Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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1) You are correct on cruise control surging on downhill. Does it all the time
2) You are right about glove box not shutting if anything touching door
3) No room under front seats for storing anything
4) Center armrest way too low, although I am starting to get used to it (accumulating Subaru bucks at a rapid pace & may get extension for armrest for
$150 from dealer)
5) Mostly highway mileage & gas mileage improving as weather improves. Last trip averaged a little over 29. Mileage as indicated on trip computer consistently about 1 to 1.5 miles over actual
6) Acceleration about what I expected. Had I drive the H6 or Turbo would probably have gotten one but I don't really need it, have to pay for own gas for work & like getting decent gas mileage plus not having to put in premium which seems to be required for turbo & at least recommended for the H6,
7) The configuration of dome lights could be improved. Not enough in front area
8) ACC & heat both work very well but difficult to control heat in extremely cold weather plus windows on this vehicle have tendency to fog up much more frequently than any other vehicle I have had.
While I have everyone's attention, how necessary is the 15k checkup the dealer wants me to perform, suggesting I need that to maintain extended warranty. I religiously change oil every 3000 miles (part of deal with dealer (Capitol in Pawtucket, RI) is free oil changes for one year) Even if I had to pay that is something I have always done. Rotating tires on my own so don't need that. Dealer wants $100 for this service. but other than changing oil, rotating tires, not sure what else they do that warrants this charge. I figured I would be ok just changing oil & rotating tires until 30,000 miles. I see that plugs are recommended at 30,000 miles. Why so often? Any feedback on services others are doing would be appreciated.
great cars. Regarding the spark plugs, they just happen to be ones Subaru uses.
I would ask the service department if you could put platinum tip or another longer lasting type, though that may affect the tune up schedule.
Anyone have a fix for this? Is the radio reception/antenna adjustable at all? I was hoping to do this myself to save a minimum half day trip to the dealership just to find out that I can't do anything about it. Seems in the old days there was a bit of tuning one could do at either end of the system to improve reception. Man, I hope so because the AM sucks.
Shop for a price for the car. Then negotiate an interest rate. After that, you can calculate a fair price by yourself. Use Excel, it has PMT() functions for that.
-juice
A Legacy GT can be had for around $1000 under invoice. Invoice (no options) is around $28.5k. Sticker is around $30.5. There is a $1500 rebate - but it might be regional and not apply in your area.
My local dealer wanted me to pay sticker. The same dealer who I have purchased 3 other Subarus, and blessed them with all my maintenance and repairs. I walked away, and found another dealer under an hour from my home, located outside of metro Boston. Within 2 hours, we negotiated a deal, on a car with the color and options I wanted, AND the price I wanted.
I did my research, knew the numbers for the car, trade, rebate, downpayment and interest rate. I stuck to the numbers I wanted.
The best part of the story? My local dealer called a week later, wanting to know how my car search was going. Good Luck! Rob M.
-juice
Dealers operate independent of SOA. SOA has limited control of the dealer. If you are not at the least comfortable with the dealer, maybe a BMW is in your future.
My approach was simple. I went in armed with numbers, but never disclosed anything until the negotiation got serious. Talk to the sales manager or financial person directly. The sales person is limited in authorizing sales.
I asked for their best price on first the car, and second the trade. Then politely said no to thier numbers. On the second counter offer, said no. I then took their paper and wrote in my own numbers. They were shocked, and said it couldn't be done. I thanked them for their time, and after some consideration, they said yes.
Again, timing was the factor. It was Sunday. It was raining. I was trading a Subaru. Nearing the end of the month.
As for options, I found the 05 Legacy GT LTD to be well accessorized to start with. I optioned for the upgraded security system and subwoofer. I will be getting the auto dimming mirror this weekend. General consensus is that the factory spoiler is ugly. I have a JDM STI trunk lip spoiler on order. Good Luck! Rob M.
My local credit union beat anything they could offer by a full point. Capital One was 5.75, Credit Union was 4.75, Subaru Dealer would match lowest with Chase Automotive if I opted with the $1500 rebate back in May. I ended up with the $500 rebate and 2.9 financing through Chase. Rob M.
I'd likely buy it from the other dealer, in Utah. I bought my XT Ltd in Seattle, even though I live in Portland. The local dealers are still happy to take my money for service.
Good luck.
Doug
Disregarding customer rebates, what kind of pricing can you expect to get on a 2005 Subaru Limited with Auto? Is $1500 less than invoice reasonsable considering the imminent changeover to 2006 models?
Right now I'm only being offered invoice and I am tempted to wait and just get a 2006.
Jack
I qualified for IMBA VIP, but chose to negotiate straight out on my GT LTD instead. All said and done, I came in over $1000 under invoice and qualified for 2.9% financing.
The deals are out there - depends on how motivated the dealer is to move the vehicle. Rob M.
Based on past experience with my 99 GT sedan at 125k, I replaced one set of tires @40k and one full set of brakes (rotors, pads, etc) at 80k. Tires were around $600 and brakes $700. I wasn't hard on the car, but didn't exactly baby it all the time either. I also do a lot of highway driving.
That's all I did to the car besides normal maintenance. I expect the same with the 05 GT.
First thing to go on the new LGT will be the tires. I hated the RE92's on the 99 GT. The gave me all kinds of grief in wet weather. The potenza's on my 03 Outback are starting to act up at 18k. Rob M.
We went looking and driving a 2005 Legacy 2.5i today. Dealer offered invoice plus $1500 rebate.
Can we do better?
Are there any Subaru to dealer cash incentives that might lower our price?
Thanks!
bring it down another 500$, if you can.
the key. most cars even my wife's hyundai does these basic things for thousands
less.
He probably means being able to unlock all the doors using the key in the lock as opposed to the remote.
Found a decent site with instructions:
http://www.ehow.com/how_107_replace-windshield-wiper.html
-juice
They were so bad in the snow that I thought I was driving a rear-wheel car instead of a Subaru. I live north of Pittsburgh, so our winters are probably similar. I assume it's the tread design, but whatever the reason, these tires were terrible. I almost slid off the road on several occasions and in conditions that I wouldn't have thought twice about with the OE tires.
I put Michelin Pilots on a 2000 OB LTD a few years ago. I was very pleased with them and would buy them again.
Since the Key-fob only lasts about 2 years before breaking, how can they be so stupid not to let the key open the door.
I also don't like the lack of storage space, the Integrated Radio, the gawd-awful faux wood trim or the silvery-plastic dash panels (I believe this was started by Nissan/Infinity and is now seen on all Japanese cars).
You'd think that Subaru would learn that the demographic they appeal to may appreciate a well thought-out car, with some room for customization. Instead they keep trying to build a one-size fits all car - and loosing useful features in the process.
I think I'll get a 2006 XT and take it to the Pimp my Ride guys for a work-over
Also seemed to work better when the outside temp was lower. We were driving through New Mexico and morning temps were around 70-75. When temp got above 95 the symptoms seemed to be a lot worse.
I also experience the downhill chugging just as you start down a hill. Pretty unnerving.
I think both of these have to do with the new electronic throttle that the dealer was "so" proud of. No more mechanical linkage with the gas pedal.
The single key eliminates additional places for easy break-in. Note how many trunks with keys have an armored plate added!
With Subaru's low production volumes, one size must fit all.
1) I have never had a radio stolen of any kind and I have had many aftermarket stereos. I do detach the faceplates or use other similar built-in security features.
2) I have never seen an armored plate for a trunk nor has my trunk ever been broken into.
therefore to me it's easy to agree with the original notion that the climate-control integrated radio is evil. it is one of the reasons, a smaller one though for sure, that I don't own 2005 Legacy GT.
~Colin
The intergrated radio is done because it's part of the design element. Could you imagine a DIN sized plate breaking up the flow of the dashboard?
Incredible difference in ride comfort..great handing in rain. No problem in snow so far last winter...but did not drive in anything more than 6'' deep.
These tires work just fine for me....good luck.
Doug
P.S. see any tire reviews on Tirerack.com
Not necessarily so.
Service intervals are now part of marketing, everyone wants to sell you a car you don't have to do a thing to for 100,000 miles. And if you follow their advice, that's what you'll get, a car that may last 100k and that's all.
OTOH, if you do proper maintenance it'll likely run twice that.
I'm talking about items like replacing ATF (for ex., VW/Audi says it's "Lifetime", in reality change every 40k if you want the car to last), same with power steering fluid ("lifetime"? No, change at 60k), coolant, etc.
There is no free lunch, manufacturers want to be sure the car will live through the warranty period, and 100k is nice but they want you back to buy another car, not to drive the one you have for 150-250k miles.
i am surprised how they managed to do this & yet reduced 200lbs in curb wieght. also, we can feel the alumn. alloy wheels being lighter.
anyone else felt this way ?
One is found in the owner's manual. This is the manufacturer's recommended basic maintenance schedule.
The other is used by the dealer. It is the manufacturer's extreme condition maintenance schedule. Basically, all the intervals are halved. Your 30k service becomes your 15k service, etc ....
The bigger questions. Do any of our vehicles truely fall under the 'extreme condition' guideline? Is there any added value to overmaintaining a vehicle? Will a dealer be more inclined to help someone out when there is an issue outside the warrantee period? Does overmaintenance give you points here?
Remember, service = profit for the dealer, and the consumer bears the cost. Rob M.
But I have found that by doing all my service at the dealer gets me plenty of leeway. They've gone to bat for me with Honda regional or just taken care of little things without charging me - even out of warranty items. I ensure the service writer gets an "excellent" when the surveys come and talk to them if I have a problem instead of "getting even" on the survey. I write an occassional letter to the owner praising them and they take care of me. My experience has shown that overmaintaining and being nice works.
Now YMMV.
I send mine references, he takes good care of me.
-juice
Most dealers I've been to allow you to pick and choose the items you want. You can save quite a bit of money by doing some of the basics yourself and knowing your driving conditions.
There are many basic service items that can easily performed by the owner such as checking headlight and wiper operation, basic fluid checks and tire pressure. These really should be done on a regular basis by the owner.
Other items like oil/filter changes, belts, spark plugs and other more invovled service require a little more judgement. For example, the maintenance schedule calls for a timing belt replacement at 120K miles. Many dealers will schedule this at 80K miles or less. Since a broken belt can be catastrophic, one could chose to have it replaced at 105K miles instead to still have a margin of safety.
So, while post-sales services are a good source of revenue for dealers, I don't think it's a rip-off unless the dealer demands that you do everything they ask for.
Ken
With 2 Subarus in my house, and driving 30k a year, I spend a few $$ on maintenance. I typically send all my business to my local dealer. Yes juice, that relationship thing has definitely worked in my favor in the past.
As a side note, I typically adhere to the severe maintenance schedule. I consider it cheap insurance.
But, based on past experience, I am a bit wary of what is 'required' vs what the dealer wants to do. Case in point: a dealer wanted to change the transmission fluid at the15k service on my 2 yo Outback. Stated that if I didn't want warrantee issues down the road, it would be in my 'best interest' to do this. I said I'd take my chances, and wait until the 30k service.
However, because I live on these boards, and consider myself to be educated in the subject of Subaru, I know what is/is not appropriate for maintenance service. Your typical person on the street probably would not, and is paying for services that may not be really necessary. Rob M.