I have two dedicated sets of tires. I proper street set, because I like quiet and also like ripping corners sometimes. I also have BFG KM2s on a set of wheels that I can swap on to the car when I'm ready to go off road. I also take the entire roof rack and cross bars and hang them on the wall in my garage so I don't have to hear the racket. If I'm going to be carrying stuff (or headed to a car show and wanna look cool) I'll put the rack back on and deal with the noise. As always, thanks for your vids.
Thank you kind sir! Good ideas all around....always good to be prepared. I kept my original wheels/tires for a couple of months, but ended up selling them in the end. The KO2's definitely makes some noise on the highway. :)
Congratulations Dave. That is awesome. How long before one comes in? Our local Subaru dealer who normally has countless cars has very limited stock. What color did you chose?
Love your videos on the Crosstrek. I ordered mine in July and I'm looking forward to it arriving soon. Your videos were a big help as far as making sure I had made a well thought out purchase. Thank you for all the work you've put into the community.
HI Don, thank you very much for the very nice compliment. Congrats on your new Crosstrek and I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine. And thank you for watching.
Bought my XV not long after you got your Crosstrek and hadn't had a problem with the a/c due mostly to the fact that it'd only been my wife and I in the car and using the front seats but since then I have had people sitting in the back and saying that they found it a bit 'stuffy' due to no rear air vents in the rear.
Welcome back from vacation Rick. Great update. I finally brought Zippy to the dealership for the recall infotainment update and the strut dust cap rust issue. The car was possessed afterward and started when I pushed the lock button (my aftermarket car started fob was at home) and the the radio and maps app kept shutting down on the drive home. I deleted the Aha app from my phone and problem solved. For the strut cap, they cleaned up the rust, repainted and installed bigger rubber caps. Less than a hour job. Thank you and others on this channel who pointed out the issues. We learned the crew at Quality Subaru 😉
Thank you Deb! Glad to hear all went well with Zippy and they got you all taken care of. That is crazy about the car starting. LOL That sounds like something that would happen to me. Have a great week.
Hi Rick, I hope you are well and rested after your Hawaiian vacation. This is another great video - clearly presented with lots of info for others to listen to, watch and learn. I particularly enjoyed the shots in the car to show what you are discussing! And, hey, I liked the 'seniors' moments'. Don't worry, I have them, too, so you are not alone, ha ha! Meanwhile I have had no problems with my XV, a great little car that is comfortable, easy to drive and economical. CFDU, Martin
It's a fun car to drive - low to the ground which makes the speed seem faster than it probably is, and very easy to fling around, being so light. The gear lever is short and easy to hand and combined with the rear wheel drive, the gearbox feels great. It's certainly got a quite different feel to drive than the XV! It harks back to the feeling I used to get from my old 1974 model Toyota Corolla which I rallied, back in the day. Well, that's probably how it felt, from what I remember. It's one of those dreaded 'senior's' feelings, I suppose, ha ha! They're different cars, designed and built for different purposes but equally fun to drive! Cheers!
Nice Martin. I love the XV, but it is really fun to get in the 911 and just drive for the fun of it. Sounds like the Mazda is fulfilling that for you as well. Of course you already have all of the fun with the rally stuff. :)
Rick great channel I’ve got a 19 crosstrek 6speed manual premium Yep the ac just doesn’t get it done and the head unit is nothing but problems like my presets just go away and sometimes it just changes channels on its own But even worse the clutch chatteres when it’s cold out and an oil leak on left side cam carrier Dealership removed engine resealed cam carrier It’s a new car with 5 thousand miles Very disappointed it’s the 1st and last Subaru for me
great update Rick. i'm coming up on 80k miles on my 2016. I had custom seat covers made for my cloth front seats when new and they are wearing like iron. LED back-up lights, speaker upgrade and 16" sparco terras with 215 yokohama GO 15s. are my favorite upgrades and really my only ones! the tires are great on and off road and with the way I drive i'll probably be replacing them at 30-35k miles. oh, I needed to add a quart of oil at 7,800 miles of this oil change recently. that's a first for any vehicle I've owned in more than 20 years. I change oil at 10k intervals. next oil change i'll make sure it's perfectly topped off and then see if I need to add in the next 10k miles. at 90k miles i'll probably start running heavier oil like 5/30. i'll be headed back to the white mountains at the end of the month for Milky Way and Bristlecones! take care buddy.
Thanks Ed! Great to hear from you my friend and great to hear your update.. Good to hear she is still going strong and that you are enjoying her. Have a great trip and I hope you have excellent weather for your photos. Let me know when you get them processed...would love to see them.
Love your videos! I have a '16 Crosstrek with about 51k miles. I just installed Rallitek's Rear Sport Springs to keep the car from sagging when I load it up for camping. Have you had any issues going over speed bumps? I noticed I have to go much slower so the springs don't rebound so hard and make a thunking sound. Granted, I've only put about 180 miles since install, so hopefully it gets a little better as it settles. I also haven't loaded the car with a lot of weight yet. Keep up the great videos!
Hi Joseph, I have not had any issues with the springs so far and they have helped with sag and improved the ride overall. When you did the install did you tighten everything up when the car was still in the air? And then put the car on the ground loosen everything up and re torque? Apparently it is a good idea to do this so everything can relax under weight and not cause binding. Not sure if it would cause what you are experiencing though. I did the 1" stock style spring which might be different than the sport springs? I would think the sport springs might be a little stiffer and might be causing the rebound? Or maybe they are not meshing with the stock shocks/struts? I really appreciate your watching the videos and for your kind words! Have a good weekend.
Love your entire series from start! I have 2019 Base Model! Owned five other Subaru’s since 1999 so know what to expect! I love new global platform they produced as it makes all difference
I have a 19 , I live out here in Palm Springs gets pretty hot , the ac is okay but what really made a difference was getting the Subaru sun shade. Great vid Rick
Sun shades definitely made a big difference and I need to get a better one for sure. :) Thank you for watching and hopefully we will both start cooling off soon.
Bit over 32,000 miles on my 2018 and have had my lift, methods, KO2s on since about 350 miles. Wear on them is not even noticeable. I do have a full sized 5th that I rotate in every oil change. The AC does it job, but ive never gotten cold (here in Sacramento its been 104-107 degrees this week). I have the cloth seats and have odd/not normal wear on my drivers seat. The fabric has noticeably worn and have debated taking it in for the dealer to look at.
Rick thanks for keeping us informed with your car's mileage update! I have 4800 miles and except for the light corrosion you brought to our attention that was addressed a couple of weeks ago at the dealer, that was my only issue. I had an update with the infotainment system in the spring and I have never had any issue with it before or after. I guess I am lucky! The last time I got gas was in April and in 4 months I have 2/3 of a tank with just running around town. By the way you didn't mention any oil consumption problems and when I drove to AL in October, over 900 miles each way. I checked the oil before my trip, and before I drove home, and when I got home and NO oil consumption! I also brought along extra oil and the Subaru factory coolant in case I would need these! Some people have mentioned that our cars are noisy even with the OE tires, I have the Yokohama's, but driving on the interstates at up to 80, but mostly 60 to 70, and I thought it is not bad. After all it is not a Bentley or Lexus! That's all for now!!!
Great update Rick I recently started working for my local Subaru dealer hauling and delivering all there vehicles and yes the AC in all there other year models work great I think we got weak compressors kinda makes me feel like they don't care about us anymore
@@randallwildeman2771 yes Randall before I bought my '18 Crosstrek I had for 20 years a '98 Legacy L wagon and the a/c was much stronger then my Crosstrek! It is barely adequate and should be much stronger. Like Rick said they should have put vents in the rear of the consul for rear passengers!
Thanks Randall. That is interesting to hear. They have definitely done something different with the newer Crosstrek's. Sounds like a fun job though. :)
Thanks Dave! I always like hearing about how your car is doing and I'm glad everything is going well. No oil consumption on my end either thankfully! Have a great week my friend.
24,000 miles on my 2019! 10 months old with 19,000 miles on the KO2's. Only maintenance is 5 oil changes 2ea air filters and 2 cabin air filters. No problems whatsoever! KO'2s still look new! Lots and lots of fire roads, camping trips and ski trips in blizzards and heavy snow. Love the trek! Been 100% reliable In case anyone wants to know I have the KO2's with a roof basket and still average 31mpg
Herschel Walker I have the CVT limited trim. Not sure why but I have always had good mileage with this car, even after the tires I was surprised that I didn't lose any mpg... a 1 mpg at most. I added a roof basket and was sure I would see a loss but it almost seems as if I didn't lose any at all. Still average 30-31.5 mpg sometimes 32ish. I am at see level and do frequent highway miles during my daily commute so idono. I do know the CVT is more efficient than the 6spd so there is that.
let me start off by saying love watching your videos they are all great. My car has only had 2 issues, the strut bearing cap leaking (I haven't taken it in for that yet) and a bad battery other than them my car seems to be a unicorn CarPlay connects fine ac works great even under hard acceleration no problem with horsepower it will throw me back in my seat when passing on the highway but maybe its my driving style and local climate or maybe my car was built right after they got a pay raise at the factory (everyone super happy and doing their best work).
100% agree that the AC in 2018 is subpar. I was driving the Crosstrek in 90 degree weather here in CA this summer and my mind kept telling me the AC wasnt working well enough despite being on the max and coldest setting. I also have a base model 2016 Challenger sxt, which had the same MSRP new, and it will definitely “freeze out” as you decribed it. That just doesnt happen in the Crosstrek.
No issues with my XV except as stipulated in the video about drivers seat wear which is aesthetic more than anything,Air Con great in Melbourne's notorious 4 seasons in one day.Head unit zeros issues.Great little touring vehicle with a camping kit for the back makes for a nice comfy off-roader.Broken ankle recovery/rehab made so much easier/minimal pain with the extra height and old folks get in and out without assistance.Cross traffic and obstruction detectors is a godsend with cars,animals, children ,pedesrstrians,bikes,motorbikes,skateboards an those bollards/poles you just don't see in the carpark.That feature alone has saved so much grief.30k update 2018XViS.Cheers.
Hey Rick! I also have the 18 crosstrek but the premium trim. I agree that the AC is definitely subpar but it works. I recently drove a 2019 trek in the limited trim for about a day and the AC blew a LOT cooler and harder. Idk if they changed it but it is definitely noticeable.
My 2019 Crosstrek seems the same as my 2018. It feels like the compressor shuts off to give the engine a little more power when accelerating and thus affecting the AC's cooling ability(just a guess). The seats appear to be wearing the same, but I only have 4,500 miles on the 2019. Great video as always! Thanks Rick!
I think you are right on with the ac shutting off to increase power...I don't remember my earlier Subaru's doing the same. Take care brother and thanks for checking in!
Over the air updates has never worked for me. I do have NAV and ended up using an USB to do the update. No issues with our head unit, knock on wood, all working fine. We just did the service and no issues... just oil, oil filter, air filter done... You are correct. A/C is adequate... not great. Does not help that it was no vents in the back. Car is now being used by my son (we bought to eventually give it to him, that was officially done this Monday :) ) I love the looks of the KO2 (increase in noise be damned!, lol), they just look soooo cool on your Crosstrek.
Thanks Jaime and glad to hear the Crosstrek is rolling along ok with no issues. Good for your son! Too bad you can't sneak the rubicon in while your wife isn't looking now. :) I do love the KO2's! Cheers my friend.
Hey RIck great videos, I have the exact same setup as you do, 10k miles on my BFG ko2. I getting bad cupping on the rear tires. i have to do a lot of freeway miles to and from work. I'm just curious about what you know or think about cupping. Thanks!
Very interesting? Mine seem to be doing great so far, but I don’t drive freeway too much and only have about 12k miles on them. Do you have any suspension mods at all? What pressure are you running? Possibly an alignment issue? Thanks so much for watching
Rick, curious... I read the recall, but what specifically drove you to go have it updated? I notice slight annoyances while using the head unit in general, but nothing where I’d want them testing their new code with me being the guinea pig. something specific acting up for you?
Before the most recent update it was doing really well actually. They just did the new update when I was in for an oil change and to be honest I'm not even sure what it entailed. Mine has been good since I have been home from vacation so we shall see how it goes from here.
I live in Florida and in my 2016 crosstrek I have to use the recirculating button. I will turn on the car. Roll down the windows. Turn on the ac. Wait a minute. Then turn on the circulation. Then roll up the windows. Works great. I definitely agree when accelerating with the ac on it struggles. Also I’ve noticed Subaru has some horrible build quality. My dash rattles. As well as my back window has a tapping sound. Leather is cracking. Also cheap paint quality. I believe this will be my first and last Subaru.
Sorry to hear it brother. They are definitely know for rattles and poor paint quality! The 18 and been pretty much rattle free so far, but its still early. :)
Like watching your videos! I have a 2018 Crosstrek 13K miles. I have noticed the air is not that great, but luckily I live in a climate in CA where I don’t use the air that often. My issue is with syncing my IPhone. When calling someone using voice command it goes through the phone and not the car. My contacts are synced and in the car software. Any ideas on this?
Thank you Jerry, much appreciated. That is interesting regarding your phone and voice calling. When this happens, is your phone just on BT? Or do you have the car plugged in and using CarPlay? In my case because my phone is synced I am pretty sure anything I do phone related does go through the car so I will have to play around with the settings here today and see if I can come up with something. Whenever apple does an update they seem to change small things and not saying anything about it. :)
Purchased a 2019 limited 5 weeks ago. So far I love it.... i was concerned about power but after 1k miles, the power seems improved. AC is great although the design of the vents next to steering wheel is goofy.
Congrats Greg. Great to hear you are enjoying your new Crosstrek. It is pretty interesting how the power does get better after some miles. Best of luck with her.
car manufacturers have been slowly switching to R-123yf refrigerant. the EPA has mandated that all new cars will be required to use it by 2021, and unfortunately it is about 5% less efficient at cooling then R134a.
I was rear ended in my 2019 crosstrek today by a Ford F150 and my crosstrek only had scratches and the Ford F150 bumper broke completely off- I did not believe the Subaru was built that TOUGH!
@@AZdroptop I was going to buy Yokohama G015 A/T but they are $193 a tire everywhere I look. I am getting 65,000 mile warranty General Altimax RT43 tires, they are a great all around tire, supposed to be good in the snow as well.
HI Aaron, I would recommend them. They have taken away the heavy feeling I had up front from the extra bar/skid plate weight and have gotten rid of the diving of the nose under braking. My wife comments almost every time she rides in the car how much better it feels. I will say if you are going to do a lift at some point it would be nice to do it all at once so you do not have to repeat some of the same work. Cheers.
I have a 2019 with now 21k and I have to agree the a/c is never cold enough. Also i don’t know about your crosstrek but when I was cleaning the speedometer glass with a microfiber rag it came left a foggy smudge that I can’t take off
I found on my 2016 Crosstrek that if I set the air conditioning on both upper body and legs it took forever for it to get cold and it really never did, especially on hot days. However if I set the air to blow only at my upper body, then it would get quite cold.
I chose Continental TerrainContact AT tires for my 2016 Honda Pilot AWD, as they were designed for driving "90% on pavement and 10% off" -- which pretty much suits me: Occasional weekends off-road, mos other time city/freeway. So for ON-pavement, I wanted them for better traction in inclement weather (especially going slow on snow using "Snow Mode"). Don't care about "looks" of my cars though (they just be cars!). Only interested in performance. ;-) -- BR
@@AZdroptop I believe I said earlier I used to have a 2014 (in a 36-month lease in 2013) Crosstrek XV, but 3 years later (and leaving Colorado) I needed a mid-size SUV with a VERY good AWD system that could tow 5000lbs (a U-Haul 6x12 cargo trailer for moving purposes) -- the Subaru Ascent wasn't out back then! Happy Off-Roading, -- BR
HI Bill, I do remember that now. Do you think you will go with an Ascent down the road? Or stick with Honda? I guess Subaru has had a decent amount of transmission failures with the Ascent.
"Do you think you will go with an Ascent down the road? Or stick with Honda? " -- Rick H I don't have any "brand loyalty" as such (but have usually chosen -- or they chose me (!) -- foreign cars vs. American-made all my life)...so that's been Datsun (!), Nissan, Honda and Subaru & Honda (except in the "early years" I had VWs and British cars) -- have never owned a Toyota, but not because I don't think they're quality products, it just never happened. However, when I pay off the Pilot (in about 8 months, I hope!) I'm either going to keep it a few months more, or get another AWD mid-size SUV, or a mid-size truck (Ford Ranger 4x4) or, one of the smaller Class B motor-homes (if it's 4-season and 4x4/AWD both)...so no decision needs to be made yet, as I need to see what my situation (and health, as always!) is next year. And if I do (as planned) move back to CO in a year, buy BEFORE moving back there or AFTER. But yes, will be looking at reviews to see what issues the Ascent has now and what (if anything) Subaru will do to address them in 2020/2021 models. -- BR
Nice Bill. I was at Subaru today with my wife's car and talked with the Service manager about the Ascent transmission. Sounds like they have a handle on the problem. They programed it to provide the best mpg and in some cases the chain wasn't clamped or tightening correctly and eventually the chain wears out the pulleys. Something along those lines anyway.
Honestly very little. I actually had my highest MPG with them on at 33mpg a few months after putting them on. I did only have my stock wheels/tires on for about 2K miles so I didn't have a ton of miles to compare with, but overall very little change.
I live in the central valley of california and my 2019 Crosstrek's air conditioning is ice cold and plenty powerful for the 100 degree weeks weve been having. Its got less than 500 miles though so we'll see
Not to stickup for the AC in a Subaru. . . "Max air" means recirculation. If the air in side the car is colder than the air outside, use the "max". If the air outside is colder, don't use "max". An old guy fixing the ac on a car I had way back explained this to me.
The only real use for this feature is when you're traveling with your family and you fart... Engage Max A/C, lock the windows, and just sit back and watch as panic ensues while your fart gets recycled over and over into the cabin. Then when it finally dissipates, turn off Max A/C, unlock the windows and say, "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side," then laugh like the magnificent terrible person you are. Mwhahaha.
Drove to Lake Tahoe last week and my '19 Crosstrek really struggled with the elevation which worries me since I bought it to go snowboarding. Acceleration was pitiful, almost got into trouble merging up there. RPM straight to almost 6k and no power and didn't "shift"
You'll be fine unless you're offroading in slush/mud, I had to drop the clutch to get up the hills in Payson, pedal to the floor and it wouldn't move lol.
if you are carrying passengers I can see it. i'm by myself 99.9% of the time and no one has ever sat in the back seat. I cross the sierras a lot and then climb into the white mountains. if I were carrying people i'd would have bought an outback.
Hi, I have had both problems in my Subaru, the detail that here in Mexico does not solve, I had to pay for the defect in the rear suspension and the detail of the seals that filter water did nothing, by chance you have no links from Subaru USA about recalls?
Sorry to hear it. This is the link to the TSB on the top strut mounts. TSB #05-62-18 static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10143870-9999.pdf Check out this video for info on the sway bar bolt situation. There were a small number of cars who were affected by thong having their rear sway bar bushing bolts torqued to spec. If your car's VIN falls after this vin your car "should" be fine according to Subaru. JF2GTABC3JH233023 Here is the link to the video. ua-cam.com/video/1OleT3jDbY8/v-deo.html Did your sway bar bushings come out and then cause other damage? If so I would contact Subaru via telephone and file a claim.
I'm finally ready to get a Crosstrek. It's mid Aug 2019. Any suggestions, on getting one right now or waiting 'till Oct or Nov when 2020 comes out? I doubt much will change but something might?
Wait a little bit so you can get a better deal on a 19 when the 20s come out. The only things that will probably change on the 20 would maybe be color, and probably some cost reduced parts (cheaper).
I haven't heard anything as of yet on any changes coming. Probably some slight interior upgrades and possibly some minor changes in looks. If you wait until the 20's come out the 19's will probably go down in price a bit. :) Best of luck!
On Friday, 16 august, my suburu dealer will be installing my THIRD starlink head unit..on my Premium 2018....Suburu company rep will be there...I have under 10,000 miles...
I didn't. According to RalliTEK you should not have no add them. I need to get back over for another alignment now that the car has settled a bit more and after having released and retightened the bolts with the car on the ground. Hopefully they can get it dialed in their time.
@@AZdroptop My old friend from about 1986 originally founded Rallitek. True story. Anyways, I'd bet he'd recommend them. I've been lifting Subarus for over 15 years, I'd recommend them too. ;)
I had a 2018 Civic that unfortunately got totalled and I bought a 2019 Crosstrek. The AC is about equal with the Civic as well as many other Japanese style new vehicles. New Japanese cars just don't cool like old cars used to.
I was in Arizona a couple of weeks ago and my ac was having problems keeping up. My daughter was in the back sweating. It takes a while for it to cool down. My 04 wrx has way better ac. It cools right away. I’m thinking about trading it in for the forester sport. I love my crosstrek but the ac is really bothering me.
That does sound familiar! I am going to have the dealer check it out next time I'm in for service. I have to say I really like the Forester Sport especially in black and white. I am not real sure why they did the orange on the inside though. That is a bit interesting.
You're lucky you don't have the nav as I find the issues I get with my Head Unit because of it annoying. I prefer to use Waze through AA anyway. My issue is that every now and again the audio control will switch from music to the nav audio control. So music in the car can't be turned down or up as the volume controls then only control the nav audio. No idea what causes it either, although I have noticed that the sound fades in and out as if trying to switch between them (I am thinking it has something to do with bluetooth signal maybe???) The only way to fix it, is stop the car, turn it off and get out and walk away from it for 5-10mins while it resets itself. Which is a complete PIA. Scary to think I am getting up to 20,000km which is close to 13k miles and I normally wouldn't be any where near that but since Feb moved to a more rural address so the km's a climbing quick. I have had no problems with the AC here in Aus with mine (I have the highest spec'd version so not sure if there is a difference - shouldn't be) but I have had a really annoying issue where when I reverse the car out of the driveway when it is cold there is a high pitched squeal noise. I really need to take that to my dealer to get it checked out/fixed. Anyway, cheers for the content.
Hey Brother, great to hear from you. Wow! That nav issue does sound like a pain. They should be able to fix that for you. Hope you are enjoying your new home. As to your high pitched squeal I have read something about that on one of the forums, but can't remember exactly what the problem was. I'll look around for it and let you know if I can find it again. Cheers!
My way to fix that stuck in map volume bug where audio only comes quietly from the rear is to start navigation in Android Auto. When the nav gives a direction the music comes back
@@cameronlakotich6586 Cheers mate, will have to give that a try next time it happens as it usually happens just when I have a long drive and I just know I want to listen to music while I drive. :D
Test drove a '19 (cvt) this wkend and all ok except the steering felt too sensitive or over boosted. Is that a normal feeling/behavior? The car drove fine, but was mediocre in the initial go dept. It did 80 no prob keeping up with traffic, but from a stop was very leisurely. I can see myself in a 6spd, but it'll need to be special ordered. The a/c maybe an issue with the gas 134a being used. Something with compressor or heat transfer properties in the heat exchanger/condenser
I have always liked the steering feel of the Crosstrek so I'm not sure about the over boosted feeling. The Crosstrek definitely isn't quick to say the least :) But it does much better than the older models and like you said is able to cruise at 80 no problem. They do tend to feel a bit quicker after 500 to 1,000 miles. Thank you for the info on the AC gas! That could certainly be an issue. I have only driven a 6-speed on one occasion and I liked the way it drove. The shifting feel was very smooth and the clutch was easy to use. Best of luck with your choice and thanks much for watching. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. azdroptopyt@cox.net
Still digging0 my 19 crosstrek but the AC does seem lack luster. I live in Austin so we have the 100 degree temps with 70-80% humidity.... it doesnt take too long to cool really but it doesnt blow nearly as cold as the 11 gt I traded and even my 01 bullitt. But to me the biggest con I could say is that I think I should have splurged on the rockford fosgate system. While its a decent stock system, I listen to metal music and there are some songs I need to crank but cant because it actually diminishes the sound when it gets too loud. But the trade off of the fuel mileage makes me believe that I can upgrade the sound system with the money I save in gas.
@@brucehawk09 you have tweeters in the dash, if you also have a factory amp under the passenger seat leave it alone, don't try tapping it. The base radio only has 4 speakers and is easy enough to wire in parallel.
@@AZdroptop I do miss the GT, it was comfortable and had good power and it was a really nice car. It was the premium trim as well so it had all the leather, and a killer sound system. But it was also a manual so not ideal for daily driving. But with what I am planning on doing to the Bullitt I can live with a low powered car for now. The motor in the cobra you had is what I wished they put in the Bullitt BTW, but if I had a choice I would love to swap the motor for an 03-04 cobra.
Hey Rick, you asked for comments so I shall! My AC is garbage as well, compared to my 2018 GTI it feels like it needs a recharge... My seats are cloth, same wrinkles though in the seats cushions. My headunit may or may not be the source unit for 1200 watts of power now and only hiccups with bluetooth/Pandora. Question though, what PSI are your KO2s at? I'm running 36-38PSI and I'm not seeing any issues with wear at almost 6k miles.
Thanks brother, great to hear from you! I am running a very similar psi as you these days. Was running 34 to 36, but recently I have been running 36psi. They seem to like it there and my mileage has been ok despite having to run the AC like crazy of late.
Will do for sure. I also really want to do the dirt road from Canyon Lake I think it is past Apache and then to Roosevelt. Trying to find the time is the hard thing. :)
Hey Rick. I have also crosstrek 18' sky color :). I follow the videos you upload, but stuck on this one. The Head Unit...Why don't you use the app "Android Auto"? a great app, with a lot of feature including waze navigation and MirrorScreen. Perhaps you don't have an android phone. Subaru requires you to purchase one ;).
Thank Dan. I have an iPhone and really like the apple CarPlay as well. :) All of my stuff is apple so I couldn't afford to switch to Android at this point. LOL. Cheers
Hey Jeoffry, I think it is the fact that water gets past the poorly designed original cap and sits on top of the strut mount that creates the environment for rust too develop. We had a rainy winter and previous Summer and I did quite a few water crossings as well.
Just suprises me that a 2018 would already have rust issues. I'm new to Subaru's and have a 2018. I have read a lot about subframes rusting out on the older ones.
I have not read much about the older ones rusting, but that's not good. Sounds like my car had more than just surface rust under the cap so it isn't good for sure.
2019 crosstrek here.The a/c is tolerable, definitely a weak point. Head unit is still a pile of shit. Took it in for an update at the dealership yesterday and it seems more responsive, but time will tell. Only mod I have is the hitch and it's awesome I've towed my parent's truck when it broke down(Only a short distance ~1 mile).
I just got a 2019. And the AC just doesn’t get cool. Even after I max blast it. Is there a way to get it fixed? By the way like your videos and updates! 👍
Thank you! So your AC doesn't cool down at all? Or it is just kind of ok like mine? If it isn't getting cool at all I would take a trip to the dealer and have it checked out for sure. If it is just ok as far as AC is concerned I'm not sure if their is a fix. It seems to be pretty common for those of us in really hot climates. When I am in for service this next time I am going to have mine looked at just to be sure. Thank you very much for watching.
@@AZdroptop Thank you for your reply! my AC is ok. I live in Hawaii, so like you, it must be the hot climates. I will also ask about it next time I go in. On another note, has your lock to your glove compartment come off? I was opening the glove compartment and it just fell out! :( might be just my luck...as the day before that happened, I got a screw in the tire. lol. happy driving!
Sorry for the slow reply. The glove box lock has been solid so far. Hopefully an easy fix at the dealer. Where about are you in Hawaii? I love it over there.
Rick Hutton no problem. thanks for replying! I’m on Oahu, honolulu. Yes I’m sure it’ll be a easy fix for the glove compartment. Gonna get that done when I take it in for maintenance. Have an awesome weekend
Great place to be. It has been a number of years since I have stayed on the Island, but we go through the airport on the way to Kona. Have a great rest of the weekend too. cheers.
My 19 crosstrek AC is ok but , like you, I did notice it is disappears under hard acceleration and seems overall inconsistent. Sometimes it is great and frigid cold and other times just so so. Not bad though.
I would actually. At this point I still can't think of a car that would do everything I want/need it to do for the money to replace it with.. I was having some second thoughts recently when I had the Left shock/strut/top hat noise and Subaru couldn't figure it out, but they did in the end and all is good. If I were to leave the Crosstrek I would probably buy a Jeep again. They still aren't great on the highway, but much better than they used to be on road...easier to live with day to day. Despite the issues Subaru has been having lately with CVT's, oil Consumption and other Quality control stuff, I still think they are great cars for the money.
Loving the ukulele, and undersea footage!
I have two dedicated sets of tires. I proper street set, because I like quiet and also like ripping corners sometimes. I also have BFG KM2s on a set of wheels that I can swap on to the car when I'm ready to go off road. I also take the entire roof rack and cross bars and hang them on the wall in my garage so I don't have to hear the racket. If I'm going to be carrying stuff (or headed to a car show and wanna look cool) I'll put the rack back on and deal with the noise. As always, thanks for your vids.
Thank you kind sir! Good ideas all around....always good to be prepared. I kept my original wheels/tires for a couple of months, but ended up selling them in the end. The KO2's definitely makes some noise on the highway. :)
@@AZdroptop I got rid of my original tires too. lol But I do have two sets. :)
Nice! Show off. LOL
Picking up a 2018 Crosstrek limited in the khaki blue this week, thanks for posting all of your videos on the upgrades you've done :)
As always, quality content! LOLing at senior moments. Thanks for all the time and energy you put into vids.
Thanks brother. :) I seem to be having more and more these days. LOL
Thank you Nate! Congrats on the new Crosstrek! Have fun with it and thank you for watching along.
Hi Rick,
I went to my Subaru Dealership today, and I put a down on a new 21 Crasstrek Sport. Thanks wise recommendation.
Congratulations Dave. That is awesome. How long before one comes in? Our local Subaru dealer who normally has countless cars has very limited stock. What color did you chose?
I would say it's normal to drive at least 4 miles before a a/c will reach a full cold temp.
Love your videos on the Crosstrek. I ordered mine in July and I'm looking forward to it arriving soon.
Your videos were a big help as far as making sure I had made a well thought out purchase.
Thank you for all the work you've put into the community.
HI Don, thank you very much for the very nice compliment. Congrats on your new Crosstrek and I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine. And thank you for watching.
Bought my XV not long after you got your Crosstrek and hadn't had a problem with the a/c due mostly to the fact that it'd only been my wife and I in the car and using the front seats but since then I have had people sitting in the back and saying that they found it a bit 'stuffy' due to no rear air vents in the rear.
Hi Garry, thank you for your input. Hope you are doing great. Cheers.
Welcome back from vacation Rick. Great update. I finally brought Zippy to the dealership for the recall infotainment update and the strut dust cap rust issue. The car was possessed afterward and started when I pushed the lock button (my aftermarket car started fob was at home) and the the radio and maps app kept shutting down on the drive home. I deleted the Aha app from my phone and problem solved. For the strut cap, they cleaned up the rust, repainted and installed bigger rubber caps. Less than a hour job. Thank you and others on this channel who pointed out the issues. We learned the crew at Quality Subaru 😉
Thank you Deb! Glad to hear all went well with Zippy and they got you all taken care of. That is crazy about the car starting. LOL That sounds like something that would happen to me. Have a great week.
Hi Rick,
I hope you are well and rested after your Hawaiian vacation. This is another great video - clearly presented with lots of info for others to listen to, watch and learn. I particularly enjoyed the shots in the car to show what you are discussing! And, hey, I liked the 'seniors' moments'. Don't worry, I have them, too, so you are not alone, ha ha!
Meanwhile I have had no problems with my XV, a great little car that is comfortable, easy to drive and economical.
CFDU, Martin
Hi Martin, thank you as always my friend. I always appreciate your input and its good to hear your XV is doing well. How's the new Miata?
It's a fun car to drive - low to the ground which makes the speed seem faster than it probably is, and very easy to fling around, being so light. The gear lever is short and easy to hand and combined with the rear wheel drive, the gearbox feels great. It's certainly got a quite different feel to drive than the XV! It harks back to the feeling I used to get from my old 1974 model Toyota Corolla which I rallied, back in the day. Well, that's probably how it felt, from what I remember. It's one of those dreaded 'senior's' feelings, I suppose, ha ha!
They're different cars, designed and built for different purposes but equally fun to drive!
Cheers!
Nice Martin. I love the XV, but it is really fun to get in the 911 and just drive for the fun of it. Sounds like the Mazda is fulfilling that for you as well. Of course you already have all of the fun with the rally stuff. :)
Great video Rick. My 2017 is about ready for new set of tires. Thank you for the info on tires, it will help me make a decision soon.
You definitely put your tires to use with all of your adventures! Many thanks!
Odd thing to say, but this video is really well lit.
Thank you. :)
Rick great channel
I’ve got a 19 crosstrek 6speed manual premium Yep the ac just doesn’t get it done and the head unit is nothing but problems like my presets just go away and sometimes it just changes channels on its own
But even worse the clutch chatteres when it’s cold out and an oil leak on left side cam carrier
Dealership removed engine resealed cam carrier
It’s a new car with 5 thousand miles
Very disappointed it’s the 1st and last Subaru for me
Yikes. That is a bummer and sorry to hear it. I hope at least the dealer is taking good care of you.
great update Rick. i'm coming up on 80k miles on my 2016. I had custom seat covers made for my cloth front seats when new and they are wearing like iron. LED back-up lights, speaker upgrade and 16" sparco terras with 215 yokohama GO 15s. are my favorite upgrades and really my only ones! the tires are great on and off road and with the way I drive i'll probably be replacing them at 30-35k miles. oh, I needed to add a quart of oil at 7,800 miles of this oil change recently. that's a first for any vehicle I've owned in more than 20 years. I change oil at 10k intervals. next oil change i'll make sure it's perfectly topped off and then see if I need to add in the next 10k miles. at 90k miles i'll probably start running heavier oil like 5/30. i'll be headed back to the white mountains at the end of the month for Milky Way and Bristlecones! take care buddy.
Thanks Ed! Great to hear from you my friend and great to hear your update.. Good to hear she is still going strong and that you are enjoying her. Have a great trip and I hope you have excellent weather for your photos. Let me know when you get them processed...would love to see them.
Love your videos! I have a '16 Crosstrek with about 51k miles. I just installed Rallitek's Rear Sport Springs to keep the car from sagging when I load it up for camping. Have you had any issues going over speed bumps? I noticed I have to go much slower so the springs don't rebound so hard and make a thunking sound. Granted, I've only put about 180 miles since install, so hopefully it gets a little better as it settles. I also haven't loaded the car with a lot of weight yet.
Keep up the great videos!
Hi Joseph, I have not had any issues with the springs so far and they have helped with sag and improved the ride overall. When you did the install did you tighten everything up when the car was still in the air? And then put the car on the ground loosen everything up and re torque? Apparently it is a good idea to do this so everything can relax under weight and not cause binding. Not sure if it would cause what you are experiencing though. I did the 1" stock style spring which might be different than the sport springs? I would think the sport springs might be a little stiffer and might be causing the rebound? Or maybe they are not meshing with the stock shocks/struts?
I really appreciate your watching the videos and for your kind words! Have a good weekend.
Love your entire series from start! I have 2019 Base Model!
Owned five other Subaru’s since 1999 so know what to expect!
I love new global platform they produced as it makes all difference
Thank you Kurt! I agree with you..the new global platform really transformed the Crosstrek. Thank you for watching along.
I have a 19 , I live out here in Palm Springs gets pretty hot , the ac is okay but what really made a difference was getting the Subaru sun shade.
Great vid Rick
Sun shades definitely made a big difference and I need to get a better one for sure. :) Thank you for watching and hopefully we will both start cooling off soon.
Bit over 32,000 miles on my 2018 and have had my lift, methods, KO2s on since about 350 miles.
Wear on them is not even noticeable. I do have a full sized 5th that I rotate in every oil change.
The AC does it job, but ive never gotten cold (here in Sacramento its been 104-107 degrees this week).
I have the cloth seats and have odd/not normal wear on my drivers seat. The fabric has noticeably worn and have debated taking it in for the dealer to look at.
Very cool. Glad she is going good other that the seat wear. I would definitely have them take a look.
Rick thanks for keeping us informed with your car's mileage update! I have 4800 miles and except for the light corrosion you brought to our attention that was addressed a couple of weeks ago at the dealer, that was my only issue. I had an update with the infotainment system in the spring and I have never had any issue with it before or after. I guess I am lucky! The last time I got gas was in April and in 4 months I have 2/3 of a tank with just running around town. By the way you didn't mention any oil consumption problems and when I drove to AL in October, over 900 miles each way. I checked the oil before my trip, and before I drove home, and when I got home and NO oil consumption! I also brought along extra oil and the Subaru factory coolant in case I would need these! Some people have mentioned that our cars are noisy even with the OE tires, I have the Yokohama's, but driving on the interstates at up to 80, but mostly 60 to 70, and I thought it is not bad. After all it is not a Bentley or Lexus! That's all for now!!!
Great update Rick I recently started working for my local Subaru dealer hauling and delivering all there vehicles and yes the AC in all there other year models work great I think we got weak compressors kinda makes me feel like they don't care about us anymore
@@randallwildeman2771 yes Randall before I bought my '18 Crosstrek I had for 20 years a '98 Legacy L wagon and the a/c was much stronger then my Crosstrek! It is barely adequate and should be much stronger. Like Rick said they should have put vents in the rear of the consul for rear passengers!
Thanks Randall. That is interesting to hear. They have definitely done something different with the newer Crosstrek's. Sounds like a fun job though. :)
Thanks Dave! I always like hearing about how your car is doing and I'm glad everything is going well. No oil consumption on my end either thankfully! Have a great week my friend.
Been hot and humid in our area. My moms 19 crosstrek performs very well. Sorry to hear about others air not doing as well
24,000 miles on my 2019! 10 months old with 19,000 miles on the KO2's. Only maintenance is 5 oil changes 2ea air filters and 2 cabin air filters. No problems whatsoever! KO'2s still look new! Lots and lots of fire roads, camping trips and ski trips in blizzards and heavy snow. Love the trek! Been 100% reliable
In case anyone wants to know I have the KO2's with a roof basket and still average 31mpg
Awesome Mike! Glad to hear your KO2's are still doing well with double my miles. Very cool.
How are you averaging 31mph, all highway, granny hyper miling? The best I can do is 26mph with the 6spd and same mods.
Herschel Walker I have the CVT limited trim. Not sure why but I have always had good mileage with this car, even after the tires I was surprised that I didn't lose any mpg... a 1 mpg at most. I added a roof basket and was sure I would see a loss but it almost seems as if I didn't lose any at all. Still average 30-31.5 mpg sometimes 32ish. I am at see level and do frequent highway miles during my daily commute so idono.
I do know the CVT is more efficient than the 6spd so there is that.
Herschel Walker I had 2 kayaks on top and about 250lbs of gear in the back with a passenger and averaged 26.5 mpg on a 900 mile road trip.
What roof basket do you have, I hear different shapes and sizes effect wind drag
let me start off by saying love watching your videos they are all great. My car has only had 2 issues, the strut bearing cap leaking (I haven't taken it in for that yet) and a bad battery other than them my car seems to be a unicorn CarPlay connects fine ac works great even under hard acceleration no problem with horsepower it will throw me back in my seat when passing on the highway but maybe its my driving style and local climate or maybe my car was built right after they got a pay raise at the factory (everyone super happy and doing their best work).
Thank you Michael for watching and for your comment! Great to hear your car is doing so well!
100% agree that the AC in 2018 is subpar. I was driving the Crosstrek in 90 degree weather here in CA this summer and my mind kept telling me the AC wasnt working well enough despite being on the max and coldest setting. I also have a base model 2016 Challenger sxt, which had the same MSRP new, and it will definitely “freeze out” as you decribed it. That just doesnt happen in the Crosstrek.
No issues with my XV except as stipulated in the video about drivers seat wear which is aesthetic more than anything,Air Con great in Melbourne's notorious 4 seasons in one day.Head unit zeros issues.Great little touring vehicle with a camping kit for the back makes for a nice comfy off-roader.Broken ankle recovery/rehab made so much easier/minimal pain with the extra height and old folks get in and out without assistance.Cross traffic and obstruction detectors is a godsend with cars,animals, children ,pedesrstrians,bikes,motorbikes,skateboards an those bollards/poles you just don't see in the carpark.That feature alone has saved so much grief.30k update 2018XViS.Cheers.
Thank you Oscar for sharing your experience. Great stuff. Cheers from Tucson
Love the vids - please put the discussion topics time stamped in the description next time.
My 2019 base blows pretty cold but you gotta drive to really get it working good. I guess the AC compressor likes to be rev’d up
The video intro and the music reminded me of home very much. Nice video also!
That's awesome John. I wanted to throw in a little more Hawaii action. :)
Hey Rick! I also have the 18 crosstrek but the premium trim. I agree that the AC is definitely subpar but it works. I recently drove a 2019 trek in the limited trim for about a day and the AC blew a LOT cooler and harder. Idk if they changed it but it is definitely noticeable.
That's interesting to know. Thank you very much for the info bobbito. Are you thinking of going to a 19?
@@AZdroptop maybe if it had more HP but other than that is pointless. If you can survive Arizona weather and I survive Chicago weather haha!
I hear you there. If they put a turbo on it I would line up with my money in hand. :)
@@AZdroptop you and me both! Also, you should make an Instagram! Great support from the Subaru and crosstrek community there Rick
I have considered it a few times and think it would be fun.
My 2019 Crosstrek seems the same as my 2018. It feels like the compressor shuts off to give the engine a little more power when accelerating and thus affecting the AC's cooling ability(just a guess). The seats appear to be wearing the same, but I only have 4,500 miles on the 2019. Great video as always! Thanks Rick!
wizeguiz I find this to, that the AC compressor shuts down when accelerating and stops blowing cold. 18 limited
I think you are right on with the ac shutting off to increase power...I don't remember my earlier Subaru's doing the same. Take care brother and thanks for checking in!
Over the air updates has never worked for me. I do have NAV and ended up using an USB to do the update.
No issues with our head unit, knock on wood, all working fine.
We just did the service and no issues... just oil, oil filter, air filter done...
You are correct. A/C is adequate... not great. Does not help that it was no vents in the back. Car is now being used by my son (we bought to eventually give it to him, that was officially done this Monday :) )
I love the looks of the KO2 (increase in noise be damned!, lol), they just look soooo cool on your Crosstrek.
Thanks Jaime and glad to hear the Crosstrek is rolling along ok with no issues. Good for your son! Too bad you can't sneak the rubicon in while your wife isn't looking now. :) I do love the KO2's! Cheers my friend.
Hey RIck great videos, I have the exact same setup as you do, 10k miles on my BFG ko2. I getting bad cupping on the rear tires. i have to do a lot of freeway miles to and from work. I'm just curious about what you know or think about cupping. Thanks!
Very interesting? Mine seem to be doing great so far, but I don’t drive freeway too much and only have about 12k miles on them. Do you have any suspension mods at all? What pressure are you running? Possibly an alignment issue? Thanks so much for watching
Hope you had great weekend cheers 🍻
Hey Stanley great to hear from you. Thank you! Hope all is well with you.
Rick, curious...
I read the recall, but what specifically drove you to go have it updated? I notice slight annoyances while using the head unit in general, but nothing where I’d want them testing their new code with me being the guinea pig.
something specific acting up for you?
Before the most recent update it was doing really well actually. They just did the new update when I was in for an oil change and to be honest I'm not even sure what it entailed. Mine has been good since I have been home from vacation so we shall see how it goes from here.
I have a 19 and it's been 90s to over a hundred for past month and the ac just isn't strong enough. Don't like the vent design either.
The vents are a little goofy for sure. They look nice, but the older design worked better I think.
Mine seems to work VERY well in 98 degrees everyday feels like 50!
Very nice!
I live in Florida and in my 2016 crosstrek I have to use the recirculating button. I will turn on the car. Roll down the windows. Turn on the ac. Wait a minute. Then turn on the circulation. Then roll up the windows. Works great. I definitely agree when accelerating with the ac on it struggles. Also I’ve noticed Subaru has some horrible build quality. My dash rattles. As well as my back window has a tapping sound. Leather is cracking. Also cheap paint quality. I believe this will be my first and last Subaru.
Sorry to hear it brother. They are definitely know for rattles and poor paint quality! The 18 and been pretty much rattle free so far, but its still early. :)
Like watching your videos! I have a 2018 Crosstrek 13K miles. I have noticed the air is not that great, but luckily I live in a climate in CA where I don’t use the air that often. My issue is with syncing my IPhone. When calling someone using voice command it goes through the phone and not the car. My contacts are synced and in the car software. Any ideas on this?
Thank you Jerry, much appreciated.
That is interesting regarding your phone and voice calling. When this happens, is your phone just on BT? Or do you have the car plugged in and using CarPlay? In my case because my phone is synced I am pretty sure anything I do phone related does go through the car so I will have to play around with the settings here today and see if I can come up with something. Whenever apple does an update they seem to change small things and not saying anything about it. :)
Purchased a 2019 limited 5 weeks ago. So far I love it.... i was concerned about power but after 1k miles, the power seems improved. AC is great although the design of the vents next to steering wheel is goofy.
Congrats Greg. Great to hear you are enjoying your new Crosstrek. It is pretty interesting how the power does get better after some miles. Best of luck with her.
@@AZdroptop Thanks Rick. Really enjoy your channel and updates.
car manufacturers have been slowly switching to R-123yf refrigerant. the EPA has mandated that all new cars will be required to use it by 2021, and unfortunately it is about 5% less efficient at cooling then R134a.
Thank you Justin.
I have an impreza outback 2004 - i am 99% sure the crosstrek is next :)
Hi from western Canada.
Nice!
I was rear ended in my 2019 crosstrek today by a Ford F150 and my crosstrek only had scratches and the Ford F150 bumper broke completely off- I did not believe the Subaru was built that TOUGH!
Hey Michael glad you are ok number one. Second, glad to hear the car did well! Good stuff.
Just got rear ended as well i have a 2019 crosstrek, car lift me up. Only a minor chip on my end, his bumper not so much. I was impressed as well.
Nice. Glad you are the car are ok as well.
21k on my, goes by so quick, not even 1 year yet.
Nice!
Just hit 24,000 miles with my 18 Crosstrek. Stock tires are shot, getting new tires next week.
Really? Wow, that's a bummer. Going with the same or something new?
@@AZdroptop I was going to buy Yokohama G015 A/T but they are $193 a tire everywhere I look. I am getting 65,000 mile warranty General Altimax RT43 tires, they are a great all around tire, supposed to be good in the snow as well.
I have that same HU version and thankfully I haven’t had any issues with CarPlay. Had many originally.
Great to hear Steve. I've just had those couple of weird starts lately...Not sure what that's all about. :)
Wife has 19. Air is great
Would you recommend the Rallitek springs even though you have issues with front/rear height? I am contemplating getting them for my '19...
HI Aaron, I would recommend them. They have taken away the heavy feeling I had up front from the extra bar/skid plate weight and have gotten rid of the diving of the nose under braking. My wife comments almost every time she rides in the car how much better it feels. I will say if you are going to do a lift at some point it would be nice to do it all at once so you do not have to repeat some of the same work. Cheers.
I have a 2019 with now 21k and I have to agree the a/c is never cold enough. Also i don’t know about your crosstrek but when I was cleaning the speedometer glass with a microfiber rag it came left a foggy smudge that I can’t take off
I have not had the issues with the Speedo glass. That sounds like a bummer. Maybe the dealer can help?
Rick -- the older you get the weaker the AC gets. you're probably a few years away from that moment of clarity lol
LOL x 1,000,000
Do the tires ever throw mud, dirt on the doors? Or does the mud flaps keep everything off.
I haven't noticed any significant mud on the doors at all. You get some typical mud along the bottom, but nothing bad.
I found on my 2016 Crosstrek that if I set the air conditioning on both upper body and legs it took forever for it to get cold and it really never did, especially on hot days. However if I set the air to blow only at my upper body, then it would get quite cold.
Nice. I leave mine in the just upper setting myself and it seems to work much better that way. Cheers
I chose Continental TerrainContact AT tires for my 2016 Honda Pilot AWD, as they were designed for driving "90% on pavement and 10% off" -- which pretty much suits me: Occasional weekends off-road, mos other time city/freeway. So for ON-pavement, I wanted them for better traction in inclement weather (especially going slow on snow using "Snow Mode"). Don't care about "looks" of my cars though (they just be cars!). Only interested in performance. ;-)
-- BR
Nice Bill! Honda's are great cars!
@@AZdroptop I believe I said earlier I used to have a 2014 (in a 36-month lease in 2013) Crosstrek XV, but 3 years later (and leaving Colorado) I needed a mid-size SUV with a VERY good AWD system that could tow 5000lbs (a U-Haul 6x12 cargo trailer for moving purposes) -- the Subaru Ascent wasn't out back then!
Happy Off-Roading,
-- BR
HI Bill, I do remember that now. Do you think you will go with an Ascent down the road? Or stick with Honda? I guess Subaru has had a decent amount of transmission failures with the Ascent.
"Do you think you will go with an Ascent down the road? Or stick with Honda? " -- Rick H
I don't have any "brand loyalty" as such (but have usually chosen -- or they chose me (!) -- foreign cars vs. American-made all my life)...so that's been Datsun (!), Nissan, Honda and Subaru & Honda (except in the "early years" I had VWs and British cars) -- have never owned a Toyota, but not because I don't think they're quality products, it just never happened.
However, when I pay off the Pilot (in about 8 months, I hope!) I'm either going to keep it a few months more, or get another AWD mid-size SUV, or a mid-size truck (Ford Ranger 4x4) or, one of the smaller Class B motor-homes (if it's 4-season and 4x4/AWD both)...so no decision needs to be made yet, as I need to see what my situation (and health, as always!) is next year. And if I do (as planned) move back to CO in a year, buy BEFORE moving back there or AFTER.
But yes, will be looking at reviews to see what issues the Ascent has now and what (if anything) Subaru will do to address them in 2020/2021 models.
-- BR
Nice Bill. I was at Subaru today with my wife's car and talked with the Service manager about the Ascent transmission. Sounds like they have a handle on the problem. They programed it to provide the best mpg and in some cases the chain wasn't clamped or tightening correctly and eventually the chain wears out the pulleys. Something along those lines anyway.
How much is fuel mileage affected with this wheel and tire setup? Thanks.
Honestly very little. I actually had my highest MPG with them on at 33mpg a few months after putting them on. I did only have my stock wheels/tires on for about 2K miles so I didn't have a ton of miles to compare with, but overall very little change.
I live in the central valley of california and my 2019 Crosstrek's air conditioning is ice cold and plenty powerful for the 100 degree weeks weve been having. Its got less than 500 miles though so we'll see
Great to hear! Have fun...It will feel like it has a bit more power in a few more miles as well.
Not to stickup for the AC in a Subaru. . . "Max air" means recirculation. If the air in side the car is colder than the air outside, use the "max". If the air outside is colder, don't use "max". An old guy fixing the ac on a car I had way back explained this to me.
The only real use for this feature is when you're traveling with your family and you fart... Engage Max A/C, lock the windows, and just sit back and watch as panic ensues while your fart gets recycled over and over into the cabin. Then when it finally dissipates, turn off Max A/C, unlock the windows and say, "Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side," then laugh like the magnificent terrible person you are. Mwhahaha.
Drove to Lake Tahoe last week and my '19 Crosstrek really struggled with the elevation which worries me since I bought it to go snowboarding. Acceleration was pitiful, almost got into trouble merging up there. RPM straight to almost 6k and no power and didn't "shift"
You'll be fine unless you're offroading in slush/mud, I had to drop the clutch to get up the hills in Payson, pedal to the floor and it wouldn't move lol.
I live in colorado and have no problem with the power.
if you are carrying passengers I can see it. i'm by myself 99.9% of the time and no one has ever sat in the back seat. I cross the sierras a lot and then climb into the white mountains. if I were carrying people i'd would have bought an outback.
Hey Cameron, do you have a CVT or 6-speed? Throw it is M mode if you have a CVT and keeps the revs a bit higher...it will help with merging and such.
I own a 2018 Impreza and the AC blows cold as long as I use the recirculate option. Just my two cents
Thank you. Agreed, works better with that on for sure.
Hi, I have had both problems in my Subaru, the detail that here in Mexico does not solve, I had to pay for the defect in the rear suspension and the detail of the seals that filter water did nothing, by chance you have no links from Subaru USA about recalls?
Sorry to hear it. This is the link to the TSB on the top strut mounts. TSB #05-62-18 static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10143870-9999.pdf
Check out this video for info on the sway bar bolt situation. There were a small number of cars who were affected by thong having their rear sway bar bushing bolts torqued to spec. If your car's VIN falls after this vin your car "should" be fine according to Subaru. JF2GTABC3JH233023 Here is the link to the video. ua-cam.com/video/1OleT3jDbY8/v-deo.html
Did your sway bar bushings come out and then cause other damage? If so I would contact Subaru via telephone and file a claim.
My 2005 Impreza wagon still blows super cold............car has just under 300,000 kms. 180,000ish miles.
Hi Leslie, that's awesome. The AC and all of the miles on your Imprezza. :) Love it.
I'm finally ready to get a Crosstrek. It's mid Aug 2019. Any suggestions, on getting one right now or waiting 'till Oct or Nov when 2020 comes out? I doubt much will change but something might?
Wait a little bit so you can get a better deal on a 19 when the 20s come out. The only things that will probably change on the 20 would maybe be color, and probably some cost reduced parts (cheaper).
I haven't heard anything as of yet on any changes coming. Probably some slight interior upgrades and possibly some minor changes in looks. If you wait until the 20's come out the 19's will probably go down in price a bit. :) Best of luck!
@@TylerFritsch90 Thank you. Makes sense. I'll hang on and wait.
@@AZdroptop Thanks Rick - love the channel!
Wait...by that time the Starlink system for audio may be upgraded
On Friday, 16 august, my suburu dealer will be installing my THIRD starlink head unit..on my Premium 2018....Suburu company rep will be there...I have under 10,000 miles...
Wow! That is crazy Phillip. I have heard similar stories. What are your symptoms? Just not working at all or what? Sorry to hear and best of luck!
@@AZdroptop Some days it works...other days it does not...I make a turn and it goes off...hit a speed bump and it goes off.....
Wow. That is crazy. I definitely want to hear how this words out for you after number 3.
Did you add camber adjusting bolts?
I didn't. According to RalliTEK you should not have no add them. I need to get back over for another alignment now that the car has settled a bit more and after having released and retightened the bolts with the car on the ground. Hopefully they can get it dialed in their time.
@@AZdroptop My old friend from about 1986 originally founded Rallitek. True story. Anyways, I'd bet he'd recommend them. I've been lifting Subarus for over 15 years, I'd recommend them too. ;)
That is very cool! And thank you very much! I am a total noob and can't thank you enough for that advice. I'll definitely look into doing it. Cheers.
I had a 2018 Civic that unfortunately got totalled and I bought a 2019 Crosstrek. The AC is about equal with the Civic as well as many other Japanese style new vehicles. New Japanese cars just don't cool like old cars used to.
Thank you for the input Logan! Cheers
I was in Arizona a couple of weeks ago and my ac was having problems keeping up. My daughter was in the back sweating. It takes a while for it to cool down. My 04 wrx has way better ac. It cools right away. I’m thinking about trading it in for the forester sport. I love my crosstrek but the ac is really bothering me.
That does sound familiar! I am going to have the dealer check it out next time I'm in for service. I have to say I really like the Forester Sport especially in black and white. I am not real sure why they did the orange on the inside though. That is a bit interesting.
You're lucky you don't have the nav as I find the issues I get with my Head Unit because of it annoying. I prefer to use Waze through AA anyway. My issue is that every now and again the audio control will switch from music to the nav audio control. So music in the car can't be turned down or up as the volume controls then only control the nav audio. No idea what causes it either, although I have noticed that the sound fades in and out as if trying to switch between them (I am thinking it has something to do with bluetooth signal maybe???) The only way to fix it, is stop the car, turn it off and get out and walk away from it for 5-10mins while it resets itself. Which is a complete PIA.
Scary to think I am getting up to 20,000km which is close to 13k miles and I normally wouldn't be any where near that but since Feb moved to a more rural address so the km's a climbing quick. I have had no problems with the AC here in Aus with mine (I have the highest spec'd version so not sure if there is a difference - shouldn't be) but I have had a really annoying issue where when I reverse the car out of the driveway when it is cold there is a high pitched squeal noise. I really need to take that to my dealer to get it checked out/fixed.
Anyway, cheers for the content.
Hey Brother, great to hear from you. Wow! That nav issue does sound like a pain. They should be able to fix that for you.
Hope you are enjoying your new home. As to your high pitched squeal I have read something about that on one of the forums, but can't remember exactly what the problem was. I'll look around for it and let you know if I can find it again.
Cheers!
My way to fix that stuck in map volume bug where audio only comes quietly from the rear is to start navigation in Android Auto. When the nav gives a direction the music comes back
@@cameronlakotich6586 Cheers mate, will have to give that a try next time it happens as it usually happens just when I have a long drive and I just know I want to listen to music while I drive. :D
Test drove a '19 (cvt) this wkend and all ok except the steering felt too sensitive or over boosted. Is that a normal feeling/behavior?
The car drove fine, but was mediocre in the initial go dept. It did 80 no prob keeping up with traffic, but from a stop was very leisurely. I can see myself in a 6spd, but it'll need to be special ordered.
The a/c maybe an issue with the gas 134a being used. Something with compressor or heat transfer properties in the heat exchanger/condenser
I have always liked the steering feel of the Crosstrek so I'm not sure about the over boosted feeling. The Crosstrek definitely isn't quick to say the least :) But it does much better than the older models and like you said is able to cruise at 80 no problem. They do tend to feel a bit quicker after 500 to 1,000 miles. Thank you for the info on the AC gas! That could certainly be an issue.
I have only driven a 6-speed on one occasion and I liked the way it drove. The shifting feel was very smooth and the clutch was easy to use. Best of luck with your choice and thanks much for watching. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. azdroptopyt@cox.net
6spd is a slug more so than the CVT, if you don't rev this piss out of first, it bogs going into 2nd pretty bad.
Steering sensitivity relaxed to normal after a few hundred miles on my '18.
Still digging0 my 19 crosstrek but the AC does seem lack luster. I live in Austin so we have the 100 degree temps with 70-80% humidity.... it doesnt take too long to cool really but it doesnt blow nearly as cold as the 11 gt I traded and even my 01 bullitt. But to me the biggest con I could say is that I think I should have splurged on the rockford fosgate system. While its a decent stock system, I listen to metal music and there are some songs I need to crank but cant because it actually diminishes the sound when it gets too loud. But the trade off of the fuel mileage makes me believe that I can upgrade the sound system with the money I save in gas.
Which model do you have? Base unit without tweeters in the dash is easy enough to add an aftermarket amplifier too.
@@herschelwalker591 its the premium model.
@@brucehawk09 you have tweeters in the dash, if you also have a factory amp under the passenger seat leave it alone, don't try tapping it. The base radio only has 4 speakers and is easy enough to wire in parallel.
Do you miss the GT at all? And congrats on the 01 bullet, always liked that car. my last Mustang was a 99 Cobra convertible. Fun car. :)
@@AZdroptop I do miss the GT, it was comfortable and had good power and it was a really nice car. It was the premium trim as well so it had all the leather, and a killer sound system. But it was also a manual so not ideal for daily driving. But with what I am planning on doing to the Bullitt I can live with a low powered car for now. The motor in the cobra you had is what I wished they put in the Bullitt BTW, but if I had a choice I would love to swap the motor for an 03-04 cobra.
, when I update my iPhone . I have to restart my phone so it picks up in my 19’ crosstrek
Hey Rick, you asked for comments so I shall! My AC is garbage as well, compared to my 2018 GTI it feels like it needs a recharge... My seats are cloth, same wrinkles though in the seats cushions. My headunit may or may not be the source unit for 1200 watts of power now and only hiccups with bluetooth/Pandora. Question though, what PSI are your KO2s at? I'm running 36-38PSI and I'm not seeing any issues with wear at almost 6k miles.
Thanks brother, great to hear from you! I am running a very similar psi as you these days. Was running 34 to 36, but recently I have been running 36psi. They seem to like it there and my mileage has been ok despite having to run the AC like crazy of late.
@@AZdroptop thanks for the updates! I've already commented on the AC but 115 on the dash is no fun with the Trek...if you do go up North let me know.
Will do for sure. I also really want to do the dirt road from Canyon Lake I think it is past Apache and then to Roosevelt. Trying to find the time is the hard thing. :)
@@AZdroptop they actually closed it down to the public with the fires. I haven't been up that way this summer because of that.
I didn't know that. I had forgotten about the fires...My buddy and his family had to leave Apache due to one of them.
23000 miles on my 2018 crosstrek no probs. Oh my huge mother in-law crush my passenger seat waiting 2 see if Subaru will replace it 😂
Nah I’m going to a horse trailer 2 put her in give her some hay and I’m good thx
LOL
Mine said there was no update available.....took it to the dealer and they said there was a update...so they updated the software...
Do you have Nav?
@@AZdroptop yea...not sure what the software update was....i didnt do the map updates
Jeez I'm just under 15,000 on my 2019 crosstrek... I've serviced it 3 times
I've had 3 oil changes and many visits for all my other issues. :) Now I have the 2 new recalls as well. I guess I'm lucky. LOL
Hey Rick. I have also crosstrek 18' sky color :). I follow the videos you upload, but stuck on this one. The Head Unit...Why don't you use the app "Android Auto"? a great app, with a lot of feature including waze navigation and MirrorScreen. Perhaps you don't have an android phone. Subaru requires you to purchase one ;).
Thank Dan. I have an iPhone and really like the apple CarPlay as well. :) All of my stuff is apple so I couldn't afford to switch to Android at this point. LOL. Cheers
Damn, you live in AZ and already have rust on a 2018? Are these cars really that cheaply built
Hey Jeoffry, I think it is the fact that water gets past the poorly designed original cap and sits on top of the strut mount that creates the environment for rust too develop. We had a rainy winter and previous Summer and I did quite a few water crossings as well.
Just suprises me that a 2018 would already have rust issues. I'm new to Subaru's and have a 2018. I have read a lot about subframes rusting out on the older ones.
I have not read much about the older ones rusting, but that's not good. Sounds like my car had more than just surface rust under the cap so it isn't good for sure.
2019 crosstrek here.The a/c is tolerable, definitely a weak point. Head unit is still a pile of shit. Took it in for an update at the dealership yesterday and it seems more responsive, but time will tell. Only mod I have is the hitch and it's awesome I've towed my parent's truck when it broke down(Only a short distance ~1 mile).
Thanks Daniel. Having a hitch is great! Yep, the head units are not good.
Hey Rick
I have a 2019 and the AC is ... just ok. not super cool but ok....
I just got a 2019. And the AC just doesn’t get cool. Even after I max blast it. Is there a way to get it fixed? By the way like your videos and updates! 👍
Thank you! So your AC doesn't cool down at all? Or it is just kind of ok like mine? If it isn't getting cool at all I would take a trip to the dealer and have it checked out for sure. If it is just ok as far as AC is concerned I'm not sure if their is a fix. It seems to be pretty common for those of us in really hot climates. When I am in for service this next time I am going to have mine looked at just to be sure. Thank you very much for watching.
@@AZdroptop Thank you for your reply! my AC is ok. I live in Hawaii, so like you, it must be the hot climates. I will also ask about it next time I go in. On another note, has your lock to your glove compartment come off? I was opening the glove compartment and it just fell out! :( might be just my luck...as the day before that happened, I got a screw in the tire. lol. happy driving!
Sorry for the slow reply. The glove box lock has been solid so far. Hopefully an easy fix at the dealer. Where about are you in Hawaii? I love it over there.
Rick Hutton no problem. thanks for replying! I’m on Oahu, honolulu.
Yes I’m sure it’ll be a easy fix for the glove compartment. Gonna get that done when I take it in for maintenance. Have an awesome weekend
Great place to be. It has been a number of years since I have stayed on the Island, but we go through the airport on the way to Kona. Have a great rest of the weekend too. cheers.
My 19 crosstrek AC is ok but , like you, I did notice it is disappears under hard acceleration and seems overall inconsistent. Sometimes it is great and frigid cold and other times just so so. Not bad though.
Thank you Ryan.
Hey Rick I know all cars have pros and cons but if you had to do it all over again would you have bought the Crosstrek you have now all over again?
I would actually. At this point I still can't think of a car that would do everything I want/need it to do for the money to replace it with.. I was having some second thoughts recently when I had the Left shock/strut/top hat noise and Subaru couldn't figure it out, but they did in the end and all is good. If I were to leave the Crosstrek I would probably buy a Jeep again. They still aren't great on the highway, but much better than they used to be on road...easier to live with day to day.
Despite the issues Subaru has been having lately with CVT's, oil Consumption and other Quality control stuff, I still think they are great cars for the money.
Thank you For your reply Rick.
I’m not impressed with the AC either. My 2001 Toyota Solara was way better.