Thoughts on my new Outback...

[atlsubaru]

I have an RX-8 so I am not sure to driving some tall like the outback.

[jogosub]

Handle on rear hatch is easy to add - see below

[Sequoia225]

Originally Posted by jogosub

Handle on rear hatch is easy to add - see below

That was an option on my 2003 that I had. I LOVED it. I got rear ended though a few years back and no one could find the part anymore.

It was longer though and black - which Id rather have.

Where did you get yours?

I LOVED this on my last OB. Dont know why its not an option anymore.

[jogosub]

Originally Posted by Sequoia225

That was an option on my 2003 that I had. I LOVED it. I got rear ended though a few years back and no one could find the part anymore.

It was longer though and black - which Id rather have.

Where did you get yours?

I LOVED this on my last OB. Dont know why its not an option anymore.

See link below
www.mycarworx.com/

[AO River]

The electronic parking brake is definitely taking some time to get used to, but one advantage is that it frees up space on the center console = more storage area.

And since there is not a manual parking brake, having the hill holder button is handy for us with manual transmissions.

I'm with you on the MPG gauge, I doubt I'll ever look at it.

[OBnube]

Originally Posted by AO River

.......I'm with you on the MPG gauge, I doubt I'll ever look at it.

+1. Unfortunatly it "catches" my eye when it swings back and forth tricking my eye into thinking I left a turn signal on as they are located just to the outside edges of the MPG gauge.

[rockthebeef]

I can see the hill holder to be useful in a situation where you're in bumper to bumper type traffic and driving on an incline. That way you don't have to manually engage the parking brake every time you come to a complete stop. For example, this can come in handy when in a line of cars when exiting a crowded underground parking structure. Or perhaps on a congested mountain road...

As far as the MPG meter goes, I like it because it works a little more sophisticated than it appears. The readout on the dial is a function of your average MPG. dead center being your current average. That's why the meter doesn't move after a trip odometer reset. It'll take a couple miles... I like it because I know at a glance if I'm improving my average or hurting it. Sometimes you can let off the throttle just a tad and not lose any real speed, but that MPG meter can drop significantly.

[Shadow 1100]

Had the hill holder in my 88 wagon, it's been around a long time.

[rockthebeef]

Originally Posted by Shadow 1100

Had the hill holder in my 88 wagon, it's been around a long time.

I *think* most of us know that the hill holder has been a Subaru thing for quite a long time. The question is whether or not it's redundant on a vehicle with an electronic parking brake that releases anyway when you give it throttle.

IMHO its function overlaps with the parking brake but it does have its own unique use.

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by rockthebeef

I *think* most of us know that the hill holder has been a Subaru thing for quite a long time. The question is whether or not it's redundant on a vehicle with an electronic parking brake that releases anyway when you give it throttle.

IMHO its function overlaps with the parking brake but it does have its own unique use.

The current hill holder is simply a function of the electronic parking brake. The former hill holder brake systems involved the actual brake system in the car holding pressure long enough to address roll back.

Having lived in SF with two 5spd MT's for a long time the new hill holder is very nice to have. It also assists in parallel parking on very steep streets. Simply lets me use my free hand for other things vs having to physically hold the pull style parking brake handle to work my way into a parking spot or deal with very steep stop and go streets like Gough st on the Marina side of the hill headed south. Where a stop light sits at the top. At times first rain of the year the street can be so slick that front wheel drive cars will spin tires for two or three car lengths as the driver tries to get moving without rolling backwards into cars behind them.