Pilot1226

Nice review. Seems consistent with what I thought. Honestly I would get a premium if it had LED lights. The difference between the premium package with push start is around 8,000 between it at the Touring. So I’m still set on Touring for now.

One of the issues we're discussing on the Ascent forums is a mystery "tonk" sound that sounds quasi-electronic, but also has characteristics of a golf ball dropping into a cup. If anyone has any thoughts, we'd appreciate it. Someone is suggesting that it could be a condensate line that is opening and closing, but I'm unfamiliar with this system so I don't know about its accuracy. 81 days until I place my order... https://www.ascentforums.com/forum/137-subaru-ascent-complaints-issues-problems/2907-%5Bissue%5D-random-mystery-tock-sound.html

All TSP+ is not equal though. If you get into the details of the tests the Ascent was at the top of the class. Robert pointed that out over in the Ascent forums. The Honda Pilot for example has issues with the passenger head impact when you are hit from the side. So yes the Limited or higher will be what I’m shooting for. Leaning on Touring now for the cool tech cameras. I want to see the 2.4T in the 2020 Leg & OB, they will haul! The stop sale was a non issue and has been resolved. None of the delivered cars were affected.

I’m actually leaning towards the captain chair version. The extra space between the two makes each seat itself slightly larger than the bench seat and also has easier ingress egress from the third row. Also if you need to put an adult in the back you can stick one of your legs into the aisle which did make it more comfortable. Not 500 mile road trip comfortable but maybe 50 mile comfortable.

I am planning to go for one of the Ascents by the end of the year. I’m leaning towards a Touring right now. I really like what they’ve done here. While I agree there could be some kinks along the way I will plan to get an extended warranty. Peace of mind.

Don’t know. I am interested in a Touring. The PB Start models can remote start through Starlink without the second Fob!!! Also wanted Touring for the Ventilated seats and front camera.

They made a believer out of me. The 2.4 was outstanding. I’m making financial moves now to place an order in a few months.

Can’t agree enough about this. Honda has had their hands full for a few years now because of this In a rental Pacifica I had a few months ago the car would not auto start stop unless the cabin was at a set temperature, let’s say 70 degrees. If it went to around 72 while auto stop, it would turn back over and cool.

I did a little investigative work on the Pennzoil website. They amongst other oil companies are pursuing SN+ solely to counter LSPI. I don’t know if they’re putting some type of friction modifier or additive in it to make it SN+ but the issue was starting to be a problem per their website when manufacturers started changing from NA 6’s to Turbo 4’s - not just Subaru, everyone. Thinner oils typically have a (worse) NOACK value which is a representation of volatility. Perhaps the thinner oil can not effectively cool the engine as it is intended to do so. Cooling and lubrication. The result is a hotter cylinder which could lead to more preignition.

The point is for fuel economy I guess. I’m not saying I’m a proponent of lower weight oil. Just saying that’s the roadmap. There is already 0w16 out there, and roadmaps point to long term 0w8. Oil starvation is killer for a turbo. The FA24 is the first non 5w30 Subie turbo... One could argue that the machining process is so exact you don’t need the thicker oils to fill the gaps as much and the 0w20 is more “effective” - we’ll see in a couple years I guess?

Some of the knocks could be caused by LSPI. That’s a new phenomenon for Subaru because that primarily happens with Turbo 4’s that are running 0w20 oil. They’re designing SN+ as a stepping stone to SP grade oil to counter it. I wouldn’t be surprised for them to push 0w16 once they figure out LSPI.

I was thinking the white would hide deeper scratches and dings that go through to the base coat. I do like the blue and even the crimson. Those look cool.

You have evidence of the FKC going bananas with 87 compared to 89? Or just hypothesizing?

Back of the Viziv reminds me of the New mode Honda Odyssey. Gross. Too tron like for me. I hate the new Civic. I like the Fozzy tails but these look more like a hybrid between the OB and Foz together. Hardest thing for me is the Touring trim. Have to find a color that goes with the Brown. I’m usually a Black / Black but I’m going to lean white this time.

I am loving the giant grille. It reminds me of the special JDM ones with all the black and minimal chrome.

Steering gets a lot tighter at highway speeds from what I’ve felt and read. Not sure if that is related to LKA but lots of people really praising it. The elephant in the room is the new engine and transmission combo

Jealous. Haven’t seen one in the wild yet.

I’m sure there will be an evolution over time. But for me I know my know my Outback is eligible for the GTP only for another 8 months or so. And there are a few expensive maintenance things on the horizon. My OB has been much better since the torque converter replacement. But I like everything about the Ascent, except the forced Java Brown Touring interior and the no 3.6 option. But it was wonderful, and I think I’m going to go for it. I’ve done two test drives - one Limited 8p and one Touring 7p.

See if you can get any info on the maintenance schedule? Everything so far has been hypothesized from the Outback schedules. I hate how they bury them inside the warranty booklets. Curious if they’re calling for a CVTF drain interval now. I test drove a Limited 7p a few weeks ago and it was glorious. I really like the captain chairs. Didn’t think I would. I could see myself in an Ascent, it’s pretty close to the Outback 3.6 I was looking at. I especially liked the OEM 2” receiver compared to the 1.25 on the Outback.

I’m almost certain all newer modes have the pedal override feature. Can it be disabled via VDC OFF remains to be seen, I guess.

I’m not really enjoying the transmission on the wife’s 16 Pilot either.

Would rather spend a couple hundred every 5 years or so at 60k instead of a 10,000 transmission job!

I’m curious to see the official maintenance booklet to see if they incorporated fluid changes for the CVT. We don’t know for sure yet on the Ascent. Do you happen to know the NOACK of the Idemitsu 0w20? That’s the stuff going into the Ascent and the first time they’re using 0w in a Subaru Turbo. It does sound like they’ve made substantial tweaks to the DI combustion process to avoid the carbon issues. Time will tell.

Okay, here's a few things I've found so far: First, the CVTF Maintenance - http://www.cars101.com/subaru/ascent/ascent2019.html This shows that the CVTF is lifetime fluid in the 2018 models - but here it's mysteriously absent. There's also a notation for a "complete" fluid change at 90k, which is not typical maintenance schedule. Second - CVTF itself is a different part number. SOA748V0300 is the HT-LV (whatever that means), whereas 0200 is the traditionally HTCVTF part number. Maybe they reformulated it for the FA20DIT and the EZ36 paired with the HTCVT, but this is concurrent with the tech article. Also, a few sales reps have confirmed that the "Ascent CVT is going to be different from anything else we have now... unique CVT Fluid and no other CVT or CVTF can be used in them..." Third - Direct Injection concerns: http://www.ascentforums.com/forum/10-engine-technical-discussion/803-all-new-2-4l-turbo-subaru-engine-ascent-10.html#post9927 Fourth - HT-CVT: http://media.subaru.com/pressrelease/1250/1/subaru-america-announces-pricing-all-new-2019-ascent From the press release: "...the Ascent comes with a new version of Subaru's high-torque Lineartronic CVT..."

Read some interesting docs on the Ascent Forum about the CVT being unique for the Ascent and unique Fluid too. Going to be reading over those forums. Really seems interesting. Also seems like they figured out the DI thing too.