2008 Subaru Tribeca
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Canada
Are they renaming it to the Subaru RD-Xcape? Or is that name not stupid enough to maintain their corporate theme. BTW, I see a Ford Escape front end and Acura RDX rear-end.
PS - I can't wait for the Spec B Type R-AR version.
PS - I can't wait for the Spec B Type R-AR version.
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,396
Likes: 98
From: What is G?
Hey forgettable sells!! The Pilot and Highlander are prime examples. 
This thing is a huge improvement if you ask me. The old Tribeca was hard to look at. This new one, though it does look like a Chrysler minivan from the front is so much easier on the eyes. Should get a few more people into the showrooms.
This thing is a huge improvement if you ask me. The old Tribeca was hard to look at. This new one, though it does look like a Chrysler minivan from the front is so much easier on the eyes. Should get a few more people into the showrooms.
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,396
Likes: 98
From: What is G?
Subaru seems to be spending a lot of money on midlife redesigns (wonder how profitable they are?). Theres not one thing carried over from the previous model (maybe the foglights). If they made a good design from scratch they wouldnt have to worry about extra costs or the negative backlash they were receiving from this Tribeca and the new WRX. 
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,318
Likes: 203
From: Miami, Florida
Subarus offer excellent value. I had someone who was won over to the Forester over a RAV4 (we don't have the turbo Forester nor the V6 RAV4 here, but the base RAV4 is SIGNIFICANTLY higher in price here). I get comments from competitors that like the Subaru and also the Mazda designs, but they rightly hit on the point that the marketing departments for both are terrible, they just don't know how to maximize value. I haven't seen a single Subaru TV ad here and rarely one from Mazda.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Oh well... Might as well join the "thick chrome bar across the top of the grill" crowd too.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,854
Likes: 0
From: IL
Subaru has fixed the most egregious styling features of the Tribeca - and while they were at it, installed a competitive power plant. The only remaining problem (for me) is size; its and mine. I parked next to one of these yesterday and it looked like the lifeboat for my RX. For smaller people, this thing should be a bigger hit than it has been. With the cosmetic fix (admittedly a little dull) it deserves a real shot at the market.
Of note, the RX is 186.2" long and the Tribeca is 189.8", they are basically the same height and the Tribeca is about an inch wider.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The front end is MUCH better looking that the old one. Now, all they have to do is redo that awful-looking console inside and put at least a small amount of wood paneling wood paneling in instead of acres of all that cheap-looking painted-silver plastic...a mistake also made by some other manufacturers.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 3
From: none
haha.. we're giving the subaru designers a really hard time eh? "too ugly... more mainstream.. wait a bit too conservative.. looks like a Chrysler... more distinctive" hahaha
Yeah, it does look conservative but it looks more pleasing. However, I'm not sure why the rear needed revising or the mirrors for that matter. And frankly, it looked cleaner without the roof rails.
Yeah, it does look conservative but it looks more pleasing. However, I'm not sure why the rear needed revising or the mirrors for that matter. And frankly, it looked cleaner without the roof rails.
AFter seeing this current homogenous look, the previous ugly duckling somehow looks better
Should've kept the alfa romeo grill...unless alfa wants it back.
That interior is still nice.
Should've kept the alfa romeo grill...unless alfa wants it back.
That interior is still nice.