4th Gen Outback - New Buyer Research

[oletimehockey]

So the shake & shimmy problem has Subaru of America started a recall campaign on this issue or is this a "silent" recall trying to isolate what the problem is ? at the dealer etc ? has to be in the production / manufacturing stages !! my 2 cents !

[mpp1234]

So my case number with SOA is 1550801696 - the 2011 with CVT is not expected to be able to clear objects greater then 5" without momentum!

WHAT THIS MEANS: If you get stuck somewhere and cannot move forward and have uneven surface behind your rear or front tires the CAR WILL NOT CLEAR THE OBJECT WITHOUT MOMENTUM.

I have been to Georgetown Subaru in CT and their service manager agreed that the car is not suitable for driving off of roads anymore with the CVT if you were to need to reverse.

I have taken my car, reversed up to a curb, stopped, then tried to apply the gas pedal only to have the car sit at 2500 RPMS and go nowhere. The only way I was able to get my SUBARU OUTBACK 2011 CVT over the curb was to reverse into the curb with speed and risk blowing my tires or denting my rims.

IF YOU INTEND OR NEED TO REVERSE IN DEEP SNOW OR OVER ROCKS DO NOT GET THE CVT TRANNY. SOA DOES NOT THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by mpp1234

So my case number with SOA is 1550801696 - the 2011 with CVT is not expected to be able to clear objects greater then 5" without momentum!

WHAT THIS MEANS: If you get stuck somewhere and cannot move forward and have uneven surface behind your rear or front tires the CAR WILL NOT CLEAR THE OBJECT WITHOUT MOMENTUM.

I have been to Georgetown Subaru in CT and their service manager agreed that the car is not suitable for driving off of roads anymore with the CVT if you were to need to reverse.

I have taken my car, reversed up to a curb, stopped, then tried to apply the gas pedal only to have the car sit at 2500 RPMS and go nowhere. The only way I was able to get my SUBARU OUTBACK 2011 CVT over the curb was to reverse into the curb with speed and risk blowing my tires or denting my rims.

IF YOU INTEND OR NEED TO REVERSE IN DEEP SNOW OR OVER ROCKS DO NOT GET THE CVT TRANNY. SOA DOES NOT THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE.

Not really anything I've had happen not that I haven't tried with the stupid trailering and backing up tricks I've ended up in. So far its backed up over plenty of things even with a trailer behind it.

[Soon2bSubaru]

As a person that used to work in the auto sales racket, for a variety of reasons I will not purchase new vehicles. I will look for a 1-2 year old vehicle with low(er) mileage. That being said, I am very interested in purchasing a 2010-11 OB premium. What concerns me is what happens to all of the OB's that are bought back or exchanged by SOA. Are they then auctioned to non Subaru (or even Subaru) dealers for resale to the general public?
Does anyone know?

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Soon2bSubaru

As a person that used to work in the auto sales racket, for a variety of reasons I will not purchase new vehicles. I will look for a 1-2 year old vehicle with low(er) mileage. That being said, I am very interested in purchasing a 2010-11 OB premium. What concerns me is what happens to all of the OB's that are bought back or exchanged by SOA. Are they then auctioned to non Subaru (or even Subaru) dealers for resale to the general public?
Does anyone know?

If you've worked in the biz then you know the answer.

#1 the General public will have all sorts of odd ball complaints and reasons why a car gets returned or lemon lawed etc. The % of cars which actually do have some type of flaw and actually do shake for reasons other than crappy tires etc are probably a very small number of cars. I own 2 2010's of the affected platform with the shakes I bought both knowing about the shake issue even when it was just a few people commenting on the issue in Oct November 2009. I did a very detailed test drive on both cars to make sure they were as shake free checked as possible prior to buying them. Checked tire pressure and ran various high speeds for a fair distance looking for signs of trouble.

Both currently have over 27,000 miles on them and are still "shake Free" however the outback with the continental tires has one tire which has gradually gone out of round and has been tracked by the local tire shop I have doing the rotation and balancing. Also the continentals have both I and the tire shop a bit mystified as to why the tires seem to change balance over time in a fairly large manner requiring in some cases a sizable amount of weights. Something I've never had with other cars or tires. I can't wait to get rid of the continentals!

As for what subaru does with the cars bought back from folks? Any number of things pending what the actual issue is with the car. Crushed - used internally - fixed and re sold. You name it.

A smart company that builds a good product would simply take back the product from unhappy consumers and sell the product to a consumer that enjoys and likes the product. Yes there are some companies that do this Auto companies not so much but other companies do operate this way.

As for what your getting for the price? The OB and Legacy from a value standpoint and cost simply have no competition making them a great value and at the price point a very cheap alternative to a AWD Infinity - BMW - Mercedes shoot even a Ford Explorer is quite expensive and returns far less mileage with a lower tow rating. LOL So from a what your getting for your money standpoint the OB and Legacy are dirt cheap.

[digdah]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

If you've worked in the biz then you know the answer.

As for what your getting for the price? The OB and Legacy from a value standpoint and cost simply have no competition making them a great value and at the price point a very cheap alternative to a AWD Infinity - BMW - Mercedes shoot even a Ford Explorer is quite expensive and returns far less mileage with a lower tow rating. LOL So from a what your getting for your money standpoint the OB and Legacy are dirt cheap.

I searched for 2 years and kept coming back the Outback. I could not beat it's value for money with the interior quality and smooth ride.

[musicitytiger]

For those of us that are shopping for a new Outback, this may be a useful tool. This site allows you to view what others have paid by dealer. They have reported prices for the Outback.

Canyon Subaru in Twin Falls, ID sold an MY13 Auto 3.6i Premium for $25,590
Reported at: Regionalwise | www.?voiceofthedriver.com

Be sure to share your price paid/details after you purchase to help others in their price negotiations w/ dealers.

[SteveCA]

A MY13 3.6i Premium? Are you sure it isn't a late MY12? They don't offer the 3.6 Premium model this year.

[Pattie]

I wish I would have seen this before I bought my 2012 OB. I too live in Colorado - SW area. I'm driving 7700 and more all winter long. The vibration is definitely an issue and I haven't gotten any satisfaction.

How have you made out with your Subaru?

[sandyyy2586]

The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automobile manufacturer..
Subaru released a new generation of Outback along with an equivalent Legacy in 1998—with the Outback now badged Legacy Lancaster in Japan. Following much the same formula as the original, the updated series shared similar mechanics and dimensions, but with the abbreviated Subaru Outback title now specified for most markets outside Europe and Japan. For the first time, a sedan joined the wagon for North America only.
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2013 MERCEDES BENZ SL-CLASS