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Comments
but- if you're willing to go the station wagon route, there are other options.
I wouldn't say that the Tribeca is the best car ever built, but it's quite competitive and was just the right combination for me. I was really impressed with it driving off-road this weekend. The AWD system is pretty advanced and works much better than most car-based AWD systems. Here's a video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4999142340359932162
Perhaps you don't like the idea of a crossover? They are a compromise, not as sporty as a sedan, not as much utility as a truck, not as efficient as an economy car. But they balance all those fairly well.
One thing I will say - the center seat in the 2nd row, the 40/20/40 split, is more comfy for the person in the middle than almost anything I've tried. Only the 8 passenger Sienna and the massive Ford Expedition are better. The Ford is too gigantic, and the Sienna doesn't come in AWD with that seating configuration.
Try the "sitting on the middle hump" test and many cars will fail. They don't have enough room, have a huge tunnel to get around, and often the seats are just too hard.
-juice
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/ConsumerReportsSnapshot.aspx?year=2006&make=Su- baru&model=B9%20Tribeca
-Karen in AZ-
"The car-based Tribeca is Subaru's first midsized SUV. Handling is fairly agile, and the ride is quiet, comfortable, and steady. The second-row seat is cramped and the third-row is tiny, even for children. The 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine has to work hard to maintain speed, and the transmission downshifts reluctantly. Expect a disappointing 16 mpg overall. Fit and finish is excellent. It is a long reach to the navigation system's touch-screen monitor. For 2007, the Tribeca offers a rear-view back-up camera and a rollover-detection system. Subaru also claims to have reworked the suspension for a smoother ride. Reliability has been above average for its first year."
or this
"Subaru's first midsize SUV is a comfortable, quiet vehicle. The Tribeca has a very good ride and is fairly agile, thanks to its standard electronic stability control. The cabin is well constructed and nicely finished. Seven passengers can fit in the Tribeca in a pinch, but the second row is cramped, and the optional third row is strictly for small children. The engine struggles to keep the Tribeca moving. The transmission is reluctant to downshift and often hunts for the right gear. This results in disappointing fuel economy.
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The Tribeca is good at absorbing bumps and road imperfections. The ride is comfortable and steady. Road and wind noise are subdued, but engine drone is noticeable. Body lean is controlled in corners, and the steering is well-weighted and responsive, with good feedback. At its handling limits, the Tribeca is stable and secure, with the ESC helping to keep it on course. The Tribeca posted a relatively high speed in our avoidance maneuver. The smooth 250-hp, 3.0- liter six-cylinder engine provided fairly slow acceleration and has to work hard to maintain speed. Expect 16 mpg overall on premium fuel. The five-speed automatic transmission is smooth, but it's slow to respond and has to shift often to maintain speed. The Tribeca pulled our test trailer with 3,500 pounds -- its limit -- to 60 mph in 20.8 seconds. Overall braking performance is very good. The low-beam headlights illuminate only a short distance.
INSIDE THE CABIN
The high-quality trim in the Tribeca fits well. The lack of a telescoping steering wheel, however, makes it hard to find a good driving position. Thick roof pillars and small rear windows compromise side and rear visibility. A back-up camera would help but is not offered. The power front seats are firm and comfortable, with good thigh support. The second row is cramped, and the third row is barely tolerable. Getting in and out of the front seats is easy, but the tight rear leg room makes it harder in the second row. Third-row access is extremely difficult. Most controls are easy to use, but the fuel and temperature gauges are easily obstructed by the driver's hands. The navigation screen has a handy touch-screen display, but it's a long reach. Cabin storage is moderate. We measured 36 cubic feet of storage space with the seats folded, which is about the same as the smaller Subaru Forester. A temporary spare tire is mounted below the vehicle.
SAFETY NOTES
Seatback-mounted side-impact air bags and curtain-style head-protection air bags that extend to protect the first- and second-row passengers are both standard on the Tribeca. They supplement required front-impact air bags and three-point seatbelts in each of the seven seating positions. A driver's seat position sensor, belt usage sensors for the front belts and an occupant detection sensor in the passenger seat influence the appropriate level of deployment of the front air bags. The occupant detection system monitors the passenger's weight and seatbelt tension and will automatically disable the front air bags if it determines a child is seated there. The front- and second-row outboard belts have adjustable upper anchor positions for an improved fit. The front seatbelts are also equipped with pretensioners to reduce belt slack in a crash. Some may find buckling the second-row belts a bit awkward with the flexible and short buckle attachment. There are adjustable and locking head restraints in all seating positions. The front restraints are tall enough even when fully lowered to reduce head travel and whiplash injury, but the rear restraints must all be raised for sufficient protection. Daytime running lights are standard. Driving with kids: For a vehicle that offers the flexibility of three rows of seating and the potential for larger families, the fact that Subaru does recommend child seat installation in the second-row center or third-row seats of the Tribeca is surprising. Some rear-facing infant seats may also be susceptible to tilt when installed in the second-row outboard seats. Despite the recommendation there are tether strap attachment anchors for all three seconnd-row seats on the seatbacks and for each third-row seat on the cargo area sill. There are LATCH anchors in the second-row outboard seats and though recessed they are shallow enough to allow relatively easy access.
RELIABILITY
We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.
"
Re: the Xenons, I'm contemplating adding aftermarket ones, have you considered this route?
As for the DRLs, isn't there a fuse that can be pulled to disable them? On most cars with DRLs that is the case (the regular lighting will still work even though DRL is disabled).
I'm expecting the car this week so will check for that.
As for the DRLs, isn't there a fuse that can be pulled to disable them? On most cars with DRLs that is the case (the regular lighting will still work even though DRL is disabled).
I'm expecting the car this week so will check for that.
do you mean an aftermarket xenon light kit? that is quite expensive I've heard and means changing the whole inside of the light housing, though after changing the bulbs every 8 mo or so it might be worth looking into.
yes there is a fuse supposedly and its linked to the parking brake but i can't be bothered with taking off molding and whatever to find out and dealership wont do it for you. i just press the parking brake in one click which doesn't engage it and that turns of the drl's but the parking brake light is on on the dash so its kind of annoyign plus i forget to click it in to turn them off a lot.
i would get an Acura just for the superior voice activated nav which the new ones also have live traffic but if aftermarket units like the Pioneer might be better anyway then....
this would prob be more for a Tribeca thread but i think i already asked if one of the Pioneer head units with larger screen then B9's nav would fit where the nav screen is on the tribeca. of course then you might lose the other menus of the nav system like the mpg, temp etc. which wouldn't be too preferable.
Would be interested in other comments and/or suggestions.
"Though the car-based Triebeca did well in our overall ratings, we were expecting much more, considering how vastly improved Subaru's other recent offerings have been. Notable flaws are the Tribeca's cramped second and third-row rear seats, the thirsty and underpowered 6 cylinder engine, and automatic transmission that shifts reluctantly."
Nothing new here, but disappointing that they singled it out! Opinions?....
Fortunately- we know better. Perhaps this is why I was able to buy this great new vehicle for $1250 under invoice! Keep up the good work Consumer Reports (I've never agreed with their reviews)
i can't believe they are still aying cramped 2nd row when it actually has the most room for a 2nd row of any suv if you push the seat all the way back when not using the 3rd. as far as the 3rd row no midsize suv has a room 3rd row.
i would agree maybe its a little underpowered but 250hp is still more then any suvs were a few years ago and is about mid to slight above avg currently. it seems to have plenty of pep on hightway and as ppl have said you seem to get more when you gradually accel rather then putting it to the floor off the line and waiting for it to catch up.
i haven't felt or been bothered by any reluctant shifting.
wish i had got for invoice or below though thanks to reviews like that. i did get right when it came out but paid only 1000 under msrp which was still a couple thousand over invoice let alone 1000 under invoice like the last poster. damn lucky.
it still bothers me to this day but the whole ordeal was aggravating in that, i had to locate one with color and options that i wanted and that dealership told my dealerhips they wouldn' trade it. i had to convince the other further away dealership to cooperate with my dealership. in other words i did all the work but then once my dealership got it, they knew i would want it or feel obligated. they kenw i was excited about the car andmaybe a little anxious and that these were the colors and options i wanted. they took advantage.
i made the mistake of not negotiating the price ahead of time any more. i did a little and they just told me the most they could do was 1000 below msrp and that was only because the first one they ordered me ended up comign without puddle lights. i should have said forget it then and once i located the one with color and options i wanted, then got best offers from other dealerships. then once i got a deal i liked then could have gotten further away dealership with the vehicle i wanted to cooperate with the local dealership that ws giving me best price.
i should have walked out on the deal but i had wife and mother with me and didn't want the guy to be mad after trouble he went through so after trying to lower the price there last minute and they just refused and prob called my bluff i gave in. ended up paying close to 40k after i later added options/accessories. can get an Acura mdx for that
speaking of which i am going to look into the 07 mdx. will be interesting to see how consumer reports rates it. they liked the old mdx. my wife just got an 06 tl for under invoice so i will wait till i can get the 07 mdx for invoice at least.
As for your deal X5 killer....don't be upset...you bought your vehicle when it was newly introduced...any new vehicle is hard to get discounted much. Also, the 1250 below invoice is due to a current $1250 rebate through Subaru. I'll be surprised if you get a great deal on an MDX given it's new status.
As for as MPG, its is pretty in par with the rest.
I like the way the trannie shifts. The quicker it downshift when I hit the gas, the better response.
It actually rates Very Good overall, IIRC. In that class it's about mid-pack, and I believe they even Recommend it.
The 2nd row legroom is a mistake that MOST of the press made. Subaru should do a commercial where they show that release knob, giving a full 4" extra 2nd row leg room!
-juice
For 2008, Subaru took that out of the 5 seats models, since it was a safety feature for a 3rd row that did not exist on those models.
The 7 seat models still have it, last time I checked.
To be fair, noone in the press figured that out either. I think we found about 6-7 reviews with photos where the 2nd row was clearly not all the way back, with complaints about leg room.