Yay! Finally a Subaru hybrid!

[firefighterjake]

My wife loves Subaru for the fact of driving in the snow. We have NOkian Hakka 5s on both my cars and they turn a Subaru into a snowmobile!

Andrew

HehHeh . . . same here . . . my wife works per diem as a nurse so she is often going into work or coming home in the evening or late at night . . . there have been many a night when she has made it home and she gives me a count on the number of vehicles spotted off in the ditch. She says her Subbie is like a tank on wheels . . . her words. I think on her next car I will actually get some dedicated and studded snow tires for even better traction as I am just running all seasons right now.

And for my next car . . . kinda debating about whether to go with the BRZ or WRX for my mid-life crisis car!

 

[MishMouse]

My next winter transportation will most likely be a Subaru. My 1998 RAV4 gets around 25-28mpg, but with 145K on it and 15 years of road salt it is starting to show some wear. My summer transportation is a Pontiac Vibe which gets close to 35mpg on highway. The bad thing about the Pontiac it does not do well in the winter even with new tires. Since Winter here goes from Nov-May, and the dirt roads I need to drive on are poorly taken care of, I need a AWD that gets top mpg.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Are you liking it Dave? So you have the manual?

So far so good. I did test drive the CVT, and I just didn't like the feel for the CVT....they are actually reported to get better gas mileage than the 6 spd manual.

Although I do like the 6 speed, the gearing is a little more to get used to if you are coming from a a 5 speed....i.e on the highway sometimes you need to switch between 5th and 6th depending on passing/going uphill etc....I think if it were just a 5 speed it would be more towards my liking. I wanted to get the 3.5 litre, but since I average 16-18,000 miles a year it would have made a big impact on the wallet. If you need to pull/tow and like to jack rabbin at stop lights I would go for the larger engine...if you are not s peed demon and are concerned with mpg, the 2.5 is more than adequate.

 

[Jack Fate]

HehHeh . . . same here . . . my wife works per diem as a nurse so she is often going into work or coming home in the evening or late at night . . . there have been many a night when she has made it home and she gives me a count on the number of vehicles spotted off in the ditch. She says her Subbie is like a tank on wheels . . . her words. I think on her next car I will actually get some dedicated and studded snow tires for even better traction as I am just running all seasons right now.

And for my next car . . . kinda debating about whether to go with the BRZ or WRX for my mid-life crisis car!

If we are dreaming here make mine the sti

I mean really it all costs the same

gotta be blue .love that color & I don't even like blue

 

[Jack Fate]

All my diesel stuff gets fuel additive every tank full for a lubricity for the pump... Amsoil , I did hear that there were some issues with the new VW's but have forgotten what was the issue... Was it camshaft wear issues in the new diesels? The Subaru's definitely give one a comfortable feeling when driving through some nasty snow conditions,, the wife likes that... We bought our 03 with 85,000 miles... Has been a pretty trouble free car... Changed that over to Amsoil,,, found out the motor was pretty dirty inside...what ever oil they ran before,,, the amsoil was getting dirty fast for the first few oil changes... The inside of the oil filler cap was a dead give away as to infrequent oil changes or cheap oil... Sludge build up... It's all good now..with 120,000 plus.

had a lot more on the new diesels written here but erased it .I joined a diesel VW forum group last year.Followed it for months ,lot of neat people there.I learned alot about problems they were having ,REAL scary

also seems VW diesel people & subie people are alot alike

 

[Swedishchef]

HehHeh . . . same here . . . my wife works per diem as a nurse so she is often going into work or coming home in the evening or late at night . . . there have been many a night when she has made it home and she gives me a count on the number of vehicles spotted off in the ditch. She says her Subbie is like a tank on wheels . . . her words. I think on her next car I will actually get some dedicated and studded snow tires for even better traction as I am just running all seasons right now.

My opinion: If you get winter tires, get the best ones you can afford. The most expensive winter tire may cost $50-$100 more per tire than a cheap one. Yet, the quality is 10 times better. And over 4-5-6 winters, I don't find it makes a big difference on the wallet.

 

[Swedishchef]

also seems VW diesel people & subie people are alot alike

They are loyal customers, almost cult-like! We are today what the Volvo fans were in the 1980s.

 

[Swedishchef]

If we are dreaming here make mine the sti

I mean really it all costs the same

gotta be blue .love that color & I don't even like blue

Friend of mine has a charcoal grey one. What a machine. Considering in Canada it is 9K more, he pays $750 a month for it. Ahhhh...the single-nokids-nohouse lifestyle. lol

 

[jharkin]

I thought I read in the reviews that in the CVT equipped subies the symetrical AWD is ditched for a front biased system which helps them hit those better MPG figures....

 

[Jack Fate]

I thought I read in the reviews that in the CVT equipped subies the symetrical AWD is ditched for a front biased system which helps them hit those better MPG figures....

I think its all automatic subies are like 80/20

after testing a 2004 forrester XT with auto & 5 speed ,told the wife no auto, to me there seems to be a lot of difference .

had a stick till last year. Wife says no more sticks ,So no WRX for me

My family has had subies since 73,Got Married in that one

 

[Swedishchef]

I think its all automatic subies are like 80/20

after testing a 2004 forrester XT with auto & 5 speed ,told the wife no auto, to me there seems to be a lot of difference .

had a stick till last year. Wife says no more sticks ,So no WRX for me

My family has had subies since 73,Got Married in that one

Jack: Glad to see you're a diehard. I have driven an 87 GL, 95 loyale, 95 Legacy sedan, 1998 legacy sedan, 2005 IMpreza and 2010 Forester.

FWIW, the 2002-2007 Imprezas had a 4 speed automatic transmission option. I have drive a few and man oh man are they fun. They go like snot!

 

[Swedishchef]

I thought I read in the reviews that in the CVT equipped subies the symetrical AWD is ditched for a front biased system which helps them hit those better MPG figures....

I have read the same. I am not sure why but there are 3 types of AWD systems out there:

2.5i, Premium, with (broken link removed to http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?toolid=10029&campid=CAMPAIGNID&customid=CUSTOMID&catId=6000&type=2&ext=330888546393&item=330888546393) speed transmission
Continuous All Wheel Drive system with VDC and (broken link removed to http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?toolid=10029&campid=CAMPAIGNID&customid=CUSTOMID&catId=6000&type=2&ext=271030572647&item=271030572647) symmetrical viscous coupling 50/50 front/back power split.

2.5i, Premium, Limited with Automatic CVT transmission
Active All Wheel Drive system with VDC and Hill Holder. Electronically controlled, constantly varying front/back power split 80/20 front/back power split.

3.6R, automatic 5 speed transmission
VTD (Variable Torque Distribution) All Wheel Drive system with VDC and Hill Holder VTD traction control system has 45/55 performance oriented, front/rear power split with (broken link removed to http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?toolid=10029&campid=CAMPAIGNID&customid=CUSTOMID&catId=6000&type=2&ext=320982541594&item=320982541594).

All I know is that my 2005 impreza can handle like the best rally car out there. I feel very safe in the snow and I love going fast (on closed roads) and can drift nicely around corners....no VDC, anti-slip, none of that.

Andrew

 

[firefighterjake]

Friend of mine has a charcoal grey one. What a machine. Considering in Canada it is 9K more, he pays $750 a month for it. Ahhhh...the single-nokids-nohouse lifestyle. lol

Yikes! That's about $150 more than my mortgage payment . . . hence the "single, no kids, no house" life style I imagine.

 

[firefighterjake]

Jack: Glad to see you're a diehard. I have driven an 87 GL, 95 loyale, 95 Legacy sedan, 1998 legacy sedan, 2005 IMpreza and 2010 Forester.

FWIW, the 2002-2007 Imprezas had a 4 speed automatic transmission option. I have drive a few and man oh man are they fun. They go like snot!

1987 GL . . . was that the car that had the selectable 4WD . . . the brown one looked like a mis-shapened, half melted chocolate bar and while good on gas it had no get up and go on hills? I think I drove one way back when after college until I traded with my father . . . he got the GL and I got his V-8 Chevy Malibu which was a former Maine State Trooper's cruiser.

 

[Swedishchef]

Yikes! That's about $150 more than my mortgage payment . . . hence the "single, no kids, no house" life style I imagine.

LOL Yes. And the fact that we live in Canada and everything is more expensive here. Top knotch outback in Canada is 9K more than in the US....

BUt it makes sense if you do the math: an STI is about 45K. pay it off in 5 years and you have to pay $9000/year on the car. $750 a month is $9000 a year.

 

[Swedishchef]

1987 GL . . . was that the car that had the selectable 4WD . . . the brown one looked like a mis-shapened, half melted chocolate bar and while good on gas it had no get up and go on hills? I think I drove one way back when after college until I traded with my father . . . he got the GL and I got his V-8 Chevy Malibu which was a former Maine State Trooper's cruiser.

That is the one indeed. It has a 4WD hi/low stickshift. Ugliest thing on the road. lol. Beside the Subaru Brat (looked like a small El-Camino and had legal bucket seats in the box facing the rear).

 

[Floydian]

Ugliest thing on the road. lol. Beside the Subaru Brat (looked like a small El-Camino and had legal bucket seats in the box facing the rear).

Not fair, Swedishchef! Lots of ugly cars then and now but the Brat, come on man! El Camino and El Ranchero only wish they were as cool as El Brat!

My folks are all about the Subarus. They are on number 11, I believe. Lets see....

1.78 dl wagon 4x4
2.85 gl wagon 4x4
3.84 gl turbo coupe 4x4 (my first car in '92)
4.another 84 gl turbo coupe 4x4
5.84 gl sedan 4x4(Goldie)
6.87 gl wagon 4x4 (known as Blubaru)
7.88 2 dr liftback 4x4( with a big ugly stain on the headliner above the driver seat from the previous owner's head)
8.91 dl wagon 2wd(why bother?)
9.92 legacy wagon AWD
10.94 legacy wagon AWD
11.08 legacy outback wagon

All of these were bought used except the '85 wagon and the '08 wagon that my mom drives now.

Lots of great Subaru memories for me,

Noah

 

[jharkin]

The ugliest Subie would still be a beauty queen next to a Pontiac Aztec

This coming from a honda guy....

 

[Ashful]

Subaru must be doing something right... it's rare to see such a loyal following for a product on the low end of the price spectrum. It reminds me in many ways of the loyal following VW had in the 1960/70's.

 

[jharkin]

it's rare to see such a loyal following for a product on the low end of the price spectrum.

If you like driving in snow, Audi Quattro and Mercedes 4-ETS are very hard to beat.

Obviously you have never been to a car show ...

Everyone's definition of "low end" is relative. Audis and Merc's are out of reach for most of us in the bottom 90%. Or put another way the bottom 99% worldwide.

 

[Ashful]

Obviously you have never been to a car show ...

What do you mean? Put otherwise, what other companies selling cars in that price range enjoy the same sort of loyalty as Subaru? Not many.

Noted on the Merc's, which is why I had removed that comment (but you were too quick!).

 

[jharkin]

What do you mean? Put otherwise, what other companies selling cars in that price range enjoy the same sort of loyalty as Subaru? Not many.

This is almost to funny. Just turn on your TV during NASCAR season. Look at the legions of fans for Chevy and Ford. Or look at the sales figures and repeat buyer statistics for Toyota, Honda and Nissan. the crazy fast growth of Hyundai and Kia.

and on and on.

Certainly Mercedes makes a nice car but lets not have any delusions, they are toys for the top 5-10%. Sure here in the northeast we see a lot of them on the road, but there are a lot more top 10%ers per capita up here. Go to Ohio or Georgia and you will see a much different mix on the road.



I'll leave it at that.... My apologies Swedish for taking us off track.

 

[Swedishchef]

Not fair, Swedishchef! Lots of ugly cars then and now but the Brat, come on man! El Camino and El Ranchero only wish they were as cool as El Brat!

My folks are all about the Subarus. They are on number 11, I believe. Lets see....

1.78 dl wagon 4x4
2.85 gl wagon 4x4
3.84 gl turbo coupe 4x4 (my first car in '92)
4.another 84 gl turbo coupe 4x4
5.84 gl sedan 4x4(Goldie)
6.87 gl wagon 4x4 (known as Blubaru)
7.88 2 dr liftback 4x4( with a big ugly stain on the headliner above the driver seat from the previous owner's head)
8.91 dl wagon 2wd(why bother?)
9.92 legacy wagon AWD
10.94 legacy wagon AWD
11.08 legacy outback wagon

All of these were bought used except the '85 wagon and the '08 wagon that my mom drives now.

Lots of great Subaru memories for me,

Noah

LOL. El Brat!

Woa! That is quite the list of SUbarus! LOL. I can picture the 1984 one in my mind...that color was very popular back then. Man oh man they were not pretty but they got the job done! There is a very particular feeling on a Subaru shifter. I think it is because of the AWD...perhaps I am wrong.

What do you drive??

Andrew

 

[Swedishchef]

The ugliest Subie would still be a beauty queen next to a Pontiac Aztec

This coming from a honda guy....

A friend of mine is the most knowledgeable person in the car industry I know. At the age of 23 he was handpicked to OPEN a GM car dealership that had 55 employees....He knows his chit. The thing he said about the Aztec: "it was the ugliest but most practical car out there. Every inch of design was based on usefullness and not beauty". He had a demo and loved it. He said it was super comfortable. His model had the "tent/mattress" option!

Andrew

 

[Swedishchef]

Subaru must be doing something right... it's rare to see such a loyal following for a product on the low end of the price spectrum. It reminds me in many ways of the loyal following VW had in the 1960/70's.

I totally understand where you're coming from. The problem is that in Canada, they aren't cheap. The base model impreza (that still has A/C, power everything, etc) is $21500+ tax. That means it is a $25000 car. In my books, that's not cheap. Honda has the Fit which is $16000+tax, the Yaris is $16000+tax, etc etc.. So essentially they are 5K above everyone else.

However in the US, they are cheaper indeed. What they are doing to keep clientele is is not making too many models and perfecting the ones they have. They don't make many cars (in Canada they sell about 25000 a year) and flood the market with them. The forester is based on the impreza platform (as is the crosstrek) and the outback is based on the legacy.

Subaru owners are cult-like. LOL. Like the Volvos from the 1980s. or like you said, the VW from the 60s-70s.

And I won't forget the news headline: in 2011 Subaru USA sold more cars than VW USA. Due to the fact that the market is not flooded with them, they keep their value and have won numerous awards for highest residual value. (broken link removed to http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1113581/subaru-canada-highest-overall-predicted-resale-value-in-three-segments)