Subaru B9 Tribeca (B9X)

grdh20

I guess the Saab version is a go. Too bad they never build new models to look like the concept vehicles they show.
I like the concept pic's nose better.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=215454
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Articles/articleId=105934#

njswamplands

if you got 6 get a minivan. very easy to get in and out of the 3rd row. in my odyssey i have 2 captain chairs in the 2nd row, so i sit 2+2+2 and everyone is very comfy. climbing over seats is a pain.

sweet_subie

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4023212&src=Home&pos=EditLead

When the B9 Tribeca was introduced in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005, the front styling was touted as the new corporate face of Subaru#&151;not a face that we found particularly attractive.

ateixeira

Good luck to them, the 9-2x was forecast to sell 8000 per year and they were on pace to sell 2000 last time I checked. Of course that was before the $7000 rebates came along, they might actually meet that goal.

One good thing is the 9-7 prices sort of put a cap on the 9-6x. I think Saab will be much, much more careful about where they set 9-6x prices.

Set prices $1000 higher, since they include free service.

-juice

suvsearcher

Before I make a final decision on a Tribeca, thought I'd ask you all a few questions:
1) How does the vehicle perform on steep hills? Does it have some zip or feel sluggish? How about in the mountains - has anyone driven over a long mountain pass in one yet?
2) Cargo - I can envision only 1 time in the past two years where I could have used a 3rd row seat in my existing Explorer. I do have a 3 year old and 1 year old so I'm wondering if I should give up precious cargo room (I frequently hike, camp, climb, ski, etc) for the 3rd row seat. The real question I have is if anyone knows if the Tribeca have more rear cargo space with a 5 seater then a 7 seater with the 3rd row seat down?

Other than these questions, if I can pick a fully loaded one up for less than $38k I am in. If not, I might look to a 4 Runner (truck vs car I know but remarkably similar in terms of interior room and other amenities.

rsholland

If I were you, I'd take one out on a test drive, and find some hills, and take it out on the expressway too. That way you can answer those questions. What I think is reasonable, you may not agree with. Therefore it's always better to try to answer those questions yourself.

Test drive several on separate days, so that you can have time to digest the experiences.

Bob

ateixeira

I think cargo room is the same. The 5 pass basically adds some under floor storage compartments.

-juice

WMarton

I'm in the same boat. As I mentioned earlier, I have a 2001 Outback VDC. I have two kids aged 7 and 10 and occasionally need to seat five. While the Outback can handle three kids in the back seat ok, carrying three adults and two kids is damn uncomfortable...the Outback is just too narrow. I am building a vacation home in Western MD, which is 2 1/2 hours away. So I am looking for a vehicle that can ideally handle five VERY comfortably and seat six reasonably comfortably (primarily two adults and four kids). I have sat in a Tribeca and I don't think that it cuts it. Like most vehicles in this class, the third row is tortuous. Cargo space is also pretty minimal in the 7 seat Tribeca. I am still a year or two away from buying a vehicle to address these needs, so I can wait to see what the re-designed Highlander and Pilot/MDX look like (along with the new Saab). I am still hoping to stay out of a minivan.

Bill

ateixeira

I doubt even a Pilot would be big enough for that. Time for an Expedition! ;-)

-juice

samiam_68

..finally tested the B9 Tribeca. 0-60 in 8.9 sec (I guessed 9.0 earlier). Observed MPG - 17.

ateixeira

What happened to their estimate of 7.5, or what that Motor Trend? Wonder if they got a ringer.

-juice

sweet_subie

exactly 9 cubic feet seating 7, that only can my igloo box. that's it.
Tribeca is tough even for 6 with little cargo capacity.

grdh20

Agreed with ateixeira. Very comfortable 4. So-so 5. Anxiety 6. Let me out of here 7.

WMarton

Cargo space in the seven seat Tribeca is a bit less of a concern than seating capacity because you can always put a cargo box on the top. This of course does mean that you have to purchase the optional crossbars for the Tribeca!

Bill

sweet_subie

plus the incovenience in loading/unloading into/from the cargo box as opposed to just the regular cargo area

robr2

And where do you store the step ladder?

rsholland

Ringer? I doubt it. All the 0 – 60 estimates I've seen have been in the 8.5 range.

Bob

ateixeira

One of the preview tests quoted 7.5, I think it was R&T.

-juice

samiam_68

It's likely impossible, at least with current laws of physics, to have a 250hp, 219 lb-ft torque , 3.0 liter, naturally aspirated gasoline engine move a 4300 lb AWD vehicle with an auto-transmission from 0-60 in 7.5 seconds.

I doubt even the much lighter (by 500lbs) O/B LL Bean or VDC with the samve H-6 motor could do any better than 7.5 - 8 seconds. The O/B XT auto was clocked at 7.1, and the turbo motor is much more powerful than the H-6 due to the torque curve differences.

greyhound

You know - there is a crossover created especially for those people who really need a minivan but won't be caught dead in one:
Ford Freestyle
0-60: 8.2 sec (Car and Driver)
room behind 3rd row: 22 cu ft
mpg: 19-24 (17 observed C/D)
weight: 4112 lb

I haven't driven one, but sat in a Ltd at a car show - was downright roomy inside. I would even say light and airy. Sticker about $34K. Styling is a little frumpy but much better looking than a minivan, IMO.

rblnr

Anybody get a chance to really check out the sound quality of the system in the Limited model? Opinions?

Any idea who the manufacturer is?

njswamplands

until i see 5 consecutive years of ford getting their stuff together in consumer reports frequency of repairs.

sweet_subie

http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=102466

ateixeira

Sam: that ignores gearing. Though the Tribeca isn't geared particularly short, so off the line it takes a while to get going.

Once moving, though, it doesn't feel slow. The tranny keeps the engine in the sweet spot, so it's never lacking.

Basically it's the opposite of the last Durango I drove. That big engined SUV has plenty of torque off the line and an abrupt throttle so you really feel it surge, but then you get going and it runs out of steam, especially at high rpm. The 3.3l XTerra was the same way, though I haven't driven the new 4l models.

I think what a lot of people here are saying is that in an SUV the low-end torque matters more because you tend to carry more weight, and that's a valid point.

-juice

shane850

I think the sound quality is great. Sure there are after-market systems that may sound better but for a stock system it is great and most people should be very happy with it.

As for manufacturer, I beleive it is Kenwood all the way around as the Nav screen is Kenwood, but I am not 100% sure

bat1161

Just finished talking with someone from the Wall St Journal about the Tribeca. I explained I don't own one yet, but am looking at the Tribeca and the OB XT LTD. He was curious about my opinion on the look of the B9, both physically and color wise. I told him my wife did not care for the Sea Green color; we actually liked the red better. I also said the interior was very nice, better than what Subaru has offered so far. I mentioned that the Staten Island dealer has one on the lot, so he asked if I had a chance to drive it yet to which I replied no. Now I have to test it out, probably this weekend!

Mark

kmartin

Any possibility of an iPod/MP3 hookup for this head unit?

-Karen in AZ- :shades:

sweet_subie

you can use FM modulator to play ipod/other MP3 players through the car stereo. you don;t need aux inputs

jon_in_ct

In the message samiam_68, "Subaru B9 Tribeca (B9X)" #3440, 8 Jun 2005 1:59 pm samiam_68 wrote:

Car and Driver
..finally tested the B9 Tribeca. 0-60 in 8.9 sec (I guessed 9.0 earlier). Observed MPG - 17.

This is a strange result because Subaru was telling journalists at the Detroit Auto Show that the Tribeca's 0-60 time was about 8.0 seconds. I would hope that Subaru wouldn't have said that unless one of their test drivers had actually achieved that time at least once.

Shortly after the press days at Detroit, it appears Subaru offered Tribeca test drives to a handful of writers from the major car mags. Both Car and Driver and Motor Trend published impressions in their March, 2005 issues.

The Car and Driver article by Ron Kiino ended with some specs:

Performance ratings (C/D est):
Zero to 60 mph: 8.0 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 16.5 sec

The Motor Trend article by Frank Markus said:

Drop the hammer, and the B9 steps off briskly enough to discount Subaru's 8.0-second 0-to-60-mph estimate as at least a half-second conservative.

How did Subaru's 8.0 second 0-60 estimate end up so far off base?

kmartin

I have an FM transmitter, and it's OK, but not great. I was looking for a more direct, cleaner option.

-Karen in AZ- :shades:

kmartin

Anyone have any first-hand suggestions on optional equipment? Pros, cons, recommendations, items to avoid?

I remember thinking a year ago that the front bumper underguard sounded like a great idea for my 05 OB, but when it came in, it was just another piece of plastic to cover up the already-existing plastic bumper...big disappointment.

-Karen in AZ- :shades:

subienewbie2

Called my dealer to see if they has VIN on my B9, clerk checked and said they do have the VIN but did receive a VON # from SOA but could not tell me what that was or how it relates to when the car will arrive.

Anyone know about this?

Thanks
John

ateixeira

jon: thanks for doing my homework for me. Those are the articles I was mentioning.

I wonder if they had to dial back the H6 to achieve better EPA mileage, or meet emissions standards or something?

Still, look at C&D's comparo charts. If you average the finishing position of the 4 SUVs they compare, guess which one comes out on top? The Tribeca. Best handling, tied for 2nd braking, best EPA city mileage overcome the acceleration and price.

So you might say it has the best balance of performance, value, and efficiency.

-juice

subienewbie2

The front under-bumper guard on the B9 is a great style point. It really classes uo the lower bunper area. What it guards is in question but it sure looked good.

I called my dealer and had them add it on after a finally saw one on another B9.

The rear guard is more practicle and looks nice but does not get high style points and it is cheap.

Mainly it depends on your needs & budget

capreciac

I'd like to buy a 5 pass B9 base model B9 by the end of the month. What are people paying?

sweet_subie

raving reviews. you can see that they shopped B9 against LUX SUVs.

http://autos.msn.com/research/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?modelid=11660&src=vip

ateixeira

2nd review is wrong about the tires.

-juice

sweet_subie

While tribeca is 2 inches longer than Pilot (190 vs 188), boxer engine being small etc etc,

Can you someone explain how Tribeca is short of
Total Legroom: 107.5 vs 109
cargo: 8 vs 16 c.f
against pilot

This tells me that the interior space is NOT well utilized ? Even my MPV being much shorter than Tribeca has generous leg room for all 3 rows, go figure.

saustin

Think you will pleasantly impressed, early reviews did not speak highly about it but think the cd quality is super. Have not listened to the radio much.

kmartin

Steven Jory in Phoenix is offering $500 over invoice (I bought a Forester there in '98 and they gave me the same deal), and I'm heading over there tomorrow to see what they'll give me for a trade-in on my '05 OB. I dealt with my credit union's auto source folks for the past 24 hours and then canned them...their cut is just too much to make a deal. Besides, I did most of the research and footwork for them anyway (maybe they should pay ME :-)

-Karen in AZ- :shades:

rsholland

A couple of things: (1) The Pilot is much boxier than the Tribeca, and (2) the Pilot is several inches wider than the Tribeca. I'm sure when you take those two items into account, the extra space will be accounted for.

Bob

bman33

My wife and I are coming off an '02 Pathfinder lease in two months and considered every possible cross-over SUV as a replacement.

Our finalists were:
Acura MDX
Lexus RX330
Infiniti FX35
Nissan Murano
Volvo XC90
Subaru Tribeca

We test drove them all, read the reviews, crunched the numbers, and when it was said and done, we picked the Subaru Tribeca 5 seat Limited based on price, interior quality, styling and expected fuel economy (based on Outback VDC).

I found the Tribeca to be as luxurious as the Lexus or Volvo with similar acceleration. The handling seems responsive, not as sporty as the Infiniti, but much better than the other cross-overs.

While at first I hated the Tribeca's nose, I liked it much more in person and overall, the Tribeca is more distinctive than all but the Infiniti.

What sealed the deal for us was the IMBA preferred customer discount program. We were able to get a fully loaded 5 seater for like $30,000,which was atleast $6,000 less than any of the other comparably equipped 5 seat cross-over we were considering.

Is it perfect? No. The lack of memory seat settings is inexcusable. We would also prefer movable pedals and a telescoping steering wheel, like in the Murano, so my 5' 2" wife wouldn't have to sit so close to the wheel. I would like the torque from the turbo 4 cylinder, but it's primarily the wife's car and she thought it accelerated fine with 3 people on board.

ateixeira

Style. Space utilization is not nearly as good as it is in the Forester, for instance.

The longitudinal layout actually makes it longer and lower.

Pilot stacks a V6 on top of the front axle, so they stack it upward, hence the much taller hood (and loss of forward visibility).

Sit in both driver's seats and look forward. On the course I was able to see the cones in front of the Tribeca, but not the ones in front of the Pilot. The hood blocks the entire cone.

-juice

capreciac

Let me know how you make out. I have a 98 OB to trade in. I had considered buying an 05 OB, but decided to hold out until the B9 came out. I drove them both and preferred the B9. I'd be curious to know what it is about the B9 you prefer over the OB. Thanks.

kmartin

Capreciac, I have loved every minute in the OB, and it drives like a dream. I really wanted a little more HP than my base 2.5i can muster, and seating room (leg, head, hip, shoulder) in the B9 seems to be a bit larger and easier to enter/exit. The extra cargo room is a bonus, as I do haul stuff around a lot. Also, the light beige cloth seats and carpet in the OB have proved a bugger to keep clean (although they are really attractive). I considered trading "up" to an LLB OB, but the seating room was the same.

The Tribeca is the vehicle I was shopping for a year ago, but it didn't exist then, and the OB was a very nice compromise from the Forester I had loved for over 6 years. If this works out, it'll be my 4th Subie in 14 years. Don't I get a prize or discount or something for that???

-Karen in AZ- :shades:

capreciac

Thanks for the reply. I too liked the extra room all the way around and the extra power. I also wanted something heavier and higher up to defend myself and my children against crazy drivers. I was considering the beige cloth seats, but if they are hard to keep clean, I may have to consider the Limited to get the beige leather as I don't care for any of the colors that come with the gray interior.

As far as your prize goes, any Subaru you get will be prize enough!! But I sure hope you get a nice discount nonetheless!!!

capreciac

What is the IMBA discount program? Did you get a Limited for $30,000? What do you mean by fully loaded? Did that include destination charges? I too drove the XC90 and the FX35, as well as numerous others and the B9 was by far my favorite.

Thanks.

jon_in_ct

capreciac wrote:
What is the IMBA discount program?

I think it's a reference to this: http://www.imba.com/tcc/subaru.html

Cliff Notes: Pay $25 to join International Mountain Biking Association. Wait 6 months. Buy new Subaru at dealer invoice (or less if there are any cash-back sales incentives in effect)..

jon_in_ct

I meant to mention that there are other ways to get the VIP Partner benefit besides IMBA, if you're not into biking. Here are some other organizations you can join or sign up:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Snowboard Instructors
American Canoe Association
American Cross Country Skiers
American Meteorological Society
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
Geological Society of America
International Mountain Bicycling Association
Leave No Trace
Masters Rowing Association
Mount Washington Observatory
National Brotherhood of Skiers
National Ski Patrol
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Professional Ski Instructors of America
Rainbow Card Visa

cptplt

IIRC the article said it wasn't a production vehicle and there was something strange going on with its sportshift