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The engine temperature in stop-and-go driving in the summer and highway driving in the winter vary widely, yet the temp gauge needle never moves from its designated "normal" position. Only if something goes wrong, will the needle move.
Bob
OTOH, if cost-cutting there means they DON'T have to cost-cut somewhere important, I'm all for it. Because I quite like the price I got, and I love driving my new OBS! :-)
I saw something in the manual for mine that talked about a computer that shows me average fuel consumption, next to the clock, but I guess my OBS doesn't have it? Because there is nothing next to the clock except the outside temp display. But now ateixeira has mentioned it also.
If there is something I have missed, and I have to turn on the fuel consumption readout or something, do tell because I would like to have such a function. But I have a feeling that is something else only WRX and Forester owners qualify for.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Probably for folks like us who insist on having a gauge. BTW, I heard this from someone who works for Subaru, that being that temp gauges are nothing but idiot lights in disguise.
Also the temp gauge is missing from all Legacys (L-GT too) and Outbacks for 2010.
Bob
I remember the 1995 Miata lost it's oil pressure gauge to a "dummy guage" that only read the lack or presence of pressure.
The analog gauge is therefore misleading, because it's all or nothing.
People had oil filters fail and the gauge did *not* reflect the unusually high pressure because remember it only measured the presence of SOME pressure.
Engines blew. People were miffed.
For that reason the 1994 and prior NA Miatas are actually often more desireable than the 1995-1997 models.
If we lost a dummy guage, we didn't actually lose anything at all.
The gauge gives the readout from the last time you reset your trip odometer, and will calculate tripA and tripB odometer mpg separately. When you are on main odometer or tripA, it gives the tripA mpg reading, and automatically switches to tripB reading, when that trip odometer is displayed.
No instantaneous economy readout available.
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2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
That'll probably add a couple thousand to my resale value...
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But I haven't bought a single new car this decade that didn't require visits to the service department immediately after purchase, so why should Subaru be any exception, eh? Hopefully this is the only defect that will surface and I will be back on the road and problem-free in a day or so.
The rental is an Accord LX, the new model. Nicest by far of the various midsize rentals I have driven recently, including Camry and the new Malibu.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
At the same time, it's a MUCH better highway cruiser in terms of ride. It's a win-win for me on the suspension side! :-)
In the negatives column, I will place these $0.49 plastic biscuits that Subaru apparently calls sunshades. When you put these things up, they hit the "headliner" (I use the term loosely) with such a thump it shakes the whole car. Before too long, I am sure I will bruise a knuckle on one of these things.
But with the understanding that every car under $30K makes tradeoffs in order to cost-cut, I am still satisfied with the cost-cutting choice this represents. Better to put it somewhere I won't see or touch very much, than to take dollars out of the engineering or out of materials in places where my hands and elbows will be all the time.
Have turned over my first 1000 miles now - can cut loose a bit more! :-)
'09 OBS
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
All of this is assuming dry pavement... In rain or snow, the tires suck so bad, you can't tell how the car handles...
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But hey, it's May! Summer's coming, and the roads where I live will now be dry for at least five solid months, enough to test the limits of the OBS some more. :-)
I find it intriguing that reports of braking for the 2.5i with rear drums range around 138 feet from 60-0, yet the one report I can find of a 2.5i Premium (tested by Edmunds in fact) with rear discs lists a distance of 122 feet. Can the discs really make that much difference? If so, it would affirm my previous vow not to ever buy another new car with rear drum brakes.
As for tires not sliding and rear ends not coming around, I have yet to even invoke the VDC - this makes me realize just how much of a wimp I really am, as I wouldn't want to be cornering any faster than I am anyway - I am already going much faster than all the other traffic! :-P
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Mostly, though, disc brakes cool down better than drums, so they'll fade less.
The stability control is really unobtrusive... it lets you get pretty loose before kicking in.. which is a good thing..
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The OBS uses a 17" rim, but they are still just V-rated Potenza RE92As, with the same width as the lower Imprezas use.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Alloys usually have bigger voids than steel wheels with wheel covers, so they actually can be better at cooling brakes, too.
Also, I noticed some rattling coming from somewhere on the inside of the car when driving...is this an issue?
Engine noise from inside of car seems to have a bass-type sound to it....anyone else notice this?
Noticed a lot of chips on hood. Does Subaru paint chip / rust easily?
I'm conflicted in whether to buy this car. 2009. approx 4500 miles on it for $17400 with automatic starter.
Thanks for help!
My advice is to buy new model and make sure the dealer services it for the first three years. There is a glut of 2009 Imprezas so the deal on a new one should be close to a used one.
Sol
DO you notice any rattling on the inside or loud engine noise?
Hope this helps you.
Subaru AWD is fantastic. Put decent tires on it, and an Impreza will take yu anywhere you need to go!
I prefer a new car and the dealer being on the hook. I recommend you shop a little harder and stick with a new car.
It was raining.
Guess which one she's driving now? 03 Forester and still loving it.
For occasional winter conditions, dedicated winter tires are difficult to justify.
That said, I have never owned a Subaru with winter tires. I always had all-season (four different types, including the Potenzas) tires and did just fine with them. However, the Potenzas were the worst of the bunch. The best? Goodyear Assurance Tripletred. Those tires were fantastic.
Really, it's criminal to put these crappy tires on an AWD car.. and, to top it off, they are lousy in the rain, as well.. It takes all the fun out of it..
Okay... rant over..
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I need to get to where I can say so much with so little. Well done.
With snow tires, mounted briefly, it was virtually unstoppable.
Caveat - snow tires were actually LESS FUN because it was much harder to begin a slide.
Intentionally, of course.
I find it intriguing that reports of braking for the 2.5i with rear drums range around 138 feet from 60-0, yet the one report I can find of a 2.5i Premium (tested by Edmunds in fact) with rear discs lists a distance of 122 feet. Can the discs really make that much difference? If so, it would affirm my previous vow not to ever buy another new car with rear drum brakes.
=====================
There are 2 primary factors that aid braking performance:
a) Disc vs Drum brakes: Essentially the efficiency of brakes are dpendent on transferring the frictional energy (during the braking process), into heat energy and dissipating that heat into the atmosphere. The quicker the brakes can dissipate that heat, the longer it retains braking effectiveness. If the heat dissipation capability of the brakes is not very efficient, over time (or during repeated brakings) the heat builds up and you lose braking effectiveness. Disc brakes and well designed drum brakes (especially when the drums are in the less stressed rear of the car) will stop the car, roughly equally, during the first stop. But after that, the Discs (due to their design) are MUCH better at dissipating that heat from braking, into the atmosphere and the follow-on brakings are much better with disc brakes. So if I have a choice, I will go with disc brakes all around.
b) Tires: These are an often ignored part of the braking process. A tire with very little grip, will of course not brake as well as tires that can grip better. Tires work hand-in-hand with the brakes in stopping the car. Many a time, dramatic braking improvements can be seen when the OEM tires are replaced with grippier tires (with a proportional hit on MPG :shades: ).
I'm loving my OBS so far. It's the perfect road trip car for two or three people, spacewise and powerwise. It's so much fun to drive and no matter how you throw it around it just seems to go right on sticking to the pavement like glue. :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Are there not side air bags in the seats? Check your owner's manual. Covering up air bags could result in disaster.
We talked about it a bit and she thinks the Forester is more approriately sized for her needs, but it was the styling that drew her to the sedan, interestingly.
While it was in large part the interior improvements that motivated me to buy my second-ever OBS this year, the much-improved exterior styling had something to do with it too. :-)
One improvement I would like to see: all the other Subaru models with this powertrain are PZEV-rated, but Subaru doesn't go the distance to achieve the same rating with the Impreza. They ought to get that done. In the Impreza it is only LEV-rated? (or average to above-average emissions, in other words)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I am having some concerns over a vibration that is coming, I think, from the engine. At happens between 1500 and 2000 RPM. It mostly happens after I try to accelerate after driving at about 35 mph for a short while but has happened at higher speeds. It acts as if it should be downshifting from 3rd or 4th but seems stuck and I get a real nasty vibrating noise. It’s like up-shifting a standard car too soon or not downshifting for more power. From inside the car, it sounds like I have one of those mufflers attatchments that kids put on their cars to make them sound like a V8. Eventually the car will go strait to passing gear at about 40 or so.
I am going to call the dealer and have them look at it.
In the meantime, has anyone else experienced anything like this? I was really surprised by how loud it can be at times since Subaru made changes to reduce engine vibration.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
I am not a fan in general of added junk to do what the driver should be able to do themself, but this one is really a convenience and never hangs me up.
I am more in love with my new OBS now than 6 months ago when I bought it. :-) For me, that's really saying something, as I am always on the lookout for my next new car.
I would be curious to know if anyone out there has taken a non-WRX Impreza, and added the rear sway from the WRX. If so, did you need to change out any of the rest of the suspension or the front sway, and did the dealer make a fuss about it for any reason?
Oh, and marti875: nope, no weird vibrations in mine like the ones you describe. But mine is not an automatic, and it sounds like yours should be downshifting and isn't?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
27.5 is my latest single tank reading - filled up today. After my disappointing results recently, I decided what the hey, I would stop focusing so much on saving gas and start having more fun with the car (!!), and I was surprised to find that the fuel economy reading dropped very little.
For the first 5000 miles I have averaged 28 mpg right on the nose.
'09 OBS 5-speed.
Oops! Wrong thread; consider this one answered!
Yes! I am leasing a 5-door Impreza that I got only 3 months ago and it also rattles going into 3rd gear. Most of the time this happens while going up hill or accelerating on an on-ramp. It's as if the car shifts too soon into 3rd and the car makes a low rattle and there is no power. If I give it more gas it'll downshift and be fine.
My old car was a stick and it sounds and feels just like it did when I would be in too high of a gear.
Any way to fix this problem? I may take it back to the dealership to see what they say.
Oh, another problem I have is that the interior rattles in different spots when I go over bumps. Like the driver door handle and left pillar by the windshield. It's really annoying. I'm starting to think Subarus are low quality (this is my first).
If anyone has any advice....thanks.