For all you Subaru owners on ST I want to hear from those who decided on the 6 speed manual transmission (later models in the last few years).
What do you think of the manual transmission? Do you feel it is notchy? Throw length too long? Does it row through gears smoothly? Clutch feel (grab, pedal feel, feedback)? Any issues with cold weather starts and the fluid needing time warm up (for those of you in cold weather states in the winter)? If they really suck that much maybe I will go with the CVT or something but wanted to hear from others firsthand (I’ve heard the performance guys state it isn’t the greatest but that crowd is picky about stuff like that…and so am I since I have always loved fast cars). I’ll be car shopping starting this weekend and will start test driving them soon.
I had (well my ex gf but we lived together and shared) an 06outback XT manual. Took us a year to find it, not the current model but I drive tons of cars so my 2 cents.
The clutch was shot when we got it and I swapped out the flywheel to something lighter also single mass, and a stock like clutch. The feel improved dramatically there but even still travel was long and grab point awkward.
The gearbox and drivetrains overall in those cars is relatively sloppy, probably too soft of mounts for the size. A cvt would make this much less noticeable.
The shifter had an insanely long throw and was a little mushy in engagement, didn’t love it.
Overall I didn’t think it offered a great experience in comparison to other manuals, but I’m also really not an auto fan so it could have been much worse and still liked it.
I only have the 5 speed but have no issues whatsoever with anything you list. Throw length is fine, clutch is no issue as far as feel and our temps have been as low as zero. No problems at all. That said, I am buying my wife a new Subie with CVT but only because she doesn’t want a manual.
I was worried about that as I’ve heard many stories from the mod’s crowd (think the weekend track warrior enthusiast types that race their cars and got to high performance driving schools on race tracks). I’ll just have to drive a few to get a feel for it.
I am coming from a very sporty car with a strong clutch, semi-short throw and very good feel (and lost more HP than the Outback has to offer…I’ll miss my current car when is is gone very shortly).
2010 Subaru Outback with 6 speed manual transmission for me. The car has been awesome. I don’t really have anything to complain about. When it gets really cold (like 0-10F before factoring wind chill) it could stand an extra couple of minutes to warm up, but I think that’s probably many cars. Shifting has been completely fine. Car handles extremely well in the snow (that’s part of why I like manual). I would recommend this car to anybody without hesitation.
I am kind of doing the same thing you are. I currently have the direct competitor car to the STi and have an EVO X with 330awhp but it still has the stock clutch which can hold the power. It is great for daily driving and the clutch is not heavy. But you can’t fit anything inside that car except people and 1 set of golf clubs in the trunk. I need more cargo space these days and don’t want deal with the maintenance as it gets even older.
I’ve driven a few subaru’s since '08 and including 2 six speeds. I never really notice too much in the way of cold weather. I agree with others that the shifting is a little longer and not quite as smooth as other options out there, but nothing to really complain about unless ‘fast’ shifts are critical for your commuting experience! The clutch is a little ‘grabby’, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
Currently, My main car is a Civic SI and this is by far the best 6 speed gear box that I have ever driven. It’s very smooth, short, and effortless. It’s the best transmission I’ve ever dealt with.
I have always had a manual car. So, this was practically a must for me. Have a new Subaru Imprezza and no problem with the manual transmission. Also live in Canada, no problem with having to get the car warm. Really, if the clutch is shot on a second hand car - could just be the previous owner that was hard on the clutch.
I have an '11 outback, and live in upstate NY. 6sp. Shifter feels great, clutch at 35k miles is excellent. First 3min of driving after a cold (under 20deg F) start, the fluids need some time to warm up, but this is pretty commonplace for most transmissions. Shifts are predictable, and the shifter throw is short enough that I don’t have to move my elbow, just bend my wrist.
I would recommend this car in a second. It is excellent.
I have a 2011 WRX so it’s only the 5 speed, not the 6 speed that’s in the STi. But I like it. I put an aftermarket short throw shifter and front and rear shifter bushings so the shifting in my car does feel notchy. Stock it didn’t, and the throw wasn’t too bad either. I started my car last week and it was single digit temps and it fired up just fine. I let it warm up a bit before driving though. I have driven right away on cold starts a few times and it’s fine. I just take it super easy until everything is warm. And if you live in a place where it snows you’ll love the AWD. Clutch is good. I have just under 30k miles and all is good. No slipping or anything. The 6 speed tranny in the STi is a much stronger tranny that the 5 speed in the WRX. But that really only comes into play if you plan on heavily modifying the car and getting into higher power numbers.
I’ve driven an older STi (2004) which has the 6 speed and I liked it a lot. The gears are nice and close compared to the longer gears in the 5 speed.
I have 5 speed forester that is a few years old. It has been solid and reliable. Shifting is no where near as fast and smooth as my old RX8 or 3 series but I did not expect it to be.
If you get the WRX or STI go with the Kartboy short throw shifter and bushings. The oem shifter is ok but you’ll see a big difference with the after market one. If your that worried about the cold you could always go with synthetic differential fluid but that’s a little $$.
Question for you on the cargo space. Can you fit a TT/Tri bike in the back with the seats folded down with both tires attached?
Also, for those of you who comment on AWD and snow…I know the benefits as I’ve driven AWD cars for the last 13 years and live in MN. I also spend the money on nice winter tires as it is a world of difference. A RWD car with nice winter tires will outhandle a AWD car with no-seasons (or what the tire makes call “all-seasons”). They make that much of a difference.
If you get the WRX or STI go with the Kartboy short throw shifter and bushings. The oem shifter is ok but you’ll see a big difference with the after market one. If your that worried about the cold you could always go with synthetic differential fluid but that’s a little $$.
I refuse to get either of those cars. If I wanted one I wouldn’t even bother selling my current car which is a Lancer Evolution X which is a direct competitor to the STI with AWD, Turbo and is also a car Mitsubishi sponsored for rally races like the STi but has better street handling. It is not practical for me to drive this anymore as I need the cargo space as the trunk in my EVO has the battery, wiper fluid reservoir and ACD reservoir back there for weight distribution. That means very little trunk space and I can’t fold down my back seats. Plus the car is starting to get older and I want to sell before more problems crop up to fix and I can still sell it for a decent price.
For the tranny fluid I know some of the stock fluids in many makes aren’t very good for cold weather compared to Amsoil or Redline which is what I used when I used to drive Audi’s (loved that car and still the best AWD system out there, bar none).
Thanks for all those who responded with feedback on their experienceswith the car firsthand. No thanks to the snarky commen t from the first responder. I raise you 27 gears on my Raleigh Hard Tail bike… You jacka$$.
After test driving the 2.5i Premium the clutch wasn’t too bad but the engine felt a little underpowered for the size /weight of the car. After trying out the H-6 version I went with that despite it only being an auto. It is hard to drop to car with a lot less HP but the H-6 was a good compromise that I can live with most of the time. I’ll miss ythe crazy power from my last car but in the end things are better this way as I’ve moved into owning an adult car now (quoting my brother…long time Subaru owner). I pretty much got all the bells and whistles and will bring the car back in to get the hitch installed once the part is in.
I’m also looking for a Subaru. Probably an auto. I didn’t want to go with the Outback route. Which WRX’s came with autos? 2007?
WRX’s (or STIs) don’t currently come in autos (2014 model year or older). The WRX has a 5 speed manual, and the STI has a 6 speed, I believe. The new 2015 WRX will offer a CVT auto for the first time, however, they will no longer offer a hatchback, only a sedan in the WRX or STI models.