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Subaru B9 Tribeca (B9X)

8368 messages,  Last post on Nov 24, 2012 at 9:27 AM

You are in the Subaru B9 Tribeca Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru B9 Tribeca, SUV

Messages Page 400 of 837

#3991 of 8368 Road Trip Report by mikejl

Jul 01, 2005 (11:55 pm)

We just got back this evening from a week-long vacation in the Gatlinburg, TN area. Our starting point was 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, PA. We logged 1775 miles on our new Tribeca and averaged 20.7 mpg for the trip. Considering the hilly and mountainous terrain I was in most of the time and the amount of stop-and-go driving we did, I am very happy with that number.
 
The best full tank average was 23.4 on a day trip from Gatlinburg to Lookout Mountain and back. Most of that was highway driving at 70-80 mph.
 
The crew consisted of me, my wife, our 14-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old girlfriend of hers. We had clothes and other supplies to get us through a week, so the car was pretty well loaded down. The rear seat DVD player was a great help in keeping them occupied and un-bored.
 
I absolutely love this car. I have a couple of small ergonomic complaints, but that's all. Comfort on the nine-hour drive today and going down there last Saturday was A+.
 
I don't understand the comments about this vehicle being under-powered. I tend to drive with the faster crowd and I never had a problem keeping up. I-77 and I-79 through West Virginia are extremely hilly and can really test a car's 'oomph' on some of the longer climbs. The B9 passed with flying colors.
 
I heard it was pretty hot here at home while we were away, but guess what - it was very hot in Tennessee, too. High 80's and low-to-mid nineties every day. I saw 93 at some point coming home today. About that same time, I had to turn my A/C temperature control up from 71 to 73 because I was actually getting cold. The car sat in the hot sun often, but there was never a problem in getting it cooled down in just a few minutes.
 
The NAV system was great. I'm sure I could have found my way without it, just as I have done all these years, but it wouldn't have been as much fun. Seriously, having some warning that a turn is coming up before you're on top of it is a great help in keeping on track to places that you've never been before. On the way home today, I wanted to avoid a section of I-70 in PA that has been a traffic nightmare due to construction, and the NAV guided me around it on a route I never would have picked for myself. It worked very well.
 
A few minor negatives: The audio control buttons on the steering wheel need to be flush with the surface of the wheel. I can't tell you how many times I changed the station or a CD track by just brushing the one button while turning the wheel. Also, when hitting the up or down arrow to change the channel, it ought to change to the next preset, not perform a 'seek' function. Lastly, when pressing the 'mode' button to cycle through the choices, it ought to include the other FM band and AM in the cycle it runs through.
 
Random thoughts:
The puddle lights are way cool and very useful when you're parked in a dark area.
 
Don't stand too close to the car when opening the driver door. Twice the bottom corner scraped across the front of my lower leg. A little painful, but no real damage.
 
As someone else suggested, check your tire pressure right after you get your vehicle. Three of the four tires on mine were at 38-40 psi after sitting all night to make sure they were not hot from driving.
 
Subaru needs to start including change holders. It's a pain in the whatsis to have to dig for change at a toll booth.
 
Final word:
When I first got to test drive a Tribeca, I thought that Subaru had done a great job in designing and building this car. After a 1775-mile trip (nearly 2500 miles on the odometer now), I feel more strongly about that than ever. They have hit it out of the park. The L. L. Bean I traded in is not even in the same league as this car. I'm sure the 2007 version will have more options and possibly even more power. It doesn't matter - I am SO glad I got mine now.

#3992 of 8368 Re: CD changer [kmartin] by nhsteve

Jul 02, 2005 (4:56 am)

Replying to: kmartin (Jul 01, 2005 9:12 pm)
I did not un derstand your question either... try asking them where the AUX inputs are on the back of the stereo... that is what you want not the CD. Keep us posted as I, and others I,m sure, will want this info too.
 
Steve

#3993 of 8368 Re: Road Trip Report [mikejl] by photoguy2

Jul 02, 2005 (5:09 am)

Replying to: mikejl (Jul 01, 2005 11:55 pm)
Mikejl,
 
Nice job in your report. Thanks for sharing. I agree with the audio control on the steering wheel. I just came out of a Saab and do miss that configuration.
 
Air Conditioning... could not agree more. I've had to keep mine at 73 to be comfortable while the Saab was 68 or so...
 
Change holder.... I've got E-Z-Pass! Rarely need change and when you do keep it in the top section of the center console... you do realize there are two sections right?
 
Power? I agree here too? Is it a Saab Turbo? No. Is is sufficient? YES, especially when rolling. If you want to get up around someone it is down right fun!

#3994 of 8368 photoguy2 by jerrys2

Jul 02, 2005 (7:44 am)

John
 
your postings have been informative and helpful! Keep them coming. My Tribeca is on order , expect delivery in another month or so, I will still have my Saab Turbo. Biggest problem will be to convince wife which will be hers ...
Jerry

#3995 of 8368 Re: NO Puddle Lights [subienewbie2] by nhsteve

Jul 02, 2005 (9:03 am)

Replying to: subienewbie2 (Jul 01, 2005 4:43 pm)
John:
 
Would you, or anyone, take a night time pic of their B9 with the puddle light on and maybe a daytime pic of the light fixture itself and post it here. I have not seen it yet and would like to see what I missed. It really sounds like a cool thing more than a functional thing, but none-th-less, I want it too. Anyone here anyting about aftermarket or dealer installs on the puddle lights?
 
Steve in Nh

#3996 of 8368 Re: NO Puddle Lights [nhsteve] by photoguy2

Jul 02, 2005 (10:20 am)

Replying to: nhsteve (Jul 02, 2005 9:03 am)
Steve,
 
I'd be happy to. I'll try and get it done today. Cool yes! Functional? Yes!
 
John in PA

#3997 of 8368 Re: NO Puddle Lights [nhsteve] by subienewbie2

Jul 02, 2005 (11:52 am)

Replying to: nhsteve (Jul 02, 2005 9:03 am)
I would post photos but my digital Camera was stolen last week - but I'm in good hands - I Hope!
 
Anyway last night I got the full effect of the Puddle Lights.
 
I was parked in a resonably well lighted parking lot. As I approached the car I hit the remote to unlock the door and Bam - the puddle lights came and I could not believe how bright they are.
 
My Beca is blue pearl and it looked like it was floating on this blue cloud. Cool does not begin to describle the effect and much more functional than I imagined.
 
Anyone with them that steps in a puddle of water or ice cold slush deserves to have wet feet:)

#3998 of 8368 Navigation Points of Interest. by subienewbie2

Jul 02, 2005 (11:52 am)

Has anyone figured out if and how to pull up a list of say restaurants to choose from.
 
All I have seen is the ability to enter the restaurant name and the sytems then directs you there. The whole point on the feature is to inform you of whats available and let you choose. I live in Chicago and I know where my favorite restaurants are.
 
I need the feature when I am on the road. In a new city how are you suppose to know the name of a restaurant?
 
Am I just not reading the manual correctly or did SOA miss the point of what is important in a nav system.
 
HELP

#3999 of 8368 Motorweek Stats by wmquan

Jul 02, 2005 (1:07 pm)

They recorded a very good 60-0 braking distance of 125 feet.
 
But 0-60 mph of the 7-passenger version they tested was a sluggish 9.7 seconds. Motorweek often gets fast times out of the vehicles they test, so very disappointing.

#4000 of 8368 Re: Motorweek Stats [wmquan] by photoguy2

Jul 02, 2005 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: wmquan (Jul 02, 2005 1:07 pm)
Okay, so we agree it's sluggish... SO WHAT! Have you driven one? Does it meet YOUR needs? My goodness, I can't believe how much emphasis people put on this issue! Again, I'm coming out of a Saab with it's excellent Turbo... I find the Tribeca acceptable! Even on the worst on ramp that I need to navigate which is uphill typically from a stand still it was FINE! As good as others? NO! Good enough? YES! Now lets talk about when you are going about 30 or 40 or 50 and punch it... FUN!
 
PEOPLE this is not a deal killer!

Messages Page 400 of 837

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