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Subaru Legacy/Outback 2005+

10833 messages,  Last post on Feb 26, 2013 at 5:40 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Sedan, Wagon




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Messages Page 321 of 1084

#3193 of 10833 At least they don't do this..... by lfdal

Jul 27, 2004 (7:34 am)

Those who've seen my posts know I'm no Subaru apologist, but I'll reserve my negative opinion until they test an 05 OBW since that's the one we're interested in. If the OBW comes out as poor, I'll admit they dropped the ball by putting form over function. Then I'll wait for the 06's. Subaru does seem to address year over year issues quite well.
 
When it comes to getting broadsided, a very real concern around here, I've personally almost become 1) An Excursion hood ornament, 2) a Yukon hood ornament, and lastly, a Civic hood ornament - although I think I would have fared all right with the Civic. Stop signs in urban areas, at least metro Boston are treated as more of a suggestion that a law :<( These would have all been relatively low speed crashes, but still....
 
But even with a "good/best pick" side impact rating, how well can a Legacy sized vehicle stand up to a Yukon?
 
Oh well, at least Subaru isn't known for this:
 
"The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said that the 2004 four-wheel drive VUE's left rear suspension failed while the agency was performing its standard "fishhook" safety test, which simulates a driver rapidly turning left and then right while driving 45 mph. It said a subsequent test of the two-wheel drive version of the 2004 VUE found a similar suspension failure."
 
That would take the VUE off my list really quick. Especially since it was quick swerving that saved me in two of the 3 above.
 
Just another 02.
 
Larry

#3194 of 10833 Dark v Light Interior by lumbar

Jul 27, 2004 (9:17 am)

would be a real quandry for me.
 
Does anyone have a link to a decent online picture of a black 2.5i Ltd. interior? I've found the light color with the plastiwood, but haven't seen the black.
 
While I prefer the champagne gold and find the light interior to be somewhat more "upscale" (YMMV), I have some reservations about marks, scuffs etc. from a more active use of the vehicle--particularly on the front carpet and in the rear interior where the material surrounding the wheel wheels could take a bit of a beating. I suspect that the black interior would mask some marks.
 
BTW, the picture Edmunds provides of a 2.5i interior (light) appears to be mislabled since it shows wood grain steering wheel and shifter, which I did not think was available on this model.

#3195 of 10833 by kens

Jul 27, 2004 (9:29 am)

Like I wrote before, I'm sure Subaru was surprised at the result of the tests. The fact that the Legacy, right after it's introduction, was put into the new test would indicate a car company eagerly expecting good results, not bad. I have to imagine that Subaru does internal testing of it's own.
 
I couldn't imagine there being a difference between the US and Aussie spec Legacy/OBs. Instead, I'm guessing that the test methods are quite different. I wonder if anyone could explain the differences of the two.
 
It was interesting to see that the Legacy's poor side impact scores were for the front passenger. The rear passenger scores were all "good". It made me wonder how one could get such a different result within the same structure. Perhaps there is a point weakness in the design or the test results can vary greatly depending on the crash simulation.
 
Ken

#3196 of 10833 Craig by kens

Jul 27, 2004 (9:30 am)

Nice job on the tailpipe covers! Looks OE!
 
Ken

#3197 of 10833 lumbar by c_hunter

Jul 27, 2004 (9:32 am)

I had those same reservations about the taupe interior and specifically sought out black for those reasons. I think it looks pretty good, in fact some of the controls blend in better with the black interior.
 
Here's an interior pic of my car, not a whole lot to see but it's something (this is an OB XT-Ltd model):
 
http://members.cox.net/craig.hunter/interior.jpg
 
I also got the Champagne Gold exterior and like it a lot.
 
Craig

#3198 of 10833 Throttle Smoothness with Manual Trans by schulztt2

Jul 27, 2004 (9:45 am)

One thing I have noticed in my '05 Leg 2.5i (with manual trans) is that the throttle does not seem to decrease smoothly when you slowly take you foot off the gas. I have noticable that when I am going along in a gear and slowly let up on the throttle there seems to be a sudden increase in engine braking just as you completely take your foot off the throttle. Then when you apply a little throttle (after having taken your foot completely off), the engine seems to surge - there may also be some slop / play in the drive train that compounds the problem. Net effect is that is almost impossible to drive the car smoothly when in a gear and you take you foot off / on the throttle. The problem is more noticable in lower gears, however it can be felt in 5th - cruse control has the same problem; control becomes jerky when going slightly down hill - it can't find the needed throttle setting, so it jerks on / off.
 
Anyone else notice this? I have driven other cars with manual transmssion, drive by wire throttles with AWD and haven't had this problem (VWs, Audi's). I haven't talked to my dealer yet, but will after I hear whether this is a common problem or unique to my car.

#3199 of 10833 has the iihs test changed since the '04 forester side whack? by njswamplands

Jul 27, 2004 (9:46 am)

i put a high premium on safety and the '04 forester test results helped seal the deal. but if something has changed in the side impact test, and the subarus fail across the board at that level, this would cause grave concerns on keeping this vehicle given these nj drivers.

#3200 of 10833 Re: Bike Rack for back of my 2001 Forester [schrack] by bat1161

Jul 27, 2004 (10:21 am)

Replying to: schrack (Jul 22, 2004 1:32 pm)
You can try checking out either www.nashbar.com - that's where I picked up the Nashbar 3 bike trailer hitch rack; or www.etrailer.com has some racks that work well. Try checking out any of the online bike suppliers such as www.performancebike.com or www.supergo.com.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Mark

#3201 of 10833 Re: Dark v Light Interior [lumbar] by lmacmil

Jul 27, 2004 (10:31 am)

Replying to: lumbar (Jul 27, 2004 9:17 am)
I think a big deciding point would be whether or not you have small kids (who spill things) or teenagers (who don't seem to care if a car is clean or dirty). If it's primarily adults who will be in the car, then I don't think the light color is a problem. My wife got a Highlander in Feb with the beige interior and it's just as clean (after daily use and a couple driving vacations) as the day we got it. Of course, she doesn't allow anyone to eat in it<g>.
 
I test drove a black on black Outback on a sunny, warm day and it never felt cool to me during the 15 min test drive, even though the A/C was on.

#3202 of 10833 Re: [kens] by zman3

Jul 27, 2004 (10:43 am)

Replying to: kens (Jul 27, 2004 9:29 am)
I am guessing that the rear passenger was "good" simply due to where the impact occurs in the test. I think they strike the vehicle at the B pillar, which is right near the seat for the front passenger. I think the fact that the rear passengers feet are near the impact point probably accounts for the difference.

Messages Page 321 of 1084

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