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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 22 of 130

#208 of 1296 Re: Forester vs. Outback pricing/value [rsholland] by saedave

Jul 26, 2009 (8:13 am)

Replying to: rsholland (Jul 25, 2009 3:33 pm)
The only Outback advantages that I find at all persuasive are quieter ride and bluetooth. The pushbutton parking brake is a negative. I think at time to buy I will even look at a VW R32...direct shift transmission plus quattro. It's great for city tight parking spaces and if only kept for the warranty period not costly to own. And my Subaru dealer with the good service department also sells and services VW. I traded in a 2002 VW W8 wagon for my 3.0R in 2005.
 
The improved fuel economy with CVT is probably important to many buyers, but at 3,500 miles per year for me, even10 mpg would not be a problem. My second car is Chicago's Brown Line elevated with 75 feet from my back gate to the station entrance.

#209 of 1296 Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness by nwbear

Jul 26, 2009 (9:08 am)

I noticed that the mirrors didn't fold and I'm not happy about it. Considering repairing one of those mirrors damaged would probably cost more than $500, it is something I find inexcusable, especially in a 4WD vehicle that for me at least, will probably seen some minor off road use while camping.
 
I really like the Outback as a whole, but as I continue to consider it the obvious cost cutting on the vehicle is really starting to bother me. Taken alone these items aren't terribly important, but when I consider them together they are. I'd prefer a cloth interior but the crappy fabric on the Outback as well as the fact that the cloth seats are noticeably less comfortable would push me to the leather interior. The non-folding mirrors substantially increase the ownership costs of the car because expensive repairs are very likely at some point if I own the vehicle for 5 or more years. The hard dash isn't important to me on its own, but added to the other bits of cheapness evident it becomes a problem.
 
These things taken together have made me hesitate on the purchase of an Outback and continue to look at other brands. I'm willing to pay a bit more for obvious quality and at this point may end up doing just that.

#210 of 1296 folding mirrors and hand brake by cptplt

Jul 26, 2009 (11:31 am)

>The pushbutton parking brake is a negative. I think at time to buy I will even look at a VW R32..
 
aren't there states you can't do a road test for your driving licence without a parking brake the examiner can yank on?? or has that law gone out the window? I'm pretty sure its still in effect in MA.
 
>I wonder how many people will notice the lack of folding mirrors on the Outback....until they have expensive body damage on a narrow street.
 
I had a 98 legacy which didn't have folding mirrors, I was quite concerned at the time but after 10 years I still hadn't hit anything yet which caused anything other than a scrape in the paint. Though the 98 is a few inches narrower than the new one.

#211 of 1296 Re: non-folding mirrors and crummy cloth seats] by seabrook7039

Jul 26, 2009 (11:51 am)

Replying to: cptplt (Jul 26, 2009 11:31 am)
I'm glad I'm not the only one unwilling to buy into those 'cloth' seats. It almost seems Subaru is trying to force you to buy the Limited - but then no manual transmission option. Unfortunately this is not a Subaru thing but an industry-wide trend (i.e., manuals offered, if at all, only on the stripped, entry-level models).

#212 of 1296 Re: Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness [nwbear] by kurtamaxxxguy

Jul 26, 2009 (11:57 am)

Replying to: nwbear (Jul 26, 2009 9:08 am)
Are the Outside mirrors breakaway designs?
Not as good as folding mirrors, but at least those would prevent severe door damage when they smack into obstacles.

#213 of 1296 Re: Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness [kurtamaxxxguy] by saedave

Jul 26, 2009 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jul 26, 2009 11:57 am)
Are the Outside mirrors breakaway designs?
 
I'm under the impression they are required to be so by law. Usually there are shear pins. But that still means several hundred dollars for a bumped mirror that should have been folded when parked on a narrow street. I traverse one local street daily where there are mirror parts routinely found and many cars are parked with their street-side mirrors folded in.
 
Perhaps most 2010 Outback purchasers will be suburban, small town and country-dwellers who don't care. Those of us in central cities will have to choose other models: Forester, RAV4,, various Hondas, VWs and Audis.

#214 of 1296 Re: Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness [kurtamaxxxguy] by nwbear

Jul 26, 2009 (5:19 pm)

Replying to: kurtamaxxxguy (Jul 26, 2009 11:57 am)
Perhaps I'm wrong, but don't replacement mirrors still have to be custom painted to match the vehicle? I broke a mirror on a Honda ten years ago and if I remember correctly replacing the plastic housing cost several hundred dollars just for parts. Since it was unpainted black plastic, having it painted was and additional $100+. The total a decade ago was nearly $400 not including installation and I ended leaving it broken because the repair was nearly a tenth of the value of the car.
 
Even without body damage replacing a mirror should easily be $500+ these days.

#215 of 1296 Re: Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness [nwbear] by fendertweed

Jul 26, 2009 (5:59 pm)

Replying to: nwbear (Jul 26, 2009 5:19 pm)
I just spent $170 or so replacing a non folding mirror on my wife's '05 Toyota Matrix -- she clipped it in a garage and cracked it.... it came painted in the correct color and I installed it myself in an hour or less.

#216 of 1296 Re: Outback's fixed exterior mirrors and other bits of cheapness [fendertweed] by seabrook7039

Jul 27, 2009 (7:49 am)

Replying to: fendertweed (Jul 26, 2009 5:59 pm)
I can only assume that the cost of replacing a broken mirror would be higher if you also had ordered the Cold Weather Package since the outside mirrors are then heated.

#217 of 1296 Thoughts? by jccinoh

Jul 28, 2009 (11:19 am)

We currently own a 2009 Outback (love it) and (lease) at 2007 Chevy Impala. The lease on the Impala is up in about 6 months so we have started shopping around to get some ideas. We bought the Outback about 7 months ago and it was our first ever Subaru...and we love it! The solid feel, quiet ride and of course the AWD is great. Anyway, my wife and I are now heading back to Subaru to perhaps purchase another and become a 2-subie family. Prior to purchasing the Outback we also test drove a Forrester. I was wondering if anyone has ever owned both an Outback and Forrester and could give me some input as to which they preferred to drive? Any real difference in quality? Any experiance would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Messages Page 22 of 130

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