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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 757 of 1084

#7554 of 10833 Re: Three Questions [noted] by alpha01

Jul 18, 2005 (11:40 am)

Replying to: noted (Jul 18, 2005 4:16 am)
I'm not particularly impressed with our 05 Legacy Sedan 2.5i 4A's acceleration, and I would say thats just about the vehicles only strong check in the debit column. The car is very sluggish off the line, even when floored. However, highway passing is definitely acceptable, and I am more confident in doing that than getting a quick start from rest. Whenever I drive it, I am always revving past 4 grand from stoplights whether or not I shift using the manumatic feature; its simply necessary. Our 2002 157 horse Camry 4A will run circles around the Subaru (in good weather!!!) where acceleration is considered.
 
Still, the car manages about 24.9 MPG between oil changes (many many tankfuls), so thats something to consider, and it also feels a bit more sprightly now with 17k miles on it than when we first got it last July (cant believe its been a year already!!).
 
That said, the 2006 model will breathe better due to the AVLS, and even though the increase in hp is about 8 (?), it might be stronger in all rev ranges, resulting in a better feel.
 
Shorter answer: The car accelerates better in passing manuvers then, say, a 0-60, but its definitely only adequate with the automatic, no more, though its not any less either.
 
Joe

#7555 of 10833 Re: Three Questions [c_hunter] by sweet_subie

Jul 18, 2005 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: c_hunter (Jul 18, 2005 11:00 am)
yes, there is really no substitute for OB XT. others are not this agile, bulky & expensive.
 
It is a true crossover. offers utility, great GClearance, power, small enough to drive like a sedan, AWD, with that moonroof. there is nothing like it for 28k.

#7556 of 10833 VDC transmission issues.... by dbiker

Jul 18, 2005 (3:28 pm)

I've been driving my '05 VDC for 6 months and I REALLY like the way it drives. It is kinda thirsty but I guess there's no free lunch.
 
I have a big issue with the 5 speed automatic transmission. It is very smooth in the normal drive position as well as the sport setting, which holds the shift points a little longer for faster acceleration. My problem is in the manual mode (where I can select a specific gear). The car will only allow me to shift into an appropriate gear, so as not to lug or red-line the engine. that's fine. If i am on the freeway and force the car into 5th, it works great. However as I come off an exit and the speed slows the car will shift itself down to successively lower gears as one might expect. When i come to a stop the car has shifted itself into 1st gear, and it will hold that gear regardless of my subsequent speed. The engine is so smooth and quiet that I often don't realize that I am winding up the engine. It would seem smarter to have the transmission shift itself back into automatic/sport if the car comes coasting toward a stop while in the manual mode.
 
There was a recall that was supposed to affect this problem. I had the computer flashed with a new setting which would prevent red-lining somehow, but it does not seem to have fixed the problem. And a side issue has occurrred. The transmission now has very little ability to brake the car in a steep downhill situation, forcing me to lean on the brakes, with overheating rotor possibilities. Even when the manual shifter is set at "1", the car is pretty much frreewheeling. This did not happen before the flash was done.
 
Has anyone else notice this? Is there someone at Subaru i can discuss this with? I can take it back to the dealer, but I'm pretty sure they cannot program the computer themselves. Can I have the factory setting back?
 
Anxiously, DB

#7557 of 10833 RE three Q'S by twrx

Jul 18, 2005 (6:12 pm)

I have a 2.5i 4eat Legacy wagon. I am very happy with the power (and I traded a WRX in on it). I just got back from Colorado a couple of weeks ago and the car was over several 12,000 ft. mountain passes. If you use your RPMs well you can do anything you need to do with this car. The full manual mode is nice for passing and climbing. I would like another gear so that the second gear would not be so high. That would be helpful for going down the passes. Having said that, this is the first time I have been to Colorado with an automatic transmission. (I have been vacationing there or somewhere else out west nearly every year since 1981) The manual mode is the next best thing for mountain driving. No burnt brakes (ever been over either the Monarch or Hoosier passes?) Best of all with the 2.5 engine I averaged 30 mpg for the 3700 mile trip.

#7558 of 10833 Re: VDC transmission issues.... [dbiker] by subaruqueen

Jul 18, 2005 (6:13 pm)

Replying to: dbiker (Jul 18, 2005 3:28 pm)
Perhaps I am misunderstanding you, but it seems you are not using the manual mode correctly. The sportshift system is designed to shift back down to first when you come to a stop, but it's up to you to shift back up through the gears...hence the term, manual mode. If you don't care to shift back up, then put it in drive or sport mode. Please read your owner's manual on how to use the Sportshift system and/or consult your salesperson as somebody may not have been clear with you. I hope this helps.

#7559 of 10833 Re: VDC transmission issues.... [dbiker] by kyfdx HOST

Jul 18, 2005 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: dbiker (Jul 18, 2005 3:28 pm)
So... what happens when you get up to redline in the manual mode? Does a rev-limiter kick in? Do you just keep bouncing off the redline, until you manually shift up?
 
If so, that is a great "manu-matic" system.. On our BMW, the car automatically upshifts when you get to redline in manual mode (what is manual about that?)... I hate that..
 
regards,
kyfdx

#7560 of 10833 Re: VDC transmission issues.... [dbiker] by c_hunter

Jul 18, 2005 (7:35 pm)

Replying to: dbiker (Jul 18, 2005 3:28 pm)
Either the reflash messed something up, or I am misunderstanding you.
 
In normal or sport mode, the car should do all shifting and automatically select the right gears.
 
If you happen to shift in the +/- gate, manual mode is invoked. At that point, the only thing it does automatically is drop into "1" when you come to a stop. Otherwise, it is full manual and you have to do the shifting.
 
Rule of thumb -- if you see the gear digits on the dashboard, then you are in full manual mode (this does not apply to XT and GT models with the steering wheel buttons -- they also have a temporary manual mode).
 
So basically, if you have done any manual shifting in a VDC you are in manual mode from that point on. You'd have to flip the lever to the right to reset back to auto mode.
 
Craig

#7561 of 10833 '06s starting to arrive! by rsholland

Jul 19, 2005 (6:40 am)

I see FitzMall has several '06 Legacys and Outbacks listed in their inventory. Hmmm... another reason to put some more miles on my Tribeca loaner today.
 
Bob

#7562 of 10833 Sweet by ateixeira

Jul 19, 2005 (9:26 am)

Check out if the NAV system is the same as the one in the Tribeca. Is the screen the same size?
 
-juice

#7563 of 10833 Re: Three Questions [noted] by nmgridl

Jul 19, 2005 (11:12 am)

Replying to: noted (Jul 18, 2005 4:16 am)
I think the response that the 2006 2.5i engine will have AVLS is a key here. That is called Variable Valve by others such as Toyota. From what I've read, it will give you about 5% more HP, 5% better gas mileage, and 5% less emissions. In test driving a '05 2.5i, I've decided to hold off until the '06's become available.

Messages Page 757 of 1084

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