Subaru Outback

[dmclone]

I've never been in a car accident or do any off roading but from everything I've read, not all AWD or 4WD's are equal and sometimes they change from model to model and year to year. I know that a company like Acura has basic AWD and the SH-AWD (super handling). Jeeps have different 4wd systems between models. With all of that said, I've always heard that Subaru knows how to build AWD models well. The only big knock I've ever heard about Subaru on a regular basis is that their interiors are a little low rent compared to similarly priced vehicles. Oh and the lesbian\vape\hipster thing.

 

[FarminCy]

The Outback had been based on the car frame while the Forester was a different SUV type frame. Speaking of which, has anyone seen or driven the new large 3 row Subaru Ascent?

We are going to be testing one next week. I’m hoping it will work for us but worried the third row could be too small.

 

[NickTheGreat]

If it detects slip it switches automatically to AWD. Assuming you don't go off roading, what advantage do you get by pushing a button?

My beef with AWD is that why have those parts moving if I don't need it? Like doing down I-35 in July, I should be able to turn off the AWD in my wife's car. My Chevy truck has an Auto 4WD setting that makes it behave much like a AWD vehicle. You'd think the engineers at Buick could walk down the hall and talk to the Chevy engineers about this.

Compare the same AWD vs FWD cars, there is a slight mileage differential. And the higher up front cost. Though not sure how AWD would compare to a traditional 4WD setup.

 

[k123]

Seems like pretty consistent answers so far!

I'm a bearded male who like's imported beer and is married to a woman. I had an older generation Forester for five years. I bought it for the safety, reliability, storage space, and all-time AWD in inclement weather. It was great in the bad weather (let's be honest, really only needed that like 15 days per year). Everything else was good too, and the retained value held up when I sold it when it was 13 model years old.

Only problem was highway noise but but that was an older model problem (boxy and frameless door windows). Even though I no longer own a Subaru I still feel a nostalgic kinship whenever I see one on the road.

This older article was from a neutral source but is so positive it seems propagandistic:
http://fortune.com/2012/11/19/are-subarus-the-best-cars-money-can-buy/

...also these old Subaru vs Ukranian tank videos are fun:


...and these roller ramp tests (all w factory tires) were supposed to compare the all time AWD vs sensor/part time:

 

[herbicide]

My beef with AWD is that why have those parts moving if I don't need it? Like doing down I-35 in July, I should be able to turn off the AWD in my wife's car. My Chevy truck has an Auto 4WD setting that makes it behave much like a AWD vehicle. You'd think the engineers at Buick could walk down the hall and talk to the Chevy engineers about this.

Compare the same AWD vs FWD cars, there is a slight mileage differential. And the higher up front cost. Though not sure how AWD would compare to a traditional 4WD setup.

I had a 1999 Tahoe with the auto 4wd feature. I could tell when it transitioned, but just barely and only when it needed to. I left it in auto 4wd all the time.

Then somewhere along the line an "expert" told me to keep it in 2wd until you think you might need it. Even though it is automatic and fairly intelligent, he said it was best to leave it off as it is hard on the transfer case for it to switch (when moving). FWIW.

 

[GTO]

My wife has one as her around town car. She bought in 2010 and we continue to drive. Prior to that she had a nice mini-van but wanted something about more sporty. I drive it occasionally. It is a very solid car. We elected to keep it when she bought a QX60 in 17. We have a son that will be driving soon so we decided to keep it as buying a pre-owned one is not much cheaper than a new one(depeding upon year and mileage). We have had 4 mountain bikes on lop, we also have had kayaks etc. It handles those pretty well. We have enjoyed the reliability, durability, etc. She has leather in so it has been good for clean up after baseball and soccer practice etc.

Subaru has one fatal flaw(as I see it) in their line of cars. If one looks that the Outback compared to the Forester they really are conceptually similar cars. If they would reintroduce a mid-size SUV I think they would capture more of the market than they might expect. She bought the Infiniti QX60 for the extra space and third row. Subaru is not really equipped to deliver in the space. There are a lot of folks like us that would like to have the option to scale up as our needs morph.

I am not a "green" fanatic but Subaru is made in Indiana, at a sustainable manufacturing plant that really sets the bar high for being a good corporate citizen.

I googled after this post...look what Subaru is releasing in 2019:
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-auto-show-subaru-ascent-20171128-htmlstory.html

I have a 2016 Outback and my wife has a 2017 QX60 as well! The QX60 is the long-trip car and my wife's daily driver.

Her QX60 is fully loaded, but I still enjoy driving my Outback more. Mine did come with the Eyesight Safety package and it has stopped me from rear ending a car TWICE! It actually applied the brakes for me when I was going at about 40mph (screeching tires and all) and stopped before hitting the other car. Another time it stopped when the vehicle in front of me suddenly hite the brakes after they started turning. I would recommend that package for anyone looking into a new Outback.

 

[FarminCy]

My beef with AWD is that why have those parts moving if I don't need it? Like doing down I-35 in July, I should be able to turn off the AWD in my wife's car. My Chevy truck has an Auto 4WD setting that makes it behave much like a AWD vehicle. You'd think the engineers at Buick could walk down the hall and talk to the Chevy engineers about this.

Compare the same AWD vs FWD cars, there is a slight mileage differential. And the higher up front cost. Though not sure how AWD would compare to a traditional 4WD setup.

New 4WD systems are also moving even when you don’t need them. Ford and GM don’t disengage at the differential anymore, it’s only at the hub. RAM was the only truck that used a traditional 4WD system, with their new style for 19 I’m not sure if they still do.

 

[k123]

...
...
Subaru has one fatal flaw(as I see it) in their line of cars. If one looks that the Outback compared to the Forester they really are conceptually similar cars. If they would reintroduce a mid-size SUV I think they would capture more of the market than they might expect. She bought the Infiniti QX60 for the extra space and third row. Subaru is not really equipped to deliver in the space. There are a lot of folks like us that would like to have the option to scale up as our needs morph.

I am not a "green" fanatic but Subaru is made in Indiana, at a sustainable manufacturing plant that really sets the bar high for being a good corporate citizen.

I googled after this post...look what Subaru is releasing in 2019:
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-auto-show-subaru-ascent-20171128-htmlstory.html

The Outback had been based on the car frame while the Forester was a different SUV type frame. Speaking of which, has anyone seen or driven the new large 3 row Subaru Ascent?

We are going to be testing one next week. I’m hoping it will work for us but worried the third row could be too small.

Re: the new Ascent, the WSJ review liked it a lot:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/2019-subaru-ascent-a-bigger-better-family-suv-1531419448

I don’t want to get bogged down in the details, but for a host of reasons Subaru’s AWD architecture is the best of its kind, functionally superior to on-demand all-wheel drive systems, also known as slip-and-grip systems. Such systems are strongly front-biased and often pretty weak on snow and ice surfaces, especially starting off, especially on an incline. A slick patch under a front and rear wheel can immobilize cars so equipped.

Subaru’s AWD is always splitting torque front/rear, unless conditions call for more. A multi-plate clutchpack—not a power-sapping viscous coupling—moves the torque for and aft, deftly and quickly. The new, computer-enhanced version of Symmetrical AWD is even more sure-footed (though it isn’t symmetrical anymore).

So the Ascent brings these considerable competitive advantages to the full-size SUV segment, along with its 8.7-inch ground clearance and a grille shaped like an Apple power port. The question is, can it get out of its own way? There is a reason why so many key competitors retain V6 engines. Is it reasonable to expect the Subie’s smallish turbo four to push around the Ascent’s big square butt?
... ...
With the trailering package the Ascent is rated for up to 5,000 pounds towing so you can bring along your liberal guilt.

There it is, the best family SUV in its class. You can’t say Subaru didn’t learn a thing or two.

 

[isuska]

Although American is a nation of increasing girth, both of my friends are about the same size as when I met them over 30 years ago. On the other hand, some of my old college buddies are pushing 3-bills and would never fit in my old college days MGB that they used to ride in.

The car girth one I notice the most is the Honda Civic which is now the size Accords used to be back in the day, or so it seems.

It’s all about the girth these days

 

[isufbcurt]

If it detects slip it switches automatically to AWD. Assuming you don't go off roading, what advantage do you get by pushing a button?

I get to control when it goes to 4 wheel drive

 

[jmb]

I have a 2016 Outback and my wife has a 2017 QX60 as well! The QX60 is the long-trip car and my wife's daily driver.

Her QX60 is fully loaded, but I still enjoy driving my Outback more. Mine did come with the Eyesight Safety package and it has stopped me from rear ending a car TWICE! It actually applied the brakes for me when I was going at about 40mph (screeching tires and all) and stopped before hitting the other car. Another time it stopped when the vehicle in front of me suddenly hite the brakes after they started turning. I would recommend that package for anyone looking into a new Outback.

I think the QX60 is hard to drive. I get so much information that it gets overwhelming and I can't easily change the SXM channels via the toggle system on the steering wheel. Maybe there is a way to do it but I haven't figured it out. Reaching to the screen to use change channels is maddening.

 

[isufbcurt]

Unless you are on slick roads from rain or very loose gravel, you are only in 4 WD during some winter driving basically.

Exactly I only need 4 wheel drive when we have a lot of snow covering our gravel road, in which case I'd like to just push the button to turn it on.

Upon further review my new Explorer does have a know to turn to adapt the drive train to different conditions (I should read the manual about this knob).

 

[mramseyISU]

I am a big Toyota fan(have an Avalon). The Tacoma seems a bit pricey to me for what it is and holds it's resale value extremely well which doesn't help in this situation.

You're not wrong. I looked for 6 months for a reasonably priced gently used Tacoma. What I found was you could buy two kinds of Tacomas, ones with 150,000 miles for a reasonable price or ones with under 40,000 miles for $2000 less than a new one. I bought a new one and my payment was cheaper than the almost new one since new car loans have a lower interest rate than used car ones do.

 

[Beyerball]

Just my two cents worth...I have a Outback..2017...thing is an absolutely tank. Drive thru feet of snow and its nothing for the Outback..Not only do they have the best AWD system but tire clearance is very high too. Tires make a big difference too.

 

[NickTheGreat]

New 4WD systems are also moving even when you don’t need them. Ford and GM don’t disengage at the differential anymore, it’s only at the hub. RAM was the only truck that used a traditional 4WD system, with their new style for 19 I’m not sure if they still do.

I know my 2007 Chevy was not like this. That was essentially what Auto4x4 did. It had the front drive shaft turning and engaged the transfer case when required. 2WD did not do this, as far as I know.

Now my 2017 Chevy, I do not know what the Auto4x4 setting does. I assumed it was the same.

 

[GTO]

We're going to need a Cyclone Outback club...

 

[dmclone]

Exactly I only need 4 wheel drive when we have a lot of snow covering our gravel road, in which case I'd like to just push the button to turn it on.

Upon further review my new Explorer does have a know to turn to adapt the drive train to different conditions (I should read the manual about this knob).

Your may want to actually check to see what those modes actually do. I'm guessing the snow mode doesn't do what you think it's doing .

 

[isufbcurt]

Your may want to actually check to see what those modes actually do. I'm guessing the snow made doesn't do what you think it's doing .

yeah, I looked it up

 

[Macloney]

Haha...where I'm from you still see em. But yes, they aren't as prevalent as they once were. Oh, don't let me forget about the Lumina GTs and the older 90s Camaro RSs either ;-)

That was a Beretta GT, bro. Had to trade up from my Z28 Cav and t-top Iroc-Z.

 

[dmclone]

yeah, I looked it up

Snow/Grass/Gravel: For firm surfaces covered in packed snow, ice, water, grass or gravel, this mode limits torque to wheels to prevent slippage. It upshifts the gears earlier with less aggressive progression that helps to improve traction.