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I had my first on-the-road B9 Tribeca sighting Sunday in downtown Everett, WA. Gotta admit it looks VERY sharp/sophisticated/sexy in black, but with our rainy weather it'd be the last color I'd order. Even in the summer you probably couldn't go more than a week without needing a wash, and in the other seasons... well I suppose you could put on your raincoat, squirt a little soap onto your car and just leave it out for mother nature to take care of the rest.
Earlier I had taken the wife for a drive-by of the nearest dealer (though I'd not buy there) to get her feedback on the exterior. She likes the shape but I got the official thumbs down on the Seacrest Green and she called the Mahogany Red "gross". *shrug* It's certainly interesting, though. Neither of us are fond of white, and I worry about the silver with grey interior feeling cold, so I guess when our time comes it'll most likely be the lovely Atlantic Blue Pearl, probably with the beige interior.
I read your review on ePinions.com... nice work. The other two reviews were pretty harsh in evaluating Tribeca's looks & roominess, so it was good to see the score jump up a bit after your input. I think some people are just expecting it to be a much larger vehicle.
Let's go, all you lucky new B9 Tribeca owners. Post your review and let all those potential buyers know what a great Subaru this is.
http://www.epinions.com/2006_Subaru_B9_Tribeca
-Karen in AZ-
Reviews Links: http://members.cox.net/kamartin/2006b9tribeca.html
The problem is not that Subies without trailer brakes can't tow, but they may have problems stopping, especially in a hurry if need be.
Frankly I think there should be a law requiring that this kind of information be disclosed whenever and wherever a carmaker discusses and/or promotes their towing ability. If you go to any of the Subaru websites for models sold overseas, that information is clearly available on the web site (and brochures too!). Too many times people buy vehicles, expecting to tow the advertised weight, only to discover after they've purchased the vehicle, that there are these brake restrictions. They may already have an unbraked trailer (like you), and now they're caught between a rock and a hard place.
Bob
My Forester has 7.5" and even on 225mm wide tires and a comparatively primitive viscous coupling AWD it did just fine on several occasions.
Air down to 18psi or so and then rule #1 is drive smoothly. No sharp turns, no sudden accelerating and no sudden braking, which only dig into the sand. Try to drive in the "lanes" if they're already there, and do not stop on soft sand. Avoid climbing dunes because it doesn't have a low range and the angles of approach/departure are not ideal, plus you don't have true skid plates.
But for casual driving on sand, you should be fine.
-juice
Thanks.
I would assume they mean 91 octane gas.
Bob
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_27/b3941123_mz070.htm
We were impressed with the handling and responsiveness of this heavy and tall vehicle. We are admitted SUV haters-more for the ridiculousness 5000 lb+ vehicles with rarely more than 2 folks on board-also that high seating position is more truthfully defined as having a great view of the road the SUV is handling so poorly on. We did not feel that tippy unconnected feeling with the Tribeca- actually handles like a sports sedan.
Interior is great-attractive and intuitive. Seats are comfortable but not quite up to Volvo standards. I actually don't have a prob with the exterior styling -like most folks have noted it is far less bold when seen in person- a little busy butt though.
We are looking at Volvo V70R or lesser models, as well as Subaru Legacy GT/i wagon but they seem just a tad bit larger than our existing WRX-the MDX/Pilot and RX330/Highlander just don't seem to have the cool- fun to drive factor. It is hard for us to make the jump to what is a much larger vehicle that we are use to, but really like the comfort level/flexibility this size provides.
Also do agree the color combos and no avail NAV with the 5 seater is bunk. We do not need the almost worthless third row.
Any real world mileage now that folks have had them a month or so? Problems, Dissapointments? sorry for the long thread but wanted to chime in.
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks
I too will never use the 3rd row. In fact I bought the 5 passenger tray for the back. That said I like the few extra features the 7 gives me.
All in all I am very satisfied with my first 1,500 miles.
Then I find out there was a manufac/vender problem with the beige leather causing at least a 3 month delay on ordering any new Tribeca in any color i believe with beige leather. I had to find one in a dealership far away and arrange to have them trade it with my dealer for another with same exact everything just diff ext. color.
Sorry If I missed it somehow but I haven't seen any mention of the puddle lights or the problem delay with getting beige leather.
Randy
it is great looking !!!!!!!!! I saw so many Muranos in NYC, i would think if subaru advertises well in the city, they can grab some of the market share.
Swanky, eh? It is a polarizing look, you either love it or hate it.
tsporty: I tracked mileage reports for a while and half were over 20, the other half below. Since then it seems we've heard more 20+ reports.
-juice
There is not an issue with the Beige Leather supplier. The Gray Leather is supplied by the same company also. Someone at the dealer is feeding you a line about the 3 months delay for Beige Leather. We are building Beige Leather everyday without exception.
1) I would not get the 1.9 percent financing I have on my present Outback.
2) Would only get in trade around 22,000 (actually, that is not too bad--I paid 26k six months ago) & not a bad "hit" for having a vehicle for 6 months & putting on that kind of mileage.
3) However, to get the limited version 5 passenger seems like I would have to spend more like 32 or 33, or kick in at least 10 grand to upgrade to this vehicle.
4) What happened to the large sunroof like I have in Outback? That is almost like having a convertible! With Tribeca, back to a small roof again.
5) Concerned about gas mileage & whether or not it will run ok on 87 octane. From what I gather, premium fuel "recommended" for the vehicle, not "required" as it is with the turbo. Real world gas mileage with premium I assume will be close to sticker, so I assume would get around 23 with a lot of highway driving. My present Outback rarely ever gets below 23 around town and have approached 29 to 30 for a lot of highway driving (gas mileage has steadily improved since I got the vehicle)
6) It doesn't seem that the Tribeca is that much larger than the Outback, the exception being the second row seating. I have read that in three seat versions the second seat will slide back & forth several inches, but not sure it will do that in a five passenger.
7) Got a good deal on extended warranty (5 years, 100,000 miles) -0- deductible on present outback (cost $900) so I would lose that if I traded in the vehicle.
Just putting some thoughts down in writing. My Subaru dealer in Pawtucket, RI (Capitol) went out of business two weeks ago so tried a new one in Somerset, MA> Very pleasant to deal with & actually not much further from my home than Capitol was.
Steve, Host
I agree that it is not the optimum time for you to trade in the Outback, and if I were you, I would hold onto it because you have a GREAT vehicle. If you did decide to swap it out for a Tribeca, you would not necessarily lose out on your extended warranty. They are transferrable. Just negotiate your best deal without the new dealership knowing about the extended plan, then demand an additional $750 or so off to compensate you for the residual coverage you would transfer to the new owner of the vehicle.
I love my new Tribeca, and as I said before, we are ordering a second one for my wife. I believe Subaru will decide to put a turbo-charged engine in the B9 with the next revision of the model, and I do not think that will be the answer to the poor low-end-torque problem. By the time the address the issue with a larger displacement engine, both my wife and I will be ready for new Tribecas.
Randy
Regardless I found one with everything I want with exception of having DVD which I didn't need to add to the price. He is giving me a discount for my trouble which almost equals the additional cost of the dvd and I will hopefully recoup the rest by getting a little more for my trade in. I am now actually glad it worked out this way as I am excited about the 9" dvd screen, wireless headsets and the fact that it has aud/vid inputs for a game system and hopefully for my portable mp3 player to play through car stereo as i have a line out to left and right audio (red & white) cord. otherwise you have to get a dual sided line in/out cord and hope you can access back of the stereo and that it has one.
Also, I have heard that the dvd plays on the 7"? nav screen in addition to the usual screen when you are parked. That sounds logical but not all that common. Can anyone verify it does this.
I'm also excited for the puddle lights as i'm a sucker for bluish white lights which reminds me can you replace the head lights with HID/Xenon headlights? What about the tail lights turn signal bulbs, are they orange bulbs in white glass or just tinted orange glass because I put in white rear turn signal bulbs in my pathfinder and it created a nicer look. With all the cool styiling affects and basically everything i'm looking for in a suv why didn't they use the more trendy nice looking white tail lights that a lot of cars are using now. MDX, RX 330/400h, Prius and many others that are using the clear whited out/silver tail lights instead of the ugly red and orange.
Thanks for your reply. I understand that there is increased braking distance... that goes with or without trailer brakes. My problem is two fold, first will I damage the B9 towing 2500lbs max without trailer brakes and second that this information was not specifically brought to my attention by either Subaru or any of the 6 dealers I spoke with. I agree with you, there should be a consumer protection law, I suspect that there already is and that this skirts the line back and forth. I may write a letter to Subaru, still steaming about this one. The whole thing smells like a legal cya and that it has nothing to do with the vehicle specs.
Otherwise, my whole family and I absolutely love the B9. What a great job they did. They should have put the outside temp info in the mirror option though.
Thanks again. Steve
What I have found is that most dealers don't have a clue about trailering, or about this trailer brake restriction, which applies to the vehicles they are selling. I can't tell you how many times I mentioned this to a car salesman, and that they were completely ignorant of this restriction. Even many sales people who actually tow themselves, weren't aware of it.
Even more surprising is that most sales people whom I have spoken to—who work at trailer dealers, weren't aware that vehicle manufacturers have trailer brake restrictions! Yes, they knew about state and local trailer laws, but not about vehicle restrictions. Frankly, I find that—not only incredible—but unacceptable. I even wrote my local newspaper (The Baltimore Sun) about this, hoping to get my letter published, thus hopefully generating some interest from state legislators, but no such luck...
My words of advice to anybody who is buying vehicle, and who plans to tow a trailer: Demand that you see the owners manual of any vehicle you are considering BEFORE you purchase the vehicle. Check out the section in there about towing trailers to see what sort of restrictions there are. I can't stress this enough.
Bob
Michael
low scores for seating comfort in the second and third rows
Yet another editor that probably couldn't figure out the release button so that the 2nd row moves all the way back.
the flat-six engine sounds and feels like it's working hard to keep up
Harder than the 185hp Rendezvous? Puh-lease. Go drive one, the engine sounds like a blender with nuts and bolts in it.
Spotted an Atlantic Blue one drive on Seven Locks Rd yesterday, looked pretty good. :-)
-juice
I thought I had read through most of the posts so sorry I didn't see anything about hooking up portable mp3 player through DVD but I guess I will search through to find it though in the meantime you could have just answered if I was right that you use a line out/in cord in your portable mp3 player (iriver H320 in my case) to left and right audio (red & white) into those inputs in the dvd player. Those inputs are in the ceiling mounted screen console right? Then the cord would hang down though I guess? I have a cord/cable like this so that would be easy for me. If not i've heard that most newer car stereos have some type of inputs in the back of the stereo if you can access it which isn't always easy. And now some cars have a line in/out input in the glove box or somewhere but I dont think I have a dual ended line in/out cord and I imagine the sound is better with line out to left and right (red white) audio anwyay.
Also, thankyou for verifying about dvd playing on nav screen in park. interesting you have to use the parking brake in addition to being in park and also have to press and hold an audio button which I guess I will find. But with those 2 additional steps I bet a lot of ppl wont know you can do that. You didn't say but I assume it still also plays on the main 9" screen simultaneously?
To the two pps post after photguys regarding the beige leather dilemna, Maybe it is just unavailable on the white 5 passenger or not listed in brochure maybe its not an option on any version white the way grey isn't an option on the gold who knows. All I know is that my contact said it would be at least a 3 month delay in ordering a new 7 passenger limited with puddle lights in white with beige leather and he stated that the "vender" was having a problem/delay with the beige leather. Thats all i know I took his word for it and then located one with everything I wanted at another dealer.
Yours might be different, so read the fine print....just a thought...
-Karen in AZ-
I'm sure they will have updates out periodically. Lexus charges $250 (retail) for their updates, for instance, and some of those new cars are being delivered with outdated maps as well.
Check the Nav topic for more details.
-juice
what is the belkin or monster adapter/charger? that you say you get more volume then through direct connection. Isn't the charger just that, how do you get sound on the stereo from teh charger? dont you still have to be connected to the aux audio inputs behind second row?
my line out to left right audio cord is short so I will have to get an extension or a longer one for my iRiver H320 which by the way views pictures and with the korean firmware video too. What cord/cable exactly do you recommend? although ipod may be different. does ipod even have a line out port because i know most portable mp3 players don't
My family has towed boats for years, with small cars, compact trucks, and minivans (back then, those vehicles had lousy brakes compared to what we have now). None had trailer brakes. In fact, my dad used to sell boats and trailers, and none of them even offered brakes as an option. It would be one more part that failed due to getting submerged when launching.
I would not hesistate to tow a small- to medium-sized boat with my Outback or a Tribeca. If anything, these vehicles would be better for towing and far safer than my previous tow vehicles. In fact, I hope to buy a boat in the next couple years and the only thing I am going to worry about is installing a hitch before then!
Steve, I'd say to take the trailer out for a tow and get a feel for how the Tribeca handles and brakes. I am guessing it won't be much, if any, different than your previous tow vehicle.
Craig
Interesting thought, never considered that. Then again I've never owned a boat personally. Dad did, though.
-juice
I spoke to the dealer about it today. He spoke to the Subaru trainer who said something similar to what you wrote previously, that many, maybe all, tow vehicles carry this warning. he said that I should not worry about it that I could pull my trailer and that he pulled his trailer which is like mine. The disappointing thing is that they print that warning, clearly an attempt to limit their liability.
Shame on you Subaru for following the rest of the pack and not marching to the tune of your own music like you have in so many other instances.
A disenfranchised repeat customer, 6th Subaru.
It's sad, but we live in a litigous society. For example, a Suburban drive is suing Chevrolet because he ran over his own toddler because he could not see over the tall hood. Is it Chevy's fault, really? For a tall hood that was clearly there all along?
Who was supervising the toddler? Why didn't he look *before* he got in the car.
Welcome to America. World Capital of the Legal Disclaimer.
-juice
GM full-size pickups (all): 2000
Old small Blazer: 1000
New Traiblazer: 1500
Toyota trucks & SUVs (all): 1000
Nissan trucks & SUVs (all) 1000
Jeeps: 1000
Ford trucks & SUVs (all): recommend brakes on all trailers
Land Rovers: 1650 (IIRC)
Dodge trucks & SUVs (all): 1000
Honda Pilot/Ridgeline/CRV: 1000
So you see, it's a pretty common practice; and again, this is all in the owners manual.
Bob
Thanks for the post. You are correct and I will proceed with plan A. I am going to hook her up this weekend for a test drive. I only tow 6-7 times a year, including the return trips.
Steve
How and where did you get all that information... lol. Thank you for showing me. I never noticed the restriction in my Jeep GC and never worried about it. I am in the security business and try to pay close attention to mfg specs in my system designs. So... I read the book when I got my new B9. I want to do what is right.
I will hook it up this weekend for a test drive.
Thanks,
Stecve
The only quibble I have with this statement is that many drivers don't have a clue either. A cursory check of trailers will turn up way too many people driving with the wrong size ball on the hitch, undersized hitches, no safety chains or incorrectly placed chains, inadequate light wiring, under-inflated tires and bearing that haven't been repacked for years, homemade sideboards on utility trailers that are rotten, firewood trailers that are grossly overloaded, uncovered loads, etc.
Frankly I think you should be required to have a restricted license or endorsement of some sort before you are permitted to pull a trailer.
Don't forget the Crew chat that starts in half an hour.
Steve, Host
The problem is not the idiots... an up front accurate disclaimer would have worked well... trailer brakes for trailers over 2500lbs or whatever, for example. Now I, and apparantly many others, are out there towing trailers without knowing (or maybe even caring about) the real tow specs of the vehicle.
Litigous society, that is our own fault for having the lawyers make the laws and not putting limits and accountability for all parties into the legal system. I guess that would be in a different forum though.
Steve