Subaru Legacy/Outback 2005+

1155156158160161214

Comments

  • khallockkhallock Member Posts: 63
    Thjanks for the tip. I forgot to kneel on the carseat base to see if that would help tighten it. The 05 has LATCH on the side seats, but not in the middle. I dont know why they didnt put them there?? The seatbelt in the middle is will tighten, but I guess I have to kneel on it like you said first. Its an ALR seatbelt which I guess means its automatic locking, not just emergency locking. I'll try kneeling on the seat base tomorrow. Thanks for your help!
  • rsorganizersorganize Member Posts: 131
    I, too, have had some problems with the tire pressure system - occasional light on/off. Have had to add air a few times. Today, I went to tire dealer from whom I recently purchased Turanzas. Showed me corroded tire valve, on front tire that measured 28 psi. In his opinion, that was the cause of the problem. We'll see. But, this might be something to watch for?
  • khallockkhallock Member Posts: 63
    I will look for that but I have only had the light come on 2 times. Once was last spring after I got the snow tires off. It was still cold here in the mornings and the light would come on when I first started my car. If I drove around lunch time and the weather was warmer the light would go off. I took it back to the dealership since they are the ones who changed my tires and they put more air in and the light didnt come on again until a few weeks ago when the weather started getting cooloer. I think its just because the pressure changes when its cold vs warm outside.
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Actually, the problem you are describing was written up in a back issue of DRIVE. They explained that if you are parked indoors on a cool day the system light will start blinking becasue of the temp difference once out side. they even give a table with suggested tire pressure for the winter. If you havea access to my.subaru.com you can find the article.

    Mark
  • krzysskrzyss Member Posts: 849
    I believe, but might be wrong, that 4 mouting points are for all positions.
    When placing 1 child seat in middle position one is supposed to use 2 middle points. When placing 1 or 2 seats on side position one is supposed to use 1 outside and one middle.

    Krzys

    PS I would be afraid to put 3 seats this way.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,701
    PS I would be afraid to put 3 seats this way.

    Hahahahah..... if you need three carseats, you have concerns far greater than the LATCH system! :P
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    Kristen,

    That'e exactly what the system is for. What it is telling you is that you should be running the tire pressure a little higher to have a safe inflation on those cold mornings. Remember, tires should be measured when cold, and you have to do it in a representative climate (ie, not in a heated garage or on a hot afternoon). The required pressure should be set for the coldest part of the day, or just add a couple psi to handle those really cold mornings (which is what I do).

    In spring and fall, when temps might be fluctuating, I tend to run a few psi higher than normal just to be on the safe side when it gets cold.

    Craig
  • andrelaplumeandrelaplume Member Posts: 934
    Is 24K out the door a good price for an 06 auto 2.5i Outback?---no trades involved, includes tax an tags....
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    VIP is invoice minues incentives, basically what famillies of Subaru employees get. You are eligible if you join a club that participates in the program, such as the IMBA or ACA.

    Compare your price to fitzmall.com and Van Bortel Subaru's no-haggle prices.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    $22,939 plus $99 processing plus 5% tax would be just under $24.2k out the door (plus registration fees, which aren't that much).

    Shop around, I think you can do better.

    -juice
  • khallockkhallock Member Posts: 63
    My '05 manual says not to use the LATCH in the middle. It says to use the seat belt to install. I didn't measure myself, but I guess you should not use the LATCH to install if they are more than 11" apart and I think if you install in the middle and want to use LATCH that those are more than 11" apart, which is why you shouldn't use them. This car seat stuff is very confusing. Thank goodness I can take it someplace to get inspected, but I would still like to learn how to install it safely myself.

    I'd prefer to use the center seat because I will have to move the front seats up too far to be comfortable if I have to put the baby seat behind either of the front seats.

    Thanks for your help!
  • khallockkhallock Member Posts: 63
    Craig, I understand that part of the tire system. I guess the part I don't like about it is not being able to change the rims yourself. I just dont know how that would work. Ideally I would like to get a 2nd set of rims and change my snow tires myself, but I just dont know if thats doable with the tire pressure system.
  • krzysskrzyss Member Posts: 849
    position then please tell me what the heck top tether is doing in the middle?

    Krzys
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I know, I have wondered about that myself. I think you can get a second set of rims without the special stems, and basically ignore the TPMS warning light for the winter. (or maybe there's a way to turn it off?).

    The other (more pricey) option would be to get a second set of TPMS stems and have them mounted on your second set of wheels (or buy Subaru wheels with the stems in place). Still, you'd need to have the dealer reprogram the system every time you switch wheels, as I have heard the TPMS system can only "tune" into one set of sensors at a time (to prevent it from getting signals from other cars).

    Craig
  • zman3zman3 Member Posts: 857
    If I understand your point correctly, the ceiling mount, if that is what you are referring to, is not part of the LATCH system, I don't believe. My 98 OB has ceiling mounts for tethers, but it does not have the LATCH system.
  • platypusplatypus Member Posts: 192
    Some older child seats such as our Fisher Price Safe Embrace (circa 1999) have a top tethering strap that goes to an anchor point on the vehicle. On our Honda Ody, the anchor point was underneath the seat. On the OB, as you know, it's on the ceiling. We have a newer child seat on loan from a friend that has the full LATCH system, and I've been using it in my OB; pretty slick, I must admit.
  • poissonpoisson Member Posts: 49
    LATCH was rolled out in 2 phases. The first mandated the top tether anchors(September 1999). The second phase mandated the lower anchor points (September 2002 - see LATCH information). Together, these make up the LATCH system. Ideally they are used in conjunction (see Car Safety Site). However, there are still seats out there with only the top tether (or none at all) because they were manufactured prior to the mandates.

    As for a rear facing seat (infant), there are very few that use a top tether (Britax is one). Also, since the car is so narrow, I would suspect that the front seat would not be able to further back if the seat is in the middle as opposed to the side.

    Lastly, rear-facing seats should be able to move some at the top (see Car Seat FAQ). It is the lower base that must be secured tightly.
    Hope that helps. I am very serious when it comes to child safety and I suspect so is everyone on this board.
  • kat95kat95 Member Posts: 49
    I would like to know if I use stainless steel rims for a set of snow tires would they
    fit well even though they are not factory rims. Is it ok to use my current rims(factory) and put snow tires on those?
  • poissonpoisson Member Posts: 49
    I have a set of steel wheels/snow tires for my Outback XT. They are 16" (can't recall the actual tire size), whereas the normal wheels are 17". The speedometer is slightly off but I have a Garmin GPS which is spot-on. I got them from TireRack so they sent the appropriate lugs to handle any offset issues.
    On my wife's Odyssey, I have snow tires but no steel wheels. Every year, I have to take it to the tire shop to get them swapped (I do the outback myself).
    Given my druthers, I would go with a dedicated set of wheels. It makes things much easier and doesn't force you to take tires off/on the factory rims which could cause damage from carelessness, etc....
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    For anyone interested...

    Sitting Tight: A Car Seat Overview
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I don't think I've ever seen stainless steel wheels -- the weight/strength of stainless is just not a good idea for wheels. You can certainly buy aftermarket wheels (aluminum or steel) and have your winter tires mounted on them. Call TireRack or look at their website. They offer packages for Outbacks. They can tell you which aftermarket wheels will fit.

    Craig
  • steph207steph207 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT and am wondering if 16 inch snow tires would give enough clearance for my brakes.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    These became standard in MY2000, at least for the Forester. I purchased anchors and retro-fitted my 1998. I was happy that Subaru at least made them available.

    The lower anchors part of LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) came later.

    -juice
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT and am wondering if 16 inch snow tires would give enough clearance for my brakes.

    According to tirerack - No.
  • andrelaplumeandrelaplume Member Posts: 934
    Are there any good OEM 3rd party accessory suppliers or non OEM 3rd pary accessory suplliers for Forester / Outbacks?

    What is a fair price for a genuine Suby 6/80 or 7/80 zero deductible warranty. My dealer quoted $2150 for a 7/100K and I burst out laughing.....this after the prior dude told us how sound these cars are and how they'd be a bargain if they only came with a 1 year 12K bumper to bumper warranty...much less the 3/36 and 5/60......Are there internet dealers out there selling the Sub warranties or any good Sub sites looking to sell a warranty?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Technically if you buy from anyone but Subaru you are buying an insurance policy, not a warranty.

    Ask to see their cost book, tell them you will pay $100 above their cost, yes or no, not negotiable. It's a quick profit for them and worth the time.

    Should be $1400 or less, I imagine, depending on the terms.

    -juice
  • alpha01alpha01 Member Posts: 4,747
    I know Im a bit late to the party, but kat, you have the 2.5L non-turbo and 4 speed auto, yes? This behavior, believe it or not, is normal. The 4EAT, in 20K miles of experience now, isnt too bright of a transmission, as there is most certainly a time delay between flooring the vehicle, the electronic throttle unit and computer "thinking", and then getting the subsequent kickdown. Acceleration and and transmission performance are the two big drawbacks that I would cite on the 2005 Legacy 2.5i, and I wouldnt dare buy a heavier OB_Limited with that combo.

    Joe
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    the only options are ignoring the TPMS light and get new rims without the monitor or buying a new set of rims with new monitors. Dunno what a Subaru dealer charges but Tirerack told me they can get them for $99 bucks EACH! Which is why I put some Nokian WR's on my Tribeca and I won't need to worry about swaping tires or rims.! The Nokians are actually better than the stock Good years! We'll see how good the WRs are in 255/55-18 size for winter. They were great for smaller sizes on my other cars.
  • andrelaplumeandrelaplume Member Posts: 934
    the OEM tires that come on a new OB should be fine for the PA snow right....I mean the thing is AWD.....?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    I think they are fine for light winter driving. But winter tires are far better all around.

    Don't let the AWD mislead you, the car still brakes and corners about the same as any other car!

    Craig
  • andrelaplumeandrelaplume Member Posts: 934
    We have a 96 RAV right now and NEVER had ANY trouble in the snow...even with balding tires. My FWD Camry is lousy in the snow, worse than any other fwd car I ever had. I was told the bigger the car gets, the worse it is in the snow. My Camry indeed was much bigger than my prior fwd car. Should I expect the OB, being larger not to perform that great in the snow as compared to a smaller car, like an Impreza?

    If the OB or Forester perform less than our 10 year old RAV in snow, we will be very dissapointed!
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Andrea,

    I have a 2000 OB and have used all-season tires for the last 5 years with no problems in the snow. And, I've driven in some blizzards (previous 48hr drives - see Events). You should have no problems. Just remember: AWD does not = All Wheel Stop.

    Mark
  • kevin13kevin13 Member Posts: 12
    Hi. I have a 2005 Legacy GT. I have the dreaded A/C problem where instead of providing a steady temperature to cool to the set temperature the air blows very cold and then hot. And I mean hot. I've heard of others having this issue and getting the run around from Subaru about it. Has anyone actually got this fixed? If so, can you give me some pointers for my trip to the dealer (who so far has been incompetent on service).

    Thanks!
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    It sounds like you are basing winter performance on the ability to get forward traction in snow. In that sense, the Outback (really any AWD Subaru) is going to be great. I drove my 05 OB XT in deep unplowed powder last winter (about 15-20") during a heavy dump at a ski resort, and it was pretty impressive. Still took some skill and common sense though.

    I think it's important to be conservative about winter capabilities of vehicles. Based on the number of extremely capable SUVs I see in the ditch every winter, I think even "great" vehicles can perform poorly with the wrong tires, overconfident drivers, etc... So the vehicle is only one part of the equation.

    Driven carefully, an Outback will be pretty good.

    Craig
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,701
    Well said! In my opinion, the Outback is an incredible "go" and corner performer, even on all-season tires with 75K miles on them! But, you still have to stop, so do not get over-confident just because it goes well and give yourself both room and time. If you have many days/months of snow and ice conditions and plan to keep this car as long as you've had your RAV, get a set of steel rims and mount some dedicated snow tires. It is worth the investment and you can swap them out whenever you don't need them.
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • era174era174 Member Posts: 67
    I went to a Subaru dealer to test out a 2006 Legacy 2.5i Wagon Auto. Since it didn't have 2006 models in stock yet, the salesperson asked me to test a 2005 model instead.

    When I tried to start the engine, nothing happened. He told me that the battery was dead because nobody started its engine for a long time on the parking lot.

    Is it normal for battery to be dead if it's not used for months? Or, is it just an unusual isolated case?
  • era174era174 Member Posts: 67
    The salesperson I met today told me an interesting story.

    He said Subaru vehicles are imported from Japan to Canada while Subaru USA has its own factory in USA or Mexico. Is it true?

    He said that's why there're some differences in pricing and standard equipment. I do notice that American Legacy (2006) 2.5i (basic model) doesn't have HEATED front seats while its Canadian equivalent has them as standard.

    If his explanation is correct, Canadian and American customers are driving Subarus from different factories and workforce.
  • raybearraybear Member Posts: 1,795
    The US plant is in Lafayette, Indiana and produces the Legacy, Baja and Tribeca, while Gunma, Ota, Japan produces the Forester and Impreza.
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    All Canadian and US Legacys are built in Indiana, US (as is the Tribeca and Baja). Everything else comes from Japan for both US and Canada. Subaru does not have a Mexican plant. You can look at the metal VIN tag on the car to see the point of origin for a particular vehicle.

    We've noticed than the Canadian models have always gotten the cold weather package items as standard, while the are sometimes optional on US vehicles. Canadians get some better option packages on the Impreza too.

    Craig

    P.S. from your earlier post -- it's not totally uncommon to find dead batteries on the lot. Many dealers have a mobile charger cart they can wheel out to the cars to start them.
  • cptpltcptplt Member Posts: 1,075
    AWD and all seasons will be fine most of the time but you won't get anywhere quickly and you will have far less stopping ability compared to winter tires. CR did a test once and IIRC from 30-0, winter tires stopped the car in 1 -1 /2 car lengths quicker than all seasons, thats the difference between a new bumper or no damage!
    When I went from FWD with snow tires to AWD I thought that was the end of needing snow tires. Then I had two 92 legacies and I put my old winter tires from an Integra on one and kept the stock all seasons on the other and I have been a diehard convert to winter tires even with AWD since. It does make a difference. You can move with all seasons and AWD in snow but you can't move as fast or as confidently. My biz partner has a E320 4matic, he never understood the concept for winter tires till one day driving to the office Xmas party he couldn't keep up with my WRX with snow tires and I wasn't even going fast. All his 50 grand worth of Mercedes AWD and traction and stability control made him move at snail speed. After he got winter tires, none of those things were kicking in like they used to with all seasons. Now he could drive his E series in winter like he likes to drive his SL in summer.Though why you would or should do that is another issue in and of itself! He got snow tires for his wife's E 4matic as well and got kicked for not having gotten them years earlier."Why did I have to slither up the road to our driveway the last 2 years???"
    Anyway I'm out now to take the summer tires of my WRX, now if you really want to see how not to drive in winter, put max performance summers on and drive in the snow! If you can get out the driveway or parking lot , you'll be happy!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd look for a new salesperson. If his information was that unreliable, you probably can't count on him for much help if you ever needed it.

    A dead battery on a car that's been on the lot for that long isn't abnormal. You can have the battery load tested to make sure it's OK if you purchase that exact car.

    -juice
  • mchalmersmchalmers Member Posts: 30
    RSorganize, I have a question for you. Debating an 06 LL Bean, VDC or the 06 2.5I Limited. I also drive on the MA Pike and my usual routine is Beverly, MA to Stamford CT twice a week. Do you think the 6 cylinder is worth the extra money and less fuel economy? I hate the fact that the 4 cylinder may be underpowered for cruising at 80 miles an hour on the pike but I also don't want to get killed at the pump. Did you drive the 2.5I and compare?

    Regards,

    Matthew
  • happy1happy1 Member Posts: 3
    I've got a new '05 Legacy GT (had it less than 2 months) in the garage that as of this afternoon, has started emitting a single 'chirp' consistently every 5 minutes with no signs of stopping. The 'chirp' is the exact same same as you would hear if you pressed the unlock button on the remote. By all appearances, there is nothing wrong w/ the car (no doors or trunk ajar), no other warning lights come on when the vehicle is running.

    I've tried shutting off the security system as per the owners manual, but to no avail. Still chirping away and the security light is still flashing. Any thoughts?
  • glenfordglenford Member Posts: 138
    Matthew - just jumping in here. I have an 05 2.5I limited. It is fine IMHO for highway cruising. I notice the lower horsepower when getting up to speed, but at cruising, it seems pefectly comfortable. I think I got 29mpg on a recent long trip.(05 has 7-8hp less than the 06). Tim
  • ejjejj Member Posts: 36
    Hi--been shopping for a new Outback. I like the tan fabric, but the plood turns me off. Anyone been able to order a trim package to replace the plood with the brushed metal from the dark interior?
  • c_hunterc_hunter Member Posts: 4,487
    You can't order it as a package from the factory, but you can order the parts and do the swap yourself. It's fairly simple.

    Craig
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    It is simple, as I've done this.

    Especially when you have new peices in your hand, you can easily make out where the clips are so you know where to squeeze to get the old ones out.

    I did this to our '02 Legacy. Gained a cup holder in the process, too, so now I have 3 instead of 1 for 00-01 models or 2 for 02-04 models.

    On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the difficulty at about a 4. Maybe even a 3.

    -juice
  • andrelaplumeandrelaplume Member Posts: 934
    I should mention that we are in PA and get some bad snow and ice conditions but we also do not venture out unless we have too. My wife works maybe a mile away and she will be the one driving the car unless is so bad she closes here business...then I'd likely take it. I work more like 15 miles away. So perhaps I should try the OEM tires first and drive carefully. I can see where adding a set of snows would save treadlife on the reduculous 17" expensive tires that come on the 06....still I have no real good spot to store them. We are still toying between a Forester and OB I'd assume perform equally.

    Anyone want to talk me into on F X over the other OB 2.5i. So far the OB looks nicer in and out, offers heated seat. mirror and wipes and rear airbags. I see no real size advantage. It costs $2150 more than the F X with alloys added. For us 2K+ is a lot of $$$......but....
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Well, if all things go right, by this weekend I will have fallen off the fence and into a 06 LL Bean OBW. We went this past Sat. to a dealer I got thru Carsdirect.com for a test drive. We were able to drive a 05 XT LTD, then a 06 XT LTD, and finally the 06 Bean Wagon. My wife fell in love with the Bean the minute she sat in it, and I have to say with the tranny in sport mode, it drove very nicely. The dealer I tested at told me to call him today about the car.

    In the mean time I called the dealer I have gone to for service to see what he could do price wise. I expected him to match it, but he actually told me $200 less. The deal maker was that he would give me $8500 tradein vs $6700. That combined with the past record with them, made me say go for it. He's looking for it in the color we want (black) so hopefully I'll have it by this Friday.

    I do admit to feeling a little bad for where I test drove, but at the same time he did not want a deposit and his trade in is $1800 less. The only other thing is I have to wait for my dealer to locate the car.

    Mark (very excited)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Yeah, the $200 in price may have been worth it, since the dealer took good care of you, but $1800? No way, you'd have to be crazy.

    -juice
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.