Ask the Car People.SM


All-New 2010 Legacy/Outback

1296 messages,  Last post on Sep 21, 2012 at 8:25 AM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Car Buying, Car Comparisons, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 12 of 130

#109 of 1296 other CVT's by jhd

Jul 05, 2009 (11:48 am)

Nissans has been using CVT"s starting 2003 (or 2002) model. There were tranny problems reported, more back few years ago. I looked at Altimas and CVT was what turned me away as far as reliability. Not much towing capacity neither. They even tell you not to drive it on the highway during the first weeks. Once you wear out a groove in the pulleys, you are done. No replacement parts with exception to valve module. Other then that, the whole tranny needs to be replaced ($8-$9k here). Then the MINI tranny issue just popped up a couple of months back. $11k for replacement, many cases reported, there was a program about it on TV. So I decided to buy 2009 Legacy with 4 auto. Picked it up yesterday, it is looking to be a great car.
I heard that 2010 Subaru CVT is of a chain type, different then Nissan. Hopefully they designed out the troubles (that they know of).
On the other hand, I have always been too conservative, so take it for what is worth.

#110 of 1296 Re: other CVT's [jhd] by rsholland

Jul 05, 2009 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: jhd (Jul 05, 2009 11:48 am)
The Subie CVT chain belt is made by the same company that supplies CVTs to Audi. I don't expect any problems. Having said that, I'd probably opt for an extended warranty, just in case something does crop up.
 
As to towing, the CVT-equipped Outback is rated to tow the same as last year's 4EAT Outback.
 
Bob

#111 of 1296 the 2010s are for sale & selling by 204meca

Jul 05, 2009 (9:02 pm)

Replying to: rsholland (Jul 05, 2009 1:30 pm)
We plan to replace our 04 A4 & 03 Forester XS in the next couple of months with one car that will be primarily the wife's and our travel / hauling / towing / winter weather car. (Our second car will be a recently acquired used Honda Del Sol which I will be my daily driver / econ- car). The O9 Forester has been prominate on my radar since introduced. More recently the Outback (thanks to the improvement in performace & mpg that should result from the new CVT) and the Jetta Sportwagen Tdi (thanks to 40+ highway mpg) have also entered the fray.
 
On the way back from a great family weekend we decided to stop by & look at size up the three candidates at an automall about 20 miles from our city. We agreed to only kick tires & not drive anything today.
 
1st stop the VW / Mistubishi lot. Only a couple of sales people there, no customers to be seen anywhere. The Jetta Sportwagen Tdi looks sharp, felt good - somewhat similar to the our A4 - & certaintly would seem to be the least expensive to purchase with leather (acutally a hard to tell from leather vinyl material) & drive. But it does not have much ground clearance (about 5.5") & it simply did not seem like the practical choice for towing a 2000 lb bass boat or taking it on rough, rutted forest service roads to ge to hiking trails in the Pacific NW.
 
Next stop the Subaru dealer across the street. About 3 customers were looking at cars as we pulled in. The 1st thing I noticed was a person from our neighborbod was negotiating her trade on the 2010 Outback Ltd on the showroom floor (they also had a 2010 OB Premium on the lot). We went to look at 2010 Forester Ltd only to be quickly told to back off by another sales guy as he was getting the keys to take it for a test drive. Went to look at a O9 Forester Ltd & there was a couple expressing interest in it!
 
After looking over & sitting in both models, my wife liked the Outback better. Prefered the smaller moon roof & interior roominess / appearance and & exterior appearance. The seats were indeed very comfortable on the showroom floor & I have not doubt the car will be a very pleasant ride. I was surprised that the armrest in the new OB did not extendable like that in the new Forester. While visually the cargo area in the new OB looks bigger apparently it is is only marginally larger (according to measurements on cars101.com) then that of the Forster. So it looks like the OB placed more emphasis on passenger room than cargo room.
 
As for me, the increased passenger space & comfort of the OB is appealing to us 60 year olds.But the biggest draw for me on the OB is the CVT & approximately 20% greater fuel efficiency. I suspect that will be a favorable factor 5 -10 years from now when it comes time to sell it & gas prices are presumable significantly increased. That said, I still have a soft spot for the Forester - I like the idea that it is a bit smaller, has a smaller turning circle & presumable will feel a bit crisper & lighter when taking it into a tight corner at speed or pulling out to pass. It will take a 20 mile test drive to really compare the comfort & handling of the two. Plus I will reading professional reviews and watching forums such as this looking for trusted opinions.
  
Two months ago, I thought purchasing a new 09 Forester shortly after the 2010s were introduced was inevitable. But with no incentives and only a few 09 Forester Limiteds available, the alure of an O9 Forester is fast dimming. We have $900 Subbie Bucks & can't get any more until end of August. But then I can rack up $500 more pretty quick with business purchases. So I think we will probably we ready to deal in September & hopefully some of the pent up demand for an updated OB will have cooled down.
 
When the sales guy said he could give me a good price on any of them I informed him that we had the VIP plan & my starting price would be 2% below invoice he noticably got quiet. I am not sure if I was wise to disclose that so early, but it seemed to take a little wind out of his sail. He actually asked me not to tell others about the VIP plan !
 
By the time we left my neighbor's was smile was bigger than when we came in & the folks that looked at the 2010 Forester we talking trade-in values. I would have guessed folks would be looking for deals on the 09s, but at least for the hour we were there, the 2010s were all the rage! So,in NW WA, people are buying Subarus & not just last years left overs. It looks like Subaru a great time to be a Subbie salesperson & that SOA may finish the already record year real strong.

#112 of 1296 whats the vip plan by sevenseas

Jul 05, 2009 (9:43 pm)

No 2010 Outbacks at the local Long Beach Ca Subaru dealership. They are expecting them in two weeks. But what is the VIP plan?

#113 of 1296 Re: Drove a 2.5 GT Limited today [rsholland] by ecotrklvr

Jul 06, 2009 (1:40 am)

Replying to: rsholland (Jul 03, 2009 5:28 pm)
The clutch indicator light wasn't included in the Subaru as that function was already included in the operator's leg-brain sensor. Prior to, and in communion with, Subaru's involvement in the matter. And the gear position in indicated by the equation = [(your right hand's position in space) + (your memory)]. If these abilities are beyond your capability, there's a fine automatic trans as well.
 
You may think this "over the top" and "undeserved". Unless you've over 40. Shame on you for asking the rest of us to pay for a light that tells you where your left foot is.

#114 of 1296 Re: Drove a 2.5 GT Limited today [ecotrklvr] by rsholland

Jul 06, 2009 (5:57 am)

Replying to: ecotrklvr (Jul 06, 2009 1:40 am)
A clutch light? I never asked for that.
 
Yep, I'm well over 40, and judging by your post, probably have been driving a stick-shift longer than you have been on this planet.
 
Bob

#115 of 1296 New Legacy off to a strong sales start in Japan by rsholland

Jul 06, 2009 (6:19 am)

http://www.7tune.com/subaru-legacy-selling-like-hot-cars/

#116 of 1296 Re: Drove a 2.5 GT Limited today [ecotrklvr] by dbt

Jul 06, 2009 (7:01 am)

Replying to: ecotrklvr (Jul 06, 2009 1:40 am)
And the gear position in indicated by the equation = [(your right hand's position in space) + (your memory)].
 
This may be news to you, but some of us drive with our right hand on the steering wheel. Maybe it's just something you pick up when you turn 40

#117 of 1296 Re: other CVT's [rsholland] by fendertweed

Jul 06, 2009 (8:08 am)

Replying to: rsholland (Jul 05, 2009 1:30 pm)
my trusted indep. shop that specializes in Audi/Porsche/VW (and has worked on my Audis for 12 yrs.) said that there have been a lot of problems with the Audi CVTs, so this does not give me a good feeling about the Subaru CVT on the OB.

#118 of 1296 Re: other CVT's [fendertweed] by saedave

Jul 06, 2009 (8:37 am)

Replying to: fendertweed (Jul 06, 2009 8:08 am)
a lot of problems with the Audi CVTs
 
That's what I found with web searches, but it is possible that those CVTs were earlier ones with the 5 plate rather than the 7 plate clutch which was in later models. Who has up-to-date information?

Messages Page 12 of 130

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement