Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, are the hosts behind the popular radio show “Car Talk,” and they have a bone to pick with a few cars that are trying to drive their repair shop out of business. It’s not so much what these cars are doing to deprive the brothers of food on their tables; it’s what they’re not doing – breaking down. Continue reading to find out the top 10 (actually 13) most dreaded car names to an auto mechanic.
Archive for the ‘Subaru’ Category
Car Talk: Top 10 Cars We Hate the Most
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Subaru Latest to Offer In-Car Wi-Fi
Friday, July 16th, 2010We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: It doesn’t make sense to pay for most in-car Wi-Fi solutions from automakers.
Chrysler and GM offer similar systems to one announced today by Subaru. The Japanese automaker will offer a mobile internet system in its 2011 Outback for $499 plus a $35 activation fee. It will then cost another $29 per month. Subaru will pick up the first three months of the subscription fee for free.
We don’t recommend in-car solutions because major wireless carriers like Verizon and Sprint offer portable Wi-Fi hotspot devices. The Verizon MiFi 2200 costs $49.99 after discounts, but the monthly charges range from $40 to $60. Sprint offers a similar device, but unlike the Subaru and Verizon solutions, it uses the faster 4G wireless network. The Overdrive Mobile Hotspot costs $99 after rebates and features only one unlimited monthly plan at $60 a month.
The benefit to these mobile Wi-Fi devices is that you can take them with you outside the car.
Perhaps dealers should start renting out kiosks to mobile companies instead of offering in-car solutions.
Recall Alert: 2010 Subaru Legacy, Outback
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010The popular, redesigned Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback wagon have been included in another recall. This time, 73,698 vehicles built between Feb. 16, 2009, and April 12, 2010, are being addressed due to a fault on the wiring system in the steering column.
Possible defects could lead to malfunctioning front airbags, paddle shifters, cruise control, horn control and radio controls. You can find out if your car is included in the recall by checking the driver-side doorjamb, where a sticker lists the date of assembly.Subaru said it would begin contacting owners this month. Owners can contact Subaru at 800-782-2783 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 888-327-4236.
Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
This week’s most read reviews continue to be Chrysler’s highly anticipated 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Honda CR-Z. Also making the list is the 2010 Honda CR-V and 2010 Chevy Equinox; we say goodbye to the 2011 Buick Regal and 2011 Ford Mustang for now.
- 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2011 Honda CR-Z
- 2011 Ford Fiesta
- 2011 Hyundai Sonata
- 2010 Subaru Forester
- 2010 Subaru Outback
- 2010 Honda CR-V
- 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
- 2011 Kia Sorento
- 2010 Hyundai Tucson
‘Entourage’ Star Doesn’t Jump Subaru Tribeca
Monday, June 28th, 2010If you caught last night’s season premiere of “Entourage” on HBO, you saw lead character Vince doing his own stunt that involved jumping a Subaru Tribeca SUV 50 feet over water, through flames and into the side of a building.
In the behind-the-scenes clip above — starting about halfway through — the stunt team and crew talk about how to get a car ready for such a feat. It includes removing the fuel and airbags and putting in a driver’s seat from a Baja race truck. Funny enough, Adrian Grenier, who plays Vince, commented that he doesn’t think he’d ever do a stunt as dangerous in real life.
Pricing Announced for 2011 Subaru Impreza
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
The 170-horsepower 2.5i sedan will remain with its starting MSRP of $17,495, and the 2.5i Premium will hold at $18,495, bumping up to $18,995 for the five-door hatchback. The Impreza Outback Sport will stay at $19,995. These prices do not include destination fees of $725.
For the Impreza’s major change, Subaru will drop the color Newport Blue in favor of Marine Blue Pearl and Sky Blue Metalic, so all you Newport Blue fans are out of luck.
The Impreza goes on sale in July.
Subaru Checks-In: Add a Badge to Your Subie
Monday, June 21st, 2010If you — or some of your social media chums — battle it out for badges on Foursquare, then Subaru’s latest accessory will be right up your alley, presuming you own a Subaru.
The automaker is offering customizable badges for owners to put on their very non-virtual cars. You get to pick a single emblem that shows how many Subarus you’ve owned — up to 10 — and then add up to 12 lifestyle badges after the fact. Those include icons for activities like biking to more conceptual “love” or “environment” badges.
The Badge of Ownership — as Subaru is calling it — is free, and you can order them here, but you must provide a vehicle identification number. You also can return to the site and order more badges as they become available, free of charge.
So far, Subaru says it has received about 7,000 badge requests since the program launched in late May without any press releases or external promotions. There’s also a form for owners ordering badges to request a new lifestyle badge not yet offered. Subaru spokeswoman Heather Ward says the most common request is for a motorsports badge.
Subaru Stops Sales for 2010 Legacy, Outback
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010Subaru has issued a stop-sale notice for the 2010 Legacy and Outback because of a recall for the inspection and possible replacement of a high-pressure cooler hose that can crack and potentially leak fluid, which could lead to a fire.
This involves 29,000 vehicles, including both those already sold to customers and on dealer lots. It impacts models built between July 31 and Dec. 1, 2009.
Dealerships will receive replacement parts this week while Subaru begins notifying owners. The fix is free. The automaker says the halt in sales will last only a couple of weeks.
Owners may contact Subaru at 800-782-2783.
Prices for 2011 Outback, Legacy
Friday, May 14th, 2010Subaru will bump the price for the 2011 Outback by just $200 more than the 2010 model, pictured above. This moves the price up to $23,195 for the 2.5i, $24,495 for the 2.5i Premium and $28,495 for the 2.5i Limited with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The 2011 Outback tops out at $31,495 for the 3.6R Limited. A Power Moonroof Package will add a rearview camera, auto-dimming mirror with Homelink and a compass display for $450.
The 2011 Legacy models continue with 2010 pricing with the exception of the Limited trim, which costs $300 more, thanks to the addition of XM Satellite Radio.
The destination fee for the 2011 Outback and Legacy has increased to $725, up from $695.
Both models have seen impressive sales so far this year.
Recall Alert: 2010 Subaru Legacy, Outback
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Subaru is recalling 29,443 2010 Outback and Legacy models equipped with continuously variable automatic transmissions due to a faulty hose. A crack can occur in the cooler hose and leak fluid. There was no mention of what a leak like this could lead to in terms of mechanical defects or accidents. The recall affects all models built between July 31 and Dec. 1, 2009. You can see when your car was built by looking at the sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.
Notices have not yet gone out to owners, but Subaru will replace the hose for free. You can contact Subaru at 800-782-2783.