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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 776 of 1084

#7745 of 10833 Aftermarket fixes for base model by ateixeira

Aug 22, 2005 (5:30 pm)

For the steering wheel, try:
 
http://www.wheelskins.com/
 
I have a black one on my Forester. Believe it or not I bought it in 1991 and put it on my Escort GT, where it stayed for 7 years. It's been on my Forester for 8 years and it still looks good. 15 years and almost 200k miles of abuse!
 
You can also find a leather shift knob, either aftermarket or the OE Subaru one, I'd get the latter. I have that on my Forester also. Even got one for my wife's '02 Legacy L.
 
Finally, the brake lever should be available just like the shift knob is, the trick is to find the part number. Or buy a used one if some Ltd owner goes with wood or carbon fiber.
 
AVLS - all but the Baja's normally aspirated 2.5l get this, I believe.
 
Phil: congrats on the GT!
 
-juice

#7746 of 10833 Re: Legacy GT vs Outback XT [willoc] by kens

Aug 22, 2005 (9:56 pm)

Replying to: willoc (Aug 21, 2005 2:13 pm)
No back to back comparison of these two models that I know of. It really wouldn't make sense for a car magazine to do a comparo since it would really only address a very small segment. But your question is a common one among Subie enthusiasts!
 
The suspension setup makes a big difference in how these two vehicles behave. I recently had a chance to drive an OBXT Ltd while my LGT wagon was being serviced and was able to get that back-to-back experience. Each has it's strengths that come with it's tradeoffs. The LGT eagerly changes direction and gives very good feedback but you'll cringe on rutted roads. The OBXT soaks up bumps and tackles light offroading, but you'll have less confidence through turns.
 
How often do you drive through deep snow, go off-roading or drive on poor roads? How often do you like to go on spirited drives through twisty roads? I used to own a Forester and realized that I grossly overestimated how much I needed the extra ground clearance and light off-roadability. It's a nice thought to have that go-anywhere image, but in reality I drove on normal roads that didn't need that extra suspension travel 99% of the time. And ironically, it was during that 99% that I wished it handled better. Just some food for thought.
 
Ken

#7747 of 10833 2006 Legacy GT by gmanmd

Aug 23, 2005 (9:01 am)

I have a couple of questions on the 2006 GT. Does anyone know if they recalibrated the auto tranny as more than a few reviewers mentioned in the 2005 it sapped a lot of the engine's power. Or have people felt that it mated well to the engine to begin with? Also, has Subaru added retained power to the 2006s?
 
As an aside on the bent valve topic a few posts back...I owned a 2000 Forester which also had a bent valve which stopped me dead in my tracks on the highway. That Forester was in the shop multiple times for the 14 months I had it and it was replaced with a 2001 Forester as I invoked the Lemon Law in NJ. Subaru was exemplary in the way they handled the issue and I loved the 2001 Forester (which BTW had a nicer interior/exterior than the 2000) and here I am again looking at another Subaru, the Legacy GT.
 
One other comment, why did Subaru think to add navi only to the auto GT limited and not the manual? What's up with that?

#7748 of 10833 GPS Navigation by subout

Aug 23, 2005 (9:11 am)

Hi,
I own a 2005 VDC Outback wagon. Since the 2006 is the same body style. Is it possible to add a factory GPS Navagation system to my 2005. When I contact
800 Subaru or various dealerships nobody knows the answer.
Thanks.

#7749 of 10833 Re: 2006 Legacy GT [gmanmd] by kens

Aug 23, 2005 (10:48 am)

Replying to: gmanmd (Aug 23, 2005 9:01 am)
I haven't heard of any changes to the 5EAT map. Any automatic transmission will create drivetrain losses and the 5EAT is no exception. Also because of the torque converter, an automatic will tend to increase turbo lag. However, the 2.5 turbo in the LGT is fairly stout so it is definetly not the same as, say the previous generation WRX+4EAT.
 
While die hard enthusiasts will disagree, I believe the 5EAT is a fine match for the LGT. It upshifts smoothly and quickly and downshifts are instantaneous. Over time, the 5EAT performance improves as it learns your driving behavior. I believe that the 5EAT models tested by the car magazines did not have that benefit and therefore showed less than optimal performance.
 
Over at LGT.com, 5EAT owners have shown 0-60 times at the dragstrip that are within one second of a 5MT. And the numbers are more consistent to boot.
 
Subaru's choices for the 2006 model line up has a lot of people scratching their heads with respect to transmission, navi and color.
 
Ken

#7750 of 10833 Re: GPS Navigation [subout] by kens

Aug 23, 2005 (10:51 am)

Replying to: subout (Aug 23, 2005 9:11 am)
While nothing is impossible, I think it would be a very, very expensive retrofit that your dealer probably would not be willing to undergo.
 
I'd wait a little while since there are a few enthusiasts out there that just may try the retrofit themselves.
 
Other than that, the only options would be to take the depreciation hit on your 2005 and trade in for a 2006, or go with an aftermarket unit. I think juice was very happy with his Garmin for his 1998 Forester.
 
Ken

#7751 of 10833 Clear License Plate Covers by samiam_68

Aug 23, 2005 (10:56 am)

Does anyone know where I can get these made of high quality materials? Meaning - they won't fade or crack or yellow after a year or two.
 
Thanx!

#7752 of 10833 NAV by ateixeira

Aug 23, 2005 (12:35 pm)

Actually I didn't get it yet, though I have sampled a couple of units.
 
The factory NAV is integrated so I doubt you could add that cost effectively.
 
Check out the Garmin StreetPilot c series, under a grand with voice instructions and 3 models to choose from.
 
-juice

#7753 of 10833 Re: Professional Solution for both XM/MP3 for Any car !!!! [kens] by dee0000

Aug 23, 2005 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: kens (Aug 06, 2005 9:06 am)
Ken,
I just purchased an 2005 Outback 2.5i Limited and am having a similar problem. I want to integrate my iPod, but am not happy with any of the FM Modulators or Transmitters out there. I want a hard-wired solution and was considering CleanSweep. However, I'm generally satisfied with the factory radio and speakers and don't want to spend that kind of money replacing it. Also, I want to keep the look and style matching all the rest of the controls on the center console. If CleanSweep is overkill, what other alternatives are there for the 2005 Outback? Unfortunately, I just learned today that the '06 models will now have an AUX-in on the back of all the radios. I think I must have contacted every car audio company and none of them have solutions for Subarus.
Major help needed!
-Dee

#7754 of 10833 Re: Clear License Plate Covers [samiam_68] by cptplt

Aug 23, 2005 (7:41 pm)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Aug 23, 2005 10:56 am)
mats.com, they have these plate holders with covers I have had for 3-4 years on 3 vehicles and holding up great

Messages Page 776 of 1084

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