Subaru Crew Cafe

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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Do you want 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds with the automatic? Then get the turbo.

    It will cost more and use a bit more gas, plus it's premium gas, but only the RAV4 V6 can match that kind of performance in this class.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just read it. Went to the book store down stairs.

    Some highlights: it beat the CR-V, RAV4, Rogue, and Vue Greenline.

    Lowlights: they tested FWD models for the competition.

    Basically, Forester won by offering the best ride quality (tied with one other, though I forget which) while still offering the most lateral grip. They also liked the steering, and basically found the vehicle overall was vice-free.

    0-60 for the base engine was 9.9 seconds with the automatic. That was mid-pack in this test but we should not compare directly since those were FWD.

    They got 20.1mpg with their lead feet, but that actually matched the Saturn Vue Greenline hybrid! Again, mid pack, but keep in mind that's with the AWD fuel economy handicap.

    In a side bar they mention the turbo hit 60mph in 6.6 seconds, very impressive for an automatic.

    The thing that impressed them the most was the visibility. They complained loudly about how bad the Rogue was in that area.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    0-60 was 9.9 seconds with the automatic

    OUCH!!!!! That's almost twice as slow as the 5.3 they recorded for the 04 MT turbo. I sure hope Subaru rethinks their position regarding not offering a MT option with the XT.

    -Frank
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Went to pick up some pizza from Pizzeria Unos this evening. When I pulled into the parking space, I noticed there was a woman about to get into her Outback, which was right next to mine. She came up to me and asked me about my WRX, and before you knew it, the two of us ended up talking Subarus for about 10 minutes!

    She was from Massachusetts and said Subies were everywhere up there, and was surprised to see so few down here in Maryland. She had a current generation Outback Limited, which is a 5-speed. I told here that it's rumored that the next generation non-turbo 2.5 Outback may not have a manual tranny, and she was very disappointed to hear that.

    I also told her to stop in on these forums. :)

    Bob
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Well, I am considering heresy and going to an auto this time. Up to now, we've only bought autos that had no option (minivan, Yukon XL). Problem is that our nanny was never able to get the hang of driving stick, so the smaller vehicles have never been there as an option. Add to it the fact that the autos now get better city mileage than their clutch equipped brethren and my left foot will likely be getting a rest with our next vehicle. I haven't driven the new XT as they are not yet available up here, but I did note that the fuel economy is closer to the n/a version than before. In the Forester, I'd gladly take a milder bump in performance with the turbo balanced against better fuel economy. The WRX is a different story : (.
  • redrose1redrose1 Member Posts: 49
    Does anyone have any real world fuel consumption stats to share on the 09 Forester turbo?

    Thanks!
  • pathtomaxpathtomax Member Posts: 215
    From what I have read and been told- there is currently no 5 speed NON Turbo Outback Limited available???
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I wouldn't be suprised. They sold about 15 MT non-turbo Legacies last month. So as sales figures drop on MTs sold, there will be less and less reason for the company to even stock or offer them for sale. :(

    -mike
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Yep, we had 5MT Leg Limited which are all gone but no OB. Course that is here in Canada, but I thought we kept our MTs in some models even after they were pulled south of the 49th.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just to clarify, that was a base engine, not a turbo.

    So the base/auto hit 60 in 9.9, the turbo/auto took only 6.6 seconds.

    They did not test a base/manual but I'd expect it to chop off a second or so from that time.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    ...maybe your next trip to Brazil won't kill you on intercity flights.

    The founder of JetBlue has announced a new Brazilian start-up named Azul. Clever doncha think??!!

    They'll fly 195 Embrear jets with 118 leather seats and seat back TV's and be based in Sao Paulo.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sounds great.

    TAM is bad, and Gol is worse.

    Plus, I fly right into Sao Paulo on United, so hopefully they have a direct connection to Recife.

    I miss the good old days when Varig was among the world's best.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I miss the good old days when Varig was among the world's best.

    And the most expensive and least convenient. I remember going and if you missed the once a day flight from the US (JFK), you basically sat around for tomorrow's flight.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Same thing with United today, there is still only one flight per day.

    Back then the planes weren't nearly as full, either. I remember getting an empty flight and having 3 seats to myself! Heaven! :shades:

    Of course empty seats are probably the reason Varig went bankrupt.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Same thing with United today, there is still only one flight per day.

    True - but there's more than one airline and you might be able to ebook. Back in the old days there was Varig and there was - oh yeah - nobody else!!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Depends on how far back you go.

    Cruzeiro was their competitor, until Varig bought them out and they merged.

    The 3rd was VASP. I don't recall if they did the international routes, though.

    Any how, I remember better food and a lot less crowding. The check-in lines for United are insane - out the door at Dulles airport.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_0806_compact_crossover_comparison/i- ndex.html

    Best ride while still managing the most lateral grip. Gas mileage tied the hybrid for worst, surprisingly, but the Forester was the only one with AWD.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Depends on how far back you go.

    I'm talking mid 70's. IIRC, Varig had 2 flights a day from the US to Rio. One was from JFK and the other was from LAX. If you missed the flight, you had to wait until the next day.

    It was in the mid 80's when American, Delta, United were awarded routes and they started flying from Chicago, Dallas, Miami, DC, et al.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I used to take the Miami-Belem flights back then.

    Nice thing was it was only a few hours.

    Bad thing was my connection made 4 stops before Recife. :sick:

    OK, so maybe it wasn't the good old days after all. :D
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    I know they wanted the most frugal, but it might have been more fair to list the AWD mpg numbers when criticizing the Forester for economy. A very weird twist with the Rogue is that it offers a centre shoulder belt, but no centre headrest with the latter an easier safety feature to add.
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I know they wanted the most frugal, but it might have been more fair to list the AWD mpg numbers when criticizing the Forester for economy.

    True but the comparison was SUV's equipped with their least driven wheels and the smallest engine available so the Forester has to take the good with the bad.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    I'm curious if anyone here has the BF Goodrich G Force tires, or has heard anything about them? I contacted the dealer (who is having a spring tire special) and they recommended the G Force for my Outback Wagon. I figure with the Subaru bucks I have lying around my cost just got cut in half.

    The only reference I have to G-Force is an old Japanese cartoon by that name from about 20-25 years ago :D .

    Mark
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sorry, have to vent.

    I didn't think I had time so I let a shop change my timing belt and water pump on the Miata. Also changed the T-stat and the radiator switch, as it was running a little hot at times.

    Any how, so I pick it up and the car is down on power. WAY down. It only has 116hp, but it feels like 90hp.

    So I call them up and ask if they set the timing.

    Mechanic says the timing is not adjustable.

    * pause for effect *

    Laughter. :D

    C'mon now, on 99 and later models you cannot adjust the timing manually, but on earlier models you can. How can a mechanic not know that? I'd even done it before with a friend. Has he never worked on a car this old? Gimme a break, it is a 1993.

    So $40 later, with a new timing gun, I check the timing. Stock setting is 10 degrees BTDC (before top dead center). Guess where it's set?

    1 degree BDTC! *(&^$#(*&^$(*#&^$ :mad:

    I advanced the timing, all the way up to about 13-14 BTDC, which lets it still run 87 octane, but maximizes the power.

    She's running great now. :shades:
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    gives juice a round of applause for knowing what to do ... and another round for writing the post so well to set the effect ... LOL
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I haven't set timing on a car in a long time. So a mechanic not knowing how to do it doesn't suprise me. Glad you got it worked out w/o blowing the car up.

    -mike
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Susan's 2001 Legacy has an intermittent gas smell when starting and for the first couple of minutes...there seems to be no pattern regarding any other factors. Has anybody experienced this? What might be the cause?

    P.S. Michael's CEL has not returned...must have been the gas.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    At least it goes away. My mom owned a car in Brazil that smelled like gas the whole time. It never stopped smelling like gas. :cry:

    Make sure the intake is all sealed up nicely, all the vacumm hoses and stuff like that. I would also check the fuel lines, at least the ones under the hood.
  • dcm61dcm61 Member Posts: 1,567
    juice, I think Serge is talking about gasoline, not natural gas. :P
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    We were 3 brothers...LOL!
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    I spoke too soon...I will most likely order this...
    http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/cp_partdetail.php?partid=3989
    Do we need only one for the engine of one for each bank?
  • amsbearamsbear Member Posts: 147
    Just the one knock sensor.

    Have you taken a flashlight and pinpointed where it is on the engine block? Also, locate and trace the wire back to where the harness connector is. Plan how you are going to remove it (it snakes through many wires, hoses and under the intake plenum). When I bought my replacement sensor, it did not come with the mounting bolt, so make sure you keep the original.

    Be careful around the hoses (EGR, IAC) as they can easily be damaged when reaching in and around there with your hands and tools.

    Good luck,

    Alan
    98 OBW Ltd (148,250 miles)
  • pathtomaxpathtomax Member Posts: 215
    Yes, I have this smell periodically. My dealership thought I was crazy, but I guess it is 'good' to hear someone else is experiencing this. I have an '01 Outback.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    Susan's Legacy started to overheat the other day...we took it in to the mechanic..after checking it out, the diagnosis was metal rust pieces and other crap in the radiator is preventing circulation to the engine...the radiator is ice cold and the engine is hot...the fix is a replacement radiator, t-stat, etc..over $500. Has anybody else here had that problem and does this sound possible, the radiator cap had a lot of rust on it..this is a 2001, but only 85,00 miles. Needless to say, this epidemic of Subieitis is making us unhappy.
    Serge
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Serge, we had to get a new thermostat on our Forester a while back. It didn't completely freeze, but rather was taking a long time for the engine to heat up. Also the temp gauge was acting really weird. It would jump and down very erradically.

    Bob
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    It's been frustrating these 2 weeks. The Legacy is being worked on as we speak. Michael's Outback is fine except for the intermittent CEL. He got it the other day, took off the gas cap and put it back on, and the CEL is gone...a somewhat normal fic for Subies from what I've read over the years. I've priced out the knock sensor at approx $70 plus shipping.

    How is Debbie doing these days? Let us know, or email me
    Serge
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    She's doing well Serge. She's now on radiation treatment, her hair is growing back, but she's still very tired. I understand that's an after effect of the chemo, and could take up to a year or so before that goes away. Thanks for asking.

    On another family note, our daughter Mairen just got her Masters in Nursing. Better still, she just got offered a job making big bucks!

    Bob
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    If you lost enough radiator fluid there may not be enough to flow thus the engine will get hot and the radiator will be cold. It could also be the T-stat. I doubt that it is the radiator itself.

    On a side note the subies should have the radiator flushed or drained/filled every 30k, so if you didn't do that, it could just be coming back to bite you on the maintenance end.

    $500 with labor isn't that bad for a rad w/T-stat, you should also get hoses replaced at the same time as well.

    -mike
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Posted a message over in the Subaru Outback/Legacy Buying Advice thread. I'm considering a '99 Legacy L 30th Anniv wagon, AT, 160k miles, hopefully for $4k-ish. First year of the 2.2L Phase II engine. Any thoughts you guys have on it would be appreciated. Here's the link:
    http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0c91d5/105
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    On another family note, our daughter Mairen just got her Masters in Nursing. Better still, she just got offered a job making big bucks!

    Is she a nurse practioner? My niece is an RN and a charge nurse on the cardiac floor at a major Boston area hospital. She works two 12 hour shifts on Friday and Saturday nights and out-earns her husband.

    Nursing is a funny field - it goes through ups and downs with the need for labor. Have her grab the money now.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I just spent over a grand on my Miata for a similar issue and it only has 76k miles, though it is older.

    They did the timing belt (while they were in for the water pump), the water pump, the T-stat, the radiator switch (I think?), and a full flush.

    I think they also did some other related stuff, but it came out to over a grand.

    Still, I haven't spent any thing on this Miata in 8 years, so I can't complain.
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    Well, we sold Dra's Bug last night so at least we know which car is being replaced. Beyond that we still have no clue. It went to someone from work so that saved us the hassle of adverstising and dealing with inquiries. Downside of course is that I lowballed the price given it was someone we knew but still saw $2k more than the Subie dealer was offering.
    We will be sad to see it go. It was the Double Yellow and the kind of vehicle which just made you feel happy. People would actually tell Sandra how much they loved her car at stoplights and parking lots. In the end it simply wasn't functional for a Mum of 4 with one still in a car seat. She didn't like the Forester, so that's not an option. We are waiting for the Leg/OB PZEVs to come in, and one of those is the most likely candidate right now but who knows. Everything from Taurus X to 09 Matrix are still considerations - we'd just have to put aftermarket seat heaters in the latter.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    WRX baby. :shades:
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yes, she's a Family Nurse Practitioner. She'll be making six figures and she's not yet 25, which is insane.

    Bob
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    She's not going for the WRX. I might renew next year, when they get a sunroof, but more likely I'd hold on until some performance/tranny upgrades took place before making that switch. Don't tell Dra, but I'm still considering replacing my car and the prime candidate there is the Forester (gasp!) Just want to see the Ltd's for interior finish.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Sweet.

    Time to trade up that CR-V? ;)
  • ladywclassladywclass Member Posts: 1,713
    I'm in the wrong field ....

    LOL .. best of luck for your daughter, Bob!
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    First year of the 2.2L Phase II engine.

    That was actually the last year that the 2.2L engine was offered in a Legacy. There are no Phase II 2.2L engines, The 2.2L engine is a workhorse and quite a robust engine.

    -mike
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Joe Spitz's cars101.com site says 1999's the first year of a Phase II 2.2, put into Legacy for '99 (only) and put into Impreza from '99 forward 'til the 2.5L was put in.

    Phase I 2.2 info from his site:
    2.2 L 4 cylinder aluminum alloy 16 valve SOHC boxer engine, Sequential Multi-port fuel injection, distributorless ignition
    Horsepower: 137 5400 rpm
    Torque: 145 @ 4000 rpm

    Phase II 2.2 info from his site:
    Phase II, 2.2 L 4 cylinder aluminum alloy 16 valve SOHC boxer engine, Sequential Multi-port fuel injection, distributorless ignition
    Horsepower: 142 @ 5600 rpm
    Torque: 149 @ 3600 rpm

    :confuse:

    Not a big change, but I like that the slightly higher higher peak torque comes on 10% sooner. As long as there's no known problems that happened when the 2.2 was tweaked, I'm gonna try to find a '99, I think.
  • jeffmcjeffmc Member Posts: 1,742
    Actually already found a lower mileage vehicle identical to the one I posted, but with only about 105k miles. However, asking price is about $1500 more than my budget for this. If it's not selling after a week, I'll see if they'll come down to my price range. I hate to low-ball 'em, but if they need to get rid of it, I'll give 'em what I can for it. Perfect world, I'd pick up the low mileage one for the high mileage price. ;)
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yeah just minor tweaking in the ECU for 99+

    Engine is essentially the same motor. Both very durable engines, they have much thicker walls than the 2.5L motors do.

    -mike
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