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Driving into work this morning, I spotted a Tribeca coming up rte 95 through Massachusetts. The plate number was 148. I'm assuming it was on its way to a dealer.
Not kidding, it was about 1/2 a mile behind me when I spotted it. No mistaking that schnoz. The driver was cruising about 80 mph and moving in and out of lanes to make his way northbound. I'm guessing he was intentionally trying to prevent people from gawking. I let him pass me, then kept up with him for a while. The back is just as distinctive as the front, but I mean that in a good way. The cut out section over the rear bumper is like nothing else.
Not much to report as the driver got off the highway shortly after passing me. I've already seen the vehicle in person and my comments are already well known here.
Also thought it was weird that this 'decision' seemed to come out of nowhere. There were comments made, by GM execs and even some plant managers and employees in other publications, about the new Saab variant of the B9 only a few days before this news broke.
Premium fuel - yes, premium will at least be recommended, if not required.
The first H6 made 212hp with premium, but Subaru actually published an output of 208hp with regular fuel. This was not without precedent, I believe the first V6 Honda Odyssey made 210hp on premium, 205hp on regular fuel. Basically the engine will retard the timing to prevent knock, and this costs you a few HP.
However, in 2005, the H6 was bumped to 250hp. For a 3.0l engine, that's a very high specific output, so it's definitely tuned to take advantage of the higher compression that premium fuel can tolerate.
You probably can use regular, but I wouldn't recommend it. You'll lose more than 4-5hp because of the more aggressive tuning.
At a minimum wait to see Subaru's language about octane. If they "recommend" premium, that means you can probably get away with regular. If they "require" premium, forget it.
Saabaru - interesting development, I agree the announcement was sudden. It was not due for another year, so they might not have wasted much effort on it.
-juice
:confuse:
I wonder if SoA will do what they did with the Legacy and invite us for a preview drive, but I have not heard anything yet. This time last year Bob and I were in Vegas. :shades:
Info seems to be coming out slowly. First pricing. A preview drive. Then invoice pricing. Still no EPA mileage figures or full road tests.
-juice
Did actually mean to say trib bit?
DaveM
Actually I was thinking more in terms of doing a long-term Tribeca test. Say, like 7-10 years or so. :P
-juice
Had me thinking that Subaru needs to chop it and make me a Baja. Instead of "with 7 passenger" I want "with bed, and locking trunk" lol.
John
We need to see some instrumented testing, then better yet some comparos.
-juice
Charlie
http://www.cars101.com/subaru/tribeca/tribeca2006.html#options
I bet it would have been expensive to add the things that are missing from the Tribeca compared to luxury-brand competitors, like a telescoping wheels, power/up down windows, a bigger engine, more gear ratios for the tranny, etc.
And if they didn't make those changes, well, there isn't a whole lot of room for improvement in that nice interior. Saab could make it different, but not necessarily better.
-juice
Also says the final drive ratio is 3.58:1.
3rd row is indeed leatherette, they say.
Hmm, info is "unofficial", and I found at least one mistake. They say the low fuel light comes on with 3-3.5 gallons left, and later they say it's 2.6 gallons.
-juice
SPEED channel just did a show on the NY auto show. At the very end of the show, there was a 3-person round table consisting of the 2 show hosts (1 man and 1 woman) and a auto journalist (also a woman). They all picked their own "winners" and "losers" of the show.
The female host picked the Tribeca as a "loser" because of the poor 3rd-row seating space. The male host picked the Tribeca as the show "winner," and thought this vehicle would do wonders for Subaru. When he announced his choice, both women, in utter astonishment, said "Really!" in unison. Looks like the Tribeca continues to be a lightning rod for discussion and controversy.
Bob
Do we judge sports cars by their roomy back seats? I think the round table discussion only helped Subaru and will get people into the showrooms to make their own decisions..
Charlie
Well since none of the panelists on the show (I caught the end that Bob mentioned) had actually driven it, they really couldn't make a judgement based on driving dynamics. Their judgements were based on seeing it at the NYC auto show.
Eleanor Mondale (the female host) said the 3rd row was a waste - but IIRC she commented on most 3 row seats including the new Jeep Commander. She loved the first row and design in the Tribeca but felt the 2nd and 3rd rows were compromises based on the perceived need for a third row.
The male host (don't recall his name) liked the Tribeca because he felt that it would appeal to singles and young couples - not to families. He also noted that he felt that although Subaru is marketing it as an SUV, it really is a crossover.
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Bob may be on to something here, follow me for a minute if you will.
Bangled BMWs are easily the most controversial design of late, yet world wide sales are up for every model. Certainly everyone is talking about them, even people who do not buy Bimmers.
Now back to Subaru, here is a maker that has 1.1% market share, i.e. almost an unknown in the big picture, and Zapatinas has news anchors in shock talking about the grille.
Is it intentional, perhaps? Had it been just a taller Outback it might have gone unnoticed.
-juice
But I'd still like to see a black honeycomb grille. Even if that meant food would stick. :P
-juice
Now as to "controversy," what better way to get noticed?
Bob
The only glaring error I can see is the bit about it costing the same as the Freestyle (similarily-priced competitor)....The Freestyle starts in the low 30's here.I doubt you could go over 40 loaded up. Tribeca, on the other hand, starts over 40 and goes north of 50 (52 & change, I believe).
-juice
Yup - they sell as well as the Bangled Bimmers!!
That's not uncommon. Manufacturers give dealers one loaner they cannot sell, so that they can guarantee test drives.
-juice
Has anyone on this forum preordered one yet? What kind of deal were you able to negotiate? Unless the front end comes right out and bites me in the a**, I'm tempted to put $ down. Without a test drive? Am I crazy?
-juice
When the second row seatbacks are put back up they are almost in a 90 degree position. It's a bit uncomfortable so I reached for the lever to recline the seat back a little more - like in the brochure and photos - and to my surprise there is no lever on the lower side of the seat or lower seatback. It is at the top of the seatback to the right of the headrest. YOU HAVE TO ADJUST YOUR SEAT BEFORE YOU SIT. unless of course your Gumby.
Is this common on other brands? It seems as if they used the outback rear seat.
This could be a deal breaker for me.
What say you??
Charlie
subaru must have a reason for this, they don't do stupid things.
It's definitely not the Outback rear seat!! Totally different.
Craig
My Dad's CRV has the rear seat rake adjustment on the top of the seatback as well. I think they do this so you can easily reach it from the rear of the vehicle in order to fold the seatback down if you need to load a large object.
First sit, then put your left hand on your left shoulder. Reach a little more and voila, recline.
I imagine it would only be a problem for people with limited mobility.
-juice
Charlie
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I was talking to a dealer in NH and they had just been to a rollout meeting for the Tribeca and they claimed Subaru was targeting the lease market and would have attractive lease rates.
before May 20th to get the free $500 LL Bean gift certificate that Subaru is advertising in their Drive magazine. He is supposed to give me a more definite
date within the next week or so. I live in San Antonio, Texas
one Subaru Dealership in San Antonio. I hope to get somewhere between invoice
and retail. Hopefully somewhere in the middle.
Right now she drives an '02 Legacy L wagon, 5 speed, and she wants an automatic because her commute includes a lot of bumper-to-bumper. A lot.
We talked about options, including vans, and she's just not interested. Then she told me that if we get anything that big, it would be a Tribeca.
She caught me off guard a bit, at the auto show she preferred the Legacy GT sedan they had there. But she thinks the Legacy might be a bit small for our frequent road trips to the beach condo and to visit the in-laws in CT.
We might wait and buy one slightly used, because we do want it loaded up. Not sure about the timing, to be honest.
-juice