Yay! Finally a Subaru hybrid!

[Swedishchef]

Well, I am finally proud to say "my" car company is contributing to a greener planet!

This should be a great seller: symetrical AWD hybrid! Woot woot.

(broken link removed to http://www.subaru.com/auto-show/nyas-2013.html)

 

[ironpony]

do not see others getting to excited over this, so I will say congratulations and enjoy one if this is your dream come true.
Me I'll take the big honkin diesel truck.

 

[Swedishchef]

LOL.

Thanks. I wouldn't call it a dream come true but it is very exciting. Subaru, as far as I am concerned, is the best car manufacturer out there. They have increased sales every year for the past 7 years (including during the recession) and in 2011 they sold more cars in the US than VW.

I would love a pickup truck but I can't afford the gas! Subaru make several diesel models in New Zealand and other southern hemisphere countries but said that the "North American marketis not ready for diesel cars" (which I do not agree with).

A friend of mine has a Hemi 5.7L gas and loves it. At work we used to have a full size Suburban with an 8.1L gas engine (they don't make those engines anymore)...speak about hard on gas!

Andrew

 

[Scols]

A friend just came back from Panama. He said there were Ford Ranger diesels all over the place. I would have loved a Diesel when I had a Ranger.

 

[Swedishchef]

I know scols....if only NA had access to all the vehicles from around the world easier and not just the ones destined for our market. The problem is even if you import one, who will work on it? The techs here have never seen them.....

 

[Scols]

I know scols....if only NA had access to all the vehicles from around the world easier and not just the ones destined for our market. The problem is even if you import one, who will work on it? The techs here have never seen them.....

I know my wife is from Scotland and Ive seen some cool little trucks over there,but my BIL said the same thing as you. Plus you have to pay to get it here, so its more hassle than its worth.

 

[webbie]

That is probably the only reason I gave up my subie (wifey still has one) - the MPG of AWD is pretty low (24 or so).....

There were rumors of a small clean diesel also...which would have also hauled a small boat a bit better!

 

[Swedishchef]

Scols: I was told to get a car from Australia to Canada would cost about $3000. Not bad considering if I buy a car made in Canada I still pay $1500 freight and delivery!!

Webbie: The mileage of SUbarus has steadily increased over the past few years. The new impreza and crosstrek are getting 36MPG on the highway thanks to a 2L engine and CVT transmission. The diesels get 44 MPG highway! And the diesel Outback has 144Hp, 258 ftlbs of torque at 2000 RPM! And it can tow 3500 lbs. Check it out: http://subaru.com.au/outback/2.0-diesel


AHhhh..can't wait to see the hybrid. Go Subaru Go!

 

[charly]

LOL.

Thanks. I wouldn't call it a dream come true but it is very exciting. Subaru, as far as I am concerned, is the best car manufacturer out there. They have increased sales every year for the past 7 years (including during the recession) and in 2011 they sold more cars in the US than VW.

I would love a pickup truck but I can't afford the gas! Subaru make several diesel models in New Zealand and other southern hemisphere countries but said that the "North American marketis not ready for diesel cars" (which I do not agree with).

A friend of mine has a Hemi 5.7L gas and loves it. At work we used to have a full size Suburban with an 8.1L gas engine (they don't make those engines anymore)...speak about hard on gas!

Andrew

My wife has a Subaru and it's been a great car, bought it used... Guy down the road from us just works on and sells used Subaru's. He's got a huge inventory for used parts as well. People love them up here on the mountain. I'm a diesel fan as well. My Dodge Cummins diesel one ton with a 5 spd standard gets 22 mpg on the highway ,, for a heavy duty truck I'm very pleased with that.. We had a first year 98 VW TDI beetle as well,,, 44 mpg, another great diesel. Before that an 80 VW diesel Rabbit, and 81 diesel Rabbit pickup... all great on fuel... A shame they screw us out of so many diesel vehicles here in the states.

 

[Swedishchef]

Charly: you're right, that is why they are not in the market yet. The problem is that EPA doesn't care about the volume of polutants but the type of polutants. They are trying to reduce various types of nitrogen containing compounds and VOCs.

However, I am sure the 1980 1/3 diesel spewing black smoke is a lot worse than a new Subaru diesel....

Diesels work great but IF they break get costly to repair.

My dad used to have a 1985 GL which had 4X4 hi/low. He ended up parking it in the winter of 1988 (bought a Volvo 740) and never shoveled it out of the snow all winter. Come spring time he sold it to a guy who used it for logging!! It lasted 2 summers logging cut trees for cross country ski trails. What a tank.

 

[begreen]

Loved my Legacy wagon and kind of miss it. I'm going to try out an Impreza to see if it still has the moxie. Subaru makes a diesel but doesn't think there is the market for it here. Maybe Mazda's diesel in the 6 will be a wake-up call.

 

[firefighterjake]

Scols: I was told to get a car from Australia to Canada would cost about $3000. Not bad considering if I buy a car made in Canada I still pay $1500 freight and delivery!!

Webbie: The mileage of SUbarus has steadily increased over the past few years. The new impreza and crosstrek are getting 36MPG on the highway thanks to a 2L engine and CVT transmission. The diesels get 44 MPG highway! And the diesel Outback has 144Hp, 258 ftlbs of torque at 2000 RPM! And it can tow 3500 lbs. Check it out: http://subaru.com.au/outback/2.0-diesel


AHhhh..can't wait to see the hybrid. Go Subaru Go!

My wife loves her 2003 Legacy . . . next year I suspect we'll be selling it and getting her another Legacy or an Outback . . . the only thing she doesn't like is the gas mileage which I told her seems may have been addressed with the CVT transmission.

 

[Swedishchef]

The CVT helps the mileage significantly...

 

[Scols]

That is probably the only reason I gave up my subie (wifey still has one) - the MPG of AWD is pretty low (24 or so).....

There were rumors of a small clean diesel also...which would have also hauled a small boat a bit better!

It seems like an MPG in the mid 20's is standard for this type of car. My wifes CRV averages 26mpg and friends with Rav4's are in the ballpark.I would love to see more diesels in this size range,especially after the gas shortages following Sandy.

 

[charly]

My wife loves her 2003 Legacy . . . next year I suspect we'll be selling it and getting her another Legacy or an Outback . . . the only thing she doesn't like is the gas mileage which I told her seems may have been addressed with the CVT transmission.

Wife has a 2003 as well, Outback... Same thing , loves the car but the mileage seems to be around 23-26mpg,,, my Dodge diesel cummins 1 ton gets all around 20 and 22 mpg on the open road... He have the 6 cyl in the subaru,,,think it would do better then that for fuel mileage... Put in my zip code for the diesel Subaru,,, looking at 44 thousand base price, yikes! Almost a new dodge diesel truck price...

 

[webbie]

Yeah, at those prices a Jetta or a Ford Focus or their new hybrid starts looking good.....

Subies are great...if you don't have to do a lot of road miles. We just put 3,000 more on the Passat...I averaged 32 MPG on the way to Florida with a packed car. Subie stayed in the garage.

Realistically, even though it snows a lot around here....I work at home, so there is nowhere I really need to go for those 4 days a year when the snow is really bad. So although I loved my Forester, I probably won't be buying another unless the MPG is up there and the price is right.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

We love Subarus. It's the perfect compromise in terms of MPG, AWD, performance, and cargo space (I need this to haul stuff for pottery shows- I play Tetris when packing). Plus, they have been extremely reliable for us. I commute a few days a week now however, and the extra MPG would be welcomed.

 

[Jack Fate]

I've been waiting for the diesel for years now .

2 problems with diesels in the states

newer epa regulations on cars are tough to meet & make for a complacaited system ( check out what VW is going through )

our fuel, extreme low sulfur affords very little lubrication for the fuel pump system (if I remember correctly about 40,000 lbs psi)


Just about bought a golf tdi last year until a did a search

this is just a after 2008 for cars sold in the states

I love diesels & subies

 

[daveswoodhauler]

I have a 2013 Outback (Will be our car for the next 10-12 years) and have averaged 27 mpg since purchasing 14500 miles back. (We have the 2.5L 6 spd manual) AWD, roomy, and 27mpg for an AWD was the choice for me. (Prior vehicle was a 2002 Forester)

 

[Swedishchef]

Wife has a 2003 as well, Outback... Same thing , loves the car but the mileage seems to be around 23-26mpg,,, my Dodge diesel cummins 1 ton gets all around 20 and 22 mpg on the open road... He have the 6 cyl in the subaru,,,think it would do better then that for fuel mileage... Put in my zip code for the diesel Subaru,,, looking at 44 thousand base price, yikes! Almost a new dodge diesel truck price...

OUCH! $$$

 

[Swedishchef]

Yeah, at those prices a Jetta or a Ford Focus or their new hybrid starts looking good.....

Subies are great...if you don't have to do a lot of road miles. We just put 3,000 more on the Passat...I averaged 32 MPG on the way to Florida with a packed car. Subie stayed in the garage.

Realistically, even though it snows a lot around here....I work at home, so there is nowhere I really need to go for those 4 days a year when the snow is really bad. So although I loved my Forester, I probably won't be buying another unless the MPG is up there and the price is right.

Craig: the 2014 models have significantly improved gas mileage. The manual model finally has a 6 speed (used to be 5) and the automatic is now a CVT tranny. The 2014 Foresters with CVT (can also get paddle shifters) are rated to get 32MPG highway (US gallons).

 

[charly]

All my diesel stuff gets fuel additive every tank full for a lubricity for the pump... Amsoil , I did hear that there were some issues with the new VW's but have forgotten what was the issue... Was it camshaft wear issues in the new diesels? The Subaru's definitely give one a comfortable feeling when driving through some nasty snow conditions,, the wife likes that... We bought our 03 with 85,000 miles... Has been a pretty trouble free car... Changed that over to Amsoil,,, found out the motor was pretty dirty inside...what ever oil they ran before,,, the amsoil was getting dirty fast for the first few oil changes... The inside of the oil filler cap was a dead give away as to infrequent oil changes or cheap oil... Sludge build up... It's all good now..with 120,000 plus.

 

[Swedishchef]

I have a 2013 Outback (Will be our car for the next 10-12 years) and have averaged 27 mpg since purchasing 14500 miles back. (We have the 2.5L 6 spd manual) AWD, roomy, and 27mpg for an AWD was the choice for me. (Prior vehicle was a 2002 Forester)

Are you liking it Dave? So you have the manual? We ended up getting a 2010 forester ( and I drive a 2005 impreza to/from work) but plan on getting a 2015 Outback (once the forester is paid off).

The reality of it is that lots of us want a car that will get better gas mileage. However for me it's not THAT big of a deal but it would be welcomed. I love the safety of them in the winter (snows 5 months a year where I live), the impact ratings are the best and the reliability is nearly unparalleled princepoint wise.

With my forester I have gotten 7.6L/100 KMs on a 800 KM road trip. No speeding, no crazy driving. That is 31 MPG US. Sure I would like to get 5.5L/100 Kms. However: I drive about 22 000 KMs a year. Increasing my gas mileage from 7.6 to 5.5 (2.1 diff X 220 ratio X $1.40/L) = $650 in gas savings per year or about $54 a month. It's not that big of a deal...hence why the main factor when buying a car for me is not mileage. Safety is #1. PS. I certainly could not afford gas for a great big pickup truck!

 

[Swedishchef]

My wife loves Subaru for the fact of driving in the snow. We have NOkian Hakka 5s on both my cars and they turn a Subaru into a snowmobile!

Andrew

 

[Paulywalnut]

I guess diesel is better for power but being stuck in back of one on the highway is terrible.