Some time in a Subaru: my thoughts

[Brandon Gatz]

I've spent time in a lot of cars, but Subaru as never been among them. My company just landed me a new Subie for a month courtesy of Enterprise. It's a 2012 base Legacy with 16k mi, and for a car that's supposed to compete in the class of Accord and Camry, it's mildly disappointing.

-1's
1) Low rent interior. (2013 models appear to have undergone a complete redo though according to subaru.com pictures)
2) CVT is an unpleasant raspy shifting [censored].(Nissan is my CVT benchmark...they've perfected it) disclaimer: I prefer rowing my own gears if given the option.
3) Comfort is not terrible, but meh. Couldn't wait to escape after a 6hr journey.
4) Paddle shifting seems kind of a joke in this car, but I appreciate the effort. I tried to have fun in the twisties by paddle, but it just never happened. Also, paddles should be a fixed column mounted affair, not steering wheel mounted.
5) No temperature gauge???
6) Overall lack of personality.
7) Electric e-brake?? Seriously? Not only have I found it to engage on its own, but it takes twice as long to engage, disengage as a manual unit would. A case in over-complication for a very simple affair. Imagine the repair cost of this one unit.
8) Rain water seems to like to camp out on the rear glass, would be nice to have a wiper back yonder.

+1's
1) AWD was solid in 6" of snow.
2) Ample power in the base non aspirated boxer.
3) Top mounted oil filter!!
4) 28mpg.
5) Total of 3 power outlets are swell.

Unknowns:

Can't find the auxiliary jack.

I've always loved Subie wagons, but this subie has soured my opinion of the brand.

 

[The_Jeff]

Wow those MPG are good!

Coworker had a non-outback 1997 Legacy. Could tell it was their top of the line car and they weren't afraid to do it in what we'd consider a compact-to-midsize. Nice subtle interior details. Reminded me of a Toyota Cressida etc: forced to be small in their home country, made with quality instead of size.

Now a lot of these subarus are made in America next to Camrys and styled by committee.

The electric e-brake saves them a hole in the floor and having to route mechanical cables underneath. Probably someone came out with the actuator gizmo and presented it to the automakers who said, hey, sure! I agree, I can't wait for repairs on a seven year old rusted out one of those things.

 

[Shannow]

2 litre forrester auto at work is lucky to scrape together 21MPG (US), while struggling to get out of it's own way. (on 0W-20)

Pushing it through a sandy curve makes it go completely spastic with traction and stability control.

 

[PZR2874]

Wait, why should the paddles be on the column?

When you are going through sweeps,turns, etc.. you need to have both hands on the wheel anyways...

I heard the CVT is a deal breaker. And I've owned 4 Subies, looking at another.

 

[rjundi]

I concur like other car makers in an effort to make the Legacy/Outback bigger in the 2010+ generation put in a cheap interior.

Our smaller 05 Legacy GT(05-09 generation) has an audi inspired high quality interior with nice touch/feel. It holds up incredibly well after 8yrs/150k.

I got a Legacy with CVT as loaner during a warranty (TSB) repair 1.5 ago and did not mind the CVT for a mindless transmission. Their prior 4eat was nothing great either. The MPG was great at least with CVT.

 

[JHZR2]

Is the legacy interior different than the outback?

I almost bought a legacy gt turbo sedan back in 2004. Couldnt swallow the MPGs given my highway use, so I went for my saab, which turned out cheaper and MUCH better MPGs. But I recall the interior was really nice and comfortable. I didnt drive it 6 hours, but I did have it on a long test drive and it was great.

We have looked at the outback wagon at each year's auto show, as it is on our short list for a bigger vehicle, especially since it can be had with MT. I didnt find the low nap cloth or the super-integrated center controls any less or more offensive than a camry or similar appliance. In fact, the vendor is likely the same.

Paddle shifters or anything called "shifting" on a CVT is just stupid.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


Now a lot of these subarus are made in America next to Camrys and styled by committee.



All Outback and Legacy have been made in the US since its birth in 1989. All other Subaru including Impreza/Forester are still made in Japan. There is no real quality difference between them US vs Japan in materials, build and reliability.

 

[cathy]

thanks 4 the review, now I know why not many on the road

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Is the legacy interior different than the outback?



Same. The Outback is just a raised Legacy with slightly different styling with lessor handling and enough clearance to qualify it a light truck and avoid cafe.

My wife forgave the MPG(average 23) and smiles everytime she drives her 2005 Legacy turbo wagon with manual transmission(rare care <1000 made). She does not have a single complaint about her car except lack of AUX input for iPod and not easy to add one or replace radio.

 

[edwardh1]

be careful with the car, and enterprise. they have a long history of charging you for repairs/dents on the car when u turn it in, tho they dont even look at the cars when u check them out.
they have also been know to bill u for damage to a car u did not rent (someone elses rental)
And many enterprise locations are in shopping centers with no fenced area for their cars, increasing overnite damage risk that you get charged for

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

Paddle shifters or anything called "shifting" on a CVT is just stupid.

amen.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
Originally Posted By: JHZR2

Paddle shifters or anything called "shifting" on a CVT is just stupid.

amen.

I disagree, how else can you get the car to hold a ratio to drive the car with the throttle around a corner? In snow sometimes you want to chop the throttle to get the car to rotate then gas hard out.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
be careful with the car, and enterprise. they have a long history of charging you for repairs/dents on the car when u turn it in, tho they dont even look at the cars when u check them out.
they have also been know to bill u for damage to a car u did not rent (someone elses rental)
And many enterprise locations are in shopping centers with no fenced area for their cars, increasing overnite damage risk that you get charged for


x2. I rented from Enterprise once, and their employee wrote down "no damage" when I took delivery even though I spotted a couple of small dents right away. She almost acted disappointed that I insisted she write down those blemishes so they can't blame me when I return it.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
be careful with the car, and enterprise. they have a long history of charging you for repairs/dents on the car when u turn it in, tho they dont even look at the cars when u check them out.
they have also been know to bill u for damage to a car u did not rent (someone elses rental)
And many enterprise locations are in shopping centers with no fenced area for their cars, increasing overnite damage risk that you get charged for


While I agree that there is a damage risk if you drop a car off in the evening for turn-in the next day, my experience with Enterprise has been very different from what you are reporting. They have always been very thorough in pre-rental inspections with me. You have to initial the rental form with damages noted, so if the rental agency doesn't inspect the car first, with you being present, it's your own fault for signing damage to your name if it does exist. They've never accused me of damaging a car and I've never been billed for someone else's damage. I've rented from Enterprise for business and pleasure for going on 10 years now.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I disagree, how else can you get the car to hold a ratio to drive the car with the throttle around a corner? In snow sometimes you want to chop the throttle to get the car to rotate then gas hard out.


I agree with you. Any control I have over an automatic transmission is control that I appreciate. Even if I rarely need to or want to use it.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
be careful with the car, and enterprise. they have a long history of charging you for repairs/dents on the car when u turn it in, tho they dont even look at the cars when u check them out.
they have also been know to bill u for damage to a car u did not rent (someone elses rental)
And many enterprise locations are in shopping centers with no fenced area for their cars, increasing overnite damage risk that you get charged for


While I agree that there is a damage risk if you drop a car off in the evening for turn-in the next day, my experience with Enterprise has been very different from what you are reporting. They have always been very thorough in pre-rental inspections with me. You have to initial the rental form with damages noted, so if the rental agency doesn't inspect the car first, with you being present, it's your own fault for signing damage to your name if it does exist. They've never accused me of damaging a car and I've never been billed for someone else's damage. I've rented from Enterprise for business and pleasure for going on 10 years now.


I agree. While generally I find car rental agencies a bunch of thieves, especially the ones in Florida, I have found that Enterprise is more hands on than others. Of course they are trying to do an upsell, but the hands on yields a review with the agent. Ive not seen them playing tricks.

I have had issues with Thrifty, Budget and Dollar.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Enterprise rarely has the class of vehicle that I've reserved, and I've gotten a free upgrade nearly every time I've rented. I've driven to South Carolina in a Cadillac DeVille and in an F-150, to Virginia in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and to Maryland in a Dodge Journey and in a new (just 16 miles on it) Nissan Murano. All at "compact" class rates.

When our Honda was in the body shop, I voluntarily upgraded from a Hyundai Sonata to a Chrysler 300 for $6/day. But I went back the next day with buyer's remorse, fearing a long body shop stay and a tall upgrade bill, hoping to get back into a $30/day class. Instead of switching cars, Enterprise simply marked my 300 down to $30/day and let me keep it.

They are class acts in my book (and I've written positive reviews on them here before). In fact here it is:

Cheers to USAA and to Enterprise

 

[ARCOgraphite]

My wife likes suv with a MT, thats why we have an '11 subaru, and shes get over 30mpg summer and over 28 mpg winter with a 50/50 mix (2.3L FB dohc vvt engine - but she did as well with the '09 VTEC sohc 2.3L (until the valve guides started swallowing oil at 60K). My major complaint on the base '11 forester is the low seating position (and Im over 6') and a not too refined spring and shocks on the base X model) I do appreciate the top mounted oil filter as the previous engine design had the filter above a "hole" in the catcon metal heat shrouding under the car). As a comparison, my Honda fit only returns 34 mpg average with a MT and it weighs 800lbs less and is 2Fwd with a litre smaller engine! Honda should be ashamed.

 

[Brandon Gatz]

Originally Posted By: PZR2874
Wait, why should the paddles be on the column?



When driving through the mountain twisties, often two complete rotations of the steering wheel are required per turn, requiring one to hunt and reposition the hands to up or downshift if needed. A fixed paddle position would alleviate any repositioning of the hands, which is nearly impossible to do safely during a turn, just to shift.

 

[needsducktape]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
My wife likes suv with a MT, thats why we have an '11 subaru, and shes get over 30mpg summer and over 28 mpg winter with a 50/50 mix (2.3L FB dohc vvt engine - but she did as well with the '09 VTEC sohc 2.3L (until the valve guides started swallowing oil at 60K). My major complaint on the base '11 forester is the low seating position (and Im over 6') and a not too refined spring and shocks on the base X model) I do appreciate the top mounted oil filter as the previous engine design had the filter above a "hole" in the catcon metal heat shrouding under the car). As a comparison, my Honda fit only returns 34 mpg average with a MT and it weighs 800lbs less and is 2Fwd with a litre smaller engine! Honda should be ashamed.


I agree, while the Fit is a nice little appliance, you get so much more from the Subie with manual transmission. -I'm thankful they STILL MAKE MANUALS....

Its getting harder to find...