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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




Your Community Leaders are ateixeira and rsholland.

Messages Page 362 of 1084

#3607 of 10833 4spd vs 5spd auto transmission by pato01

Aug 17, 2004 (9:51 am)

Just test drove an '05 Outback 2.5i with 4spd auto tranny to replace my again 1990 Legacy wagon for use in Colorado mountains.
 
I don't understand why SOA offers a 5spd auto tranny on the 250hp XT but not on the 168hp 2.5i, which needs it more. On steep grades in Drive the 4spd hunts between 2nd & 3d gear, suggesting that with a 5spd it would comfortably stay in 3d in this situation. The 4spd has the typical Subaru reluctance to kick down, making it doggy on uphills unless you manually downshift and punch the revs.
 
Seems to me that the less powerful the car, the more gears it needs for different situations, which s why for manual transmissions, 5spds have replaced 3 & 4 spds.
 
Is there a good functional (rather than just pricing) reason for SOA's offering a new 5spd automatic on the XT but only the old 4spd automatic on the 2.5i? Plans to offer the 5spd on the lower-powered models in the future? All comments appreciated.

#3608 of 10833 Congratulations New Owners!!!!! by tsy

Aug 17, 2004 (10:41 am)

I find that I'm getting kinda lonely here in the MT crowd here (crowd? more like handful!) Everyone's buying the 5EAT- I thought for sure more people would be getting the MT- it's such a blast to drive, but I guess the 5EAT is that good!
 
I never seem to keep my cars long enough to take advantage of the extended warranty- a lot of whether or not it pays off is luck (unless it's a domestic car) I have an extended warranty through my insurance company- I pay about $20 a year, which of course increases as the car gets older. But it's a way of hedging my bet- not a lot up front, and I can easily cancel at any time (or keep it if the car is having problems).
 
I got my service coupons in the mail yesterday- it covers all routine service up to 30K!
 
Ken- interesting article on the GT vs 530i. Too bad they didn't have a MT. Thanks also for the article on engine break in- I think I inadvertently did most of what they recommended- but did you or anyone else change your oil at 1000miles? I'm not sure they gave a clear reason as to why to do this.
 
Just passed 1500 miles- still look forward to driving it every morning!
 
tom

#3609 of 10833 Re: 4spd vs 5spd auto transmission [pato01] by tsy

Aug 17, 2004 (10:48 am)

Replying to: pato01 (Aug 17, 2004 9:51 am)
Pato01, unfortunately cost has a large place in dictating how cars are optioned. Why stop at a 5 sp, how about a 7sp Auto? 4 calliper Brembo discs? 20" wheels? Height and electronically adjustable suspension? These are all available today- you just need to spend 3-4 times as much.
 
I think the 2.5i has so much of what is good from the more expensive models that you are actually benefitting without paying as much (I think Bob was talking about 'trickle down goodness') I agree that if the 2.5i had a little more power and a better tranny, it would be a better car (but what car wouldn't?) and I might have bought it instead of the Turbo. I would also guess some of your problems are a result of your altitude (forced induction would be better there) that aren't as much of an issue for those of us down here at sea level.
 
I would guess that just as 4 sp replaced 3sp autos, that eventually 5 sp will replace 4 sp autos, it just might be a while. Or maybe they'll improve CVTs? (Subaru Justy?)
 
tom

#3610 of 10833 Re: 4spd vs 5spd auto transmission [pato01] by bluesubie

Aug 17, 2004 (11:36 am)

Replying to: pato01 (Aug 17, 2004 9:51 am)
The 4spd has the typical Subaru reluctance to kick down, making it doggy on uphills unless you manually downshift and punch the revs.
 
There should be a section in the owner's manual that addresses driving in hills. You can leave the selector in "3" and it will vary between 1st and 3rd gears. For very steep hills, you can leave it in "2" and it will remain in 2nd.
 
-Dennis

#3611 of 10833 Re: 4spd vs 5spd auto transmission [bluesubie] by pato01

Aug 17, 2004 (1:27 pm)

Replying to: bluesubie (Aug 17, 2004 11:36 am)
Dennis: With the selector in "3" do you really mean it will vary between 1st & 3d, or between 2nd & 3d? If the former, why won't it use 2nd as well? /pato

#3612 of 10833 I like this quote... by ateixeira

Aug 17, 2004 (1:54 pm)

DSC, TSC and all those methods of divine intervention are precisely that - they rob you of power and apply the brakes, amongst other evils, as they intervene with your input in order to protect you from yourself
 
AWD lets you have fun, and still manages to get you out of trouble. Power slide it out of a turn and the AWD shifts power to the front wheels, pulling you out of a (very fun) skid.
 
-juice

#3613 of 10833 Legacy GT Review by buddhabman

Aug 17, 2004 (2:01 pm)

http://motoring.iafrica.com/carsinaction/shootout/291844.htm

#3614 of 10833 Lousy Subaru Service by safetyfirst

Aug 17, 2004 (2:11 pm)

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my new Legacy i (2005) had an interior door handle grip with peeling paint, chipping all over the place. Well, I took the car into the dealership, and they ordered the replacement part under the warranty. So far so good. I brought the car into the dealer again yesterday and -- get this -- after having it for five hours, they called to say oops we ordered the wrong part. Now mistakes happen, of course, and I figured they'd make the redo easy for me.
     I was wrong. I asked the service manager if, when the part came in, I could bring it in first thing on a Saturday, so I would not have to miss work time due to their mistake. He said no, telling me that Subaru doesn't allow warranty work to be done on Saturday. He was also positively uninterested in rectifying the problem. I called Subaru to complain. I was told: (1) that dealers can do warranty work whenever they want (which means the service manager lied to me); (2) that because this dealership is independently owned, there is nothing Subaru can do for me.
 
    I've never had anything but pleasant experiences with Honda and Nissan service departments. And it's not like there's another Subaru dealer nearby that I could switch to.
 
      My advice folks: if you're considering buying a Subaru, think again.

#3615 of 10833 Re: Lousy Subaru Service [safetyfirst] by outbacker2k2

Aug 17, 2004 (2:36 pm)

Replying to: safetyfirst (Aug 17, 2004 2:11 pm)
Sorry to hear about your problems there, but that sounds like a Major dealer problem not an SOA problem. I have always had great service at my local dealer.
 
It would take something truely astounding to stop me from buying a GT.

#3616 of 10833 Re: Lousy Subaru Service [safetyfirst] by tsy

Aug 17, 2004 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: safetyfirst (Aug 17, 2004 2:11 pm)
My dealer has been quite happy to fix everything on my car, even little nitpicky ones. They spent 3 hours removing and re-attatching the panel on my trunk because it was off by 2mm. They also replaced my entire door panel because of a small 3mm cut in the side (leather? vinyl?) They have given me service loaners both times.
 
My worst experiences have been with VW (I have had 2) who look for reasons not to do warranty service.
 
Unfortunately, it sounds like you need to find another dealer, even if it's farther away. You can try writing letters or calling their customer service manager (if they have one.) Certainly doesn't sound like an 'upscale' experience.
 
Sorry, and good luck.
 
tom

Messages Page 362 of 1084

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