[Has Subaru Peaked?]

yes, experience - subaru's drivetrain has no hubs that need to be locked or anything - you just drive it - I already know a friend who had to overhaul the front end of his F-250 b/c his "automatically locking hubs" ate their innards - try anything that Chrystler corp. has made that is 2WD or AWD - needs a tranny every 50k if it is actually driven - the quality is not there

nor is the safety in crashes unless you are in something twice the size of the forrester

 

Subaru's AWD system not only improves handeling under adverse conditions, but also under normal driving conditions

 

if nothing else - look at consumer report's year-end car report on Subaru reliability vs. other small SUV's - there are numbers

 

Less than 10% made ever expierenced head gasket failure (number comes from a professional Subaru mechanic via. SOA) - now lets compare that to the number of early Ford Focuses that lost rear wheels or "new" Dodge Caravans that don't have trannies worth a flip - the early 2.5L mishap was rather minor by comparison of number of failures and the severity - head gaskets are nasty when they fail - but they won't cause a traffic accident, like loosing a wheel or tranny will - it was a disappointment because it fell below Subaru's usual reliabilty expectations - look at the big three's head gasket woes for compairison

 

 

I already stated small, economy SUV's - three have something that may fit that catagory, and I already addressed Audi:

 

Honda - economy stops at gas pump - no MT 4WD in a forrester size for '05 model - I should know as I was auto shopping recently

Mitsubishi - bad trannies/drivetrain - not seen an AWD manual since the mid '90s - and even so, still bad drivetrain - tendency to strip gears on MT boxes used for light-duty applications, and torque converters on automatics

Toyota - no MT offered for '05 - I was just shopping and looked - they offer MTs in model lines that have AWD cars, you just can't get AWD with a MT

 

None of these can come close to the safety record of Subaru either

 

Jeep - the wrangler - that is it - the cherokee hasn't had a manual since 04 or earlier (it is really a rebadged Durango) - neither Wrangler or Cherokee are economy thought they have 4WD

 

BMW has had some of the biggest recalls in the company's history with its AWD system and the X3 and X5 SUV's (I have some friends who recently sold their X5 because of how unstable it was on the road) - the 3 and 5 both are RWD only cars, BMW does not compete with Subaru anyway as Subaru does not make a luxury car

 

Porsche is still new to the game - not enough on the road to tell - and they are not in competition with Subaru as Subaru makes nothing that high-end

 

The only one you have not mentioned is Volvo - and they are probably Subaru's biggest threat - and I know from yet another good friend that it sucks - he junked his '84 for a brand new volvo AWD wagon - likes amenities, hates traction

 

I am around a lot of car people, so I keep in the loop as to what the problems with all the manufacturers are from people who actually own the cars. It helps to know what is really going on out there - Car and Driver and most other "auto magazines" are a real joke and full of hype

 

Look at the performance characteristics of the drivetrains in all of these vehicles - you will see the differances very quickly

 

 

 

Ha ha ha - really - do you believe the US is Subaru's main focus?

Furthermore, did you actually pay attention to the GM deal?

 

They produce cars for the entire world - Subarus are common in Australia and New Zealand - as well as other more hostile environments

 

We in the US see very little of what Subaru actually makes - they have a dual-range AWD transmission available in Europe and Japan

 

They make a wide range of smaller passenger cars and other vehicles exclusively for their own home market - there is VERY little concern about their place in the US market

 

Renault and Peugeot as well as many other manufacturers have already prooven that the US market is not a key component of corporate success

 

GM bought 20% of Subaru from Nissan - Nissan needed the money, and GM wanted Subaru's drivetrain technology - yes that is why they bought Subaru - it was published in the Raleigh News and Observer's Auto section when the deal took place - and already the Subaru boxer engine has appeared in Saab - funny coincidence

Every European automaker who has failed to make it in this country failed because they couldn/t make products that click with Americans. And don/t think for one minute that they wouldn't give anything to be in this, the number one,by far, market in the world,

[oil filter]

Where can I cross reference numbers for an oil filter (NAME BRANDS) for 2005 Legacy Ltd. 2.5? All I can find is 2004. Thanks!

[Blizzaks]

That's the second time I've heard those tires mentioned. I also own BMW's and one of the websites,E60.net had a poster who swore by them. I'll check them out for my 5 series. Thanks.

[Blizzaks]

Thanks, everybody! Yes, there are four of them, all the same size.

[Blizzaks]

My wife just traded in her '03 Accord for a new Legacy Limited. We took the Bridgestone Blizzaks off of the Honda before trading as they only have a couple thousand miles on them. Here's my question. Can we use the size 205/60-16 Blizzaks on the Subaru which calls for 205/55-16? Not enough difference in size to matter to me. What do you think?

[Lets compare the Legacy and the Mustang]

You may as well compare a lawn mower with a sailboat. They share about as much in common as a Mustang and a Legacy. Two entirely different target buyers, categories, and much more. The 'stang is more of a lifestyle vehicle(the GT, anyway), while the Subaru is more about reliable, safe transportation for families. Just my .02.

[Just showed up]

I'm new to the forum as of today (2/3/05). I seem to change cars often- way, way to often according to the wife. I always join forums and sites as soon as a new car comes into the family. I currently own two BMW's, an '03 330i and an '05 530i. The new car is my wife's, an '05 Legacy Limited Automatic sedan. Look forward to learning a lot from you folks!

 

NIKTEE.