Some time in a Subaru: my thoughts

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: 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...


I shed a tear for my 2005 Forester XT everytime I see a red one go down the road.

-stuck with automatic only wife

 

[oilmaven]

I've gotten used to the CVT in my Kizashi. Frankly, it has a "lug" during mild acceleration...was told that Suzuki tuned it that way to protect the transmission (it's a 180 hp 4 cyl...how much torque are we talking here?). Other than that...and once over 30 mph or so it's very smooth and responsive. What most impresses me is the mileage with this car. My last trip "down state" in a blizzard yielded 31 mpg...I've seen as high as 35 mpg in the summer...not bad for AWD (which works great btw...and is defeatable to FWD with a dash-mounted switch when not needed). Pity they stopped selling them...it's by far the best vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[Brandon Gatz]

8 days now with the Subie, and she's really growing on me.

Pet Peev #1: The doors never want to close on the first try, wth? I know it's just a matter of reprogramming my brain to use extra force, but after a week, I still find myself reminded that the door is not completely seated when 15ft away from the car and I'm hitting the keyfob lock. This happens at least 4 times daily. Why this thing takes twice the swing force of my '95 F150 to completely seat the door is baffling.

29.5mpg average over 1500mi in 8 days.

Laying into the pedal at 60 to pass or to make an evasive maneuver will take the revs from 2k to redline in a second, but then will take 15 seconds to get back to 2k revs. Stupid CVT programming.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: gr8gatzby


+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.



gr8, your insight is appreciated here, but your review has some problems. There's no such thing as a 2012 Legacy with a top mounted oil filter. Legacys didn't get the FB series engine until 2013, unless you've got some super secret early factory release rental version that no one else can get.

There's BIG differences between 2012's and 2013's, powertrain, suspension, cosmetics, etc...

 

[Brandon Gatz]

According to the Enterprise key fob, it is indeed a 2013 model. Though the interior does not resemble the pictures on subaru.com, all signs point to it being a '13.

Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

More observations:

1) rear windows go all the way down. i mean ALL THE WAY. The only brand on the planet with this awesomeness?

2) i loathe stomping the pedal to pass or to blaze through a yellow light. she revs so high for so long afterwards I've finally put the paddle shifters to good use to bring the revs back down to earth in a timely manner.

 

[Brandon Gatz]

30 days and nearly 5000 miles.

1) Paddle shifting is a necessity for evasive maneuvering, passing, or if you just feel the sudden need for speed. Unless you like driving at 70mph in the CVT equivalent of 2nd gear for long stretches.

2) Comfort is ho-hum. No comfy left arm placement especially. Tempted to install one of those foot long gellish palm rests.

3) 30.3mpg

 

[SLCraig]

There is nothing I like from them anymore either. I think the Legacy looks bloated, and I was in a recent Impreza hatch, and I felt zero reason to buy the car after driving it. It was just totally un memorable. Although I am a bit biased for Subaru, I think the last good car they made ended in 2008, Legacy GT wagon.

 

[97tbird]

The Last good looking Legacy:

 

[jennings]

I owned and loved a 2005 Legacy GT 5 speed wagon, which I traded when my bad back made my clutch leg unreliable. I tested a 2010 Legacy, and, while I could stand the interior, the CVT was odd to me and the bucket seat bottoms were awfully short. Just recently drove a new Outback and the 2014 Forester. Suburu has tinkered with the CVT and I think that I could live with it, but THE SEATS ARE TERRIBLE. Short bottoms and there is no support under your butt. In my case, this loads up my low vertabrae and forces bulging discs into nerves. I really was interested in buying one or the other of the new ones, especially after this winter, but there is NO way I could live with the seats. Even my Hyundai, which has shortened seat bottoms, is much better. come on Subaru, offer a better seat or improve what is standard.

 

[cptbarkey]

Originally Posted By: jennings
I owned and loved a 2005 Legacy GT 5 speed wagon, which I traded when my bad back made my clutch leg unreliable. I tested a 2010 Legacy, and, while I could stand the interior, the CVT was odd to me and the bucket seat bottoms were awfully short. Just recently drove a new Outback and the 2014 Forester. Suburu has tinkered with the CVT and I think that I could live with it, but THE SEATS ARE TERRIBLE. Short bottoms and there is no support under your butt. In my case, this loads up my low vertabrae and forces bulging discs into nerves. I really was interested in buying one or the other of the new ones, especially after this winter, but there is NO way I could live with the seats. Even my Hyundai, which has shortened seat bottoms, is much better. come on Subaru, offer a better seat or improve what is standard.


interesting, in my 1.5 years of ownership of a 2012 outback, i think its the most comfortable seats i have ever been in. however for someone with back problems i can understand, let alone the entry/egress is terrible.

 

[Spector]

was looking for a used car and tested a 2010 legacy with the 2.5 I think. Wife said it growled upon acceleration and in retrospect it did, at the slightest touch it made too much noise, high RPMs, underpowered as most of the reviews on this engine claim. The boxer is a great engine, just underpowered.