swc7916

Shouldn't you be more concerned that someone was needlessly injured because the airbags didn't operate properly?

I've driven them both and I like the XT better. If I were to pull a trailer though, I would have to seriously consider the H6.

I'm sure that this subject has been beaten to death somewhere, but here's my situation and what I think that I would like to do about it: I'm not satisfied with the engine/transmission/suspension in my 2004 Outback. It has the 2.5 liter 4 with the automatic transmission. The Baja has the same vehicle configuration, so why wouldn't a Baja turbo engine/transmission just drop right into my Outback? I could replace the hood with a Baja turbo hood and the car would look like it came that way from the factory. The things that I would like to know are: Does the Baja turbo have the same basic engine as my 2004 or is there something different about it? (i.e. can I add the turbo components from a Baja or Forester XT to my engine, or would I have to replace the entire engine?) I don't know about this, but since the Baja and Forester turbos put out 210 hp vs. the 250 hp of the turbo Legacies, it seems to me that there is something different about these engines. Does anyone know anything about this? I also own a Baja and it seems to have a firmer ride and to have more ground clearance. Is the suspension in the Baja different from the Outback? If you don't know any or all of this, could you point me somewhere to start my research? Thanks.

These are JDM models only for 2007. Expect them to be in the US in 2008.

Why are you so cynical? You don't have to show the coupon up front, and it doesn't matter if you do - the rebate comes from Subaru, not the dealer, just like the currently advertised promotions. And, it is added to any other promotions. There is currently a $500 rebate or 0% financing; if you use this coupon, you can get either a $1250 rebate or a $750 rebate and 0% financing. The purchase price of the new car and the trade-in value of your old car are totally separate issues. The dealer that I have bought 7 new Subarus from is marking up their 2006 cars only $200 over invoice. It's up to you if you like the trade-in value they offer, but it's not tied to the new car price.

I got one too. The $750 is on top of the other incentives. You get the best price you can from the dealer then subtract $1250 from it - What's wrong with that?

Ever since the 30K service (about 3 weeks ago) on my 2004 Outback I have noticed that it didn't smell right when it was hot. I stopped by the dealer last night to have them check it, and they say it needs new headgaskets! They're claiming that coolant it dripping onto the exhaust, and that's what I'm smelling. This is the 2nd Outback that I've had with this problem - the other was a 2001 at 47K miles. I thought that Subaru had this fixed by 2004 - is this unusual?

The service advisor at the dealership claims that piston slap is a result of the piston skirts being short in relation to the diameter of the piston, so that the piston can "rock" in the cylinder. Anyway, both my 2002 and 2004 Outbacks have it and they have 25k and 30k miles on them respectively. It is kind of annoying, but goes away in a couple of miles.

I have 4 Subarus and 2 of them do this. These cars have 25k and 29k miles on them. I'm not crazy about it either, but it's the nature of these engines. It's not hurting anything and it goes away in a couple of miles, so I just live with it.

By God, you're right! There are heating elements in the seatbacks! I never knew. I've used them quite a bit in the early mornings and the seat cushions get quite warm, but I have never felt heat from the seatbacks. Since it's still under warantee, I'm going to take the car in and get this checked. Thanks!

I DO NOT feel heat from the seat back, only from the seat cushion. With the rocker switch in the forward position, it gets quite warm; in the rearward position, I feel it but it's not that warm. Are you SURE that there are elements in the seatbacks? I don't believe that there are.

WHAT??? There are heating elements in the seat BACKS??? I wish there were heating elements in the seat backs. My 2004 has heated seats and I only feel heat in the cushions (bottoms). The rocker switches for the heated seats are not intuitive: the center position is OFF, the forward position is HIGH, and the rearward position is LOW.

I have no idea what car you're considering either. The Impreza Outback (called "Outback Sport") is not turbo-charged. The WRX is; so it's redundant to say "WRX Turbo". What do mean "Like the turbo but a second stage turbo..."? I have had both. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my son, who drives the car) our 2005 Outback Sport was totalled with only 7000 miles on it. I replaced it with a 2005 WRX wagon. In my opinion, the WRX is a better car; it rides and handles better, I like the seats better, it has a far better clutch, and of course it accelerates better. The downsides are the lower ground clearance, the higher initial cost, and the fact that it requires premium fuel.

I also have an 03 Baja and an 04 Outback and don't have that problem with either one of them. I would check to see how well the window seals.

What a way to start out your first post! Where did you get the idea that ANY of them "suck", let alone ALL of them? The AT in my 1996 Outback was a great transmission; better than my newer Outbacks. It always had positive shifts and there never seemed to be any "lag" on the downshifts. The car was totalled at 127,000 miles so I don't know how long it would have lasted, but I wish my newer Outbacks had a tranmission like it.

I took my 1987 GL there several years ago (I believe they were called All-Subaru then) to have a clutch replaced. It went fine and was cheaper than the dealer.

The dealership in Kirkland is Eastside Subaru and I have had nothing but good service from that dealership. Once I brought my 2001 Outback in because I smelled coolant (headgasket problem.) It was after 3pm and I didn't have an appointment, but they took the car in and had the headgaskets replaced by 11am the next day. The have gone to bat for me with other warantee issues even though I didn't buy the car there. I have had nothing but good service from Chaplin's too (that's where I buy my cars.) I've never been to Carter's, but I had no reason to think I would have a problem with them either. Suburb Service in Lake City seems to be good too. The problems that I have had were with independent shops that didn't specialize in Subaru, like Greg's Japanese Auto. They might be OK for a Toyota, but I wouldn't trust them with my Subaru, no matter what they promise.

I would not go to anyone who doesn't install factory pads. Which dealer are you referring to? The dealers are more expensive, but I've never had one foul up my car - which is more than I can say about the independents that I dealt with. This pervasive dealer prejudice is getting pretty annoying.

The 2006 WRXs have a 2.5 liter engine - doesn't the Saab version have the same? The Saab is priced higher than the Subaru and there are more Subaru dealers around to get service, so why get the Saab? Also, don't mess with it - just buy it and enjoy it as is.

I think that only the H6 has VDC. Anyway, with AWD why do you think that you need traction control? Pricing depends on the competition in your area - in the Seattle area there a least 6 Subaru dealers and I have bought 6 new ones and have never gotten less than invoice. I believe that there are rebates on most of the models now, so you may get a price that is effectively under invoice. If you think that you want one, just buy it and enjoy it.

The Outback, with its' higher ground clearance, will be the most off-road capable of the three - and it can be gotten in a turbo version. If most of the driving will be in-town I would go for the turbo over the H6. I think that if I were doing a lot of long-distance driving then I may consider the H6. I agree that the B9 Tribeca is ugly, but what's wrong with the Legacys? The Legacy has been on a 5-year cycle, so don't expect a facelift until 2010.

How about a left-over 2005? They still have a rebate and you'll get the CD changer, ground effects, and other goodies.

For a photo, try this site: http://boeingnews.web.boeing.com/archive/12_05/120105/051201a_a160_photo.html

The following article was in the Boeing News this morning: Boeing A160 Hummingbird completes flight test By Doug Kinneard Ship 4 of the Boeing A160 Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft program made its first test flight Wednesday from an airfield near Victorville, Calif., as Boeing continues to demonstrate the unprecedented range, endurance, payload and altitude capabilities of this unmanned air vehicle. "This flight – the first with a six-cylinder Subaru engine – is an important step toward concept demonstration of this innovative UAV to offer unprecedented capabilities in the history of helicopters," said Gary Gallagher, A160 program manager for Boeing Phantom Works. "It's gratifying to resume flight testing, as the A160 team does a great job with this new technology," Gallagher continued. "This aircraft can change all the rules as they apply to UAV vertical takeoff and landing operations." The new A160 successfully flew for about 30 minutes in the vicinity of the airfield, bringing the total number of A160 test flights to 32 and the total number of flight hours to 58. The objectives of the test included opening the A160's flight envelope for the latest vehicle configuration – previous aircraft used four-cylinder Subaru engines. Engineers are currently analyzing the flight data in preparation for the next series of test flights. The Hummingbird features a unique optimum speed rotor technology that significantly improves overall performance efficiency by adjusting the RPM of the rotor system at different altitudes, gross weights and cruise speeds. It is designed to fly autonomously, for much longer periods of time (in excess of 24 hours), over greater distances (2,500-plus nautical miles/4,630-plus kilometers), at higher altitudes (up to 30,000 feet/9,144 meters) and much more quietly than current helicopters. The A160 could provide reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, communication relay and precision re-supply. The A160 Hummingbird is being developed and tested by Phantom Works under contract with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Phantom Works currently is under contract for eight A160 UAVs for DARPA and 10 for Naval Air Systems Command.

If the fog is soo thick that you can't see more than 2 feet in front of the car, you shouldn't be driving more than 5 mph, if that. No fog light is going to allow you to drive 50 mph in that kind of weather. Fog lights have to aimed low - if the lights are aimed too high you will be blinded by the light reflecting off of the fog. I think that they help in the fog, but I use them mostly to make my car more visible to other drivers - especially when it's dark and raining. I came close to broadsiding a car that pulled out in front of me once, and now I try to make sure I'm a visible as possible.