2013 Subaru BRZ Spotlight

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Subaru EyeSight™ Behind the Scenes

Car Tip of the Week: 10 Things Teens Should Know About Cars and Driving

When a teenager gets a driver license, it signifies freedom and the lure of the open road. But with this newfound freedom comes a host of new situations and possible problems that most teen drivers have never encountered before. It's a good idea to review these scenarios with new drivers in your family, and discuss how to handle them before they happen for real.

From traffic stops to road rage, here's a primer on what you need to tell teen drivers as they take to the roads.

1. What to do when you're stopped by a police officer
Safely pull to the side of the road, turn off your car, roll down the window and keep your hands visible. Don't make any sudden moves or argue with the officer. Do your arguing in traffic court.

2. How to deal with a flat tire
Pull completely off the road, even if it means destroying the tire. Call roadside assistance and let that person change the tire. If you have a spare (many cars now only have an inflation kit) and know how to change the tire, make sure you are out of traffic and in plain sight of oncoming traffic before changing it yourself.

3. What to do when the "check engine" light comes on
If there is any change in the car's performance, any mechanical noises, smoke from the tailpipe or electrical smells, stop the car and call for assistance. If there are none of these symptoms, take the car to a dealer and let them diagnose the problem. However, if you just bought gas, the light might just be indicating that the gas cap is loose. Tighten the cap and continue driving. The light should go off on its own.

4. How to deal with a friend who is about to drive under the influence
Don't get in the car. Do anything not to drive with an intoxicated person, and that includes calling your parents for a lift or paying for a taxi. Your next move is to try to prevent your drunken friend from hurting themselves or someone else.

5. How to drive safely while talking on a cell phone
Most states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers, so be sure you know if these provisions apply where you live. If it's permissible to use a cell, always use a hands-free device so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Learn how to pair your phone with the car's Bluetooth system. Don't even think about texting while driving (no, not even at stoplights).

6. How to get an honest quote for an automotive repair
Search Edmunds.com's Car Maintenance Guide or the Web to get an estimate for how much the repair should cost. Search online for garages with high customer ratings and ask friends for recommended garages. Call the garage and ask for a ballpark estimate and let the garage know you are contacting other places for their best quote. Use your intuition to make the final decision on whom to trust.

7. How to buy a new car
Don't just wander onto a dealership's car lot. Instead, contact the Internet department of several dealerships to get multiple quotes and compare these with Edmunds.com's True Market Value^® price for any car you're interested in. Make sure you check incentives and rebates. Follow up with phone calls to the Internet managers of these dealerships to verify the terms of their offers. Finally, ask the dealership to deliver the car to your home or office to avoid the hard sell in the finance and insurance office.

8. What to do after an auto accident
If the car is drivable and there are no serious injuries, turn on your flashers and pull safely out of traffic. Call the police to report the accident. Exchange insurance information with the other driver but refrain from discussing the accident and who is at fault. Make notes and use your cell phone's camera to take pictures of the cars involved.

9. How to drive in rain and snow
Reduce your speed and leave more room between your vehicle and those in front of you. Understand how to handle skids. If possible, practice reacting to skidding in safe conditions, such as a snow-covered empty parking lot. Understand that a car might hydroplane on a rain puddle on the road and learn how to react to driving with reduced traction and visibility.

10. How to avoid road rage situations
Understand the severe consequences to you, your car and your driving record when minor disagreements escalate to life-threatening situations. When someone offends you, take a deep breath and know that your anger will dissolve in minutes. Don't anger other drivers by cutting them off or tailgating. If you've inadvertently angered another driver, don't get drawn into interacting with them. Ignore them or, if necessary, change your route. Finally, repeat this phrase: It's just not worth it.

Source: Edmunds.com

Subaru Looking To Launch More STI Models: Report

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Currently, the only model in Subaru’s U.S. lineup that's been enhanced by the people at Subaru Tecnica International (STI), the official motorsports division of the Japanese automaker, is the Impreza WRX STI. In the future, however, we could see several more models sporting the trademark pink “STI” badge as Subaru is reportedly interested in expanding its STI performance brand. 

At the 2012 Moscow Auto Show this week Subaru unveiled a new version of the Forester SUV that so far has only been sold in Japan. That version is the Forester TS, which has been tuned by STI and features a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine with 259 horsepower and 256 pound-feet of torque on tap. 

According to Autocar, Subaru will be gauging the sales performance of the STI-tuned Forester TS in the Russian market, with a view to offer more STI models in other markets, including in the U.S. 

“It's clear that STI's abilities and experience could work on other cars in other markets,” a company insider said. “Confining them to WRX projects doesn't make sense when the demand is there.” 

An obvious place to start would be the launch of a Subaru BRZ STI, a model that's already been previewed in concept form and is reportedly in the works. Another possibility, one hinted at by the Forester TS, would be an STI-enhanced version of the next-generation Forester due out next year. Of course, Subaru won’t be forgetting its core WRX model, so chances are its successor will also feature a potent STI variant.

Monday Maintenance Tip: Rotating Your Tires

What is this?

We know that all tires rotate. But we're talking about another kind of rotation -- rotating tires to different corners of the car and maybe even reversing the direction in which they turn.

Many tires are rotated front-to-back and side-to-side, but some tires are directional, which means they're only supposed to turn in one direction. They have to stay on the same side of the car. Directional tires often have arrows on the tire's sidewall to show you the direction in which they should turn.

If you're not sure which kind of tires you have, check with your mechanic.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

You should do this service only if you can do it for $20 or less, in our opinion.

The financial benefit of rotating tires is that you'll increase the useful life of the tire. But if you pay more than about $20, you'll probably wipe out any savings you might have gained.

Instead, ask your mechanic to rotate your tires when they're already off your car for another service, such as a brake repair. That way, you won't have to pay extra -- unless your mechanic is a jerk.

Why do I have to do this?

You don't have to rotate your tires. But by rotating them, you will increase your tires' life because they'll wear more evenly.

What happens if I don't do this?

Nothing bad will happen, but you'll get fewer miles out of your tires.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

No.

Car Talk Tip: Don't forget Newton's Seventh Law: Tires in balance tend to stay in balance. If you're having your tires rotated, don't pay extra to have them rebalanced. You probably won't need it. Have your tires rebalanced only if you feel a shimmy or vibration.

Courtesy: CarTalk.com

Subaru EyeSight™ Behind the Scenes

All-new 2013 Subaru BRZ Awarded IIHS 2012 Top Safety Pick

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The all-new 2013 BRZ earned a "good" rating – the top rank – in the moderate overlap frontal, side, rollover and rear impact evaluations.

"With BRZ, Subaru has brought back the affordable sports car; and FHI engineering in the product has led not only to great driving fun but also top safety marks," said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "We are passionate and uncompromising in our commitment to safety.  Subaru is thrilled to continue as an industry leader in this area." 

The TOP SAFETY PICK recognizes vehicles that, in IIHS testing, do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rear, and now rollover crashes based on 'good' ratings in each category. The IIHS ranks in terms of Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor, with 'good' as the top rank possible in Institute tests. Winners also must have electronic stability control.

"For three years running, Subaru is the only automotive manufacturer with the distinction of earning IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK awards for every model it builds," said Institute president Adrian Lund. "It's tough to win, and we commend Subaru for making safety a top priority."

Source: Subaru News

Win your ticket to see Rob Thomas & Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 at the Baierl Acura Theater!

We are very excited to offer all Baierl supporters the opportunity to attend this once in a lifetime event! Win a ticket to the 2 song performance and lunch courtesy of Atlantic Records taking place in the Baierl Acura Theater at CBS Radio at noon this Thursday, September 13.

All you have to do is be one of the first 10 Baierl customers to reach Ashley Porto either by emailing Ashley.Porto@cbsradio.com or calling 412-353-1170 and you’ll win a ticket to this limited seat event!

Baierl Subaru's "Car Tip of the Week"

Hey fans, we’re here to make everyone’s Monday a little bit better with your “Car Tip of the Week”!

One cost-effective way to keep your vehicle looking great is to use rubber floor mats to protect the carpeting. They are rugged, waterproof, and easy to maintain unlike carpeting. Having to clean or replace the carpeting in your car is not something you want to be up against but invest in a set of floor mats and you’ll never have to worry about it again.

Subaru XV Crosstrek Surfing Day

Subaru Legacy, 2013: Overlooked sedan offers good value, great safety

Many mid-size sedan buyers act like lemmings, continually buying the same make of vehicle year after year. Otherwise, a lot more Subaru Legacy mid-size sedans would be bought.

Rivals to the Legacy — essentially an overlooked gem — include the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Most receive far more advertising and have a considerably larger owner body.

Not that Subaru hasn’t been around for decades. It began to get its feet as a small, cramped front-wheel drive model that nevertheless was rugged. It became a favorite for rough New England winters, and for years was known as a “New England” or “Northeast” car. Few Americans knew it scored well in tough European rallies.

Subaru began switching from inexpensive  economy cars to more upscale models later than rivals. It built a terrific sports car — the SVX — in the early 1990s, but few could identify Subaru with a sports car, so the SVX eventually was dropped. However, hot-car lovers have readily accepted the more modern, very fast Subaru Impreza WRX four-seater, which had done well in tough overseas rallies. (Times change, so Subaru recently introduced a nifty sports car called the BRZ, which is Subaru’s only rear-drive model. It was developed with Toyota’s Scion division, and has gotten good reviews.)

While, not as big as many major competitors, Subaru has moved up in the world since its switch to standard all-wheel-drive for its models. More recently, models such as the Impreza, Outback and Legacy have helped improve sales.

The Legacy got a major redesign in 2010, when it received a roomier, nicer interior.
The handsome, tightly built 2013 Legacy is much the same as the 2012 model, but has minor trim changes and revised styling with new headlights, grille and front bumper.

Legacy base prices range from $20,295 for the base 2.5i to $28,895 for the top-line 3.6R Limited. All trim levels are well-equipped, especially the higher-line ones, and have Subaru’s exceptional all-wheel-drive system.

The 2013 Subaru also has an optional new “Eyesight” option that provides such things as pre-collision braking, lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control. It will stop the car at lower speeds without driver control to avoid hitting an object.

The sporty turbocharged 2.5 GT has been dropped. That leaves the Legacy with models that have either a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 173 horsepower (up from 170) or a 3.6-liter six-cylinder with 256 horsepower — unchanged from 2012.

Both compact engines have horizontally opposed pistons, as do Porsche sports car engines, to allow a lower center of gravity for better handling.

The four-cylinder comes with a six-speed manual gearbox or CVT automatic transmission. The “six” comes only with a five-speed automatic.

Subaru says the four-cylinder makes the Legacy the most economical mid-size all-wheel-drive vehicle, with preliminary estimated fuel economy of 24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on highways.

But the “four” is a bit weak and also is noisy during fast acceleration with the CVT transmission. There’s no such problem with the six-cylinder, which was in the Legacy 3.6R Limited I tested.

The six-cylinder provided fast merging and quick 65-80 mph passing on highways. The five-speed automatic transmission performed smoothly and efficiently, and its manual shift feature, via steering wheel paddles, also worked well. Fuel economy is an estimated 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 on highways.

The steering is firm, but nicely geared and accurate. A thick steering wheel provides a good grip. The ride is comfortable, with the suspension soaking up bumps, and the brakes work strongly and have good pedal feel. I easily swept through freeway on-and off-ramps at above-average speeds, although that showed that the seats could use more side support.

This is an exceptionally roomy car, especially in the rear, and occupants sit high.

The large trunk has a low, wide opening, with a lid that raises smoothly on twin struts. Split rear seatbacks, which have release handles in the trunk, fold flat to enlarge the cargo area.

My test car’s quiet interior looked upscale. There was a fair amount of plastic in the dashboard area, but it looked like high-grade stuff. Brightly lit backlit gauges could be quickly read in sunlight. Controls were easily reached. But sound system controls and the dashboard screen used with them often can’t be easily utilized when driving. Large outside mirrors assist rear vision.

The air conditioning worked well on 90-plus-degree days, but the driver’s power front window raced up and down so quickly that it was difficult to stop midway.

Sun visors with slide-out extensions to block out more of the sun are a nice touch, especially when driving into the sun during late afternoons. Door pockets are too slim to be of much good, and a thick owner’s manual occupies most of the glove compartment. But the console has a large, covered bin. And front cupholders are conveniently positioned.

The hood raises on twin struts, and fluid-filler areas can be easily reached. As with the trunk lid, the hood is lined.

 

**  Courtesy of The Weekly Driver

Monday Maintenance Tip: Checking Your Transmission Fluid

What is this?

Transmission fluid is a slippery liquid that acts as a lubricant for all of the moving parts inside your transmission. In an automatic transmission, this fluid also serves as a coolant and a viscous fluid that transmits power from the engine to the transmission.

A variety of fluids are used for different transmissions. Automatic transmissions use something called — shockingly — automatic transmission fluid. Manual transmissions use a variety of oils: regular motor oil, heavyweight hypoid gear oil or even automatic transmission fluid in some cases. Your owner's manual will tell you what your transmission calls for.

Should I do this service when it's recommended?

Yes, definitely, regardless of whether you have a manual or an automatic transmission.

Manual: Most manufacturers recommend that manual transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Under heavy-duty use, some manufacturers suggest changing transmission fluid every 15,000 miles.

Automatic: Service intervals for an automatic transmission vary from every 30,000 miles ... to never. The typical service interval is 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Changing it more often does no harm.

Why do I have to do this?

Manual: In a manual transmission, the problem is not so much the fluid degradation, but rather fluid contamination. This contamination occurs over time as the synchronizers, bearings and gears in the transmission wear out. The resulting metal particles then float around in the lubricant. And we all know that oil with microscopic particles of metal in it does not lubricate as well as clean oil. So if these contaminants are not drained out, they will shorten the life of your transmission.

Automatic: Because more heat is generated in an automatic transmission, automatic transmission fluid actually degrades and breaks down with use.

In addition, like in a manual transmission, automatic transmission fluid will also become contaminated with worn bits of the transmission. If these contaminants are not drained out, they will shorten the life of your transmission.

What happens if I don't do this?

If you don't change the transmission fluid on schedule, you'll be lubricating your transmission with metal shavings and other contaminants. This will shorten the transmission's life. The result could be a hefty boat payment to your mechanic. In other words, changing your transmission fluid at the correct interval is a good investment.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?

Yes. It's important to regularly check the transmission fluid level between service intervals. Letting your car run low on transmission fluid can cause the transmission to shift improperly — or not at all. It also can harm the internal parts of your transmission, which will not be properly lubricated. Unfortunately, you may not hear any noises or have other clues that your transmission is low on fluid, until it's too late. So it's important to get it checked.

Here's how you can check your transmission fluid level:

Manual: Checking the transmission fluid in a manual transmission can be difficult. A few thoughtful manufacturers have included a dipstick, but that's the exception rather than the rule. If you own a car with a manual transmission, we suggest that you ask your mechanic to check the fluid level when your car is up on the lift during an oil change. It takes just a minute.

Automatic: If you own a car with an automatic transmission, your car will have a dipstick for this purpose. Be careful not to make the common mistake of confusing the transmission dipstick with the crankcase dipstick.

For most cars, checking the automatic transmission fluid consists of pulling the transmission dipstick out while the engine is warmed up and running and with the transmission in park. We suggest that you check your owner's manual, however, since some manufacturers may have a different procedure.

Of course, always check your fluid level if you notice a leak of any kind.

Car Talk Tip: Unlike engine oil, transmission oil doesn't burn up. So if you're low on transmission fluid, you almost certainly have a leak.

Courtesy: cartalk.com