT vehicle I've owned was a FWD 2003 Honda Civic EX Coupe. Dispite the lead service tech saying it feels very strange, the dealer has all but stated that it's a non-issue. They chalk it up to it being an AWD and there being more components that need to be synchro'd than I had previously experienced in my Civic. Whether this makes sense or not, I don't know and haven't looked into.
I've driven two other 2011 Outbacks with MT's. The first one was a 2.5 Premium, exactly like mine except in a different color. This was the vehicle that I did my primary test driving on, and I don't remember noting this issue in my ~45 minute test drive. My memory, admittedly, isn't the greatest sometimes- but I'd like to believe that this is something I would have noted. The second one is a base 2.5 model that I drove earlier today as a comparison and I'm noting the exact same issue as I'm experiencing with my 2011 Outback.
"A case has been opened with the Subaru engineers" as the service department put it and they came back with "no issue" and have claimed that no one else has reported this problem to them. Is anyone else having or has anyone else experienced this issue? Is it not an issue?
Thanks for your anticipated input/information.
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I would be inclined to head to the local dealer to try a couple of the 6-speed Outbacks on their lot, but it is about -20F right now and they don't really like prepping the cars for test drives by casual passersby.
Problem persisists - any thoughts?