212 messages,
Last post on May 22, 2013 at 3:33 PM
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Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.
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Subaru Outback, Subaru Legacy, Sedan, Wagon
#57 of 212 Re: Cars 101 has more images and info on new '13 Outback [rsholland]
by 2013ob
Jul 24, 2012 (7:13 pm)
I just purchased that exact same 2013 2.5i Limted w/Special Appearence Package. The color looks like dark chocolate cherry--brilliant brown pearl/saddle brown leather. I had a 2012 2.5i Premium and its a night and day difference with the HP, CVT, and suspension improvements. Added a Curt trailer hitch yesterday. Paid $30,997.00, MSRP was $34,197.00. The "whine" with the 2012 shifting is not present in the 2013---nice job Subaru!! Sharp color combo. Moon roof, Harmon Kardon (package # 23)
#58 of 212 What you paid for your car
by carteach
Jul 24, 2012 (8:03 pm)
I just purchased that exact same 2013 2.5i Limted w/Special Appearence Package. The color looks like dark chocolate cherry--brilliant brown pearl/saddle brown leather. I had a 2012 2.5i Premium and its a night and day difference with the HP, CVT, and suspension improvements. Added a Curt trailer hitch yesterday. Paid $30,997.00, MSRP was $34,197.00. The "whine" with the 2012 shifting is not present in the 2013---nice job Subaru!! Sharp color combo. Moon roof, Harmon Kardon (package # 23)
Congratulations!! Did you get that price without a trade-in? If so, where do you live? I'm planning on selling my present car, so I'm looking at what people have paid without a trade in.
#59 of 212 Re: Cars 101 has more images and info on new '13 Outback [2013ob]
by rsholland
Jul 25, 2012 (6:59 am)
Congrats! Would love to hear more comparisons between your '12 and '13 Outbacks. I suspect the changes, while rather subtle, make a big difference.
Did you get the Eyesight option? If not, how about the Nav? That's been changed too for this year.
Bob
#60 of 212 2013 OB Purchase
by 2013ob
Jul 25, 2012 (8:22 am)
The upgraded engine has less whine when shifting, suspension feels more refined, the saddle brown leather is comfortable, the back seat air vents makes a difference, dash guages are completely different. The 2013 is a much more refined than the 2012. I had both and would not hesitate taking the 2013 over the 2012 I have put about 400 miles on the vehicle and all is well. The Navigaton and Harmon Kardon audio are nice as well. The Curt Class III hitch took about 30 minutes to have installed. Silver . mirrors with blinkers on the mirrors, puddle lights, heated seats---its pretty much the top of the 2.5 series you can get
No, I didnt get the Eyesight---that is too annoying for me and had no desire to get it. Plus, you can not get the Eyesight w/ the Special Appearence Package---its either or.
#61 of 212 Re: 2013 OB Purchase [2013ob]
by rsholland
Jul 25, 2012 (9:42 am)
Thanks.
While you may have a Class III hitch, you shouldn't try Class III towing (5000 pound max), as your car is only rated for 2700 pound towing—if the trailer has its own set of brakes. If the trailer doesn't have brakes, you're limited to only 1000 pound towing.
The one with Eyesight that I drove did have an annoying lane-change feature. Every time you crossed a painted line on the road a buzzer would go off. Very annoying to say the least. I did like the adaptive cruise control, however.
Bob
#62 of 212 Re: 2013 OB Purchase [rsholland]
by 2013ob
Jul 25, 2012 (10:28 am)
I wont be towing anything of major weight. I have a Coleman VersaTrailer (kinda a cult following early 1980's trailer that is hard to find)
http://www.versatrailer.us/VERSA/CUSTOMERS/COLEMAN%20VERSA%20CARGO%20TRAILER.htm- - - -
It has a curb weight of 290lbs and we load it up with camping gear or use to hall multch, ect. Maybe 500 lbs fully loaded. It has a fiberglass cover that latches down to cover everything inside.
No plans on towing anything of larger. The Class III Curt (13990) is a well built hitch and goes on 90% of all Outbacks that use Road N Rack for hitch installs in the Salt Lake City Valley. Outbacks are EVERYWHERE in Utah. Cant drive a block without seeing at a few.
Oh yea, the 2013 (at least the Limited 2.5i w/Special Appearance) has a push button start---no key. There is a key to open the door that is tucked into the remote but no physical key to start the car.
I had my 2012 2.5i Premium through deep snow, up the Cottonwood Canyons (I live in the Salt Lake City Valley), drove it up to 11,000 feet near Brian Head Utah---no issues. It scoots along just fine at high elevations but I did drop it into 4th when climbing at times---advantage of the CVT. I ditched my Lincoln Navigator for the 2013 OB. We have a Mazda CX7 in the family (getting rid of that for a 2013 CX-5 or the 2013 Subaru CrossTrek in December) which is a great little car---nice turbo power!! Im breaking away from the large SUVs (always owned them) and going a little more greener these days.
#63 of 212 Re: 2013 OB Purchase [2013ob]
by redwinger1
Jul 26, 2012 (8:34 am)
Rsholland- I was thinking of the '13 ob mostly bc of the climb from parowan to Brian head, so you felt no troubles with the 2.5l car struggling? My current car barely makes it every time, so that hill is my major concern in deciding between a 2.5 or the 3.6. . Thanks!
#64 of 212 Re: 2013 OB Purchase [redwinger1]
by 2013ob
Jul 26, 2012 (9:08 am)
I would say if its power you want, go for the 3.6. I had no issues climbing to Brian Head whatsoever in my 2012 2.5i Premium. The great thing about the paddle shifters is when you need a little extra boost, its there. I put in manual mode when I climb mountains or passes. I havent played in the mountains with my 2013 yet but I anticipate no issues. The CVT is WAY smoother and lower end performance is definately a noticeable difference between the 2013 and 2012. Driving style adapting to the environment is the best way I can describe driving the 2012/2013 Outbacks with the manual mode option. Climbing big mountains, manual mode. Putting around town or on the highway, automatic. Want a little extra boost entering the freeway or passing, paddle shift down to a lower gear. You can use the paddle shifters while in auto mode---another great feature.
Im averaging 26 mpg on my 2013 with a mix of highway and city driving---thats with 450 miles on the clock so far. I noticed on my 2012 the MPG increased after the break in time---who knows if that was true or not but just something I noticed or it may have been my driving style. I was averaging about 24 mpg mixed when I got rid of it last month.
In my observations of Outbacks in the Salt Lake Valley and Park City area, I would say over 90% or more are 2.5's. Different strokes for different folks.
#65 of 212 Re: Cars 101 has more images and info on new '13 Outback [2013ob]
by placerville
Jul 27, 2012 (9:53 pm)
First, congrats on your purchase. My wife and I (Placerville, CA) just looked at the very same model and color Subaru today, and we agree with you regarding the changes between the '12 and '13. We are ready to buy but, we have a question about the Navigation system. To date, we've not had one in a vehicle or even a portable device. We're concerned about some threads we've read (on other sites) regarding the quality of the Subaru Nav. system. In short, most feel they stink. One comment was that, for the most part, all factory supplied Nav. systems are problematic and that the aftermarket Garmins and TomTom's are always much better. I watched a dealer demonstrating the system on YouTube and one of the comments was that updates are offered every 4 years. Seems odd. Do you have a Nav. system in your new Sabaru? If so, what do you think of it. Thank you in advice for your reply.
#66 of 212 Re: Cars 101 has more images and info on new '13 Outback [placerville]
by 2013ob
Jul 28, 2012 (6:30 am)
The 2013 OB 2.5i Limited navigation is a new generation of navigation--not in previous models so there is are very few people who have reviewed it on the 2013's. Yes, I have it but havent the opportunity to use it but will give it a shot of the weekend and see how it works. Everything I have read online indicates there are no issues with the navi system. This is my first vehicle with built in navigation. I like not having cables run down my dash, forgetting the windshield suction cup, or forgetting the power charger--this has happened to me a handful of times while traveling--forgetting something in one of my other vehicles, leaving parts in a back pack, or having it come unsucked from the windshield and falling over the car---these Im sure are common for portable navigation owners including myself. Less risk for someone breaking into your car to steal your navigation that is left in the window--which is common. The Special Appearence Package had it standard so I was fine with getting it. I have a Garmin and Wave (iPhone Ap)--which both are usually in my car at any given time so if the OB Navagation fails me, I have back up. I have had a Garmin for quite a few years--it has caused a few issues for me in the past but its hard to get lost in America these days so I made it through it!
I dont believe that the navigation is updated every 4 years, since it gives the option to check and download the latest software. Being in the software/electronic business, its common practice these days to provide updates to technology on a regular basic--I would say every few months rather than 1x every 4 years. I highly doubt Subaru would use a 3rd party nav system that only updated the software every 4 years. I like the layout of the HK audio and the navigation---I always have it in split screen--my ipod/iphone data on the left, gps running on the right (my 6 year old likes to see the car driving down the streets on the GPS so I have it on split screen all the time)--you can switch the view with a touch of the screen for full screen of either. Its cool that my contacts are downloaded from my phone into the system as well. In conclusion, the 2013 OB is a refined vehicle over the previous years models, including its audio and navigation system and I would be comfortable purchasing it. Im a week into ownership of the 2013 OB and all is well and happy with my purchase.