Subaru Crew: Suggestions for Subaru

simon_tx · February 2004

One of the things that has me on the fence about buying any Subaru is when I pull up behind an Outback at a stop light and I notice that the headlight image from my Maxima is too wide to even show up on the bumper of the Outback.

Not sure how the numbers really compare, but the Subaru's do seem narrow and in some cases the factory tires look narrow which gives some Subaru's a cheap appearance.

ateixeira · February 2004

I'm sure that has to do with taxes in the Japanese domestic market. Subaru sells the same cars here that they do there, unlike Toyota and Honda, which sell bigger cars in the US market.

The 7 seater and future full-size car won't have this limitation because I think they have the US market in mind for those.

But cars shared with Japan will likely have narrow bodies.

-juice

lark6 · February 2004

You don't suppose the 7-passenger vehicle will be the next Forester, do you? Would the tall, boxy Impreza-based vehicle we now call Forester no longer be offered? I hope not!

Ed

locke2c · February 2004

juice, your wife seems a little evil no offense. she wants something bigger, but wants YOU to drive it everyday. meanwhile she gets a legacy GT.

~c

ateixeira · February 2004

Actually I have the Miata for quick errands and commuting, so technically I have two cars and it wouldn't necessarily be my primary car.

She has just the Legacy, and didn't want a van to drive every day.

Of course now she tells me that she'd be willing to commute in my Forester, which was a change of heart. Could have gotten her the minivan all along. Oh well.

-juice

pon1 · February 2004

So any tips on getting clearance to ge an XT over an XS.

For me the XT is a perfect replacement for our Forester L.

But she sees....

- expensive (relatively)
- bad mpg
- premium fuel
- too fast (= speeding tickets)

On the positive, maybe we have

- more power = safer?
- better resale?
- moonroof?

Anything else I can use as evidence?? Help me out here guys...

pon1 · February 2004

Maybe...different engine = no more blown head gaskets and toasted O2 sensors??

locke2c · February 2004

FUN

that's the only selling point. there is no utility advantage.

but it's a whole lot of fun. laugh-out-loud fun. slow cars are boring!

you can try to play up the utility of speed, like ease of merging in traffic, decreased passing time on 2 lane roads, etc... but it's really a sham.

F U N

~c

p0926 · February 2004

- expensive But only about 7% more which ain't bad considering you get more than 40% more torque
- bad mpg About 10% worse
- premium fuel About 10% more
- too fast (= speeding tickets) Yep :-)

Not only is the XT 45% faster 0-60 than the XS but it's faster than 99% of the vehicles on the road today! Do you need all that speed? Heck no but it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

-Frank P.

locke2c · February 2004

I almost get tired of saying this, but the premium for premium is a sham.

If you're scraping the bottom of the barrel with an '82 Malibu and choose between using your last $2.38 you found in the couch into the car or washing your clothes at the laundrymat, then yes premium fuel is a real expense to be given due consideration.

It is utterly meaningless for anyone buying and insuring a new car. The cost difference buying premium pales in the overall total cost of ownership for a new vehicle.

At an awful 20 MPG and an absurd 30,000 miles per year, we're talking maybe an extra $250 per year for premium versus regular. And that's a hefty gas bill of ~$2600 even on the cheap stuff. normal people getting 25 MPG and travelling 15,000 miles per year are faced with a staggering extra $100 for 91 octane. wow.

So now take this to heart and beat up--argumentatively of course

-- your spouse, friends, family and any other punk that whines about premium gasoline.

~colin
<--does admit to working for an oil company

paisan · February 2004

I drive 40-50K/year

Even I put premium in the SVX and shortly will be putting premium in the Legacy Turbo....

-mike

locke2c · February 2004

I have no idea how you rack up those miles living in NYC. many people don't even own a car there!

~c

paisan · February 2004

Even in my "lite" years when I commuted to work M-F via bus, I racked up 37-40K. But with auto-xing in LI, NJ, and road courses in VA, WVA, CT, PA, and upstate NY.... I easily do over 50K now that I'm driving to work daily. On any given day I may drive 100 miles or more between work and hanging out in NJ or LI.

-mike

rsholland · February 2004

I've noticed several SUVs (Nissan's Armada, for example) now has a fold-forward-flat feature for the front passenger seat. You can take the seat back, and fold it forward so that it's absolutely flat, so that when long items need to be put in the vehicle, ladders, 2x4s, (surfboards!), etc., it can be easily done.

I would like to see Subaru incorporate that feature into every wagon it makes.

Bob

p0926 · February 2004

Colin- Please refute this if wrong but the perception that premium is a luxury isn't helped by the fact that 91 octane costs on avg an additional 8 cents per gallon to produce but normally sells for 20 cents more. If true, that doesn't help big oil's image :-(

-Frank P.

locke2c · February 2004

that's not big oil, really. the extra profit you speak of is ALL at the distribution and retail level. the exact spread varies depending on market conditions of course.

it's the exact same story when gas prices at the pump climb overnight; the gas you're buying has been paid for long ago and they are just realizing profits because they can. the prices are slow to come down too, even after the market value declines... again, maximizing profit.

much of the companies you think of in 'big oil' do not bother to own retail outlets any longer. chevron would probably have the largest presence there.

~c

bluesubie · February 2004

*cough* Cafe *cough*

locke2c · February 2004

heh, duly noted. oopsies!

ateixeira · February 2004

XT gives you the fun factor, but that's more important than you might think. Say you buy an XS today, but get bored with it in 3 years, then trade up for something else.

If you get an XT and it's fun, I doubt you'll get bored. You could easily own it longer, and enjoy it more.

Besides that, you get a more rigid block and reinforced internals, for better durability. And you get a free cheese grater on the hood. :-)

-juice

nygreg · February 2004

the XT will get you home faster so you can spend more quality time with her. Use this one on Feb. 14th.

Greg

bat1161 · February 2004

Greg-

Good one! The only problem is she may use reverse psychology, and say that you'll be away from home more often. I know my wife would say that to me, and accuse me of wanting to do more SBD's.

Mark

pon1 · February 2004

Actually drove an FXT last night.

Amazing. How do you go back to the 2.5 N/A after that.

It's now when rather than if (waiting for OBT pricing...).

One good thing is that she will likely be able to drive the thing without being intimidated, as there is zero lag.

nygreg · February 2004

Mark, then respond with "I'll do more of the shopping". Then duck.

Greg

p0926 · February 2004

Mark- SBD's? I'm guessing that stands for something other than the acronym that high school boys learn :-)

-Frank P.

njswamplands · February 2004

p0926 · February 2004

You know what they say... the smeller's the feller!

njswamplands · February 2004

bat1161 · February 2004

Frank- SBD= Sunday Backroad Drives.
Something I do occasionally with some of the folks from here and "the other board". We go for drives in NNJ/PA with a bunch of Subaru's, just to enjoy the car. The OB XT or Legacy GT would definitely help out there.

Mark

jlemole · February 2004

When you use the mister, the wipers should be programmed for more than just 2 full sweeps -- it barely clears the washer you just sprayed on the window.

Jon

p0926 · February 2004

Jon- Hate to be argumentative but isn't that all you want it to do? You don't want the wiper blades going back and forth on a dry window.

-Frank P.

subearu · February 2004

I just drove a '02 Grand Am (company car) last week down to Chicago during the recent snow and cold. I cursed each time I pressed the wash button. It wipes 4 times, even after a little squirt of fluid. And 2 is all it needs. After 2, it would start smearing and then the window was salty white again. Beginning an endless cycle of repetitive wash and rinse cycles.

I like the 2 swipes, thankyou very much!

-Brian

jlemole · February 2004

rsholland · February 2004

http://www2.autospies.com/article/index.asp?articleId=2589&ca- - tegoryId=8

The new Subie 7-passenger crossover will have to compete with this. There had better be a hybrid model in the works, or Lexus and Toyota (and probably Honda too) will leave it at the (sales) gate.

Bob

bat1161 · February 2004

Bob- Saw the RX400H at Philly, and I liked it. The only thing, and I guess it's because of all the numbers off the hybrid cars, they say the mileage on the RX is going to be low 30's.

I'm hoping that Subaru does something with the hybrid they showed at Detroit. It sounded different and innovative. I agree with you, that SOA must do a hybrid.

Mark

ateixeira · February 2004

RX400H is too small and too expensive for me. Let's see them compete with the Highlander hybrid, but with better packaging!

Of course without a hybrid it might have to compete with the Ford Freestyle, so we'll have to wait and see how it's sized and styled.

-juice

subewannabe · February 2004

I agree with juice that the biggest limiting factor in the rear seats of the Forester is the narrow door opening, more than actual limited legroom. My 13 yo daughter has size 11 feet and, like all 13 yo's, has a little trouble figuring out what to do with those fast-growing flippers. She struggled to get those feet in and out of the Forester rear seat,and thats the only reason I am not driving a FXT now and holding out for a new Legacy or Outback.

I really like the idea of offering dual wheel/tire sets as a series of options. Folks in most areas would get the single set of all season tires, but folks in areas that get sudden, heavy snowfall could get a set of true performance tires on alloy rims for warm weather and true snow tires on steel rims for winter. As it is, you can always pick up a set of extra rims on ebay or at Nabisco, but the OEM tires are neither fish nor fowl and nobody wants to eat the cost of that first set of tires.

Finally, Brian reported in Future Models II that there is rumbling of a better warranty on the 05 Subarus. Given the monster warranties offered by the Koreans and now by Mitsubishi and Isuzu, Subaru is going to lose a lot of customers to makers also offering some form of AWD but wrapping it in a 7/100K wrapper unless SoA also ups its warranty coverage significantly.

Mark

ateixeira · February 2004

I like the warranty idea, but make it transferable. Hyundai's reverts to just 5/60 if you're not the original owner. Think about it, you get an unreliable car, you probably won't keep it for 10 years, right? So they'll never have to pay any claims after 5 years!

Suzuki's is fully transferable, I'd like to see something like that.

At least match Acura and Mazda's 4/50 bumper to bumper.

-juice

hondafriek · February 2004

My local tire dealer took the RE92s in take off trade against Goodrich Winter Slalom snow tires, I got $75CDN per tire which was more than I could have gotten had I just sold them.

Cheers Pat.

pon1 · February 2004

For real? Right there is a reason to hold off purchasing to 05. Wish I still had comp warranty left on our 2K Forester L.

What are the chances?

p0926 · February 2004

James- If you're worried about it, you can still buy the extended warranty for your Forester.

-Frank P.

ateixeira · February 2004

From what I hear, it's a good possibility.

I'd wait to see the '05 because even if you do buy an '04 dealers will be more eager. You might have to be flexible on color and options, though.

-juice

bat1161 · February 2004

I know everyone (including myself) has said it before, but I'll say it again: How about a Full Size Spare in all Subaru's, not just Forester. As someone jsut having a blow out and riding around on the donut, I would have been a LOT more comfortable with a full size spare on/in my OBW. Because I could not get a day off to go and get new tires I've been leaving my car at home all week, rather than go all over the city.

It can't be that hard to put in a full size spare. Come on Subaru, please.

Mark

ateixeira · February 2004

The well for the new Legacy/Outback is already designed in, I just wonder if a Legacy spare will fit. I doubt an Outback one will.

-juice

rsholland · February 2004

I'd like to see full-size spares, across the board.

Bob

bat1161 · February 2004

I realize they will not be able to address this immediately, but at least keep it in mind for any future designs. Don't the Legacy and Outback share the same tire size?

Mark

ateixeira · February 2004

They don't on the 2004s, I doubt they do for 2005s either.

-juice

simon_tx · February 2004

while I agree a full size spare is a great thing to have - how many vehicles in Subaru's class come with a full size spare?

the donut stinks - but I can't recall the last time the donut did not suffice for emergency situations.

ateixeira · February 2004

VW offers them, I believe.

But most don't, you're right about that.

Thing is, with AWD, the diameters have to match closely. What if I get a flat 2 hours away from home and it can't be repaired? You might get stuck having to buy 4 new tires.

-juice

cusafr · February 2004

I am going to buy a Subaru (For Sure), but have wondered about the requirement of the tires being something like no more than 1/4 inch difference. As Juice said about flats (even one) and what if you have a slow leak on a long trip etc.

Anyway, I see Subaru as Special and would gladly pay extra for both a full size spare and better tires. Why oh Why do they put the re92's on when everyone (at least everyone I know) hates them?

Sorry for the rant. Thanks for listening,

CUSAFR

ateixeira · February 2004

Get a Forester, they've always had full size spares.

A full size spare does fit in the spare tire well of the current Legacy, I know because we have one and did just that. Tire size is 205/60R15 and the full sizer fits once you remove the foam filler that goes over the donut.

Anyone want to buy a donut? :-)

Actually I still have one spare 15" steel wheel is anyone is interested.

-juice

Subaru Crew: Suggestions for Subaru

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