Subaru Crew - Future Models II

c_hunter

You can choose the warranty terms you want at any time. Try a google search to find the dealers that sell warranties online. make sure you are buying a genuine subaru warranty from a real subaru dealer, not one of the many third party warranties. The only dealer I am familiar with is fitzmall.com, they discount warranties 25% or more.

aaykay

Thanks. I checked their site out and they don't seem to have listed any ext.warranty prices there. Maybe I will call them up and ask.

ateixeira

I was told that Subaru is thinking about adding an extended warranty shopping tool to their web site, but they obviously don't want to compete with their own dealers so they won't sell them that way. It might be a way to look up retail prices, though. Then you can figure roughly 40% of as a good value for them.

dino001

Then you can figure roughly 40% of as a good value for them.

Then if you live in Florida, you have to pay full price Extended warranties are an insurance product here, which means they're regulated and prices are registered by the licensed insurance brokers (dealers). Generally - you get ripped off with no option of looking elsewhere. :mad:

ateixeira

Really? That stinks. In that case they should take a page from Saturn's book and offer a one-price policy, at least in that region.

List prices can break $2 grand. :sick:

dino001

Exactly right. And "one price" already rules here - it is the list price. :sick:

aaykay

I called up Fitzmall and talked to one of the finance managers there.

Basically, a 7yr/100K, 0 deductible under their "Subaru Gold+" plan, is $2400. This is what he clarified to be the same as the "bumper-to-bumper" warranty.

Under their "classic" plan, a 7yr/100K 0 deductible is $1400.

Obviously, with a $50 or $100 deductible in place, the numbers come down by quite a bit.

ateixeira

I think those are list, correct?

Terms vary but someone got a 5/100 for under a grand recently. A while back someone got a 7/100 on an Outback for $800 or so. May have had a deductible.

Subaru Gold gives you roadside assistance for the duration.

dino001

Looks like list. There is a turbo surcharche for 80 & 100K plans - another few hundred.

aaykay

He never indicated that it was list price. I assumed that it is the price I would be buying it. I assume there is a "turbo surcharge" of $250 or so, to the base non-turbo price.

ateixeira

Weird, Bob sent me a link yesterday, and today it's gone, but C&D had a short take review on the 08 Tribeca.

They loved the new engine, and said it handled well, too. They said if your eyes were closed you'd believe it was a BMW X5. :shades:

I won't tell anyone you spent $15 grand less.

Estimate for mileage is 16/21 under the 2008 EPA standards, so that's about the equivalent of 18/23, i.e. where the 06-07 model is now.

Only bad thing they said was they called it a Chry-beca saying the grille looked like a Chrysler.

alpha01

Juice, I thought the same exact thing; it seems C/D updated their page today to include that Sports Car comparo, and in doing so, the link to the Tribeca article has vanished. Too bad. I'd rather read about the Subie than some brutish 40K Mustang, but I'm probably in the minority on that one.

Overall, I thought it was a great review, though I will say I differ with their opinion of the Tribeca's interior design and styling. It is hands-down one of my favorites in all of automobiledom. They did also pan the rearmost seating, but thats nothing new.

Joe

jeffmc

Maybe they took it down to correct their error regarding 2nd-row legroom. They said the 5-pass has more rear legroom than the 5+2. Yet again, the reviewers were either not able to figure out how to slide the seat back all the way, or didn't bother to learn that it could. :mad:

ateixeira

It's a red knob, stands out pretty obviously. :mad:

ateixeira

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/12843/the-quickest-cars-of-2007-less-than-2- 0000.html

Impreza 2.5i ranked 10th in 0-60.

If they had used the 1/4 mile, which makes far more sense, it would have moved way up in the rankings because it catches up and passes several of the cars on the list. IIRC it would have ended up around 4th or so.

rsholland

http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/2746

cptplt

looking at few 08 OB 2.5 in dealer lot for my daughter, which colors do people think will show scratches less, the harvest gold, newport blue or deep bronze?? I think the harvest gold would but whats other folks' opinions? I asked her what color she wants and all she would say is anything but a color we already have in the household!!

ateixeira

Gold for sure. Then probably the blue, I think the bronze is dark enough that it'll show swirl markes.

c_hunter

Gold is great for hiding scratches, dirt, swirls, etc (silver is a close second). My previous Outback was gold (the 05 shade, forget the name) and it was pretty much maintenance free and very forgiving. I highly recommend that color. Paired with the black interior, I found that car to be quite good at hiding wear and tear.

cptplt

I guess its gold then, unfortunately it only comes with an ivory interior. Black interior only comes with black and various silver/grays and we have 2 silver cars and one black already!!
no VDC 2.5i available till june/july

smittynyc

I completely agree with you on gold, but I'm not sure about the blue. Our erstwhile 04 Forester was Pacifica Blue Pearl, which is a degree lighter than the 07 Newport Blue, and that thing swirled and scratched like crazy.

The other thing is that as far as sun is concerned, any blue that isn't super-light might as well be black. On a particularly bright day, the outer skin of that Forester would get so smoking hot the headliner would actually become warm to the touch, and not just a little warm.

I would like to see Subaru offer nice light silvery blue and red and green paints across the product line. The ease of maintenance and sun reflection make silver a good choice, but man, there are a *lot* of silver cars out there! Silver with a nice tint would be a sweet middle ground imo.

kate5000

Yeah, totally agree - tinted silver looks very good.

Back in 1989-1992, Subaru Loyale had a very nice Ice Blue (or was it Arctic Blue?) - silver-blue metallic paint. Looked very nice and lasted long time (I still see those old wagons around, paint in great shape).

rsholland

Any mid-range neutral color is good for hiding scratches. If the color is too dark or too light, or to bright or strong, scratches show easier.

Bob

ateixeira

My Crystal White Miata is a mess right now, due to all the pollen and falling flowers/debris from the large tress around me. It's not pretty.

Wife's car is Wintergreen, a light metallic silverish green, and I'd say that just about the *perfect* color to hide pollen, plus it hides scratches well.

rsholland

It's a mid-range neutral color.

Bob

xwesx

Yeah, juice, come on! *knock knock* Get with the program! :P

lrossnm

I have an '05 Silver/Grey Outback 2.5i . Love the color. Wish they still did the two tone in an '08 Outback LTD. Want to get an '08. Also wish they kept the black interior on more models. Do like the new Bronze color but it will show scratches. waiting for the VDC to arrive.

jeffmc

'08 Outback 2.5i Limited does come in a two-tone combo: Newport Blue Pearl and Quartz Silver.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/outback/outback2008.html#colors

ateixeira

Looks good, too. That blue doesn't really seem all that dark, is it just me? :confuse:

lrossnm

Still like the two tone Silver and it does not come in an '08 LTD.

rsholland

...over at nabisco. The cars now come with a "start button."

Subaru of Japan web site updated.

http://www.subaru.jp/index.html

Bob

ateixeira

Meh, that's gimmicky IMHO. Adds a step with no real benefit besides "looking cool".

rsholland

The only advantage is you don't have get the key out of your pocket.

Bob

jeffmc

Takes away a step - you don't have to put the key in the ignition. Keep your key in your pocket (or purse) the entire time, push a button on the door for entry, push a button on the dash to start the engine.

ateixeira

OK, didn't read that part. Guess it's like Keyless Go, then?

paisan

Yup and the wide-band scanners can get your code and start your car.... Although I guess that's what insurance is for.

-mike

alpha01

At worst, I think this practice is probably only as easy as a typcial car theft the old fashioned way, no?

~alpha

sweet_subie

JDM version looks lot more upscale than the US ones - both OB/Leg.

1. cockpit looks better - black design, the circle around gear shifter, cup holders, alum trim all the way across the dash etc look very upscale

2. Some features like start button, i see vent below center console for rear passengers, better looking key fob(see below),

a/c vent, audio controls, 12v, even light switches for rear pass - all of which rear pass can control. this is upscale !
http://www.subaru.jp/legacy/outback/utility/comfortable.html

details on engine start here:
http://www.subaru.jp/legacy/outback/utility/cockpit.html

memory seats, cupholders on the handrest in backseat & not on floor. my kids can't access the cup holders on the floor when in infant/booster seat.
http://www.subaru.jp/legacy/outback/utility/seat.html

looks like upscale audio sys (mcintosh ?).
http://www.subaru.jp/legacy/outback/utility/audio.html

what is the cargo fan feature ?
http://www.subaru.jp/legacy/outback/utility/index.html

if anyone noticed, the current version OB/leg is smaller than the last version in all interior dimensions. maybe they were banking on tribeca for people with kids. It is ok not to make it bigger, but why smaller ?

IMHO, how do they expect people in the US to pay a premium price without all these upscale features like 34k for top of the line OB ?

paisan

At worst, I think this practice is probably only as easy as a typcial car theft the old fashioned way, no?

I dunno, it reminds me of the Ford combination locks on the door handles, my dad was an adjunct(sp?) professor in a local prison here in NYC at night, so after my grandfather's car got stolen 3 or 4 times he asked a guy who was in for Grand Theft Auto, and this was back in the late 80s early 90s, what was the best anti-theft device. He said the Fords were the easiest because he would carry a laptop computer and punch in the VIN and it would have a database of the combinations for the VIN. He would be in within seconds. His advice was a hidden kill switch as the best thing to slow em down. Of course a flatbed truck would just about allow him to take any vehicle he wanted.

-mike

paisan

I just wish they would drop the integrated HVAC controls with the stereo so that one could put their own audio/video system in-dash. The rest of the stuff on that car listed above is 99% bling, as you said the Tribecca here in the USDM market is the car for folks who are looking for those features. I wouldn't be suprised to see that stuff filter down eventually though, but not for a few more model years when they re-do the legacy/outback line completely.

-mike

dino001

IMHO, how do they expect people in the US to pay a premium price without all these upscale features like 34k for top of the line OB ?

The thing is 34 grand is still not a real premium price. Look at prices North of the border or across the Atlantic and you get idea. Even after factoring out VAT, Subarus cost them 20-30% more, IIRC seeing their price sheets.

The cars here are probably cheapest in the world, partially due to lower taxes/customs, partially due to cutthroat competition. That's why so many companies struggle here, albeit quite successful everywhere else (Suzuki, Mistubishi, Audi come in mind). They can't charge premium prices, especially in large compact-to midsize segments. The result is larger engines than the rest of the world, more standard features, but interiors tend to be cheapened out. Americans seem to be much more tolerant to cheap plastics inside their family sedans than Europeans as long as the price remains competitive and minimum feature content is met.

saedave

I just wish they would drop the integrated HVAC controls with the stereo so that one could put their own audio/video system in-dash

And so thieves could easily get the stereo.

Our insurance rates are favorably influenced by the combo.

paisan

Huh? Give me a break, the combo has nothing to do with insurance rates, thieves rarely steal stock stereos and insurance doesn't cover aftermarket stereos anyway.

My insurance rates have never been influenced by an integrated stereo and I live in some of the highest crime/car theft areas.

-mike

saedave

Huh? Give me a break, the combo has nothing to do with insurance rates, thieves rarely steal stock stereos

You have never owned Audi vehicles and lost SEVERAL stock stereos as I have. It's is not that the stereos are good...its just that standard DIN or double DIN units are quick and easy to remove: The removal tools fit in a shirt pocket!

ateixeira

Oddly they show the cup holders in the arm rest AND folding out from the back of the center console. The latter ones are what I have on the Forester, and they're pretty flimsy. The worst part is they are right where the rear passengers would tend to step on them, or at least kick them. :sick:

I got booster seats with built-in cup holders, so the kids can reach and not kick them all the time.

paisan

You have never owned Audi vehicles and lost SEVERAL stock stereos as I have. It's is not that the stereos are good...its just that standard DIN or double DIN units are quick and easy to remove: The removal tools fit in a shirt pocket!

Anytime there is a large aftermarket for the stereo units or any part there will be thefts of them. It has little to nothing to do with the ease of theft. Your Audi radios were probably stolen due to their high frequency of breaking and therefore a high replacement request. If the Subaru radios broke often they'd be stealing these units just the same, they are a single or double din unit sitting behind a panel that makes it look not like a double or single din.

Same theory as why Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are the most stolen vehicles, not because they are great cars, or expensive, but because there is such a high demand for the replacement parts from them....

-mike

robr2

He said the Fords were the easiest because he would carry a laptop computer and punch in the VIN and it would have a database of the combinations for the VIN. He would be in within seconds.

AFAIK, the door mounted keypads on Ford products always allowed the owner to program their own code. My in-laws have had those for upteen years and have always used the same code.

robr2

...and insurance doesn't cover aftermarket stereos anyway.

That's news to me. Here in MA, aftermarket installs are covered by insurance as long as they are installed in the location where the OEM would've installed it.

aaykay

You mean the combination locks on Fords had a static set of numbers from the factory, and not user settable/changeable ? If so, then that is a serious flaw !

aaykay

Same theory as why Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are the most stolen vehicles, not because they are great cars, or expensive, but because there is such a high demand for the replacement parts from them....

It is because Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords last for ever and once they get up in years, some components will need to be replaced, which leads to the stolen car syndrome. Also, the sheer sales volumes (over a 1/2 million plus ?) is a factor too - thus needing more replacement components.

If you notice, the cars stolen are not late model Accords/Camrys but those that are several years old.