Former Suby guy coming back...

[shomann]

in a Tribeca?

Now, I am no stranger to Subarus. I was a fan from the first minute of ownership of one of the rarest Subys of the past decade, the 2005 5spd Legacy GT Wagon. That car did many things well, and when I sold it, I knew I would be back to Subarus again (long story about WHY I sold it in the first place, but since it was my Dad that bought it, I still get to drive it occasionally).

So, I have been shopping used Subarus with my primary focus being the 2006-2008 Forester XT. I still haven't ruled it out but I have found myself looking harder recently at the Tribeca. I know the focus is totally different for both vehicles, and yet I think I would be happy with either.

As I do with all big purchases, I have been researching the Tribeca a great deal - not the least of which here :). I have found a few out there in the used marketplace that I like and would like to get the group's opinion on one in particular:

http://performancehondastore.com/used-inventory/vehicle-details.htm?vehicleId=2254dd527f00000101355a470f84 087c#

In an ideal world, it would be a 7-seat model, but this still seems to be a good find. I love the colors, the limited trim and the relative proximity to my location (I am in Southern Indiana).

Thanks for any insight/help/advice!

[LORE BECA]

7 seater is only for 2 SMALL kids, 5 seater is good enough.

TRY BRINGING PRICE DOWN ON A NEW ONE, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED!!

Or try bringing the price of the one you are showing above a little lower.

It is a nice car, hope you know how to take care of black cars!

[shomann]

7 seater is only for 2 SMALL kids, 5 seater is good enough.

TRY BRINGING PRICE DOWN ON A NEW ONE, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED!!

Or try bringing the price of the one you are showing above a little lower.

It is a nice car, hope you know how to take care of black cars!

You really think I can bring an 09 or leftover 08 limited down to a similar level?! What sort of deals have people been working out?

About the black - its been awhile since I had a black car. It is the single worst looking dirty and the single best color clean :-D. I think I am ready for the responsibility again ;)

[Tribeca_06]

your looking at 08s and 09s?
you can get a great deal on 08s and even new 09s if you want a brand new 09, but the 08 is exactly the same as the 09...also you could prob get a really good deal on an 07 or 06, but the 08s/09s have a bigger engine and a few extras here and there and ofcourse the exterior is differnent too..good luck!

[shomann]

your looking at 08s and 09s?
you can get a great deal on 08s and even new 09s if you want a brand new 09, but the 08 is exactly the same as the 09...also you could prob get a really good deal on an 07 or 06, but the 08s/09s have a bigger engine and a few extras here and there and ofcourse the exterior is differnent too..good luck!

I am pretty much ONLY looking at 08+. There are too many tweaks to ignore, plus I might be flamed but I like the revised front end better ;)

I am not really looking into buying brand new unless I find a killer deal - might as well let someone else pay for depreciation ;)

One of the biggest reasons why the Tribeca makes sense to me right now is what you get for the money - an '08 Forester XT is about the same price.

[Tribeca_06]

nice! also you may want to check sites like Craigslist.com to see if anyone has a 08 tribeca..i would check under cars for sale by owner instead of dealer because some dealers on craigs are crap, and i agree, you save alot even buying from a Subaru dealer with the Certified Pre-owned deal. The tribeca is a great car and the newer ones are even better! tho i wish they 08 and 09s has more character to the front :/

[Senis]

7-sit is useless,not enough room. I test both and took 5-sit and realy like it. Can recomend to any frend

[Tribeca_06]

:yeahthat:
7 seat is a joke but if you have little kids, or kids who have alot of friends then you might want it just to put people back there legally :rolleyes:

[immortal_suby]

We put ~60k on a forester XT before trading it in on an 08 tribeca.

The forester was loads more fun to drive. The forester was much more nimble. I miss it. It was a quick little ugly sleeper.

The tribeca is large and feels large in comparison. It drives well and is fairly quick when pushed but it is still fat and slow when compared to a forester.

You can fit a family in a tribeca much more comfortably than the forester. The interior is luxurious in comparison. The whole car feels more refined than the forester.


I feel better after a 12 hour trip in the tribeca. I felt better after a 15 minute romp in the forester.

If you don't have kids, get the forester. Enjoy it. It's a fun ride.

[Tribeca_06]

^^^ the new forester is reallly nice!

[Senis]

Look, in what SUV you can scratch you beck with left arm without hitting window? I had F-150 before and liked roomy interior. Now in Beca I relay did not miss it. And this is not a racing car, have enough power for regular daily driving.

[shomann]

Good thoughts, everyone, thanks!

I test drove a Tribeca at our local dealer this evening. It was a very barely used (2900mis) 09 Limited but a color scheme that was not my first or second choice. Fortunately, the salesman was very low pressure as our local dealer asking price, before haggling, was over 32k.

Tribeca Pros:
Nicest interior of any Suby I have been in - roomy is a good word.
Effortless performance, flat torque curve
A huge list of features for the $$$Forester Pros:
Quick and nimble, especially for a small SUV
Tons of mod options
Better off-roadI am focusing on the pros as neither car has glaring cons. I am single, so the family hauling is out of the picture, but I do take frequent long road trips with friends. Its a tough call, honestly. Both are unique rides. I am single, so the family aspect doesn't figure into this.

The quick/fun factor isn't as important to me as it was a few years ago - I know now that one car that does everything to my tastes is an impossibility. My thinking is to get a great car that does the day-to-day well, and get a motorcycle or project car in the near future for the 10% of the time I want to be bad.

Please, keep the thoughts coming, I still haven't made my mind up either way.

On a slightly related note, I will not be cross-shopping the Legacy or Outback 2010 models. Yuck.

[Tribeca_06]

well the Tribeca is great for long trips. i have the 7 passenger (not that i even use the 3rd row often) but the 7pass comes with rear air vents which keep the back really cool in the summer, also i like that the news ones have backup cameras, thats a great feature, also memory seat is a nice touch.. whenever i have friends in the car or co workers they fall in love with the interior :rolleyes: also i would not get TAN LEATHER...reall pain in the a$$ to clean!!!!!

but the new forester is pretty nice i've heard, it think its a good single persons car, and it has some nice features the tribeca doesnt..pano roof (somewhat pano) , power lumbar , navi with bluetooth (2010) ....so you can get a forester with some nice features too

[Magic Marker]

Based on your single/ no kids life, I would say Forester. You can mod it and I think you'd have more fun in an XT Limited vs. a Beca. If I had the cash, I'd get a loaded Forester and turn it into a street STi variation. You can't do that with a Tribeca.

[Tribeca_06]

Also the only thing with the Forester..it seems they are giving them away...i see them EVERYWHERE..which isnt a bad thing but kinda intreseting

[LORE BECA]

S.E. 2009 BECA FOR mid to HIGH 20,000's IS very do able.

Didn't like the limiteds small moon roof.

The new OUTBACK looks very sporty as well, FOR SINGLE GUY.
23,000 BUCKS IS price range for new 2009 FORESTER.

Salesman told us with equal equipment it wouldn't have been much difference between Forester and BECA.

OH yea, wife liked the BECA better!!

[Tribeca_06]

S.E. 2009 BECA FOR mid to HIGH 20,000's IS very do able.

Didn't like the limiteds small moon roof.

The new OUTBACK looks very sporty as well, FOR SINGLE GUY.
23,000 BUCKS IS price range for new 2009 FORESTER.

Salesman told us with equal equipment it wouldn't have been much difference between Forester and BECA.

OH yea, wife liked the BECA better!!

S.E's have bigger moon roofs then the limiteds?

[shomann]

S.E.'s don't have sunroofs ;) - that's the feature that is supposed to bump you up to the limited.

If I liked the exterior looks of the 09+ Foresters better, I would be all over it. They really did a fantastic job on revising the interior (I sat in a cloth XT yesterday). I am sure the reason you see them everywhere is because the changes made were more appealing to a wider market.

Outback - Pretty much ruled out. I like the car (up to 2010) very well and respect it, but since I have 2 close friends and a father with nearly the same car... yeah...

2006-08 Fozzie - yeah, still on my mind. I could mod the crap out of it. Either ultimate off-road Suby, or sleeper on-road bruiser the Forester would work. It is precisely for this reason that I am shying away from one right now. I would love to be in a place where I could have a project car and do it right - but I am not there now. I need my next vehicle purchase to be my daily driver and I know myself - I wouldn't be able to resist that modding urge. Well that, and being able to actually find one ;) Sigh.

Heck, I am probably going to have the modding issue with the Tribeca. Even without the deep aftermarket, there are things I want to make my own in nearly any car I get. At least with the big-T I probably won't be discussing fuel maps and turbo timings with you guys...

These are good problems to have.

[LORE BECA]

HA ,HA I call my 07 TUNDRA CREWMAX BIG T.

I guess as far as Subaru goes, it is their biggest, and don't be surprised if they make it SLIGHTLY bigger in future. Like the Legacy!

[Tribeca_06]

S.E.'s don't have sunroofs ;) - that's the feature that is supposed to bump you up to the limited.

If I liked the exterior looks of the 09+ Foresters better, I would be all over it. They really did a fantastic job on revising the interior (I sat in a cloth XT yesterday). I am sure the reason you see them everywhere is because the changes made were more appealing to a wider market.

Outback - Pretty much ruled out. I like the car (up to 2010) very well and respect it, but since I have 2 close friends and a father with nearly the same car... yeah...

2006-08 Fozzie - yeah, still on my mind. I could mod the crap out of it. Either ultimate off-road Suby, or sleeper on-road bruiser the Forester would work. It is precisely for this reason that I am shying away from one right now. I would love to be in a place where I could have a project car and do it right - but I am not there now. I need my next vehicle purchase to be my daily driver and I know myself - I wouldn't be able to resist that modding urge. Well that, and being able to actually find one ;) Sigh.

Heck, I am probably going to have the modding issue with the Tribeca. Even without the deep aftermarket, there are things I want to make my own in nearly any car I get. At least with the big-T I probably won't be discussing fuel maps and turbo timings with you guys...

These are good problems to have.

ohhh.
i like the forester but it feels alittle...cheapish..dont get my wrong i love the car, i had a rental from my dealer and i wanted one after that, but it doesnt feel as complete as the BIG-T but then again..they are difffernt cars

[LORE BECA]

Next BIG SUBBY T up in a few years is a 4 liter engine with a cvt smoother tranny, I hope.

[shomann]

Personally, I hope the 2011 Tribeca is available with the 2.0 turbo diesel from the European Subarus...but I doubt that will happen as Subaru doesn't have an automatic transmission that can hold that low torque (yet).

On the same subject, I just hope SOA at least brings ONE diesel model to the US...

[Tribeca_06]

Personally, I hope the 2011 Tribeca is available with the 2.0 turbo diesel from the European Subarus...but I doubt that will happen as Subaru doesn't have an automatic transmission that can hold that low torque (yet).

On the same subject, I just hope SOA at least brings ONE diesel model to the US...

i think they are thinking of bringing a diesel forester but only if we clap really hard :clap:

[HB_Dad]

7-sit is useless,not enough room.

5-seater is discontinued for 2010 models.

7-seater is not useless if you are hauling kids, but it is cramped when trying to seat adults in the third row. 7-seater is much more flexible than a 5-seater and when you don't need the third row it folds flat out of sight and out of the way.

[Tribeca_06]

also they are going to grow the tribeca by 4inches i heard and only make the 7pass model

[Subiesan]

Welcome back! Love my tastefully modded LGTW Ltd (1 of only 61 made) but I'm looking for a 2010 Tribeca Touring (T2) for my wife.

Things that sell me on 2010 T2 over Forester XT Limited:

Roominess - even though the 08+ Forester is built on the 4th gen (04-09) Legacy platform - the Tribeca wins hands down
Comfort - I drive a lot of miles (typically several hours at a time) and I like to feel like I have some energy left when I get to where I'm going
T2's Interior refinement and ergonomics versus XTs utilitarian approach
Towing capacity - T2's 3500 lbs versus XT's 2400 lbs
Passenger Volume
Tribeca: 133.5 CF
Forester: 102.1 CF
Cargo capacity
Tribeca 3rd row seat folded down (how most would configure): 37.6 CF; 2nd/3rd row seats folded down: 74.4 CF
Forester rear seat up: 30.8 CF; Rear seat folded own: 63.0 CF
Rear air - really helpful when bringing the puppers along camping or traveling - Forester does not have
Engine torque - T2's uber smooth and linear H6 delivery versus torquey but non-linear XT H4T delivery
5x114.3 wheel fitment - easier to find T2 replacement wheels versus XT's 5x100
T2's R180 LSD rear diff and larger hubs versus XT's R160 non-LSD rear diff and smaller hubs
T2's Upgraded and reprogrammed 5EAT versus XT's 4EAT
Regular fuel versus premium for the XT
Rear camera - great for just about everything - XT does not have
More footprint up top for racking stuff
Reasonable mod potentialThings I like about the XT versus the T2

XT is more tossable versus T2
XT has more ground clearance and is likely more capable off-road (maybe)
H4T is a lot of fun (sad that there's no 5 or 6 MT)
Smaller overall dimensions makes it more easily maneuvered into smaller areas
Built on the solid 4th gen Legacy chassis - great platform.
Huge sunroof/moonroof option - T2 should have this option
Great mod potential
Overall - the T2 is unique, near-luxury, stylish, a great road/tow vehicle and you can transport 5 adults very comfortably and an additional 2 small people in a pinch, or fold down the 2nd and 3rd rows and load it up. My wife loved her 02 Forester S, and thought that a 2010 XT would be her next car until she saw/drove the T2 "package". Looks like we'll be picking one up in either Graphite Gray or Azurite Blue.

[Subiesan]

Also forgot to mention that the T2 has HID standard versus standard halogen on the XT. Was really surprised at the light output difference between a non-HID Tribeca and an HID-equipped one.

[Tribeca_06]

maybe wait for the new design of the tribeca..i belive its being redesigned for the 2012 model year

[Subiesan]

If Tribeca follows Subaru's typical 5-year model year replacement, the 2011 should be the next redesign. Not sure exactly what we'll do, but that's certainly an option.

[Magic Marker]

If Tribeca follows Subaru's typical 5-year model year replacement, the 2011 should be the next redesign. Not sure exactly what we'll do, but that's certainly an option.
We won't be buying another Tribeca for a while. The extended warranty is good til 2014. I wonder what it will look like by then.

Subisan,
Does your 2010 have a power liftgate? I found that always a lacking feature in Subie's flagship model.

[Tribeca_06]

i hope they make a nice 2011..all the new looks have been great
Majic- No, they dont have power lift gates....thats what makes me really like Toyota..PushBotton, Liftgate...the Tech. is all there...but Subarus overall quality is 100 Xs better. People dont seem to mind it seems