Subaru B9 Tribeca (B9X)

15455575960163

Comments

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    First review is kind of light, more of a preview. 2nd one isn't even worth reading. :D

    irish: you gotta drive it back to back. At least the MDX would have good resale value. What kind of problems have you had?

    -juice
  • irishwheatirishwheat Member Posts: 30
    Let me tell you briefly, about my 2005 MDX horror story. Let's see navigation did not work, Acura would not reimburse me for the trouble. Finally fixed after 8 months. Heater went out, 3 recalls, would not start after a week away. On Star went out. What a mess! Dont but this car. Im now trying to sell to move toowards something else, and I will take a huge loss. Even the lemon law is looking into my car. I use to love Honda/ Acura...sorry never again.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Noone is perfect but it seems you had more than your fair share of problems. :lemon:

    Better luck with the next vehicle, I guess.

    -juice
  • grdh20grdh20 Member Posts: 46
    Most dealers will take a small down payment which is refundable. Mine was only $250. If they don't refund then I wouldn't buy anything from that dealer anyway. Shop around. The dealers are competing even now. Best price I got was $500 over invoice plus the gift.
  • sweet_subiesweet_subie Member Posts: 1,394
    http://www.boston.com/cars/articles/2005/04/17/subaru_suv_lets_you_play_the_pilot/

    "The company said the third-row side windows are sufficiently small, and that passengers back there will not need the extra curtains."
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That seems like a silly excuse, to be honest.

    A better reason is that small kids are expected to ride back there, and side curtain air bags are usually designed to protect adults, so they'd do little or nothing to make kids safer anyway.

    In the autoweb review, they say the steering wheel is covered in leatherette, but I think it's real leather.

    In the 2nd review, they say "jump to the seven-passenger base model is only $100" but you give up the Limited package. Duh.

    We keep seeing fluffy reviews like this with no substance and poor fact checking. :(

    -juice
  • papahawkpapahawk Member Posts: 24
    Greetings....

    Does anyone have a "firm" delivery date for their pre-ordered B-9 Tribeca? I ordered a loaded Limited 7-passenger black with beige leather interior in April, but the best they can tell me is "hopefully late May". Is anyone hearing anything differently? I am dying to get my hands on the vehicle, and my wife would rather have me outside waxing it than loitering on the website for hours on end. Also, I was able to talk my dealership into giving me the dealer's information packet on the B-9 (including their buying guide book!), so I do have quite a bit of info on the car if anyone has questions.

    Randy :D
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Late May to Mid June depending on your dealer and location. IF you get it in late May, then you're one of the lucky few ;)
  • grdh20grdh20 Member Posts: 46
    I drove a Tribeca on the highway a while last night and for what it is worth I'll give you my impressions. First I'll say that I'm not going to cancel my order but do have a few minor gripes. First, the trunk space is very, very small in my opinion. The body narrows down toward the back considerably and so the width of the usuable truck is very small. In addition there are some little storage cutouts in the lower rear that if you place anything there it will block the speakers. There is no auto up on the drivers window, only auto down. The 3rd row is basically a jump seat, but I sure would prefer the room it takes away from trunk storage if I could get all the same options, but no biggie. The upgraded radio is just ok. The seats are comfortable and the 2nd row when set all the way back is surprisingly very roomy except a bit narrow. The tires look bigger in person. They help to give the car a more muscular look. Nice black molding around all the lower body panels and wheel wells. Side mirrors are too small for my tastes. Rear seat ride was a tad on the bumpy side but not too bad. Handling was very good. The cockpit really feels good, but the grey plastic console molding looks like "grey plastic console molding". better than fake wood, but a touch of real wood or even real aluminum wood have gone a long way. I would not be surprised to see this appear next year. The shift/armrest position is perfect. The 2nd row seat head rests hit you hard in the lower back of the neck unless you raise them at least half way up. The on steering wheel radio controls does not scan the presets, only scans next station. The nav is very readable even in moderate sunlight.
  • saustinsaustin Member Posts: 68
    Hi All,
    For anyone who has ordered or is about to order ...... how do you write up a po for a vehicle when there is no VIN number ? The dealership wants a non-refundable $1000 for the vehicle order, have no probelm with this except it is not contingent upon a specific vehicle. Also no bank, credit service will cut a check for it without one.
    Understand that this should only be a "few weeks" before the dealer is invoiced and has a VIN number but still how do you protect yourself. Are you amending the order ..."contingent up a VIN receipt for the model .....".

    Thanks, Steve.
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    Hmmm, I'm pretty skeptical about doing business with a dealer who has a non-refundable policy.

    I, as well as others here have a refundable deposit on our orders. Many choose to pay by cc just to be safe as the card co. can always do an investigation and fight for your money.

    But I'd go somewhere else and see.
  • saustinsaustin Member Posts: 68
    Thanks bigelm ! Think the cc method is the perfect solution.
  • 1stsuv1stsuv Member Posts: 2
    Here's a question that I don't think has been posed before:

    I've pre-ordered a Tribeca (7-pass ltd, silver/grey) but still have not completely decided among the Tribeca, MDX, and XC90. I read recently in Consumer Reports that there may be some spacing problems with rear-facing infant seats in the second row of the XC90. I'm assuming this is a function of the size of the row, but I suppose it could be a design issue as well. This is a big concern for me, since I have one child currently in a forward-facing seat but likely will also have another in a rear-facing seat within a year or two.

    Has anyone heard anything about the Tribeca's compatability with car seats? Obviously it will be LATCH-equipped, but that doesn't mean much if the seat isn't secure or using a car seat in one spot prevents functional use of the adjacent seats. I'm curious to hear anyone's thoughts.

    Also, even though this has been discussed to death, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts on the Tribeca/MDX/XC90 question. I'm buying my first SUV and am looking for a car-like ride with seven-passenger capability (for occasional, but not regular, use). My ideal would be small exterior but large interior, with as many luxury features as possible. All three are within my price range, but I'd prefer not to spend any more than I need to.

    Thanks!
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    I think the main issue with the XC90, is that it lacks the ability to provide more space in the 2nd row. We also looked at the XC90 (though not test driven) and found the 2nd row to be alittle cramped.
    Not to be biased here but the advantage of the B9 is the ability to move the 2nd row foward or back and increase the space up to 8". Also the pro is that it has split folding seats so you can you one side of the row to move farther back for the rear facing seat. I took that into consideration as well as we are also looking to have a 2nd child in the very near future.

    I won't comment on the MDX as I, nor my wife was interested in it and the fact that it's 7 pass. space is limited and cramped.

    Hope this helps.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think the 2nd row in the Tribeca is the most versatile in the whole segment. It splits in 3 parts, and the base splits in two. The center seat can function as an arm rest or center pass-through for cargo when you have 4 passengers. Top it off the base moves forward 4" or 8", and even then both sides move independently, and on top of that they recline independently!

    Whoosh, take a deep breath.

    I think that improves the odds that more child seats will fit, no doubt.

    Real aluminum or wood? Think twice before you decide that's what you really want.

    Subaru uses real wood (mahogany) on some steering wheels, one example being the Outback LL Bean models. One person on Edmunds had problems with the finish peeling off, in flakes. It's not common, but still.

    Aluminum? Acura uses it, but bump up a brief case against the trim and it will dent permanently. Plastic will give and bounce back. I have aluminum siding and the dents and dings are a pain that never go away. Vinyl siding has its pros and cons, but denting and dinging aren't a problem.

    -juice
  • irishwheatirishwheat Member Posts: 30
    As an owner of an MDX, I can tell you its pros... it's great for children for trips. The DVD system is really enjoyed by my 12 and 9 year old. The ride is stable, a little pukey in the back.
    It has a good aux system input for more than just two headphones...It feels solid and big. It does very well in snow and sleet. It eats gas..15 avg in the city. The cons..see my message above, it has truly been horrendous mechanically.
  • sweet_subiesweet_subie Member Posts: 1,394
    Tribeca is 7-8k cheaper than XC90 or MDX, doesn;t that make it easy for you to decide ! j/k
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    in Rockville. MD today, and as I was pulling in a new gold Tribeca was pulling out. It had NJ distributor tags on it. Looked good though. :)

    Bob
  • buddhabmanbuddhabman Member Posts: 252
    I know the Tribeca hasn't hit the street, but someone has to be planning some mods. :) My thought is this car with the extra weight will be prime for some big brake kits and SS lines. Will any of the Legacy big brake kits work?.
  • klrskirklrskir Member Posts: 5
    My dealer had 4 coming in, and my "pre-order" may get here before the ones they ordered in the first place. Can't wait to dump this Benz and get back to Subaru! If you pre-order, you can get EXACTLY what you want. A dealer wants a non-refundable downpayment?? Off to the next dealer you go! (I hope)
  • papahawkpapahawk Member Posts: 24
    My wife and I have four children, including a set of triplet boys. Car seat compatibility is obviously a concern of ours, as well. In the dealer's ordering guide there is this information about car seats: "To help ensure a proper fit and ease of use, Subaru engineers purchased numerous popular-brand child-safety seats and practiced fitting them into the second and third row seats of the Subaru B9 Tribeca. One additional benefit from this testing and thoughtful touch: the third row seat can be accessed easily even if there is a child seat fitted in the second row seat."

    Subaru seems to have done their homework on this vehicle, but of course, only time behind the wheel will tell. I, however, remain very comfortable with and confident about my order. This is an aggressively styled, feature-laden, and wonderfully priced SUV. :D
  • newsubunewsubu Member Posts: 39
    I, too, was concerned about space for child seats, and the combination of forward and rear facing, because I'll have exactly that situation in a few months. We gave up about half of our scheduled test drive time to "test seat" the B9. Put the infant seat in the middle and the forward facing behind the driver (and the dog behind the passenger with the seat down, hypothetically, with room to roam the back) and everything fit fine. Enough room from front to back for my wife to tend from the front seat, and with the passenger side rear down (or up), easy access to baby for exit / entry. My only concern is the 3 yr old "playing" with his bro/sis. (practicing my bellow..."Am I going to have to stop this car!?")

    Space up front was also a concern, as I'm used to a spacious Avalon, and that low, magnificant dash on the B9 had me wondering if I was going to feel too confined. Once adjusted, (and pleasantly distracted by the coolest console I've seen) it will be fine. My left foot had trouble finding a place to rest, as my knee seemed slightly bent with my foot on the pad, but I'll get used to it. Or take my shoe off.

    Test drive exeeded expectations; great responsiveness and road feel, very tight turning circle, handled choppy road well, although I didn't feel the backseat ride. Engine wasn't struggling particularly when punched, but certainly noisier than I expected. Salesman had to remind me I was going 80 in a 45 at one point!

    Didn't get the chance to seriously test the stereo, and will be looking for an after- market upgrade if this thing doesn't crank. If subaru is going upscale, they have to remember the audiophiles.

    Yes, I ordered. 6HM, "cinnamon" with slate gray interior. Now planning summer road trips! Far, far away...
  • newsubunewsubu Member Posts: 39
    Thanks for this post, grdh20. You brought several things to light that i did not notice on my breif test drive. We need more insightful, even critical messages like this to understand what we've bought or are considering. Appreciate it!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Bob - did you ask if you could drive it? It might call my sales buddy over there...

    With 18" rims standard, there's room for just about any brake package you'd like. :)

    Triplet boys? Yowsah! Let us know if you get one and how everyone fits. You'll need a couple of extra headphones! :D

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    No, it was pulling out as I was pulling in.

    Bob
  • papahawkpapahawk Member Posts: 24
    I will! I am more concerned about getting the headphones than I am about getting the car. At least the dealer knew how to get my pre-order placed, but you should have seen the pure panic in his eyes when I asked about securing two additional sets of headphones! He had no clue then, and he has no clue now as to how I can get them. I am now in the process of trying to work the problem myself. If I load my family into this thing with only two sets of headphones, someone could get hurt. :D I will let you know.

    Randy
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    I don't know how useful they would be but I'd give SOA a call, just for entertainment purposes... hehehe!
  • papahawkpapahawk Member Posts: 24
    You guys (and gals!) are not going to believe this!! Just for "entertainment purposes" I e-mailed SOA with my headphone issue, and 53 minutes later I get a personal reply... not a generic, computer-generated response, but a genuine "I have three boys too, would need more headsets myself", reply. Natalie Cox promises to get back to me tomorrow with a definitive answer as to how to order my additional headphones! I am not easily impressed. THAT impressed me. If she provides me with any important or valuable information, I will pass it right along.

    Randy
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Just wow.

    I'm sure they'll have a part number eventually.

    Hey, get a Chase Subaru credit card, then you could buy them with Subaru bucks. :)

    I have a couple hundred saved up right now.

    -juice
  • urmezurmez Member Posts: 20
    I have approximately $1,200 on our Subaru MBNA card but the certificate expired at the end of 2003. I have e-mailed Subaru a couple of times for an extension but I have not gotten a response. Can someone please recommend a contact within SOA that might look into our situation.

    Thanks
  • irishwheatirishwheat Member Posts: 30
    might it have, as the mdx, an additionial plug in for extra headphones ( not wireless but would still be a solution)
  • bigelmbigelm Member Posts: 995
    I second the...

    "Wow".

    SOA never fails to surprise us... :feeling faint:
  • volkovvolkov Member Posts: 1,306
    My wife and I have four children, including a set of triplet boys. Car seat compatibility is obviously a concern of ours, as well.

    I really don't want to pull rank or anything, but this site already has one...and I was here first. :shades: Triplet boys and a new baby sister. I have been beating the car seat mantra for a long time, but Subaru has been a great help here. I run a WRX as my car, and love the fact that I can transport all three boys securely in booster seats and shoulder belts plus the dog out on trips to give Mum a break, but it still lets me have too much fun driving twisting highways and logging roads. :)

    I must confess however that our true family vehicle is the Yukon XL. :blush: Until Subie comes up with an 8 passenger vehicle which can tow 9000lbs, I won't be moving on. Maintenance issues with the GMC do however make me wish they did.

    Nicholas
  • papahawkpapahawk Member Posts: 24
    I agree. One of us MUST go! And there is only one way to settle this feud.... at high noon.... in the parking lot of Chuck E. Cheese's.... you and your triplets.... me and my triplets.... we RUMBLE!! We ask only that you adhere to a few "ground rules":

    All fighting must be completed by 1:00pm (nap time!)
    No using insects to intimidate (my boys are afraid of most bugs)
    "Time-out" at 12:15pm-12:20pm for amoxicillin (the whole family currently has strep throat)
    If your Yukon or my Expedition breaks down on the way, we'll rumble the following day

    I wish it didn't have to come to this.... but it's obvious to me that there is no way for us to peacefully coexist. :D

    Randy
  • sdufordsduford Member Posts: 577
    Funny!

    BTW: who thaught your boys to be afraid of bugs? Kids are not naturally afraid of them.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yep, torque is going to be an issue, no doubt. Because of this, I would not be surprised if "real life" gas mileage suffers, as the tranny is likely to be downshifting quite a bit when you get on the gas.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not here:

    http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2132273475&idx=3

    nor here:

    http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2132273475&idx=2

    and this pic is obscured but I still don't see plugs:

    http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2132273475&idx=37

    Anyone else?

    urmez: each certificate has its own expiration date. I doubt they're all expired, check again. Use them up! Buy a T-shirt or an oil change at your local dealer, don't let them expire like that.

    Nicholas: you wild man, you went for a 4th child! :surprise:

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe. But let's look a little closer.

    HP is mid-pack, and weight is the lightest of the bunch. Power-to-weight ratio is probably the best in the group.

    Then you have to factor in gearing, too. When you do, the Subie is probably the quickest of that bunch. No shame in that.

    Also, if you look at the rpm spread between the torque peak and the HP peak, the Subaru has the widest range (2400 rpm between them), implying the flattest torque curve and the best high revving engine of the lot.

    18"x8" alloys bay-bee. This thing will easily outcorner the others. Donut is a negative, though.

    Couple o' mistakes - hitch is most certainly available and there is lumbar support. Power outlets in the rear are available, surely a cargo net accessory will exist. Cargo area trunk light, too.

    The ONLY one there with rear vented disc brakes. Good luck on that long descent with the others' brakes fading.

    Also the ONLY one with SportShift standard, and even then only the Lexus makes it an extra-cost option.

    The only rear Limited Slip-diff and one of only two with a center diff to allow full-timne use of the AWD system (Lexus is the other).

    So the cons:

    * donut spare
    * lowest torque at peak

    And the pros:

    * largest and widest rims
    * only rear vented brakes
    * best transmission controls std
    * best power-to-weight
    * tie for most air bags (what the Pilot lacks)
    * only center and rear limited-slip diffys

    Basically it still comes off as the "performance SUV" of that bunch. I bet it would run circles around any of those.

    Maybe we should do one with the FX35, Murano, and X5 3.0l to make it a little more challenging. :P

    -juice
  • grdh20grdh20 Member Posts: 46
    My dealer got a delivery date window for mmy order yesterday of 5-18 to 5-29 for what it's worth.

    2 things I forgot to look at during the test drive:
    Auto on/off head lights?
    Auto sensor winshiled wipers?

    Did anyone notice if it had these or not?
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    DRLs are standard. In addition, like any Subie, if you leave the lights in the On position all the time, they turn off automatically when you remove the key. Then there are seperate parking lights if you want to turn them on when the key is removed.

    So yes, you can have that function if you like it.

    No on the wipers, though they do have de-icers at the point where the wipers rest, so they don't freeze in place.

    -juice
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    As far as I know, Subaru does not have auto sensor windshield wipers. Maybe down the road? personally I would like headlight washers first :D .

    As for the auto headlights, Subaru does not have this. However, they do have the feature that if you leave the headlights on, they automaticcly go off when you turn the engine off. It is one feature that all Subarus have that is nice!

    Mark
  • bat1161bat1161 Member Posts: 1,784
    Juice,

    I figured you would answer first, but I tried anyway :)

    Mark
  • sweet_subiesweet_subie Member Posts: 1,394
    pros:
    and shortest turning circle
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    a Benz dealer yesterday to check out the new ML. I didn't drive it but I did sit in it, and it's very nice. They're really improved it a lot. Still very expensive though; $47K for the ML 350, but it did have some options.

    One thing that I asked about (and this relates to the Tribeca) is that the rear DVD is mounted on the back of the front center console, rather than a drop-down unit from the roof. The reason being is the drop-down units often interfere with using your rear view mirror. I hadn't thought about that, but it makes sense.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I really like this new one. For maybe $36k equipped, it would be a deal.

    But $40k and it comes stripped - no leather, no moonroof, no NAV, no DVD, etc. Add just a couple of desireable options and it's mid $40s at least, and to me that is overpriced.

    Malibu Maxx puts the DVD down there also. My fear would be the kids might kick the screen and damage it. They are brutal on my cup holders, which are in the same location.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Might be the ideal position, but then you need 2 screens, really.

    4 if you count the 3rd row.

    I'll take the 9" screen right where it is on the Tribeca.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    with the rear DVD, you should flip it down and see whether you can use the interior rearview mirror.

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2132273475&idx=15

    That guy isn't very tall, but it's nowhere near blocking his view. Maybe if you're 6'7".

    I'm not worried.

    -juice
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