Below is an interesting link regarding a Consumer Reports Survey about the ranking of "features" and their importance to consumers. To sum up, according to the survey, cruise control is more important than side airbags (ranked 11th) and Electronic Stability Control (ranked 20th).
So, a lot of the discussion about the Tribeca and it's recent CR ranking compared to other mid-size suvs, is partly misplaced in my opinion. True about certain space limitations, (susposedly) "underpowered" engine , etc. Yet, I would think that one primary reason that Tribeca owners bought their car related to the fact of the extremely high safety of the automobile: front, side, side curtain airbags; active head restraints; tire pressure monitoring system; one of the world's best AWD systems; Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC, Subaru's version of Electronic Stability Control); Traction Control System; etc.
Of course, many other reasons to buy the Tribeca come in the form of innovative styling, proven reliability of Subaru as a brand, great engine performance, and versatility to name a few.
One should also take a look at reviews and consider what type of driving you will be doing. I am sure that many Tribeca owners like myself are in northern climates (read, Vermont snow). The CR article did not consider the performance in winter conditions, though as most Subaru owners know, many other SUVs don't perform as well in those challenging and adverse conditions. Again, for my family, that performance of safety is one of the reasons why I feel the Tribeca is one of the best choices irrespective of cost.
Just like any purchase, if you are happy with your decision and you love your car then the opinions of others really shouldn't matter that much (regardless if those opinions might hurt resale a tad). For me and my family, we would much rather know that we are in one of the absolute safest, best-performing vehicles out on the road today than to be able to accelerate (faster than we should be!) away from stop signs or to be able to have adults cross their legs in the third row seat!
btw, we recently took delivery of our Tribeca two weeks ago and have been absolutely thrilled with the quality of the car!!">link title I am not worried that subjective/objective reviews don't place the car at the top of many "Best-in-Show" lists because for all the reasons mentioned above, I feel like it was the absolute best car for my family (and especially for the money) and we look forward to several years of B-9 adventures.
How do you get an oil change out of range of a dealer??? Every service station claims they have no filter yet for this car! Is it different from the Outback H6 filter? It's a real problem when you are far from a dealer.>>
b9Driver, next time you stop by the dealer, buy a few oil filters... When it's time for the change, you can buy oil from any local auto supply store and do the simple oil change yourself.... There are simple directions in the owners manual as well. The vehicle uses 5W-30, unless you're considering synthetic.
If you find working on your car too involving you can find a local place to do the work for you- just supply them with the filters....
The Fram Filters that WILL fir the B9 Tribeca are: ExtraGuard PH3593A ToughGuard TG3593A DoubleGuard DG3593A X2 XG3593A
This in the Fram website at http://www.fram.com. My personal preference is the ToughGuard TG3593A. I've used these in our 2002 VDC, 2001 Forester (non-turbo) and now the B9.
I know Purolator makes a one that fits too, but can't remember the filter #.
has anyone seen a wiring diagram for the back of the Limited Radio assembly. I have the DVD option as well. Looking for something that shows which color wire goes to where in the car...
This is a couple of days late, but I just watched Tuesday's NCIS last night. A Mahogany Red Tribeca was prominently featured in one scene, being passed at high speed by the NCIS crew. There was a good close-up view of the back and then the front. It was shown again moments later, heading towards the NCIS crew as they sped down the wrong side of the street, into oncoming traffic.
Interesting that in the article Bill Cyphers - VP of Sales for Subaru says "It was more seasonal stuff in specific areas, like ski resorts, where we could get a premium rental fee,” as if Subaru was sharing in the rental fee.
Also Ward's uses the phrase "quirky" in describing Subaru products.
While we were discovering the Tribeca this summer (leased one in August) the sales manager at our Massachusetts dealership was in the middle of fulfulling a 150 car order for some outfit in Florida. I believe he said they were going to be rentals. Nice order for them....PS loved the car the day we discovered it and still love it 3200 miles later!
Just got back from a 3-day/420-mile road trip from Phoenix to Flagstaff and back. Took the parents and g’ma (she’ll be 96 in February...loves to go everywhere with us), and loads luggage (you’d think we were going for a month :-). We took I-17 up there (140 miles, numerous mountain ranges, +5600 feet overall elevation change) and got 18.6 going uphill at ~75 mph. While there we doodled around in town a lot and also took some of the FS roads to see the colors change (timed it quite well, too). Coming back we took the Schnebly Hill Road into Sedona (very bumpy, slow FS road, quite curvy, but the best views of the Sedona Red Rock Country in the whole driving world). From there we took the back highways through Prescott, Jerome and eventually Wickenburg...very windy/steep/slow in many places, but all paved. I used manual mode much of the way for climbing and for engine slowing (laid off the brakes a lot). Overall we averaged 19.8 for the trip.
For the record, I have driven these same roads many times in the past 25 years in various cars ( ‘85 Plymouth Horizon, ‘92 Legacy sedan, ‘99 Forester, ‘05 OB wagon). This vehicle was BY FAR the most comfortable and fun to drive, and all without airing down the tires. The wide front and second row windows give a more or less panoramic view much of the time. The OB and Forester would be a very close second for this trip, but for comfort and viewing height, the Tribeca was a jewel. We passed several of the local jeep tours and small-to-oversized SUVs and were glad we weren’t riding in those :-) (Some people really DO takes their Escalades on those roads! I think I counted three at one point...)
It’s also amazing to note how many sedans we passed, and how ignorant people are about passing and traveling in general on the narrow FS roads. The AWD allowed me to drive off the berm (and beyond) numerous times to give these “rookie” drivers room to stay on the graded surface. Dad was relieved we didn’t take his Park Avenue up there, even though he kept insisting beforehand...he was VERY impressed with my driving skills too, although much of it has to do with the way the 'beca handles.
Just curious how many miles folks have put on their Tribecas so far. I just passed 8900 coming back down from Flagstaff. My MPG continues to climb, now around 18.6 MPG (probably 2/3 city, 1/3 mountainous hwy).
As a videographer here in Central Florida, I get some interesting requests. Recently I was asked to do a 'directional' video which involved video footage of highway directional signs. So I just rolled out the trusty TribecaCam Car and off I went on a 160 mile jaunt on the Interstate and Turnpikes of greater Orlando. I noticed quite a few people staring. Not sure if it was the car (I still have yet to see another one in Florida, Las Vegas or Los Angeles) or the "accesories" (hope these aren't too small to see detail) <img src="http://tinypic.com/epm98p.jpg"
The home office video/photo folks have those suction cup mounts for doing the video stuff at Edmunds. I can't tell how your mount works (nor do I see the safety cable....).
I passed 9500 yesterday. 19.5 mpg over the last 9000 miles, when I last reset the 'B' trip meter.
Love the car, love driving it. It continues to impress people who ride in it for the first time.
Yesterday we took a 120-mile journey (round trip) to a local amusement park for a 'Fright Night' sojourn. My wife and I and four teens - the first time I've had two people in the third seat since I got it. They all claimed they had enough room and they all seemed comfortable. I have to assume that was true - they all slept soundly on the trip home.
Just curious how many miles folks have put on their Tribecas so far.
12,300 miles to date. I kept the "A" odometer at original milage and noticed that it zero's out at 10,000 and starts over. At that point my 10,000 mile MPG was 20.1. Thus far on my next 2,300 I'm at 20.4.
It's a special camera clamp with a locked pan/tilt head attached. It is very sturdy and yes I attached it to the sunroof glass and closed it most of the way for added stability. I ran the video output of the camera to a 2nd camera, that you might be able to see on the dashboard, and used it's LCD screen as a monitor so I could check the framing and adjust (after pulling safely to the side of the road) with a remote zoom control. And when I had to 'shoot' around the airport (maybe I should use the word 'film') I was a little worried about Homeland Security, but no one seemed to care. Although I have noticed a few black Ford sedans parked across the street lately.
How can you tell if the Tribeca has the extra cooling transmission for the extra towing capacity? Is it labeled anywhere? Just wanted to see where to find out if the car has the transmission coolant or just the tow hitch. You can never trust the salesperson.
I think the Subaru stock tow hitch and transmission cooler always come in one package. Either the window sticker or vehicle invoice should show the equipments. Just ask the salesperson to show you the document and make a copy. If it turns out he lied, the dealer has to pay whatever damage that caused.
thanks- cars that i've seen that have the trailer hitch from the factory just say trailer hitch. I have not seen them specifically say with transmission cooler. I thought all factory hitches had cooler package. I think sticker price was $585 that's why i thought the cooling package was included.
I got about 23 mpg total from Los Angeles to Vegas (about 325 miles). The trip was about 50 miles of 45-65mph flowing traffic (avg 25 mpg), 250 miles of 75-95mph open flowing freeway (avg 23 mpg), and 25 miles of Vegas city driving (avg ~20 mpg).
Not bad considering the EPA estimates and the various speeds involved.
However, in simple driving around Los Angeles in stop-and-go traffic (with traffic lights and freeway), I'm getting 14-17 mpg. My theory is the fact that its a 5-speed automatic that doesn't kick in to 5th gear until about 39 mph. I usually don't get faster than 35mph in typical city traffic, so I am not getting the benefit of 5th gear.
While I can't complain about getting 23-24 mpg in freeway driving, the 14-17mpg in the city stinks. I also noticed that cruising at a consistent 50mph gives me about 28-30mpg on a flat road. I wonder if that would last for an entire tank of gas....
Factory hitch usually comes with cooler (they should!) but 3rd party hitchs may not. I had a friend ordered a 3rd party hitch specifically without cooler becasue he only wants to put bike rack on not towing.
I think that you can purchase just the trailer hitch without the cooler. they give the rating of tow capacity with and without the cooler. I am guessing that all the factory ones are with the transmission oil cooler.
not sure what it looks like . the factory hitch uses the smaller hitch which is a bummer. all the aftermarket accessories and receiver covers are usually larger size/class hitch.
Try using manual mode in the city. I have been doing this since the beginning and it seems to help increase mileage. I can get it into 5th at around 30 mph or less. Also, I always start out in second gear rather than first when in manual mode.
the factory hitch uses the smaller hitch which is a bummer. all the aftermarket accessories and receiver covers are usually larger size/class hitch.
A reputable hitch installer would not never install a class III hitch on a Subaru, because the vehicle is not rated for a hitch capacity that size. The size of the hitch determines how big/heavy a trailer it can safely pull. The B9 is maxed at a class II hitch.
Also, you can order a Subaru hitch without the cooler from the dealer, but not from the factory. Without the cooler the tow capacity is either 2,000 or 2,500 lbs
It is my understanding that the factory trailer hitch on the B9 comes with the transmission cooler standard. All other Subaru hitch packages do NOT have the transmission cooler.
Recently received car cover from webcovers on-line, evolution 4-layer cover excellent fit had to send picture of roof rack and dimensions to manufacturer. They only had measurements without roof rack. I highly reccommend this cover for anyone looking to purchase.
I'm quite sure if the hitch is listed on the sticker, it was installed at the port and therefore includes the transmission cooler. If the hitch is installed at the dealer, you'd need to see the work order to know if the transmission cooler was installed. Or know what the cooler looks like.
umm you should not determine the tow capacity by the CLASS Hitch... you can get a class 5 bar into a class 3 receiver. so does that mean that you can tow Class 5 load?
you should always know your capacity. hey look at a class 2 hitch that is on the Subaru. without the cooler you can not tow the max class 2... again the hitch Class doesn't set the rating nor should you rely on that.
If you want a stainless steel receiving bar or a stainless steel ball .. can you find one for a class 2 receiver ... NOPE :surprise: It would have been nice to have a class 3 receiver on the B9. plus a true 7 prong tow plug to use with trailers with electric brakes... I know there are adapters but not sure if it truely is the same as a 7 wire plug.
I was trying to explain that the vehicle is limited to a tow weight and the hitch installed should not exceed the vehicles tow capacity. The B9 has a max capacity of 3,500 lbs. The weight is safety thing for pulling but more importantly stopping. So a B( with or without a cooler can safely pull and stop a 3,500 lb load. If it doesn't have the cooler it may damage the tranny but it is not necessarily unsafe.
If you try to rent say a 5000 lb trailer and as them to hook it up to a B9, I doubt they will rent you the trailer because it would unsafe and in most cases illegal.
i just spoke with a service guy today. the transmission cooler is located in front of the radiator. He said it was easy to spot but I didn't have the time to look under the hood. I'll keep you posted.
so I bring the Tribeca in for its first free oil change at the dealer and I want them to put in mobil1 so I bring along 6 qts as the manual says it needs 5.8. the tech who did the oil change apparently had to add over 6 qts to get the dipstick to the right level and they had to use 1qt from their own stocks, I've checked it several times since and its clearly not overfilled. Did the 5.8 qts quoted in the manual not account for any in the filter??? the service manage said all the new Subarus are needing 6-7 qts, my 2.5 DOHC Legacy and 2.0T WRx only need 4.x qts.Whats the deal???
well, it can go both ways. Most of the time, you will never put in more than the capacity because you almost always have 'leftover' oil that doesn't get drain... The manual stated 5.8 qt. but that doesn't include the oil filter capacity. I might have gone over by a little like 6.2qt?
The best thing to do is check your dipstick on level ground and see.
Someone may have already posted this last week but I didn't get a chance to look then. The Tribeca made an appearance on NCIS last Tuesday. It was the mahogany red and it was in a highway sort of a chase scene. Pretty nice advertising!
"Subaru's B9 Tribeca, which is also very new to the market, has low levels of brand recognition as well as low ratings for overall styling. However, men react much more favorably to the model than do women, perceiving it as an exciting, sporty and trendsetting new design."
What surprises me is that women liked the Murano but men liked the Tribeca. I would have guessed the demographics would have been the same. I consider both of them to be trendsetting.
Comments
Car Safety Features You're Overlooking
So, a lot of the discussion about the Tribeca and it's recent CR ranking compared to other mid-size suvs, is partly misplaced in my opinion. True about certain space limitations, (susposedly) "underpowered" engine , etc. Yet, I would think that one primary reason that Tribeca owners bought their car related to the fact of the extremely high safety of the automobile: front, side, side curtain airbags; active head restraints; tire pressure monitoring system; one of the world's best AWD systems; Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC, Subaru's version of Electronic Stability Control); Traction Control System; etc.
Of course, many other reasons to buy the Tribeca come in the form of innovative styling, proven reliability of Subaru as a brand, great engine performance, and versatility to name a few.
One should also take a look at reviews and consider what type of driving you will be doing. I am sure that many Tribeca owners like myself are in northern climates (read, Vermont snow). The CR article did not consider the performance in winter conditions, though as most Subaru owners know, many other SUVs don't perform as well in those challenging and adverse conditions. Again, for my family, that performance of safety is one of the reasons why I feel the Tribeca is one of the best choices irrespective of cost.
Just like any purchase, if you are happy with your decision and you love your car then the opinions of others really shouldn't matter that much (regardless if those opinions might hurt resale a tad). For me and my family, we would much rather know that we are in one of the absolute safest, best-performing vehicles out on the road today than to be able to accelerate (faster than we should be!) away from stop signs or to be able to have adults cross their legs in the third row seat!
btw, we recently took delivery of our Tribeca two weeks ago and have been absolutely thrilled with the quality of the car!!">link title I am not worried that subjective/objective reviews don't place the car at the top of many "Best-in-Show" lists because for all the reasons mentioned above, I feel like it was the absolute best car for my family (and especially for the money) and we look forward to several years of B-9 adventures.
~A
~A
Even over in Vans, families with kids seem more interested in getting a Rear Entertainment System than air bags or vehicle stability control.
Steve, Host
I still think a 5 door would outsell it. Maybe do both?
-juice
b9Driver, next time you stop by the dealer, buy a few oil filters... When it's time for the change, you can buy oil from any local auto supply store and do the simple oil change yourself.... There are simple directions in the owners manual as well. The vehicle uses 5W-30, unless you're considering synthetic.
If you find working on your car too involving you can find a local place to do the work for you- just supply them with the filters....
ExtraGuard PH3593A
ToughGuard TG3593A
DoubleGuard DG3593A
X2 XG3593A
This in the Fram website at http://www.fram.com. My personal preference is the ToughGuard TG3593A. I've used these in our 2002 VDC, 2001 Forester (non-turbo) and now the B9.
I know Purolator makes a one that fits too, but can't remember the filter #.
Great-looking vehicle!
Anyone?
Craig
http://wardsauto.com/ar/auto_fleet_sales_rising/
Bob
Also Ward's uses the phrase "quirky" in describing Subaru products.
For the record, I have driven these same roads many times in the past 25 years in various cars ( ‘85 Plymouth Horizon, ‘92 Legacy sedan, ‘99 Forester, ‘05 OB wagon). This vehicle was BY FAR the most comfortable and fun to drive, and all without airing down the tires. The wide front and second row windows give a more or less panoramic view much of the time. The OB and Forester would be a very close second for this trip, but for comfort and viewing height, the Tribeca was a jewel. We passed several of the local jeep tours and small-to-oversized SUVs and were glad we weren’t riding in those :-) (Some people really DO takes their Escalades on those roads! I think I counted three at one point...)
It’s also amazing to note how many sedans we passed, and how ignorant people are about passing and traveling in general on the narrow FS roads. The AWD allowed me to drive off the berm (and beyond) numerous times to give these “rookie” drivers room to stay on the graded surface. Dad was relieved we didn’t take his Park Avenue up there, even though he kept insisting beforehand...he was VERY impressed with my driving skills too, although much of it has to do with the way the 'beca handles.
-Karen (all over) in AZ-
-Karen in AZ-
<img src="http://tinypic.com/epm98p.jpg"
<img src="http://tinypic.com/epmbgm.jpg"
The home office video/photo folks have those suction cup mounts for doing the video stuff at Edmunds. I can't tell how your mount works (nor do I see the safety cable....).
Steve, Host
Love the car, love driving it. It continues to impress people who ride in it for the first time.
Yesterday we took a 120-mile journey (round trip) to a local amusement park for a 'Fright Night' sojourn. My wife and I and four teens - the first time I've had two people in the third seat since I got it. They all claimed they had enough room and they all seemed comfortable. I have to assume that was true - they all slept soundly on the trip home.
12,300 miles to date. I kept the "A" odometer at original milage and noticed that it zero's out at 10,000 and starts over. At that point my 10,000 mile MPG was 20.1. Thus far on my next 2,300 I'm at 20.4.
Don
Steve, Host
Mark
Fleet sales are good and bad - they tend to erode resale values for instance.
I'll try to rent one in Florida when I go down there in February.
TribecaCam: hilarious!
-juice
Not bad considering the EPA estimates and the various speeds involved.
However, in simple driving around Los Angeles in stop-and-go traffic (with traffic lights and freeway), I'm getting 14-17 mpg. My theory is the fact that its a 5-speed automatic that doesn't kick in to 5th gear until about 39 mph. I usually don't get faster than 35mph in typical city traffic, so I am not getting the benefit of 5th gear.
While I can't complain about getting 23-24 mpg in freeway driving, the 14-17mpg in the city stinks. I also noticed that cruising at a consistent 50mph gives me about 28-30mpg on a flat road. I wonder if that would last for an entire tank of gas....
not sure what it looks like . the factory hitch uses the smaller hitch which is a bummer. all the aftermarket accessories and receiver covers are usually larger size/class hitch.
A reputable hitch installer would not never install a class III hitch on a Subaru, because the vehicle is not rated for a hitch capacity that size. The size of the hitch determines how big/heavy a trailer it can safely pull. The B9 is maxed at a class II hitch.
Also, you can order a Subaru hitch without the cooler from the dealer, but not from the factory. Without the cooler the tow capacity is either 2,000 or 2,500 lbs
Mark
-juice
Tim
-juice
you should always know your capacity. hey look at a class 2 hitch that is on the Subaru. without the cooler you can not tow the max class 2... again the hitch Class doesn't set the rating nor should you rely on that.
If you want a stainless steel receiving bar or a stainless steel ball .. can you find one for a class 2 receiver ... NOPE :surprise: It would have been nice to have a class 3 receiver on the B9. plus a true 7 prong tow plug to use with trailers with electric brakes... I know there are adapters but not sure if it truely is the same as a 7 wire plug.
My Hitch and cooler where installed by dealer
I was trying to explain that the vehicle is limited to a tow weight and the hitch installed should not exceed the vehicles tow capacity. The B9 has a max capacity of 3,500 lbs. The weight is safety thing for pulling but more importantly stopping. So a B( with or without a cooler can safely pull and stop a 3,500 lb load. If it doesn't have the cooler it may damage the tranny but it is not necessarily unsafe.
If you try to rent say a 5000 lb trailer and as them to hook it up to a B9, I doubt they will rent you the trailer because it would unsafe and in most cases illegal.
The manual stated 5.8 qt. but that doesn't include the oil filter capacity. I might have gone over by a little like 6.2qt?
The best thing to do is check your dipstick on level ground and see.
The OCD club members fill the oil filter up with oil before installing it so that the it can pre-soak the filter element.
-juice
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Consumers Not Convinced That Crossover SUVs Match the Functionality of Traditional SUVs (PR Newswire)
Steve, Host
-juice