BradLegacy2017

I agree, for those that prefer the CVT operation with no simulated shifts, there should be an option to turn it off. Some sort of "mode" that can be enabled and disabled.

I still prefer the simulated shifts, especially after being in a car with a CVT with no simulated shifts. It was annoying, like riding a go kart and the engine just endlessly rev'ing. Stupid rubber band feeling too.

I like on my 2017 Legacy though that if I am easy on the accelerator and baby it that it will be CVT without the shifts and be really smooth and economic. If I need to be harder on it it will then use the 6 ratios more like a geared transmission. I don't care if the simulated shifts make it a little slower.

Just my preference.

I wonder if all manufacturers underrate their engines?

 

I drove a friend’s Cadillac ATS 4cyl with reported 275hp engine and my 4cyl 252hp BMW feels better. I’m also getting better mpgs than I did with my 3.6R Legacy. I also drove my exwife’s 305?hp V6 Camaro and it feels sluggish?? I know all are different cars.

underrating is not uncommon at all from my experience.

I think thats the 3.6r?

 

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Definitely a 3.6R but those are def SOLID numbers! Almost like they under rate the engines.

Suddenly without warning, today my Pandora is working properly. I checked and according to Play Store, my Pandora App was updated yesterday.

Pandora Support sent me an e-mail to inform me that it was fixed in the latest update. Horray!

This is a known Pandora issue for Android phones running the Oreo OS. I am experiencing the same issue, but on my Sony Receiver. In my 2017 Legacy, it works.

I have support tickets open with Pandora support who acknowledged the issue along w/ the work around, but no permanent solution yet.

what i'd like is a model specific air bag helper/level system for the rear, when the trunk is loaded with luggage, and two teenagers in the back seat for road trips.

^^^ thissss

My car only has 4000kms. I already notice the saggy rear. It was probably like that off of the showroom floor.

They are definitely like that from the factory. All of our family Subies have the saggy ass factor.

Not so bad on the daily with just a normal load of passenger(s).

Recently took a road trip to from NY to TX to NC and back to NY. 3 passengers + dog + full trunk of luggage = VERY SAGGY ASS. It wasn't terrible. I wouldn't even say it affected the ride much, but it definitely had a very noticeable lean and nearly no wheel arch gap left over the rear tires.

Id consider some saggy ass spacers but i dont want it to look lifted in the rear when its not loaded down.

This is a normal response to a new 2015 to 2018 Legacy owner. Subaru went with a very small rear sway bar in the rear. I believe its 16mm. If you upgrade to larger rear sway bars it corrects the issue and the car feels much more stable. You can swap out for a Cross Trek RSB which is 20mm and its a direct Subaru part.

https://subaruonlineparts.com/subaru-crosstrek-rear-sway-20mm-p-3920.html

Looks like you guys are all in cold weather regions. If I had to blame something it would be the weather, specially ice messing with the sensors.

I agree. I believe the hot/cold/hot/cold changes affect electronic boards and solder joints sometimes causing them to fail prematurely.

The BSD/RCTA system / radar sensors actually had a code for internal failure. Apparently there are other errors that can be generated that can be related to ice build up or debris on the bumper, blocking the radar sensors, etc.

I just hope that electronic components failure does not become a more regular occurring thing with all the additional electronics of modern tech in cars. I have never had an issue with Subaru reliability, but I would imagine that Subaru doesn't make every single component of their vehicles. Likely the radar sensor units are made by another manufacturer, whom we can only hope keeps Subaru's high standard of reliability.

We recently had the BSD/RCTA system display error messages saying that it was disabled. It first happened a few times, then became a daily occurance. We have about 20k on our 2017 Legacy 2.5 Limited.

Took it back to the dealer, who reset and cleared the errors for the system and let us know that there was a 50/50 chance of it working and that they already ordered replacement parts for in the event the fix did not work.

Leaving the dealership, the BSD/RCTA system disabled error returned.

After waiting about a week, we took our Legacy back in to have the BSD/RCTA system replaced, which apparently is a fairly tedious job requiring rear bumper removal, and re-calibration of the system.

Finally the issue was fixed (so far, knocking on wood) after they replaced the BSD/RCTA system sensors.

Looking online, it seems like this is a fairly common issue. I am just curious if anyone has experienced the same or similar issues.

Thanks.

The 19mm RSB is twice as stiff in torsion as the stock 16mm bar; the 20mm bar is 2.44 times as stiff as stock. Both will perceptibly degrade ride quality over irregular road surfaces, since they increase the effective rear spring rate; how much is a matter of individual sensitivity. Those who claim a dramatic improvement in handling with absolutely no effect on ride quality are fooling themselves. The Butt Dyno is notoriously optimistic.

 

"The easiest person in the world to fool is yourself." ~ Richard Feynman

This is true. As you mentioned, individual sensitivity certainly causes a variation in perceived ride quality changes....but the facts / specs of the RSBs and how they affect handling are concrete.

Personally speaking, I installed the 20mm Subaru RSB on our 2017 Legacy about 13k miles ago and I can confirm that the handling dynamics were changed as anticipated/expected with this RSB. IMO this is an improvement over stock as there is less body roll and a more responsive feeling over the stock RSB.

While there is certainly a noticeable difference in the ride quality of the rear suspension, in my opinion it is not major. I would not say that it is rough or uncomfortable at all, just not as cushy and soft as it was previously......which of course was TOO cushy and soft.

Lastly, I will say that there is also an increase with ability/potential for oversteer with the 20mm RSB. I have been able to initiate a few fun "skids" where I don't think I would have been able to do with the stock RSB. I don't think the potential for oversteer is alarming by any means, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.

^^ Thanks! Car is only a few weeks old, so, should be easy enough to remove the old one. Appreciate the info.

Good luck. You will certainly be glad you did this mod.

2017 Legacy Limited 2.5

We are approaching 9k on the odometer at the moment. So far, 0 oil consumption. Knocking on wood of course that it never starts.

One month (+) in, I just lifted the car onto jack stands and thoroughly inspected the 20mm rear sway bar upgrade I had installed using the new bushings but OEM stock end links/bushing brackets (and I reinstalled the OEM nuts/bolts).

 

I don't do auto crossing, but normal 'spirited' onramps and offramp...

 

Zero issues, everything tight and unbent. I won't bother upgrading end links/bushing mounts unless I see an issue later, but I won't be inspecting it that often since I can't see anything askew now.

 

I don't think standard commuting will destroy the OEM endlinks or mounts, even with a 20mm upgraded sway bar, but YMMV, use your OEM parts and recheck it after a month or two to be safe..

I just took a look the other day. I am running the same setup as you. No issues or anything. Everything looks good. Super happy I went ahead with this mod. Way worth it!

I, personally, like the simulated shifts. To me it feels "better". My Son has a 13 Impreza and his CVT just holds an RPM and has a strange feel to it. To each their own but I like the way my Legacy and 17 Forester XT shift far better with the "simulated" feel of a conventional automatic.

Same here man. To each their own indeed.

What are your thoughts on the Subaru Lineartronic CVT?

As a car guy who prefers driving a manual transmissions and merely tolerates automatics for the greater good, I went in with very low expectations regarding how I probably was going to feel about the Subaru lineartronic CVT.

My previous CVT experiences were in a Nissan Juke, Nissan Sentra and a Mitsubishi Lancer. All older models, pre 2015. Based on my experiences with these vehicles, I was left with much disappointment with CVTs. I hated that "disconnected" feeling and the "rubberbandyness" of the CVT's I had experienced. I hated not having any shift points.

MUCH to my surprise, when I test drove my first 2017 Legacy, I noticed that when I was more aggressive with the throttle, that it would actually "hold" onto the "gears"/ratios to nearly redline and "shift"/transition to the next gear/ratio.....just like an actual "geared" transmission. It actually does a pretty good job of simulating a standard geared transmission IMO.

YET, if I am much more gentle with the throttle, the transmission behaves much more like a typical CVT and will bring the car up to the desired speed while continuously varying the RPMs for maximum efficiency. I can leisurely accelerate from 0 - 65mph while hardly ever crossing 2k RPM on the tach. Also, holy crap, does the CVT help this vehicle coast for MILES!

The programming of the Subaru Lineartronic CVT as I have described it, is spot on what I would describe as "the best of both worlds" between your "regular" automatic transmissions and "traditional" CVT transmissions.

Does anyone else have any experience with CVTs from other manufacturers? I am curious if any other CVTs are behaving this way now or if this is just a Subaru thing?

Also, does anyone have any insight as to if this "simulated shifting" has any negative impacts on anything? Besides for the obvious performance impacts.

I know that part of what makes CVT transmissions desirable is the fact that they ARE continuously variable and always in the most optimal ratio for what you need. So I would imagine by forcing the CVT to hold onto 6 (or another amount) of ratios is somewhat counter productive to being "continuously variable".....yet, I understand why they do this and actually prefer it myself.

your choice... but read through the forums and there are a few who have... and I am not willing to take that risk....

Thanks for the advice on the mounts. Very good information to share on the forums. I think for now we are going to risk it with the stock mounts. My wife drives the Legacy mostly and if she is cornering hard enough with the 20mm bar to bend the mounts......I want to be able to be mad at her for not including me on such likely fun shenanigans!

Hey everyone.

I finally picked up the 20mm sway bar and bushings and opted to do the install myself this weekend.

What a difference! Why did the Legacy not come like this from the factory!?!!?! It should have!

Pretty much everyone's feedback was spot on. The handling is definitely more crisp with a significant reduction in body roll. It feels tons better on the twisties than it used to, especially my favorite, the freeway onramp or occasional off ramp. At highway speed it is not as easily affected by wind and uneven road surfaces.

We had some rain yesterday and in an effort to determine if we increased the possibility of oversteer with the sway bar upgrade, I really pushed it hard in some corners. It definitely still has that Subaru understeer and didn't oversteer at all, which gives me some piece of mine with the wife behind the wheel.

It definitely is a bit firmer over bumps in the rear suspension, but we prefer it over how it used to be 100%. Myself and my wife are very happy with the change!

The install went by pretty quick, I was done in about an hour or so total. I will say the passenger side is MUCH easier to do than the driver side due to the location of the Muffler, CV axle and swaybar bushing mount.

Thanks to everyone who provided advice, feedback and helped convince us to go through with the swaybar upgrade!

In this thread last October I commented on the installation of a 20mm RSB on my 2017 Legacy Limited. I ordered it through my dealer and I had them install it. No questions. No concerns from the service manager. No problems.

 

If ever a problem would have arisen concerning warranty matters, it certainly would have when I ordered the part through the dealer from whom I bought the car, and/or when they installed it.

 

I have the tools and knowledge to do this myself, but I'm at a stage in my life when I'm now delegating some things to others.

 

I have no regrets having installed a 20mm RSB. Suspension design and geometry is inevitably a trade-off. If I wanted a marshmallow ride, I'd go find a 1962 Olds 98 (I owned one in the late 1960s). Now *that* was a marshmallow ride. Today's suspension technology is light years from back in the day. With my Soob and its 20mm RSB I perceive that I lost a bit gentler ride over some potholes while gaining a good measure of lateral stability in turns and corners. Well worth it.

Great info! Thanks.

I have the tools and knowledge to do this myself, but I'm at a stage in my life when I'm now delegating some things to others.

Thanks. I am at the same point in my life, but I am still struggling with allowing others to do what I can do.

Loving all this positive feedback for the 19 and 20mm sway bars!

Has anyone had their Subaru dealership install their upgraded sway bar? I'm wondering if they would give me a hard time?

It's definitely a job that I can handle, but being that we have the 5 year / 60k "Gold Plus" extended warranty, I'm being a little hesitant to swap it myself. I would hate to find myself in a situation in a few years where I may need some sort of rear suspension related service and they claim I voided the warranty by changing the rear sway bar. Anyone have experenice or insight with this?

20mm all the way and the improvement is huge. No more swaying on the highway and cornering feels much more stable. The car should have come with this bar standard.

Thanks! Looking forward to ordering and installing ours.

I definitely think so. I'm very happy with my 19mm, but I wish I would've gotten the 20mm. That's my only recommendation.

Much thanks! I definitely plan on going with the 20mm. Now if I could only convince the wife to let me do it sooner than later!! :-D

She is having some difficulties understanding the need to modify a brand new car. LOL. Is it so wrong to want to make it BETTER!?