So, on the path to this juncture, I started off assuming I would get an Onyx. The main reason was the Startex. Why? Because of being a dog chaffeur, a backpacker and a kayaker. The idea of upholstery i didn't have to do squat with to keep clean, to open the windows at highway speed to send the collie hair out into the void sounded really cool after over a decade on cloth seats after a couple of decades in cloth/vinyl combination in my preSubaru days.

My first test drive came in the year the Onyx came out. Really liked the Startex, but living in the south, there was only one real test: what happens when you get in the car after it has sat in the parking lot under the Georgia sun in 98 degree heat? That test drive was in November, so there was no way I would buy until I had heard from all you Startex Beta Testers out there.

Six months wait turned into a few years for "reasons," but came back into the hunt this March. Results were in. Startex was a "Go." Onyx, here we come.

But which one? My current Premium with the 2.5 NA has served me well. Having learned to drive on a really finicky Chevy that severely punished lead foot driving by stalling in every intersection after a stop, I have become a super light footed driver. By long practice, merging on a freeway and getting to be first off of a red-light when i needed to change lanes quickly for m6 next turn was an absolute breeze in the Outback. Have pulled U-Haul trailers numerous times to help my offspring move into and out of dorms / apartments, and even long trips were a snap for my little engine that could. Only once, when dragging a tall, rented camping trailer, did I regret not having a more powerful engine to break through the wind resistence. Mr. Turbo just never called my name.

But there was one other Onyx feature that caught my eye, the front camera. My off roading consists mostly of decent gravel roads in parks and on the way to river put-ins, but boy, can urban parking garages be a pain especially with a car front that drops off like a mesa. Problem of course is the front camera only comes on the XT. Would I care to pay extra for Mr. Turbo?

Have read enough of your posts to know for a sizeable portion, the answer is a resounding "YES!" Soon, we took a test drive, comparing an NA powered Outback with a Turbo. Yes, the Turbo pinned us to the seat, despite my not even punching the gas that much. So for those who want power in their next Outback, do not fear the XT will deliver. It was impressive.

Still, Featherfoot here thought the 2.5L was still fine. The question was whether I would give up the gas mileage to get the front camera. Inspired by several threads on gas mileage and turbos, I calculated based on past experience, just how much money I would save with the less powerful engine. It turned out to be about $100 a year. Not too much in the big scheme of things. Something like 5 pizzas, the universal comparative price metaphor in our household.

XT choice didn't feel unreasonable if it meant getting something else I really wanted. Getting an Onyx XT seemed a certainty. The fact the dealer did not have one on the lot in my desired color meant there was time to wait, and to do what I do so well, overthink.

Tomorrow's post will take us down that rabbit hole.

 

Congrats and good luck! I'm biased, of course, but I think the Onyx XT is the best trim level!

 

Before I share my next story, it is time to express thanks for people here who have provided insights influencing my own journey. I did not necessarily choose as you did, but you informed my decision-making process in valuable ways. In no particular order:
chvvkumar
Typhoon87
Cerulean Obsidian
RedDedZed
bradatlarge
Parsimony
Booter
Flatlines
SubiJeffrey
Jim in Pa
AWDrules, particularly for these gems. "The one thing I wish the Onyx had (from the Touring) is the power folding side mirrors," and this bit of Subaru shopping wisdom: "With NINE trim levels, the process of deciding which trim level I wanted was actually quite tedious."
Draggon Originator of the awesome Startex thread
Derek87 for info about Nappa leather and the cooling system
hfmartek for sharing experience with Nappa Leather and dogs.
Gentle Breeze for the sheep skin suggestion
Maik for Leather care advice
Chefmark for starting nav the subscription thread
Sehaare posting about GPS on that thread
Rand with guidance on Android and Nav apps
Binary Visions especially for answering my inquiry about Gaia GPS
Flat Four for starting the informative ASS thread
newjohnabirk with good insights regarding the Auto Start Stop system and mileage
Silver Onyx - Soooo many posts and advice

All those who participated in my thread and poll: Protective Accessories - Gotta Have, Nice ta Have, or Useless? but particularly Slow Eddie and cybirr for their explanations of their choices.

As promised, here is how I wound up with the Touring. It all starts with the Nappa Leather. Never really liked any leather car seats before. Too hot in the summer, finicky care especially for cleaning, fear of rips and repair costs, etc. In addition, I thought the charcoal black color looked boring on the Subaru website, and the Java brown looked too orange. The cloth seats in my 2010 have held up amazingly well with only one small tear (where else but) on the driver door side bolster. Once I sat on the "hot" Startex at the test drive, I was sold.

Then I made a mistake - I kept reading what you guys had to say (fool that I am), and we sat in a Touring on a visit to the dealer.

First, in "the flesh" the Java brown looks really nice, not the least bit garish as it looks on the computer screen.

Second, the first damage ever on my original Outback came when a kayak fell off my roof and sheared the side view mirror right off. Those folding mirrors looked attractive., especially because of our narrow garage doors.

Third, while testing the digital "smart mirror" by happenstance, a salesman was standing behind us talking to someone across the showroom floor. Switching on the "acoustic" mirror, the guy disappeared (My spouse is a guitarist, and we often call human powered things like razors, lawn mowers, screwdrivers "acoustic" but "electric" for their powered forms). I could not see him in my side view mirror. Turning around in the seat, I still could not see him behind the the pillar - dead center in my blind spot. After I switched back the digital, he reappeared. I have never had a blind spot accident, but that is the cause of my most frequent near-accidents. This seemed like a real valuable feature, potentially more so than the front camera for which I yearned.

At home, I created a spread sheet of pros and cons for both the Onyx XT and the Touring, giving each feature a score for how much I wanted it. Examples, Startex and front camera were highest scorers at 5 points. Folding mirrors and full sized spare scored 2 each. You get the idea. The relative total scores for each trim remained close even as I read more from you guys, and individual features went up and down in value. Eventually, the Touring squeaked out the Onyx.

Coming up, I try to sell my trusty friend, OB1, the 2010 Premium.

 

Flat Four for starting the informative ASS thread

Not how I want to be remembered (in public) nor do I think it’s my most meaningful contribution, but happy to be of service.

 

With previous cars, I have traded in at the dealer, with one exception, the single person to person sale. That was actually a pretty good experience, very old school with the ad in a small town newspaper and sale to the first person who came looking. In a much bigger metro area now and doubt that would be as safe as the same event three decades ago. I have heard so many tales of people getting ripped off in peer to peer on-line purchases, it was pretty intimidating. The SO wanted me to just take the hit and accept a trade-in, but the resell value of the Subaru is so good (more on that in a future entry), that I could not see dropped several thousand dollars. What's a little danger?!

So, I am trying Autotrader.com. I have been impressed with their system. You pay $49 for the ad then upload pix, descriptive copy, title photo, emissions test photo, and driver's license to prove who you are. The company will accept 20% down from the buyer and work out a payment plan, but give sale price in bank transfer directly to the seller. No worrying about rip-off artists taking your cash if you are the buyer or scamming you with a phony cashiers checks if you are a seller.

So, my ad went up last night. A sample of the 20 some-odd photos below.

You might notice I have shined it up really well. Other than small scratches from kayaks sliding off the roof, some brush scrapes (both barely noticeable because of touch-up paint, rubbing compound, and clear-coat) plus a few dings from parking lot doors, OB1 looks pretty great. Vacuuming the dog hair and generous application of 309 on the plastic and rubber bits, it is looking pretty smooth for a 14 year old car.

The ad must have worked - Got a message from a prospective buyer already and now waiting to arrange a test drive at a local police station.

I am encouraged that the sale could come off anytime now, but for one thing 😳- somehow, we have lost track of the titles to both our cars. Already applied for a replacement, but we were told not to expect it for TWO WEEKS !

Will let you know how it comes out.

Next up: Accessories I ordered for my Outback.

 

Hey!!! I know this is a lil old but if you see this ...what year and color is your outback? My husband and I want to find this specific color!!

 

Unless I'm mistaken, the model changeover in the Indiana factory is the first couple weeks of July each year. That's when they cease production for about two weeks. So if your car is built in June it will be a 24, if in July it will be a 25.

 

I received my car in June of 2023 and it's a 2024.

 

@sck : Congratulations on your purchase decision. i have found the front camera indispensable for parking (especially for this guy with no stereo vision). it's not very high resolution but it does the job very well.

i haven't made much use out of the smart mirror. i see it's utility for a wider view and if i block my rear window. the latter hasn't happened yet, much to my amazement (so pleased by the cargo capacity of the OB). i think it takes some getting used to (my friends have it in other cars) and i haven't used it enough for that adjustment. my main critique of the smart mirror is how it looks at night. i much prefer the acoustic mirror in that case. (headlights are distracting in the digital version vs the auto-dimmed acoustic mode)

 

i have found the front camera indispensable for parking

I like the front camera in my Onyx XT. Our garage is a bit tight, so I like using it to pull in all the way without bumping the cabinets and gear placed in front of the parking space.

 

I received my car in June of 2023 and it's a 2024.

corroborating...

i received my car in July 2024, and i believe it's manufacturing date was May 2023 (on the door sticker), but i would need to check to be absolutely certain.

Only reporting what the salesman said, plus what is on the order form (see first entry picture). Of course, if the model comes in designated 2024, I'll have to change my title and carry the shame of my error..

View attachment 586894

This suggests the 24 is identical to the 23, and the 25 will be identical to the 24, as there were no tooling changes required. Ever since we got our 19 we’ve been tracking the production dates, and the factory changeover and summer shutdown is always late June through early July, and is the same this year. The last FMC was for the 2020, with first deliveries in the fall of 2019.

What I don’t understand is what all they do during their two week shutdown every summer. One of these days we’re going to tour the factory, and that will be one of the questions I ask.

 

This seems about right. Got the impression there were miniscule changes in 23 to 24 that were not critical to final assembly line process (like new programming for head unit). Probably same for 25. Video guy, Mr. Subaru 1387 quoted elsewhere on this forum, spoke about the replacement of the Temp Control valve on the Forester with old style thermostat. It might have been imprecise wording, but at one point in the video, he said something that implied the same was true for all 25s. Not holding my breath on that.

Had a buddy who worked in a textile plant who said their factory shut down two weeks at the beginning of July every year "for inventory." Everybody used that for their vacation time. Maybe something similar in Indiana.

I have checked into visiting the plant. They don't do tours during retooling, but you can go to this website for info:

https://siawebe4.subaru-sia.com/Tour/

Have been to the Ford plant tour in Dearborn. Totally fascinating and impressive. Can't wait to do Lafayette.

 

Accessories and choices:

On a previous thread, I inquired about accessory choices ( https://www.subaruoutback.org/threa...s/protective-accessories-gotta-have-nice-ta-have-or-useless.565955/post-6460366 ) within the Subaruoutback.org Hive Mind. Based on your comments and the polling (poll still open, I believe), these are my choices indicating which are not on my current Outback. Some are carryovers from my previous experience finding them useful and worthy of a repeat:

1. Cargo net - used a fair amount before primarily for multiple grocery bags. Would have just kept the old one for my new car, but I really liked the dual vertical and horizontal netting in the new design. The buyer of my old OB will get the bonus.

2. Rear bumper cover - This is the one option my dealer puts on all of its Outbacks, and with the frequency of my climbing to access the roof as well as to load and remove lumber/ masonry from the back, it is a solid choice. Did not have on my previous wagon, and that rear bumper did not look too good after 15 years of wear.

3. Trailer hitch receiver - have rarely used the hitch for hauling, but have used frequently for my bike rack. Have had a hatch/trunk mounted bike rack before and found it unacceptable. Modern auto sheet metal is too thin to support the weight of bikes without excessive bending, especially under the added strain of irregular pavement and potholes. The 1.25" receiver and ball hitch will go to the new buyer as the new cars come with a 2" receiver. Did not opt for the new ball hitch, figuring if the need arises to rent a U-Haul trailer comes up again, the requisite object can be purchased elsewhere much more cheaply.

4. Door Edge Guards - NEW
I am super careful when parking next to other cars, but I have messed up. Have never gotten these before for appearance reasons, but decided this is one investment in not having one more thing about which to worry. Thought of waiting and buying the clear or black generic items plus some sweat equity, but figured if I was going this route anyway, matching the paint might diminish the visual issue.

5. Body Side Molding - SEMI-NEW.
Though I am super careful, plenty of folks are not or are in an excessive hurry. Have not had these on my Outback, but had them on the previous car. The difference in the marks on the side after 15/14 years, respectively, of parking lot dings tells me, convinces me it is a decent investment. Of course, there will be a honeymoon period during which every trip to the grocery store and big box will result in a hike from the lower 40. Will no doubt justify this during the same period as "good for my health" and "getting my steps in."

6. Footwear Illumination - NEW (to me)
My darling SO had this on a previous car and loved it. It made finding things on the floor at night so much easier. She forgot to make sure it was on her current car and has experienced frequent wailing and gnashing of teeth since she discovered it missing. Because this will likely become our main road trip car, I knew it had to be included. One problem: she will be certain to be miffed every time she uses it because she will remember and self-flagelate over her previous error (She REALLY loved those lights). I have been looking at YouTube videos about aftermarket installs. Happy wife, Happy life.

7. Auto-Dimming Mirror with Approach Light - NEW (to me)
My SO has had them in both cars purchased since I got my Outback, and we both would not be without, primarily the auto dim. Opted out of the special Subaru Logo. She thinks the ones on the Mustang are especially classy. Me? Maybe a tad ostentatious for my taste.

8. Rear Seat Back Protector - NEW
This one was a surprise winner from the poll I mentioned above. It came in second after all weather mats. Since i do load cargo AND I will now have leather seats, it seemed a good choice. Seeing them on a car on the lot, I thought they looked a bit flimsy and was surprised the top is secured with bungies around the headrests. Not that impressed with that look. However, it was a clear favorite so I figured if I didn't like the look, I could find some heavy duty velcro to tidy the appearance up.

What I Did Not Get

Each had their adherents but frequently chosen items in the poll were Splash Guards and Mud Flaps. If counted together these two would make up second place in polling. Why not choose one or other? Most of this decision comes down to location and usage. If we lived where there was more snow, the Splash Guards would receive the thumbs up. If we went more places in the mud, a third party mud flap set would be a necessity. The current OB has survived without so far. I was impressed by the comments about how easy these items were to self install. I reckoned that if I changed my mind, the fix would be simple.

The number one item from my poll was all weather floor mats, with many of you describing your favorite aftermarket brand. In my current car, I started with the carpet mats that came with. They wore out within a year or two. Then I switched to the Subaru all weathers which also came with the car. Since it does not snow much here, and we don't do much in the mud, both of these were adequate. In fact, the all-weather mats held up well for a good ten years. The last 2-3 the drivers side looks pretty rough, so I replaced the fronts with WeatherTech. A good application of protectant to the rear, and they look like new (Clearly, not much traffic back there). The carpet mats for the brown Nappa Leather Touring look extremely sharp as they feature a matching brown trim on the black. Will likely follow my previous pattern of wearing those out and replacing with all weather by some brand. Will talk details on that in an upcoming entry on aftermarket items for new baby.

 

I am curious to hear from you folks what kinds of things, vehicle related, you carry in your car on the regular. The following will include two lists, one for things I already have, and things purchased specifically for the new car.

Already in inventory:

1) Collapsible trunk carry all bag - like the one sold by Subaru, but not as expensive. In it I keep a variety of handy items and inclement weather necessities like a down coat and a rain jacket. In the mode of the "Be prepared" Boy Scout, there is also a local street atlas and a US atlas. A wrench sized to adjust tightening nut on the hitch mounted bike rack, tire guage, and ziplock bag with maintenance records. Downside for current car is I never really secured it to the floor level tie-down rings. Looking forward to using a carabiner to stabilize it to the hooks on the back of the rear seats.

2) A mostly inadequate automatic air pump - Happy to entertain suggestions for a replacement

3) Roadside emergency kit - jumper cables, road flares, other miscellaneous. Happy to receive suggestions for what you include in yours. Note that I am adding a battery powered jump starter.

4) A multi-function stays-plugged-into-12-volt-power-supply combo device: flashlight, USB charger, seatbelt cutter, emergency window cracker.

5) Travel size personal toiletry kit - nice to be able to brush teeth/swipe pits on a long car ride or comb your hair after driving with the sunroof open.

6) USB cables

7) Driving / cold weather gloves

8) Hung off the back seat head rest trash container.

9) Pocket knife

10) An X-shaped Tire Iron. These are longer than the stock tire iron, giving you more torque applied to the lug nut, plus you can pull up on one side and push down on the other giving you nearly twice the power of the one handed model. With the normal tire iron, the angled shaft tends to impart a shearing motion to the force on the lug nut, making it more likely the irin twists offthe nut and/or deforms the nut more on the outward faces of the nut. The x tire iron allows the torque to be applied at an even 90° angle to the axis of the screw so all twisting force only unscrews the nut, not deforming it. Along with an air compressor and some form of battery restart device, this is the one safety/repair related tool every one should have in their car.

Things to Acquire

1) Jump start battery charger - eying a Gooloo

2) Fuse box "drawer" - Have not yet decided what goes there. Leading candidates are a card clip, loose change, and/or small pack of tissues. Which ever is not chosen will go in center console.

3) Infotainment screen protector - Ms. SCK accidently scratched the screen in her car some time ago, and though we can ignore it most of the time, there are times when it looks horrid. Also, in my test drives, I have noted a significant glare off the shiny screen. I suspect a mat finish screen protector might help.

4) Some form of trash receptacle - looking for recommendations here, especially for something which does not clash with the Java Brown leather. Failing a good lead from you good people, there is an alternative: Have had some experience working with plexiglass construction and considering fashioning a custom drop in for the "large" compartment in the center console.

5) (Eventually) All weather floor mats - The usual suspects: WeatherTech, Huskey, Tuxmat appear to be pretty darned good products from personal testimony in comments here. The fit and finish of the Tuxmat looks superb, but as far as I can tell only comes in one color, gray with some black. If I was getting the charcoal leather interior or the Startex, the choice would already be made. Anyone with insight about or pix of any of these products in a Java Brown interior? I note WeatherTech has a brown in its stock, but a mis-matched brown might look worse than a simple black.

6) Window stickers to fit my mood and personality (To be decided) - Would love to see your pictures of how you decorate your windows: favorite bands, places you have visited, snarky bumper stickers, velociraptors chasing stick figure families, etc.

7) Key Fob Protector - found a pretty leather one on Amazon: OLLEN Screws-Free Genuine Leather Key Fob Cover

8) Sundry Outdoor Equipment Accessories - Actually have the two things I really need a) a Dakine cushion for transporting my kayak on the roof rack and b) a Thule bike rack. Will likely replace #a with a Thule model. I cannot justify getting a whole new bike rack, but am really interested in the Kuat Sherpa as a lighter and more easily adjusted model. Maybe I can wind up using the Thule rack as a sweetener for the buyer when bargaining over the price of my current car.

Speaking of which, next entry will give an update on the progress of selling my current Outback.

 

i am enjoying reading about your journey. just some random comments, but YMMV:

- body side molding and door edge guards... the edge guards i think will protect the person you might hit your door with but i don't think they will give you a lot or protection from others. as for the side molding, they did a fairly good job of preventing some door dings on my Impreza, but i still got many. it really depends on the height of the potential door hitting your car. i opted to not get them after reading here (sorry: don't know the thread) about the OEM ones not offering much real world protection, anecdotally

- i keep extra clothes (rain coat and random assortment of jackets for my wife and daughter who get cold) using a cargo net behind the seat. i originally used side cargo nets (adapted from Gen4 Outback) for this purpose (like i did on my Impreza) but decided that i preferred to keep those things generally completely out of the way, thus giving me more width for cargo day-to-day when i needed at the expense of potentially a little depth. (not a huge amount lost since clothes compress well)

- i store cloth shopping bags in my side cargo nets, i also store a "thermal bag" (foil lined) under the cargo floor panel in the random case where i don't have a cooler and want to keep some groceries from getting too warm too fast.

- i sadly haven't used the OEM vertical/floor cargo net at all even though i bought it. it's stored behind the rear saeat cargo net in the event that i may want it. i bought i thinking i would want to use it when i went to Costco and had boxes that would slide around. as it turned out, the cargo floor mat provides enough friction to keep most things from sliding.

- i'm missing some of the things that you have on your list, but given the propensity of Outbacks to have dying batteries, a portable jump start battery is essential IMHO. i have been waffling about a small air compressor but haven't done the research to determine which one i should get. i also like carrying an old weatherman multi-tool which can come in handy, an ice scraper for the occasional visit to the snow.

- i haven't found the use fuse box drawer yet, but so far, my extra ear plugs and a few random bills of cash sit there without rattling around.

 

i store cloth shopping bags in my side cargo nets, i also store a "thermal bag" (foil lined) under the cargo floor panel in the random case where i don't have a cooler and want to keep some groceries from getting too warm too fast.

Smart. May adopt these tips.

 

Selling My Current Car Part 2

It has been a week since I posted my ad on Autotrader.com. For those interested in following that lead, I share some pros and cons/cautions.

Pro

Concerning the system, it seems to be first rate at protecting buyers and sellers from being ripped off. Seller must jump through some hoops to get to the final sale:

1) Before any test drive takes place, both buyer and seller must provide ID/drivers license to "verify" they are real people. The website holds these documents as confidential, but marks the individual as "verified" so that the other person in the transaction is assured.
2) Seller must upload documentation for the car, emissions inspection and title.
3) The website offers secure, anonymous text messaging for buyers to make initial inquiries and set up appointments. This chat feature has prominent warnings to avoid giving out personal information to others.
4) Buyers can make offers directly to the sellers and sellers can make counter offers. There is a warning that failure to honor the offer can result in ejection from the website.
5) Buyers can finance their purchase through the company with 20% down. Once title has been verified, a price set, and the down payment paid to Autotrader, the company guarantees the money to seller so that the car can be delivered. Other than a test drive and delivery, buyer and seller have no interaction. All money or title transfer passes through the company. Seller receives funds through direct deposit.
6) Cost to seller: $49 for the ad, $49 for the above mentioned protection services.

Cons/Cautions

1) Despite the protections, one has to act cautiously and follow the protocols to maintain anonymity within the exchange of information on the message board. In the first 24 hours after the ad went up, there were several inquiries that solicited through various means and ploys to obtain phone number, email address, or street address. A few others have trickled in since. Here is my favorite so far. First message had preliminary, common questions about car history and operation. After my replies in answer, I received this message:

"Sounds Good ,I will be paying via cashiers check , once I mail it my mover will only come over for pick up when you notify me that the check has been verified and cleared by your bank,I need just your full name and full mailing address to have the check mail to you first thing tomorrow morning, Here’s my Number (214)639-6776 to have your information send to with your number to text you on or call you once the check sent to you overnight first thing tomorrow morning and be rest assured that nothing happen until the check clear and everything is good to go at your end. Thanks"

Of all my scammy messages, this one has the strongest indications of being written by someone not living in this country. It also features the deepest reach in personal info, soliciting name, address, and phone number. Pretty audacious compared to the other who only attempt to get one. The only thing they didn't ask for was bank account #

So far, really only one very serious and verified buyer has expressed interest, including a preliminary test drive. For that buyer, the next step is a trip to his mechanic for a system functions review. Afterwards, I expect an offer. Have received an official offer from another poster, but as there are no other messages, am thinking it might not be legit.

Waiting game: For mechanic review appointment. For the seemingly legit offer by the second person to clarify itself. For other inquiries either legit or not legit (for their amusement potential). For the state to provide my copy of title.

(And if course, for my new car to arrive)

Stay tuned!

 

You wrote: "All money or title transfer passes through the company. Seller receives funds through direct deposit. " This is a good way to go as "cashiers checks" are commonly counterfeited and enough time can elapse in the clearing process that the buyer can have received the car before the "check" is returned. Perhaps with car one is safe because the VIN is known and the vehicle registered, unless it is being exported or sent to a chop shop.

 

All this talk about touring the Subaru plant reminds me of the early days of my career, circa 1995 - The Kenosha Chrysler Plant was one of my clients and I got to spend a TON of time in that factory over the next couple years. Fascinating ****.

I was doing IT infrastructure work back then and the plant manager would drive me out to some corner of the plant & say “I need a printer/terminal/computer, HERE” and tell me to figure out how to get it done….

 

You mentioned not buying another trailer hitch for the 2" receiver; if you tie your kayaks down during transport, I found that a bare hitch (with no ball) makes a great spot to tie them down in the rear. It keeps the lines away from the paint so you don't damage either the bumper or the hatch.

 

Before I share my next story, it is time to express thanks for people here who have provided insights influencing my own journey. I did not necessarily choose as you did, but you informed my decision-making process in valuable ways. In no particular order:
chvvkumar
Typhoon87
Cerulean Obsidian
RedDedZed
bradatlarge
Parsimony
Booter
Flatlines
SubiJeffrey
Jim in Pa
AWDrules, particularly for these gems. "The one thing I wish the Onyx had (from the Touring) is the power folding side mirrors," and this bit of Subaru shopping wisdom: "With NINE trim levels, the process of deciding which trim level I wanted was actually quite tedious."
Draggon Originator of the awesome Startex thread
Derek87 for info about Nappa leather and the cooling system
hfmartek for sharing experience with Nappa Leather and dogs.
Gentle Breeze for the sheep skin suggestion
Maik for Leather care advice
Chefmark for starting nav the subscription thread
Sehaare posting about GPS on that thread
Rand with guidance on Android and Nav apps
Binary Visions especially for answering my inquiry about Gaia GPS
Flat Four for starting the informative ASS thread
newjohnabirk with good insights regarding the Auto Start Stop system and mileage
Silver Onyx - Soooo many posts and advice

All those who participated in my thread and poll: Protective Accessories - Gotta Have, Nice ta Have, or Useless? but particularly Slow Eddie and cybirr for their explanations of their choices.

As promised, here is how I wound up with the Touring. It all starts with the Nappa Leather. Never really liked any leather car seats before. Too hot in the summer, finicky care especially for cleaning, fear of rips and repair costs, etc. In addition, I thought the charcoal black color looked boring on the Subaru website, and the Java brown looked too orange. The cloth seats in my 2010 have held up amazingly well with only one small tear (where else but) on the driver door side bolster. Once I sat on the "hot" Startex at the test drive, I was sold.

Then I made a mistake - I kept reading what you guys had to say (fool that I am), and we sat in a Touring on a visit to the dealer.

First, in "the flesh" the Java brown looks really nice, not the least bit garish as it looks on the computer screen.

Second, the first damage ever on my original Outback came when a kayak fell off my roof and sheared the side view mirror right off. Those folding mirrors looked attractive., especially because of our narrow garage doors.

Third, while testing the digital "smart mirror" by happenstance, a salesman was standing behind us talking to someone across the showroom floor. Switching on the "acoustic" mirror, the guy disappeared (My spouse is a guitarist, and we often call human powered things like razors, lawn mowers, screwdrivers "acoustic" but "electric" for their powered forms). I could not see him in my side view mirror. Turning around in the seat, I still could not see him behind the the pillar - dead center in my blind spot. After I switched back the digital, he reappeared. I have never had a blind spot accident, but that is the cause of my most frequent near-accidents. This seemed like a real valuable feature, potentially more so than the front camera for which I yearned.

At home, I created a spread sheet of pros and cons for both the Onyx XT and the Touring, giving each feature a score for how much I wanted it. Examples, Startex and front camera were highest scorers at 5 points. Folding mirrors and full sized spare scored 2 each. You get the idea. The relative total scores for each trim remained close even as I read more from you guys, and individual features went up and down in value. Eventually, the Touring squeaked out the Onyx.

Coming up, I try to sell my trusty friend, OB1, the 2010 Premium.

Not sure what I did, but glad I could help. The mirror sounds cool but wasn't out yet when I got mine. The biggest thing I want from the Touring is the memory seats, but not enough to deal with leather and all of the additional items and cost.

Accessories and choices:

On a previous thread, I inquired about accessory choices ( https://www.subaruoutback.org/threa...s/protective-accessories-gotta-have-nice-ta-have-or-useless.565955/post-6460366 ) within the Subaruoutback.org Hive Mind. Based on your comments and the polling (poll still open, I believe), these are my choices indicating which are not on my current Outback. Some are carryovers from my previous experience finding them useful and worthy of a repeat:

1. Cargo net - used a fair amount before primarily for multiple grocery bags. Would have just kept the old one for my new car, but I really liked the dual vertical and horizontal netting in the new design. The buyer of my old OB will get the bonus.

As @Derek87 mentioned, I got the cargo net thinking I would use it often, but I ended up taking it out because I kept catching things on it when I would put them in or out of the back. Instead I use a set of folding baskets like these. I need to pick up some more and possibly sturdier ones as these work well for keeping things from sliding but I don't trust the bottom not to tear out by carrying it when fully loaded.

2. Rear bumper cover - This is the one option my dealer puts on all of its Outbacks, and with the frequency of my climbing to access the roof as well as to load and remove lumber/ masonry from the back, it is a solid choice. Did not have on my previous wagon, and that rear bumper did not look too good after 15 years of wear.

3. Trailer hitch receiver - have rarely used the hitch for hauling, but have used frequently for my bike rack. Have had a hatch/trunk mounted bike rack before and found it unacceptable. Modern auto sheet metal is too thin to support the weight of bikes without excessive bending, especially under the added strain of irregular pavement and potholes. The 1.25" receiver and ball hitch will go to the new buyer as the new cars come with a 2" receiver. Did not opt for the new ball hitch, figuring if the need arises to rent a U-Haul trailer comes up again, the requisite object can be purchased elsewhere much more cheaply.

I picked up my hitch and ball at U-Haul. It was priced reasonably and also meant that I didn't have to try and figure out the proper height beforehand. Also, check out the Paclock locking pins. They're pricey but got recommended by LPL and you can get all of their locks to use the same key. They even make a model with a pin for Yakima bike racks. Locking Hitch Pin - PACLOCK

4. Door Edge Guards - NEW
I am super careful when parking next to other cars, but I have messed up. Have never gotten these before for appearance reasons, but decided this is one investment in not having one more thing about which to worry. Thought of waiting and buying the clear or black generic items plus some sweat equity, but figured if I was going this route anyway, matching the paint might diminish the visual issue.

5. Body Side Molding - SEMI-NEW.
Though I am super careful, plenty of folks are not or are in an excessive hurry. Have not had these on my Outback, but had them on the previous car. The difference in the marks on the side after 15/14 years, respectively, of parking lot dings tells me, convinces me it is a decent investment. Of course, there will be a honeymoon period during which every trip to the grocery store and big box will result in a hike from the lower 40. Will no doubt justify this during the same period as "good for my health" and "getting my steps in."

I considered these, but as Derek also mentioned, I'm not sure how well they'd work considering the different heights and designs of doors. Let us know how it goes.

6. Footwear Illumination - NEW (to me)
My darling SO had this on a previous car and loved it. It made finding things on the floor at night so much easier. She forgot to make sure it was on her current car and has experienced frequent wailing and gnashing of teeth since she discovered it missing. Because this will likely become our main road trip car, I knew it had to be included. One problem: she will be certain to be miffed every time she uses it because she will remember and self-flagelate over her previous error (She REALLY loved those lights). I have been looking at YouTube videos about aftermarket installs. Happy wife, Happy life.

Interesting. I always carry a flashlight so I've never really felt the need for footwell illumination.

7. Auto-Dimming Mirror with Approach Light - NEW (to me)
My SO has had them in both cars purchased since I got my Outback, and we both would not be without, primarily the auto dim. Opted out of the special Subaru Logo. She thinks the ones on the Mustang are especially classy. Me? Maybe a tad ostentatious for my taste.

Are you talking about the logo in the mirror or one that gets projected on the ground? The biggest surprise I had with the mirrors is that they still dim even with a tinted rear window.

8. Rear Seat Back Protector - NEW
This one was a surprise winner from the poll I mentioned above. It came in second after all weather mats. Since i do load cargo AND I will now have leather seats, it seemed a good choice. Seeing them on a car on the lot, I thought they looked a bit flimsy and was surprised the top is secured with bungies around the headrests. Not that impressed with that look. However, it was a clear favorite so I figured if I didn't like the look, I could find some heavy duty velcro to tidy the appearance up.

It and the rear cargo mat are a bit flimsy IMO but they've held up pretty well so far, although they don't see the heaviest (ab)use. Having the two working together is why I didn't opt for the WT cargo mat.

What I Did Not Get

Each had their adherents but frequently chosen items in the poll were Splash Guards and Mud Flaps. If counted together these two would make up second place in polling. Why not choose one or other? Most of this decision comes down to location and usage. If we lived where there was more snow, the Splash Guards would receive the thumbs up. If we went more places in the mud, a third party mud flap set would be a necessity. The current OB has survived without so far. I was impressed by the comments about how easy these items were to self install. I reckoned that if I changed my mind, the fix would be simple.

The number one item from my poll was all weather floor mats, with many of you describing your favorite aftermarket brand. In my current car, I started with the carpet mats that came with. They wore out within a year or two. Then I switched to the Subaru all weathers which also came with the car. Since it does not snow much here, and we don't do much in the mud, both of these were adequate. In fact, the all-weather mats held up well for a good ten years. The last 2-3 the drivers side looks pretty rough, so I replaced the fronts with WeatherTech. A good application of protectant to the rear, and they look like new (Clearly, not much traffic back there). The carpet mats for the brown Nappa Leather Touring look extremely sharp as they feature a matching brown trim on the black. Will likely follow my previous pattern of wearing those out and replacing with all weather by some brand. Will talk details on that in an upcoming entry on aftermarket items for new baby.

The splash guards don't seem to actually do anything but if you're doing any sort of offroading, I think the mud flaps are worth it. They've done a good job of keeping dirt and gravel from getting kicked up when driving down farm roads, etc.

I am curious to hear from you folks what kinds of things, vehicle related, you carry in your car on the regular. The following will include two lists, one for things I already have, and things purchased specifically for the new car.

Already in inventory:

1) Collapsible trunk carry all bag - like the one sold by Subaru, but not as expensive. In it I keep a variety of handy items and inclement weather necessities like a down coat and a rain jacket. In the mode of the "Be prepared" Boy Scout, there is also a local street atlas and a US atlas. A wrench sized to adjust tightening nut on the hitch mounted bike rack, tire guage, and ziplock bag with maintenance records. Downside for current car is I never really secured it to the floor level tie-down rings. Looking forward to using a carabiner to stabilize it to the hooks on the back of the rear seats.

What one do you have? I've tried a few but they end up taking up more floor space than I'd like. Ideally I'd want something taller.

2) A mostly inadequate automatic air pump - Happy to entertain suggestions for a replacement

Viair is what I see get recommended. I have this in my wishlist but I haven't bought one yet. I don't recall if that model was specifically recommended or just the brand in general. Amazon.com

3) Roadside emergency kit - jumper cables, road flares, other miscellaneous. Happy to receive suggestions for what you include in yours. Note that I am adding a battery powered jump starter.

4) A multi-function stays-plugged-into-12-volt-power-supply combo device: flashlight, USB charger, seatbelt cutter, emergency window cracker.

5) Travel size personal toiletry kit - nice to be able to brush teeth/swipe pits on a long car ride or comb your hair after driving with the sunroof open.

6) USB cables

7) Driving / cold weather gloves

8) Hung off the back seat head rest trash container.

Wirecutter recommended the HOTOR bags but I found the trash liner mounting to be fiddly and I couldn't get it to nicely mount behind the center console like I wanted. I've been looking at the Lusso bags but haven't tried them yet. Let us know what you end up getting.

9) Pocket knife

I find it super handy to just carry a pocket knife, although I also have one in my toolbox. It's a toss up whether the knife or flashlight gets more use on a regular basis.

10) An X-shaped Tire Iron. These are longer than the stock tire iron, giving you more torque applied to the lug nut, plus you can pull up on one side and push down on the other giving you nearly twice the power of the one handed model. With the normal tire iron, the angled shaft tends to impart a shearing motion to the force on the lug nut, making it more likely the irin twists offthe nut and/or deforms the nut more on the outward faces of the nut. The x tire iron allows the torque to be applied at an even 90° angle to the axis of the screw so all twisting force only unscrews the nut, not deforming it. Along with an air compressor and some form of battery restart device, this is the one safety/repair related tool every one should have in their car.

Someone on here recommended this tire iron since it can be taken apart for storage. It feels quite sturdy but thankfully I haven't had to use it yet. Amazon.com

Things to Acquire

1) Jump start battery charger - eying a Gooloo

I picked up a Gooloo and it's carrying case during an Amazon deal a while back. I got this model which includes a heater for when you're attempting to jump a car in cold weather. It seems sturdy, but I also haven't had to use it yet. Amazon.com Amazon.com

2) Fuse box "drawer" - Have not yet decided what goes there. Leading candidates are a card clip, loose change, and/or small pack of tissues. Which ever is not chosen will go in center console.

3) Infotainment screen protector - Ms. SCK accidently scratched the screen in her car some time ago, and though we can ignore it most of the time, there are times when it looks horrid. Also, in my test drives, I have noted a significant glare off the shiny screen. I suspect a mat finish screen protector might help.

I have concerns about the screen getting scratched as well, but so far it hasn't happened. I also haven't found a place to install a screen protector because it would bug me if there any bubbles, etc.

4) Some form of trash receptacle - looking for recommendations here, especially for something which does not clash with the Java Brown leather. Failing a good lead from you good people, there is an alternative: Have had some experience working with plexiglass construction and considering fashioning a custom drop in for the "large" compartment in the center console.

What kind of trash receptacle are you thinking about and what would it do that your backseat one doesn't?

5) (Eventually) All weather floor mats - The usual suspects: WeatherTech, Huskey, Tuxmat appear to be pretty darned good products from personal testimony in comments here. The fit and finish of the Tuxmat looks superb, but as far as I can tell only comes in one color, gray with some black. If I was getting the charcoal leather interior or the Startex, the choice would already be made. Anyone with insight about or pix of any of these products in a Java Brown interior? I note WeatherTech has a brown in its stock, but a mis-matched brown might look worse than a simple black.

6) Window stickers to fit my mood and personality (To be decided) - Would love to see your pictures of how you decorate your windows: favorite bands, places you have visited, snarky bumper stickers, velociraptors chasing stick figure families, etc.

7) Key Fob Protector - found a pretty leather one on Amazon: OLLEN Screws-Free Genuine Leather Key Fob Cover

8) Sundry Outdoor Equipment Accessories - Actually have the two things I really need a) a Dakine cushion for transporting my kayak on the roof rack and b) a Thule bike rack. Will likely replace #a with a Thule model. I cannot justify getting a whole new bike rack, but am really interested in the Kuat Sherpa as a lighter and more easily adjusted model. Maybe I can wind up using the Thule rack as a sweetener for the buyer when bargaining over the price of my current car.

Speaking of which, next entry will give an update on the progress of selling my current Outback.

I see a decent amount of the Sherpa and it's been on my list to consider. My biggest concern is making sure the bikes and rack are solidly mounted as I'd hate to have something happen when hitting a pothole.

i am enjoying reading about your journey. just some random comments, but YMMV:

- body side molding and door edge guards... the edge guards i think will protect the person you might hit your door with but i don't think they will give you a lot or protection from others. as for the side molding, they did a fairly good job of preventing some door dings on my Impreza, but i still got many. it really depends on the height of the potential door hitting your car. i opted to not get them after reading here (sorry: don't know the thread) about the OEM ones not offering much real world protection, anecdotally

- i keep extra clothes (rain coat and random assortment of jackets for my wife and daughter who get cold) using a cargo net behind the seat. i originally used side cargo nets (adapted from Gen4 Outback) for this purpose (like i did on my Impreza) but decided that i preferred to keep those things generally completely out of the way, thus giving me more width for cargo day-to-day when i needed at the expense of potentially a little depth. (not a huge amount lost since clothes compress well)

- i store cloth shopping bags in my side cargo nets, i also store a "thermal bag" (foil lined) under the cargo floor panel in the random case where i don't have a cooler and want to keep some groceries from getting too warm too fast.

- i sadly haven't used the OEM vertical/floor cargo net at all even though i bought it. it's stored behind the rear saeat cargo net in the event that i may want it. i bought i thinking i would want to use it when i went to Costco and had boxes that would slide around. as it turned out, the cargo floor mat provides enough friction to keep most things from sliding.

- i'm missing some of the things that you have on your list, but given the propensity of Outbacks to have dying batteries, a portable jump start battery is essential IMHO. i have been waffling about a small air compressor but haven't done the research to determine which one i should get. i also like carrying an old weatherman multi-tool which can come in handy, an ice scraper for the occasional visit to the snow.

- i haven't found the use fuse box drawer yet, but so far, my extra ear plugs and a few random bills of cash sit there without rattling around.

I think everyone should have a jump box in the car, regardless of their battery status. For the price they're cheap piece of mind.

 

I always carry a flashlight

Just one? haha. I always have a flashlight in my pocket, small one on my keychain, 1 in my center console, and two(one small clip on and 1 larger one) in a small toolkit in the trunk. And I also have 3 lights in my laptop/tool bag that is usually in my car.

I might have an addiction.