Thoughts on my new Outback...

[dcbpe]

So I've had my new 2013 since January 3, and I've put nearly 1500 miles on it already. All commuting to work, nothing fun

I love the car...feels comfortable. There is always power waiting when I press the gas. It handles well at 110. Yes, 110.

The CVT is a little weird to get used to. I keep waiting for the tell-tale sound of gear changing and it never comes. Just stays at 5800 RPM and keeps going faster. I'll get used to it.

Some things I find unnecessary in the car:
Electronic parking brake. What is the benefit of changing from an old fashioned brake? I see none.

Hill holder button. Why do I need that AND a parking brake button?

MPG gauge. I think the digital readout is more than plenty, why the heck is there that other thing where there should be a temperature gauge?

Dual opening center console. What does anyone use that for?

Bluetooth. The Bluetooth sucks so bad it's not worth having. I'm using my earbuds for the phone. Knowing that there's Bluetooth I can't use is worse than having a car without it.

Electronic release for hatch door. What is the matter with an actual handle?

These all seem like things that add cost but no value. More electronic stuff to break.


Some things I like very much:
USB port.
Seats are comfy, even in my base model.
Very roomy car, especially in the back seat.
Ground clearance.
Speed.
Handling.
Gas mileage (24.0 so far).
Quiet interior even at high speeds.
Large door pockets and glove box.
Easy to fold rear seats.
Manual trans paddles on the steering column.
Radio controls on the steering wheel. (But the radio is sub-par.)
Oil filter on top of motor.



Anyone else with similar opinions?

[WIBrewDude]

I have had my 2013 since January 4th, but I only have about 560 miles on it, as I have a very short commute.

I like the electronic parking brake, although I want to crawl underneath when it is warmer and see how it works.

I agree with the hill holder button, although I can almost see more use of it with a manual tranny, vs the cvt...

I have a temp gage, but that is because mine is a limited.

I had a dual opening center console on my last vehicle, and it is nice for me, as I can throw a few small things in the top part....like a small folding knife.

I think the bluetooth is very good in mine, but I will confess, I have not had a car with it before so I have nothing to compare it to. But it is very clear, connects instantly, and works flawlessly for me so far.

I agree that a handle on the back hatch would be just as good.

All the things you said you like I agree with, except I think the HK radio in mine is good. I do have the 9 speaker system, and it did take me some time and adjustments to get it to sound decent, but I think it does well now.

[unsub1]

I drove my wife's parents' Subaru wagon all the time in the late 80s and loved the hill-holder and still do in my OB. There's a couple places in town I get stuck at, stopped up-hill and not rolling back into the car 2 inches behind me is nice. No big deal.

I took out the stereo the day I got mine and put in a Kenwood with Garmin nav and bluetooth.

[dcbpe]

Originally Posted by unsub1

I took out the stereo the day I got mine and put in a Kenwood with Garmin nav and bluetooth.

Nice! I'm thinking about that as a summer project. The base model stereo is severely lacking. Especially after driving a 2000 Limited for 13 years. But I couldn't go Limited this time.

Looks like you also painted your wheels...I'm thinking about doing the hubcaps in black. How'd you do yours? Straight up paint or that spray on rubber stuff?

[adgjqetuo]

The CVT is different but I don't mind it - wife's car has it so I've grown used to it through that.

I like the electronic parking break, although I find myself constantly pulling it instead of pressing it to engage. I too am curious how it works.

Hill holder seems like it would be a lot more functional for MT vehicles. Although, I have found my CVT to roll back a lot easier on hills then other vehicles I've owned before. I've only used it once to try it out, but I live in a generally flat area to make it a useful function for me.

Hated the MPG gauge as well which is one of the reasons I sprung for the limited.

The dual tray is for your iPod or cell phone. It lays in the tray and there's a hole that feeds the cord into the main compartment with the aux jacks.

IMO the Bluetooth sounds perfectly fine - I use it all the time actually. More then any other music input. I've also used the USB a few times when my iPhone needed charging and couldn't hear any sound difference. I like how I can access all my artists and playlists when plugged into USB directly through the radio.

Electronic hatch takes less effort to open then the manual pull. Helps if you have your hands full and can press the button rather then pull a handle. I wish they had a function like the new fords which open the tail gate by waving your foot under the bumper - great idea.

[dcbpe]

Originally Posted by WIBrewDude

I have a temp gage, but that is because mine is a limited.

Interesting. The base model just has a light...a little blue thermometer when it's warming up, then it turns off. According to the manual a red one appears if it's getting too hot.

The MPG gauge just goes from "-" to "+" depending on how you're driving. Pretty pointless IMHO.

Originally Posted by WIBrewDude

I think the bluetooth is very good in mine, but I will confess, I have not had a car with it before so I have nothing to compare it to. But it is very clear, connects instantly, and works flawlessly for me so far.

The HK unit is superior to the base model. My Bluetooth is very garbled on my end, but the people I speak to can't hear it. I suppose it could be my phone too. But this phone connected perfectly in a old Ford Escape.

[WIBrewDude]

Yeah the limited gets a temp gauge where you have a mpg gauge...but we still have a mpg display in the center of the console, it is just led lights and goes from + to - as well.....just a little fancier, but just as useless, as the gauge.

I wondered if the bluetooth would be different dependent upon which stereo you had....

[adgjqetuo]

Limited gauge cluster:

[fun2drive]

Blue Tooth works perfect and better than my BMW does.
Parking brake is nothing more than a solenoid that pushes on a cable and releases the cable same as the hand brake would do.
All in all very few things I don't like. In fact buying another one when the 14
s comes out.
I don't like the remote start that shuts off when you open the door or inability to use nav when in motion but those are the legal nannies...

[SRC]

I would like to turn of the MPG meter. It is a distraction.
I suspect the electric parking brake was a litigation limitation feature.