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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 87 of 130

#857 of 1296 Re: Subaru Legacy, Honda CRV or Toyota Camry? [elena_l] by ateixeira

Jan 26, 2010 (11:56 am)

Replying to: elena_l (Jan 25, 2010 6:29 pm)
The CR-V is more comparable to the Forester, right around the same size, as both are a bit shorter and more upright than the Outback.
 
Forester actually beat the CR-V in residual value, and won "Best Compact Utility Vehicle" from Automotive Lease Guide, the company that sets actual residuals for leases. Outback won for "Best Midsize Utility Vehicle" as well.
 
Subaru also won "Best Mainstream Brand", though I think Honda wasn't too far behind.
 
Link:
 
https://www.alg.com/ResidualValueAwards
 
My guess is that Legacy information is a bit outdated. In 2009 a lot of used Subarus actually gained value. Here's a funny story to read:
 
http://www.automotive.com/auto-news/02/48496/index.html
 
Excerpt:
 
While the overall market for model-year 2005-2008 used vehicles is down 8.5 percent this year, Subaru has shown the best performance in 2009, increasing 1.3 percent
 
LOL WUT?! That's right, used Subarus actually gained value. That's a better investment than my savings account by a factor of 8!
 
Any how, I wouldn't worry too much, if you prefer the Legacy, by all means buy that.
 
As for the "fishtail if throttle is lifted in midturn", aka drop throttle oversteer, this is a matter of Subaru letting its AWD act first, and only after that will it let the stability/traction control kick in and interfere.
 
It's a philosophy of AWD coming first. This actually helps in loose surfaces (snow, gravel) where some wheelspin is desired.
 
We own a Forester and a Sienna (same powertrian and based on that Camry). When it snows, the Forester hardly notices. The Sienna can barely make it up our driveway. The VSC on that van is so hyper-active that it retards whatever momentum I have and at times the vehicle stops moving forward. Safe? Sure, I guess. Not very practical, though. It actually performs better with the VSC off. That allows someone wheelspin and forward progress.
 
On slippery surfaces it is NO contest.
 
The Sienna is fine everywhere else, but if it's snowing we take the Forester, without question, there's just no comparison whatsoever.

#858 of 1296 Re: Subaru Legacy, Honda CRV or Toyota Camry? [elena_l] by gregg_vw

Jan 26, 2010 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: elena_l (Jan 25, 2010 6:29 pm)
The CRV is a decent vehicle, but the design is older, you would get an older-style transmission (Honda has been very slow to get 6-speed auto transmissions or continuously variable ones into their product mix. The CRV competes with the Forester. As such, it has a less luxurious interior than the Legacy and does not deliver nearly as quiet a ride. The Legacy should be considered a step up. The Camry is at the end of its product cycle, whereas the Legacy is brand new, and offers both stability control and AWD standard for the comparable gas mileage of a front wheel drive car like the Camry. The new Legacy is projected to have better resale value than the previous Legacy. But drive them all, and you decide.

#859 of 1296 Re: Heat Problems [mikey00] by cdndriver

Jan 26, 2010 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: mikey00 (Jan 26, 2010 7:53 am)
I had both an 03 Legacy, and an 07. I loved the heaters which warmed up quickly and could really pour it out, but also didn't like that you couldn't direct everything out one port at a time, it always split.
As for the feet, yes, mine got cold too, and often because the place where it comes out isn't aimed down at the feet, it's more like at the knees. So it wouldn't do a good job of drying carpets which get wet.
My daughter, who was always in the back seat, complained about not having seat heaters back there, but also that there was no vent the sent heat back there (or air con in the summer). But given the cutbacks that Subaru made with the new OB (since they dropped the legacy wagon, for which I find it very difficult to forgive them! ) I don't expect we'll see any of that soon.
 
My 07 came off lease, and now due to a huge insurance leap, I need to find a cheap reliable car. I'd love to get an older forester or legacy because of the AWD, but the Lemonaid guide gives bad reviews with head gasket problems and says the transmissions don't hold up well after the fifth year, I believe. So because they hold their value, I can't afford one like I just turned in, and I'm nervous about getting an older one.
I'm not too fond of the CRV, and like you say, the AWD just isn't the same.
For a real joke, the rental car I have at the moment is a PT Cruiser...no seat heaters and just nowhere near the confidence or stability of driving that one. What a joke that car is.
cdndriver

#860 of 1296 Re: Subaru Legacy, Honda CRV or Toyota Camry? [gregg_vw] by ateixeira

Jan 27, 2010 (10:10 am)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Jan 26, 2010 5:26 pm)
Timely article:
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/automobiles/autoreviews/24subaru.html?ref=toda- yspaper
 
Here's their take on the handling:
 
By lifting off the gas pedal in a brisk turn, a driver can make the tail move a bit to the outside, aiming the nose deeper into the turn. Such a tendency is not pronounced enough to be alarming — and enthusiasts will enjoy it.
 
It's a positive review overall, no doubt.
 
Motor Trend added an Outback to their long-term fleet, and they are getting over 24mpg with it, amazing for a press vehicle (teens are more common with lead-foot editors). Some excerpts:
 
it fully acquits itself as our 2010 Sport/Utility of the Year
 
I normally hate CVTs, but this one is pleasantly smooth and quiet
 
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oneyear/112_1002_2010_subaru_outback_update_- 1/index.html#ixzz0dpk76ThT
 
They also said it didn't scrape bottom in places that even a Highlander did.

#861 of 1296 Re: thinking of buying a new legacy [ateixeira] by millwood0

Jan 28, 2010 (10:08 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 14, 2010 8:15 am)
"You have to watch that video of the Tribeca and Legacy GT (both with VTD) climing that ramp with traction to a single wheel at a time. "
 
tests like that are believable if and only if they are done by an independent party.

#862 of 1296 Re: thinking of buying a new legacy [millwood0] by ateixeira

Jan 28, 2010 (10:28 am)

Replying to: millwood0 (Jan 28, 2010 10:08 am)
I don't see how they could "cheat", given you see some wheelspin, and then how power transfers to the other side.
 
It's not a locker, it's not open, so it has to be the VTD/VDC combination at work.

#863 of 1296 Re: thinking of buying a new legacy [ateixeira] by cdndriver

Jan 28, 2010 (9:10 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 28, 2010 10:28 am)
I thought it was quite interesting, also on the hill climb, but there could be ways to stop the rollers spinning, and also when they back up and then try again the momentum could help.
The hokey narration, hardly unbiased, make me just think, "ok, let me see this from some other independent lab as well. I've seen a test drive on the Volvo site where they drive their suv right up a 35% grade with no problems, strange, it couldn't do it as well in this test....
There are so many variables that could easily cause that big a difference. Independent testing would make it more believable. I'm not saying that the Subie couldn't do all that, it is a great AWD system, but independent testing would help make it more believable.
cdndriver

#864 of 1296 Re: thinking of buying a new legacy [cdndriver] by ateixeira

Jan 29, 2010 (8:29 am)

Replying to: cdndriver (Jan 28, 2010 9:10 pm)
Perhaps Edmunds could acquire a ramp like that and include a ramp test for every AWD vehicle.
 
That would be great.
 
Hosts - can you forward that suggestion to the road test team? That would be totally unique, an industry first. Such a ramp can't cost a lot, either.
 
I've seen Mercedes and BMW haul them out to events they host.

#865 of 1296 2010 Navigation by birdboy

Feb 02, 2010 (8:10 pm)

Can anyone share with me their experience so far with the navigation system both pros and cons. I have never had a built in nav system, only a Garmin portable. I am considering this option. Thanks for any help.

#866 of 1296 Re: 2010 Navigation [birdboy] by jeffm5

Feb 03, 2010 (7:06 am)

Replying to: birdboy (Feb 02, 2010 8:10 pm)
Birdboy, You might want to look at my post #632 on this thread. One correction to that post. I believe the system comes with 3 DVD's, not 4. I still believe that the NAV is not worth the money.

Messages Page 87 of 130

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