Comments on: 2008 Subaru Tribeca Review

By: Steve-Poyza

Steve-Poyza — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:39:35 +0000

I liked the original. It was an interesting design and creative design. But so many people ae bland and want things to look bland too.

By: Hung Low

Hung Low — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:12:25 +0000

Kriss Says:
November 18th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

If its one of the solenoids in the transmission then its quite a big repair job depending on the gearbox design. Either the gearbox will need to be removed and repaired or they might have access to the solenoids from the sump. Either way hope its covered under warranty or else $$$$$$!

By: MadMal

MadMal — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:57:41 +0000

Dam nice car but the 7 seat option can only really be considered for midget parents or those with legless children. Parents under 5′9″ who’s children have no feet should also look at it but for the remainder its just a joke.

By: Igor Suto

Igor Suto — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:27:23 +0000

I have purchased the 2008 Tribeca Premium several months ago. I love the body shape, the ride, the atention to detail and the overall build and style of my Beca. The only critisicm I have is that the Navigation system doesn’t have school zone, speed/red light camera and speed zone warnings. Any run of the mill mobile GPS unit has this, why not a car that has everything else? Also the audio system lacks bluetooth connectivity for mobile phone pairing. Once again, much cheaper and inferior vehicles have this feature. Style and design are highly subjective, so not everyone will like everything. personally, this is the best car I’ve ever purchased. Oh and the wife loves it as well. There’s almost peace on earth.

By: Hellsfull

Hellsfull — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:02:56 +0000

Ugly as hell … yuck I woulnt think it would have good resale being built in the states. Subaru has lost the plot they use to make nice cars.

By: Kriss

Kriss — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:17:25 +0000

Hi,
I too have a tribeca which I do love. Servicing is very well priced.
However, we have just had a terrible situation on our driving holiday to QLD. Whilst pulling out in front of semi (putting the throtle to the floor) the engine literally had a fit. It was as if it threw itself in to neutral and was reving really high. We bascially lost all power. My husband luckily pulled into the middle of the road so the truck could pass. We then could not get the car out of low gear. We tried everything. Every warning light was on on the dash. We turned the car off and re started and it seemed a lot better (lights were still on). We took it Subaru and they checked everything and said it was the transmission cellunoid? sp? The car is still “chugging” a bit at certain speeds. Has anyone else had something similar?
Any other feedback would be appreciated!

By: Bodger

Bodger — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:11:27 +0000

I think you are all a bit agressive on the design. The earlier model, the B9, was out there and I think very impressive. Those who seem the abuse its design should go back to the FJ and live the dream of a limpid in the ocean never changing over millions of years.

Car designs are meant to evolve, and maybe in 10 years time you will look back and say that was a great design. However probably not. Carry on bottom dwellers.

By: ASSEM

ASSEM — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:23:44 +0000

am about to buy a tribeca, I like the car, but if any one can help with any info regarding reliability, spare parts prices, etc.

By: Mel Rodd

Mel Rodd — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:23:59 +0000

I just purchased the Tribeca early 2007 model. The one the writer calls ‘ugly’. Well I beleive it looks great. Not only great looking, but unique as well. The shape is not like the generic SUV faces you see on the road everyday.

So many times I’ve been stopped geting out of the car and people asking for a look. They often make the comment that it looks very similar to Porsche’s Cayenne. And I’d have to agree. It also has all the luxury you could imagine on the Premium model and for a 3.0L engine, it has enough power for a family car. My Tribeca is my dream car come true.

By: JJC

JJC — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:50:40 +0000

We just purchased a 2008 Subaru Tribeca and was disapointed to find that Subaru Sat Navigation system has been substantially degraded.
The “blurb” given to new purchasers includes a booklet with the front cover labelled “Subaru” & suggesting that the vehicle contain “WheriS” navigation with “Version 13″ software.

But don’t be fooled, they have removed entirely such essential items as:- School zone warnings, Red light & Speed camera alerts etc. Worst of all the new cars have the old Version 13 software rather than Version 14 which was released in December 2007.

Subaru dealers are not interested to discus this deplorable situation.

What do you reckon can be done to overcome this problem??

James

By: nick

nick — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:44:57 +0000

i am test driving one now – and it is growing on me. FENNO – a very funny post but a tad off the mark. Value for money this is one very good sensible family soft-roader. I have been a BA falcon wagon sorta guy with three toddlers and this is a car we would look at. A stylish really safe kid carrier with lots of great features for your $. Handles so well, nimble for its size and brakes on a pin. My only grip is its too quiet and all I hear is the transmission, so it sounds like Im driving a stylish sewing machine. Looks as great as a conservative family car can – even tho I want to buy the alfa 159 estate ….mmmmmm now thats a car. pity its only got room for the shopping.

yes – drive it for the weekend before bagging it people.

Oh yes my wife rightly points out ‘looks like lexus ‘cept only a third of the price and it doesnt talk at you all the time – god I hate overly chatty GPS units dont you?’

By: Baji

Baji — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:14:38 +0000

OSU811 i’d have to disagree. Yes the tribeca rides a lot softer but at the expense of more body roll. The mazda rides a lot stiffer but it was designed that way from the ground up to embrace the so called “zoom zoom” philosophy. The subie is not quite sure about what it wants to be. Its too firm to be a true luxury vehicle, and too soft to be a sporty vehicle. I believe the mazda to be the better handling of the two, and its transmission is just as smooth if not better. The mazdas shift points are a lot better as well and it doesn’t hunt for gears as much. The mazda engine is a lot more responsive and i find is a bit more powerful. But yes it does use more fuel. honestly i think the looks are all subjective. To each his own.

By: Fenno

Fenno — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:37:54 +0000

Another “Claytons” 4wd (the 4wd you have when not having a 4wd) that fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. This car is about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

By: Duck

Duck — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:58:54 +0000

OSU811, is right u know!

By: OSU811

OSU811 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:15:04 +0000

and a big advantage especially with fuel prices going higher and higher is the tribeca is much better on fuel than the cx9 and runs on std unleaded fuel..

By: OSU811

OSU811 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:47:39 +0000

Casey if you actually took the time to drive both cars back to back, you would find the tribeca superior to drive
, it rides better , the gbox is smoother, it handles better because its constant awd not part time like the mazda, the engine sounds better (boxer layout), mazda has little bit more power but in this style of family car the tribeca has more than anough and has plent of bottem end torque, also tribecas new shape is lell likely to date as quickly as the oversyled mazda..

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 06:29:47 +0000

I’d take a CX-9 any day, at least they look like they were styled this century. Sorry Suby, as good as you may be, this is average at best.

By: harry

harry — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:32:36 +0000

Disgraceful styling, looks likes a mad dog’s breakfast, and I totally with ^ gear box selections across the range are Shite. Wake up Subaru… there are probably thousands of potential buyers waitng desperately to replace their older Subies, but, if like me, they’ll give up and select other makers. We wait silently for some smart designs.

By: passing by

passing by — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:49:02 +0000

I like the exterior of this model Tribeca way more than the old one. However the interior leaves a lot to be desired – I strongly dislike the slopping dash (looks like something from a French car in the 70’s), and the seats in the base model have very little support (made for fat Americans). They should refit better seats for Australia. Definitely needs a darker interior and dash redesign.

Subaru are also about 3 years behind now with their auto transmissions – all premium autos should be 6 speeds, with 5 speeds as a minimum in the base models. Sports models (wrx and STi) are desperately in need of a DSG gearbox (I personally am holding off upgrading my 99 wrx until Subaru provide one! and I cannot wait much longer). And how about the 4 speed autos in the new impreza and forester.. I mean.. seriously! Stakeholder Toyota should assist Subaru asap with their tranmissions.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:08:58 +0000

Given to look of the current Subie Impreza.. and the couple of models before that.. The 02 Bug-Eye Impreza looks more attractiuve and alot more uniform with the rest of the car. Infact I’d say it looks more modern particularly when compared to the one with wings