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Who here has/had a Subaru? Good car?
- Thread starter watchmainspring
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I've never owned one myself, and based on what the automotive press has to say I probably never will. Check out the usual sources, such as http://www.caranddriver.com for a few reviews. When their long term test cars have failed wheel bearings and various transmission woes I'd say they're to be avoided. Cars are too expensive these days to go with manufacturers with a history of poor quality. Of course, every manufacturer has an off day but they're not all equal.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Amen on all of your comments.
The clutch is something that wears out depending on ones usage. The $1800 price may be high - not sure though. Repair costs could be lower at an independent shop.
I have found the extended warranty useful as it has replaced an axle and a few other things that went bad around 70,000 miles. I have been very happy with both of my Subaru's except for the brakes which I have never been happy with. I don't do much with my local subaru dealer as they seem to always find things that are wrong that either are not that bad, are much cheaper someplace else or are phantom problems that are not really problems.
I too have had many clutches and the poster above makes some good comments about clutches- is that the only problem you have had with your car up to 70,000 miles? If so, that is a great car. Sounds like your service dealer is not good at all though.
Also, remember with Subaru (as confirmed yet again yesterday with the independent insurance safety testers) you pay extra for safety!! They are one of the safest cars on the road today. In my mind, if I have to replace a part a few thousand miles earlier because my car company decided to put a little more money into the safety of the car that is ok with me. From my viewpoint, I want to have a better chance walking away from an accident than get an extra 20,000 miles from a clutch. Just my opinion though.
I doubt you would find GM, Ford, Chrysler makes a car with a clutch that goes much more than 70 or 80,000 miles under the same conditions EVERY time. Sure, you could find examples of people going hundreds of thousands of miles on a clutch, but I am sure some go 40,000 as well.
Good luck though finding your next car- I do hope it is a better one.
One more thing- don't forget every company can't be perfect and I hope you are not basing this decision on one part going bad a little early. I could see if you had several things go bad very early on more than one car- but doesn't sound like the case here.
I too have had many clutches and the poster above makes some good comments about clutches- is that the only problem you have had with your car up to 70,000 miles? If so, that is a great car. Sounds like your service dealer is not good at all though.
Also, remember with Subaru (as confirmed yet again yesterday with the independent insurance safety testers) you pay extra for safety!! They are one of the safest cars on the road today. In my mind, if I have to replace a part a few thousand miles earlier because my car company decided to put a little more money into the safety of the car that is ok with me. From my viewpoint, I want to have a better chance walking away from an accident than get an extra 20,000 miles from a clutch. Just my opinion though.
I doubt you would find GM, Ford, Chrysler makes a car with a clutch that goes much more than 70 or 80,000 miles under the same conditions EVERY time. Sure, you could find examples of people going hundreds of thousands of miles on a clutch, but I am sure some go 40,000 as well.
Good luck though finding your next car- I do hope it is a better one.
One more thing- don't forget every company can't be perfect and I hope you are not basing this decision on one part going bad a little early. I could see if you had several things go bad very early on more than one car- but doesn't sound like the case here.
Yes, that sounds like a dealership that practices money about as well as the tireshop/service center down the street.
If they are doing that, then they shouldn't be working on the car -- ever.
Unless it is a warranty problem, or only charge $5 for the oil change.
Clutch life depends very much on driving style. Lots of slipping = short life.
That said, $1800 is a hell of a lot for a clutch, even if it includes a flywheel. I'd go somewhere else for a second opinion.
Wait wait wait, your boyfriend works on Hondas, and is calling Subarus underpowered? The Civic Si has less torque than any Impreza (or any other 2.5L non-turbo from Subaru), and that's the lowest you can get. The Civic tops out at 197/139 in the Si, while the Imprezas start at 173/166, and goes up from there.wimic said:
Now, as for the design, I think the Legacy sedan has been one of the best looking cars on the market for the last 8-10 years. And while the new Impreza didn't thrill me at first, it has grown on me very much, and I prefer the 06/07 styling to any of the previous ones (especially the bugeyes
).Of course, all that has nothing to do with me buying one a few months ago.
A Subaru Impreza? Why not get a Mazdaspeed.
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Mazdaspeed Performance Accessories - Mazdaspeed Performance Accessories Catalog by Mazda USA
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Mazdaspeed Performance Accessories - Mazdaspeed Performance Accessories Catalog by Mazda USA
Why even bring up this old thread?
Oh wait, your a fanboy and just HAD to put your 2c in, 3 months later.
Oh wait, your a fanboy and just HAD to put your 2c in, 3 months later.
In the farms of Scotland, where I used to live, Subarus were the norm. Four wheel drive, good performance, and long-lasting.
not that much but it is an AWD car. But then again the WRX is not exactly ment to be a pratical car. It is a compact car with a lot of power and designed to be more fun to drive.
I am thinking about replacing my 2004 Spec V (another not so pratical car) with WRX in 3-4 years. By then I will have the money to do it and I for work I will be driving on unpaved make shift roads to minor off the road though dirt/mud so having AWD would be pretty helpful and it might be a way I can advoiding having to get a truck/SUV because of my job.
That being said I do have a friend who has an STi and he loves it. A few weeks ago it was kind of icy here and he was screwing around in a parking lot sliding on ice with a friend of his. He desided to leave about the time he saw a cop pull into the lot. As he was leaving the cop desided to pull him over and his friend suggest that he go up the ramp to pull over for the cop because the cop's Crown Vic could never back it up there. Well the cop end up having to walk up a 20ft long hill in 20 degree weather to talk to him. He said it was worth quite a few good laugh because he could move around fairly well in snow and ice.
Subaru: My worst car EVER!
I bought a new '05 Subaru Impreza WRX STi after spending months of research.
My problems started around 9000 miles and NEVER stopped.
Everything from bad injector, clutch noises (lost count of how many times that was "repaired,") air conditioning, bad differential, and oh, by the way...did I mention it used MORE THAN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 600 TO 700 miles!?
I got know far too many service managers and techs by first name. And I NEVER, EVER raced this car. Took EXCELLENT care of it. Had problems with 2 different dealerships.
Did it drive well? Yes, but it reminded me of an old girlfriend. She was gorgeous, good in bed, intelligent and an absolute unpredictable raving, abusive MANIAC!
Finally ended up suing Subaru. Thank God for the lemon law. This car wasn't just a lemon, it was an ENTIRE ORCHARD! Someone said earlier that Subaru sucks. I couldn't agree more.
I bought a new '05 Subaru Impreza WRX STi after spending months of research.
My problems started around 9000 miles and NEVER stopped.
Everything from bad injector, clutch noises (lost count of how many times that was "repaired,") air conditioning, bad differential, and oh, by the way...did I mention it used MORE THAN A QUART OF OIL EVERY 600 TO 700 miles!?
I got know far too many service managers and techs by first name. And I NEVER, EVER raced this car. Took EXCELLENT care of it. Had problems with 2 different dealerships.
Did it drive well? Yes, but it reminded me of an old girlfriend. She was gorgeous, good in bed, intelligent and an absolute unpredictable raving, abusive MANIAC!
Finally ended up suing Subaru. Thank God for the lemon law. This car wasn't just a lemon, it was an ENTIRE ORCHARD! Someone said earlier that Subaru sucks. I couldn't agree more.
I'm gonna watch this thread because I've considered the Impreza for my next car purchase.
That's only because my local car dealer isn't selling flying cars yet, even though it's the 21st century.
Watching also.
I have an interest in the WRX STi - a friend had one and man alive they are zippy little thingamajigs!
I ended up with an 2005 Subaru Outback. I'll report if I encounter any major problems with the car or issues with dealers.
I work for a Subaru Dealership. I drive Subaru Cars for over 8 hours a day, new and used. Here are basically my thoughts on a few Subaru models.
IMHO, they are overpriced (Canada).
Tribeca: For roughly the same price as an Acura (Canada), you are getting much less automobile. The car is very basic, and at a price similar to luxury brands such as BMW and Infinity, I would strongly urge customers to take a long hard look at the competition. Now that almost every car manufacturer makes an SUV, you can definitely do better than the Tribeca.
Legacy Spec. B: Compared to the Infinity G35, or the BMW 3 Series, this luxury sedan has nothing. Priced considerably high (Canada), with less standard features than a Camry, give your head one or two good shakes before even entering a Subaru dealership. (The same can be said about the 2008 STI WRX, except that the STI is basically built for a 'niche' market in Canada. Subaru has an excuse to cut some corners thanks to the trendy STI label)
These models are near the top end of the Subaru lineup, and as you can see, I don't take kindly to these models. As far as the Outback, Impreza, and Legacy models go, don't expect much more than the AWD.
Oh, and by the way, I enjoy my job, even with my harsh opinions about the product. Thank goodness I'm not a salesman!
IMHO, they are overpriced (Canada).
Tribeca: For roughly the same price as an Acura (Canada), you are getting much less automobile. The car is very basic, and at a price similar to luxury brands such as BMW and Infinity, I would strongly urge customers to take a long hard look at the competition. Now that almost every car manufacturer makes an SUV, you can definitely do better than the Tribeca.
Legacy Spec. B: Compared to the Infinity G35, or the BMW 3 Series, this luxury sedan has nothing. Priced considerably high (Canada), with less standard features than a Camry, give your head one or two good shakes before even entering a Subaru dealership. (The same can be said about the 2008 STI WRX, except that the STI is basically built for a 'niche' market in Canada. Subaru has an excuse to cut some corners thanks to the trendy STI label)
These models are near the top end of the Subaru lineup, and as you can see, I don't take kindly to these models. As far as the Outback, Impreza, and Legacy models go, don't expect much more than the AWD.
Oh, and by the way, I enjoy my job, even with my harsh opinions about the product. Thank goodness I'm not a salesman!
no lemons, only lemonade here...
owned a 98 legacy turbo sedan for 148k miles that was super fun to drive and never had a single problem (really, never, nothing).
we traded it in for a loaded 2001 outback which has also been a totally reliable and enjoyable car. the outback had a stuck thermostat around 70k which left us by the side of the road for about 45 minutes until it cooled down enough to fill and limp into town, but nothing else.
now around 123k miles and counting, and really nice to drive around town and on road trips. got it stuck one (single) time, but it was a drift and the snow was over the hood deep...
owned a 98 legacy turbo sedan for 148k miles that was super fun to drive and never had a single problem (really, never, nothing).
we traded it in for a loaded 2001 outback which has also been a totally reliable and enjoyable car. the outback had a stuck thermostat around 70k which left us by the side of the road for about 45 minutes until it cooled down enough to fill and limp into town, but nothing else.
now around 123k miles and counting, and really nice to drive around town and on road trips. got it stuck one (single) time, but it was a drift and the snow was over the hood deep...
My dad is a Sales Consultant for Subaru, and he has owned three so far; '98 Impreza WRX, '00 Liberty, and the current car (family car), an '07 Outback.
Every Subaru car across the range has a 5 star safety rating, and in Australia, they have the best re-sale value. All Subarus have a boxer engine (just like Porsches).
IMHO, the Outback is a very nice car with a large boot, smooth ride, lots of room and a quiet engine. Our Outback has leather seats, sunroof, tow-bar and 6 airbags. And let's not forget the iPod connection!
Every Subaru car across the range has a 5 star safety rating, and in Australia, they have the best re-sale value. All Subarus have a boxer engine (just like Porsches).
IMHO, the Outback is a very nice car with a large boot, smooth ride, lots of room and a quiet engine. Our Outback has leather seats, sunroof, tow-bar and 6 airbags. And let's not forget the iPod connection!
That's the one thing I really hate about Subarus. For their engine specs, they aren't as fuel efficient as they should be. If they were more fuel efficient, I'm sure I would strongly consider a Subaru. If not, then no thanks.
Ok, nevermind then. I'll look elsewhere.
That sucks, but glad you were able to lemon it out at least.
I've driven/raced/off-roaded the b'jesus out of my STi for 40K miles so far without any major problems. I have some premature rattling here and there which is expected given hard off-road use (mainly plastic clips pop out every now and then). The biggest problem is probably the multiple sets of OEM struts I've blown through, but again I guess I can't complain about that given what I put it through. The inverted strut design on the STi may be good for performance, but seems to be crap for longevity under heavy use (something my WRX struts had no problems with at all).
Beyond that, I've owned a WRX (also raced off-road) and an Outback wagon daily driver, both without a single issue. I know a lot of people with extremely high mileage Subarus - people that don't baby them either.