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Subaru Crew: Suggestions for Subaru
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Comments
-Eric
-juice
Base 2.5L with 180HP in everything but the Impreza
2.2L with 165HP in the Impreza.
Offer a hybrid option with the 2.2L in all models.
Off-road package with dual-range, higher ground clearance, skid plates for Outback, Outback Sport and Forester.
Sunroof should be an option for WRX wagon, manual tranny Forester XT.
2.5L turbo in Legacy GT
2.5L turbo in WRX
7-seater SUV should follow Forester lead with great-handling, good power and meeting all car crash requirements.
2-door WRX of some sort. Hatch? Convertible? Nothing in the class has AWD. Audi TT would be a bit of a stretch.
-juice
Mark
BTW- Dave re#289 -you are right the light is on. I was thinking how as soon as the key is turned, off they go. It would be nice for them to linger a little longer.
Navigation system an option for Base and Limited, Standard on all H6 models. (After all, it is an adventurer's car)
Increased legroom up front, move pedals closer to the front of the car.
5AT with sportshift on H6 models
Split bench in the rear so one of the seatbacks can be folded totally flat while still carrying a passenger.
Increased legroom in the back. With the bench up and seatback down, front seats have to be moved forward, decreasing legroom in the front.
One large sunroof that extends over the back seat. Power sunshade so driver doesn't have to reach all the way to the back when the glass is closed.
Retained accessory power for closing sunroof, and windows. Add auto up and down for all door windows.
VTD should be standard on all Outbacks, VDC standard on the VDC Model, option on the LL Bean.
Increase towing capability.
Offer a turbo as an option on both the H4 and H6
Dual mufflers would look cool on the H6 models.
A keyless entry system whereby the owner would walk within 5 feet of the car and the driver's door would unlock and pop open. Keyless entry is only good if you have a hand free to operate the key fob. Give the rear gate the same feature, helps out when loading groceries, etc.
Optional off-road package that would include: metal skidplates on all exposed drivetrain components and engine, height adjustable suspension for up to 10 inches of clearance, dual range transfer case, the ability to lock the torque converter at a much lower rpm manually.
The OB needs a far shorter front overhang. This really counters the 7.9 inches of clearance.
Add a leather delete option, or make perforated leather standard.
Cooled seats should be made an option
Side mirror mounted turn signals
A 120V power outlet, greater than 120w
Optional DVD video entertainment system with screens mounted in the back of the front headreasts, and a video display in the navigation system screen. Make the DVD player standard with the navigation package.
The McIntosh audio system should be an option on the H6 Models.
Remove the boddy cladding from the H4 and H6 Models, make it standard on the Off Road edition. Make the front end more aggressive looking than the Legacy. Add a body cladding delete option on the Off Road edition. Make dent resistant, colour infused polymer body panels standard on the Off Road edition. This way, even deep scratches won't show too badly.
Make headlight wipers and washers standard on all Outbacks. (Snow vehicle after all)
Increase the exterior dimensions: 3-5 inches wider, 7-8 longer, and more headroom.
Offer a turbo diesel. Only of course if that can be done in an H6 design.
Keep the frameless windows - they offer a touch of class
Some interior plastics need to be of heavier duty. The plastic neer the seat belt buckle rest position just rear of the front door gets scratched way to easily. Also the plastic in the cargo compartment scratches to easily.
The OB is a *great* car, but needs to take more abuse without the worry associated with marking up a new car.
It looks like you don't want an Outback, i.e. Legacy wagon. You should probably just buy an Excursion or a Hummer. We should be encouraging Subaru to not sell out to the bigger, heavier, longer, wider, higher fuel consumption crowd. There are too many SUVs out there now, especially considering that statistics indicate that only about 5% of them are ever driven off of paved roads. And then, only about 5% of the time.
Cheers Pat.
Subaru, let the other companies built the luxury monsters. As the old Subaru tag line goes, keep the OB "Inexpensive and built to stay that way."
I'd like to see the optional adventure package that I mentioned way back in this thread and an H4 w/ LPT & 5EAT.
DaveM
-mike
Jim
-mike
- Gas filler on the left side
- Real window frames on the doors
- Less torque steer
- More rugged head/gasket design
- Gas filler on the left side - No way! There are fewer cars with it on the right which means it's easier for me to find an empty pump (at one-way gas stations)
- Real window frames on the doors - Here's one thing that I agree with sebberry: "Keep the frameless windows - they offer a touch of class"
- Less torque steer - Huh, torque steer on an AWD vehicle? Am I missing something?
- More rugged head/gasket design - Okay, I'll agree with this one. Although it's possible that Subaru could have already addressed this (It's not like they send out a press release stating that they now have a new and improved head gasket).
-Frank P.
Variable intermittent front and rear wipers. (and it's a coupe with a rear wiper)
Window Frames.
No head gasket problems.
-mike
I'm used to the no-frame windows and like them. The BMW M3 and the Porsche 911 use them, so it's fine as-is. The doors are lighter and easier to open, and they allow thin pillars for better visibility. Besides, they are a Subaru quirk.
-juice
-Frank P.
I'm sure Mike has one in his SVX. Afterall, it has everything else people are requesting. :-)
DaveM
In order to keeps costs in check, Subaru most likely decided not to re-engineer a left-side gas filler for LHD markets.
Bob
My point -- I don't think it's a big deal to the Japanese driver which side the gas lid is on. The service station takes care of it.
Ken
-Dave
-mike
-juice
But what do I know?
DaveM
Jon
But then again, if it's on the left, it's a shorter walk to the pump.... but that means less exercise, gain weight.....uggghhhhh.
Bob
-Dave
Bob
Well, suggestion(s) from left field is never right
-Dave
Milk bone anyone?
Jim
Actually, they could just use the same cryptic sizing scheme they do with women's clothes. "Oh, I take a size 2 seat".
I forget which comedian it was that pointed out how it's funny that men will wear jeans with the width and inseam still printed on the label.
Ken
We're going to have to start calling you "Legs! " I'm 5'9" and only have a 29" inseam.
"Torso Bob"
Don't get me wrong I still like the Outback's interior , better than the Forester really so far as all around style and comfort. Definitely better than many other compact suv's out there. I just think it's a little cramped for our use. More noticeable when there's someone other than me in the car. There seems to be a threshold for the size that it accomodates.
There's something about the legwell in the Outback where it's not that easy to shift positions, cross your legs, etc, (on the passengers side I mean I fit into it ok at 5'10 but my husband at 6'1" is somewhat squeezed. The Outback was definitely nicer for back seat passengers.
Maybe I should say there's more kneeroom in the Forester. We chose it over another Outback primarily for the height for cargo, and his head but I noticed that there's a sensation of more volume in the cabin. I think it's because the vertical lines of the Outback, the windshield especially, and the back window are more aerodynamically raked than those on the Forester.
There's pluses and minuses about either model. I wish there was a little more of the ergonomic quality I felt in the Outback but then I guess that's where you sacrifice space. I like the wiggle room in my Forester but I miss the seats in the Limited. The Outback fits like a stocking, the Forester more like a sock.
Bob
I was about to have the seat rails modified for more legroom, but after a 2500 Km trip, it is actually pretty good.
If I could make one suggestion about the setup, it would be to have the pedals about 2 inches closer to the front of the car, and maybe a telescopic steering wheel.
Other than that, I found the seating position to be more comfortable than the Accord, it makes me feel like I have more control of the car.
As for seat options, I would like to see things such as perforated seats and option as well as alternitave trim stiyles. I think the leather seats in the 2001 OB with their wrinkly texture are more classy than the flat 2003 seats. Oh well, now I am being picky.
I can get comfy in either Subie (Forester and Legacy), in fact I don't even need the seat all the way back.
-juice
Even if you "order" one, all they are doing is pulling one out of the stock at the factory, not actually building one for "you". That's kinda funny if you think they actually build "your" car if you factory order it ROFLMAO!
-mike
With some cars, Jeeps for example, the potential product combinations is beyond belief because of the amount of options and colors available. The factories build what sells to the masses. If you want a Jeep with a combination of oddball options, you will have to special order it.
So, yes I believe that, and you can laugh yourself silly if want.
Bob
I had a few friends who wanted 5 speed cherokees back in before the liberty came out. You know what happened? They couldn't get them because the factory didn't have any more 5 speed gearboxs and weren't building any more 5 speeds. So they couldn't order them. This wasn't at the end of the build year either. The factory simply said sorry, there are no more, even if you order it, it just won't get filled.
So I do believe that they don't build them specificly to you per-say, they build the most common ones based on research and previous years and then tweak the #s as they need to during the build year.
If they were built for each person who "ordered" one then there would be no need for "packages" you could buy each and every option stand alone, which I don't know of any manufacturer who lets you buy every option as a stand alone.
-mike
I was just going with the custom seat thread writing " order it " in the tone of "build your dream car" on the pricing sites. I don't think the dealer calls up Fuji heavy industries as a matter of course and says "make us another another one in red with an armrest .."
I do remember my mother ordering a Ford Galaxy convertible in lemon yellow with white leather seats, It cetainly took long enough to get that they would have had time to build it to order, I don't know. That was then, this is...
Instead of "built to order" or some such maybe it would be more accurate to say "slapped together "?
I will agree that about 95% of the vehicles sold are mass-ordered, not custom-ordered.
Bob
Of course as Bob said, the vast majority of vehicles are mass-produced (more like 99% though) but there are exceptions.
-Frank P.