The smilie says "banana dance", and that's what we're doing at our house tonight, having logged on to read your awesome statements about the real issue we've experienced, and my wife's now sure she didn't dream this up!
As for the tire question, we've had good Michelin snows every year, and pbly under 4000 miles/year so maybe 16000-20000 thus far, still lots of tread.
Based on your personal experience that conforms to ours, and the site references you provide, it's good to know the weakness/flaw is REAL. It's clear that (SOA and Sub Canada) have been in denial - so we may just sell the darn car now, and buy a used Highlander (how boring, after the fun of an Outback, most of the year, including gravel roads to the cottage), OR - pbly shouldn't - fork out $$ for a new 2010 Outback. It just seems wrong to let them make another sale when they never addressed the '05 problem, over the 5-year 05-09 period. And re conspiracy theories, surely Edmunds, Road & Track, Car & Driver and others must have been aware of this scary loss-of-control issue, but not wanted to spoil SOA's sales?? Unbelievable - THANKS FOR CONFIRMING SITUATION!!
Some other thoughts, Subaru Master:
1) Re your comments about VLSD, our car was "base model", no traction control button, which I think meant no stability system. For extra $ the Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) option was available, and those cars had a switch to turn off VDC if desired. What's VLSD please?
2) Switching to Sport setting on transmission wouldn't help, because it's not an electronic ABS or VDC systems issue, in fact it's suspension geometry?
3) Is it worth asking dealer to check rear bushings in case, after 63000 miles, including gravel roads, they've become mushy so more rigid replacement ones could give us some improvement?
4) We had thought it was systems-related, so maybe a manual transmission would have given the driver the control we thought systems were taking away - but again, if your flawed rear suspension geometry is the issue, then 50/50 manual weight distribution or 90/10 initial distribution for automatic, won't change a thing? OR, given your 9 a.m. posting after much thought, do you think the 50/50 power distribution of the std transmission would resolve the issue - we could start looking for a manual ...
5) Could the pblm be with jacked-up Outback, and not exist on lower Legacy
6) Does same rear suspension weakness apply to the Tribeca? We'd been considering flipping Outback for a 2006 or 7 Tribeca, but now fear that with the same underpinnings, the same winter control weakness would persist?
7) You still have your 05, and just travel light or avoid slippery conditions?
So we just "grin and bare it", or pass the pblm to somebody else by selling - what a bummer, when the car is so much fun in every other way. This is SO irresponsible of Subaru, given their reputation for control in the snow - all the folks in New Hampshire who've been driving them since the 1960's!
THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR INVALUABLE FEEDBACK!
