Options
Subaru drivers - opinions/comparisons please
Carlos_dfc
Posts: 8,262 Forum Member
✭
I bought a Subaru a few months ago - On the test-drive I noticed something which felt like the early stages of a slipping clutch, and even persuaded the seller to drop the price because of it.
3½ months and 2500 miles later, it hasn't got any worse, and I'm now wondering if it's a standard feature that is something to do with either the 4wd, or the Hill-hold system.
I've previously owned and driven cars that had a slipping clutch, but they didn't feel quite the same as this.
Hard to explain, but:-
When at around 2,000-3,000 rpm, if I put my foot down hard, the revs jump quickly by about 500 or so rpm, then seem to climb normally. If I keep my foot planted, the car sort of catches up with the revs within maybe 5 or 10 seconds, until it is no longer slipping.
It feels a bit like when you kick-down an automatic, for better acceleration.
It'll only do this in 4th and 5th gear on the flat - and I can just about get it to do the same (slightly only) when on a hill in 3rd.
Another strange thing is that it will only do this within a short time after changing gear - If I've been trundling along in 4th or 5th for more than, say, a minute, I can't get the car to do it. This is the main reason I'm beginning to think it might be a feature, rather than a fault (along with the fact it has stayed pretty much the same for 2500 miles - slipping clutches tend to get worse until they give up altogether)
The 3 cars I've driven with slipping clutches all felt different to this - They all slipped more if I kept my foot planted, especially on hills - this car doesn't
Has anyone else with a Subaru noticed this happening?
Is it some sort of traction-control thing, or something to do with the 4wd differential, or maybe something to do with the Hill-hold mechanism (which is connected to the clutch lever via spring-loaded cable mechanism) ?
Comments/thoughts welcomed
3½ months and 2500 miles later, it hasn't got any worse, and I'm now wondering if it's a standard feature that is something to do with either the 4wd, or the Hill-hold system.
I've previously owned and driven cars that had a slipping clutch, but they didn't feel quite the same as this.
Hard to explain, but:-
When at around 2,000-3,000 rpm, if I put my foot down hard, the revs jump quickly by about 500 or so rpm, then seem to climb normally. If I keep my foot planted, the car sort of catches up with the revs within maybe 5 or 10 seconds, until it is no longer slipping.
It feels a bit like when you kick-down an automatic, for better acceleration.
It'll only do this in 4th and 5th gear on the flat - and I can just about get it to do the same (slightly only) when on a hill in 3rd.
Another strange thing is that it will only do this within a short time after changing gear - If I've been trundling along in 4th or 5th for more than, say, a minute, I can't get the car to do it. This is the main reason I'm beginning to think it might be a feature, rather than a fault (along with the fact it has stayed pretty much the same for 2500 miles - slipping clutches tend to get worse until they give up altogether)
The 3 cars I've driven with slipping clutches all felt different to this - They all slipped more if I kept my foot planted, especially on hills - this car doesn't
Has anyone else with a Subaru noticed this happening?
Is it some sort of traction-control thing, or something to do with the 4wd differential, or maybe something to do with the Hill-hold mechanism (which is connected to the clutch lever via spring-loaded cable mechanism) ?
Comments/thoughts welcomed
0
Comments
Don't take it to a main dealer, have a look at www.sidc.co.uk - they're very friendly and helpful and will recommend a specialist in your area
And yeah - I always avoid main dealers.
I prefer to do my own maintenance if possible, and only go to a garage if I can't handle the job myself.
I've got an Impreza manual too - so I'll be digging through that tomorrow - see exactly what's involved.