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Comments
Thank you for visiting the Subaru Web site and for your interest in Subaru
products. As we do not have the specifications for the 2005 Forester models nor
all of the information on the 2005 Outback models, I cannot speak of their
specifications.
As for the 2004 model year, all of the Outback models that are offered with a
moonroof are also equipped with leather interior. For the 2004 Forester models,
only the 2004 Forester XS Premium Package is offered with the moonroof and cloth
seats. This model, however, is only available with an automatic transmission.
This model is available with leather seats; but, they are optional and the cloth
seats are standard.
As most owners, which is not at all meant to lesson your wife's believes, want
leather seats with the moonroof, you may have to order this model from the
factory through your dealer. The normal delivery time for a factory ordered
Forester is anywhere from 8 to 10 weeks. However, if you are interested in this
vehicle, please reply to this message letting me know what color you are
interested in, and I would be happy to search for you.
As for special ordering an Outback or Forester XT with a moonroof without
leather seats, this is not possible. In order to offer our owners competitive
prices, we have to limit the options we make available, as we are a relatively
'small' car company with many different models.
As for an aftermarket moonroof, the following is Subaru of America's position
on aftermarket products:
We do NOT recommend the installation of any aftermarket part into any of our
vehicles. Doing so may affect your warranty, but only on related failures. Any
problems caused by the installation or performance of an aftermarket product
will not be covered by your warranty; thus, you would be responsible for the
repairs.
-juice
I trust my by-passing the recently introduced mid-year '04 Passat GLS Wagon 1.8t 4motion (MT) in favor of an in-depth consideration of the '05 Outback will be a good move. I love the 1.8t that is the VW standard, and I'm a little concerned about the power plants in the Outback; I fear the 2.5i in the MT may be a touch too weak and the 2.5t overkill (and energy inefficient).
Zman
You can always test drive an 04 Outback to get a feel for the engine. For 05, the engine will be a little smoother and quieter due to a new exhaust design (takes out some of the characteristic rumble of the H4 for more refinment).
Craig
Ken
http://www.chrisco.nexgenis.com/legacyvsaudi.avi
It's a Japanese video (subtitled in Chinese) of the Legacy Spec B AT, Legacy Spec B MT, Toyota Caldina, Audi RS6 Avant and Volvo V70 T-5. The cars are raced for 3 laps at Tsukuba with professional drivers.
The Legacy MT beat out the RS6 Avant. The drivers comment on their experiences and the Legacy drivers kept commenting on how light their vehicles were.
Ken
Check out the program at
www.kcsm.org
Alland
You make a worthy observation about the 1.8t in the Passat. I've driven it only in the lighter New Beetle, and in that configuration, it is a very good match. The Passat, however, is bigger and heavier, especially now with the 4-motion, so I am even more inclined towards the Outback.
That said, I have not tried the '04 Outback, but I have driven the '04 Forester in both the 2.5i and the 2.5t, and it is from those experiences that I make the comments about power. I was especially disappointed with the 2.5i in 4th gear on the hilly roads that comprise most of my driving. By comparison, I was floored (literally) by the turbo; it was a blast to drive--for me. My wife was less impressed.
Zman
Steve
Craig
Bob
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has kept my father and family in prayer and sending positive thoughts. God's been listening...
My father went to see the surgeon and he reviewed my father's condition/situation. The surgeon doesn't think my father has a hernia in the esophagus but want's to see what caused my father's red blood cells to go as low as it did. My father will be going under another test this week to pin point and rule out everything the doctor previously told him (when hospitalized).
Dad has taken into realization that God's grace is why he's still alive today.
Thank you all again for your emails and support!
I returned last night with my wife and son, believing that God is taking care of everything else.
Well... back to Subaru news.. I guess nothing exciting yet until March huh?
Cheers Pat.
Glad to hear things are looking up for your Dad.
As for Subaru news, March is right around the corner.
Mark
I think VW's 1.8T is OK with a manual, but it's slow with the Tiptronic in the Passat, probably worse with 4Motion (SloMotion?).
The 2.5l boxer mates up better to an automatic, IMO.
My friend has a wagon with the tip and the 1.8T, he's had to chip *both* the engine and the tranny to get decent pulling power from it. That's $800 plus extra and no warranty on the engine or transmission.
Good news Elm.
-juice
-Dennis
A few more notes on the video:
- The driver in the MT Legacy comments at the start how he wishes it came with the 6MT, but he's happy with 20ps advantage over the 5EAT Legacy.
- The driver in the Volvo complains about too much wheelspin in the turns.
- The Audi driver notes how the vehicle handles pretty well even though it's 50kg heavier than the Legacy.
- The Caldina and Legacy AT seemed to be pretty well matched. The drivers noted that the Legacy did have the handling and torque edge, however.
Ken
Reading more reviews like these is going to be fun.
-juice
I can't imagine how they're going to get the fuel efficiency on the OXT to the 20mpg city range (I assume the OXT is going to be somewhat heavier than the current FXT, which I think manages only 17 or so).
Ditto on the H6 MT. Oh well, what are you going to do?
Juice,
I have not driven the 2.5i boxer in the AT, but it was disappointing to me in the MT (Forester, not Outback). Hence, I have to figure the 2.5i (MT) in the '05 OB will be about the same.
Elm,
My thoughts too for you and your dad.
Zman
p.s. What is "nabisco?"
-juice
Cheers Pat.
Bob
Ken
I regularly check the classifieds over there and sometimes have to chuckle at the lowball offers for stuff and at some of the more blistering replies.
Cheers Pat.
Someone reported there this week on about an easy 300hp on the dyno so far from a lightly modded Forester XT. That caught my interest, though the standard XT is quite enough car for me.
On the flip side, there are some folks over there who seem to have the inside track on a lot of new stuff. There are some really good people over there. Finding them can be a problem.
Glenn Wallace (currently placing 4th in the Alcan Rally I believe) is one. Paul Hansen and Anthony (both from apexjapan.com) are two more. There are several others too: Seth, username, Jon [in CT], Mo plus a bunch more that I can't recall at the moment.
Bob
http://www.subaru.co.nz/news/index.html?id=606
Bob
That said, there are a bunch of great people over there too, it's just harder to find them! We're lucky, everyone here is nice and everyone has good stuff to share. And over here, we can laugh at our dumb mistakes!
Craig
-juice
"The Legacy also won the Sunday Star Times large car class award."
I never thought of the Legacy as a large car class. I can't wait to test it out here.
Mark
Bob
Ken - thanks. I tried upgrading Windows Media Player to the latest (v9.0), but still getting, as you suggested a 'cannot load codec' error, and it won't play the video. I went to the Microsoft site, but it looks like other plug-ins are extra cost items. Oh well....
Steve
A large-for-USA car like the Crown Vic would only be used as a limo, driven by a chauffer.
Keep in mind minimum wage is about US $100/month and gas costs about $3/gallon.
-juice
Bob
Dunno, maybe I just like the new design more.
-juice
"and higher towing capacity—up to 3,000 lbs. with the 6-cylinder engine." on the OB from MSN Chicago Show news.
Hopefully that will be an across the board increase.
Makes sense for different markets, different size classifications.
Mark
Oddly, the H6 is geared so tall, and torque peaks at higher rpm than the turbo.
Plus the turbo gets bigger brake rotors, and short gears for crawling. Shouldn't the turbo be the best tow vehicle?
-juice
Bob
Mark
-juice
Bob
I view tre Outback as the more rugged performance oriented vehicle and the Legacy as the model that would be more refined urban automobile.
Yet the Legacy is not available with the H6, which would make it more comparable to most vehicles now sold to suburban families and instead gets a turbocharged H4?
Personally, I would think the Legacy would be a better car and more competitive if it were offered with the H6.
I don't understand the concept of the tubocharged 4 cylinder auto in car that size. If the gas mileage is worse and the perceived power is not that much better than the H6, then what's the point.
Does anyone see the Legacy ever getting an H6 version?
They put the H6 in their SUV-fighter, the Outback. In that class 6 cylinders are the norm, 8 cylinder are optional. I'm talking about Explorers, Grand Cherokees, and TrailBlazers.
The Legacy will battle with the Audi A4, most of those come with the 1.8T (4 cyl turbo). The Acura TSX also comes with a 2.4l 4 cylinder. Only the Mazda 6s comes with a V6 in that "smallish but sporty" segment.
I think it makes sense.
The Outback turbo is, IMO, the odd ball in the lineup. Though I guess you could say it'll compete with the Volvo XC70 2.4T and the Audi allroad quattro 2.7T.
-juice
Cheers Pat.
But is performance the real selling point for the Legacy? I can't imagine the H6 degrades performance that much for the average buyer.
However, I do see your point on the added weight and cost. I also agree on the Ouback turbo - adds to my confusion.
When I look at Subaru, I see a lot of cars that don't quite fit in the categories they are trying to compete in - while it does make them stand out, I think it also will continue to limit their mass appeal.
IMO - the Impreza line is the only one that directly attacks the other automakers - in other words, I can see how it directly compares to other cars in that class.
The other Subaru's seem to be presented as an alternative to the norm in the other classes - while that can be good, it also makes the buyer work harder to figure out if the special features Suabaru offers are worth it - there are more lazy car buyers than exhaustive researchers - I think that hurts Subaru.
Simon: maybe not now, but for the 2005 Legacy GT I'd say absolutely Yes, performance will be the #1 selling point, like it is for the WRX.
Subaru is a niche seller, so they're not trying to head-to-head, just offering an alternative to mass market vehicles in each segment.
-juice
If the next Legacy is priced in the low 30s, then it also has to compete against the BMW 3 series, the Acura TL, and the Infiniti G35 AWD, all of which are VERY nice vehicles.
For my personal tastes and needs out of a sedan, I'd like to see the Legacy get a little larger and sport a bigger 6-cylinder versus staying the same size and utilizing a turbocharged plant. But I'm just one buyer...