After the 4WD schemes used on Toyota were considered in some detail in previous materials, it turned out that there is still an information vacuum with other brands. Let's start with all-wheel drive cars Subaru, which many call "the most real, advanced and correct."
Mechanical boxes, by tradition, are of little interest to us. Moreover, everything is quite transparent with them - since the second half of the 90s, Subaru mechanics have had an honest all-wheel drive with three differentials (the center differential is blocked by a closed viscous coupling). Of the negative sides, it is worth mentioning an overly complicated design, resulting from the combination of a longitudinally mounted engine and the original front-wheel drive. As well as the refusal of the Subarovites from the further mass use of such an undoubtedly useful thing as a downshift. On single "sports" versions, there is also a highly advanced manual transmission with an "electronically controlled" center differential, where the driver can change the degree of its blocking on the go ...
But let's not digress. There are two main types of 4WD used in automatic transmissions currently operated by Subaru.
1. Active AWD
This option has long been installed on the vast majority of Subaru (with automatic transmission type TZ1). In fact, this "all-wheel drive" is as "honest" as Toyota's V-Flex or ATC - the same plug-in rear wheels and the same TOD (Torque on Demand) principle. There is no center differential, and the rear-wheel drive is switched on by a hydromechanical clutch in the transfer case - it goes back from ~ 10% of the force under normal conditions (if this is not attributed to internal friction in the clutch) to almost 50% in the limit state.
Although the Subar scheme has some advantages in the working algorithm over other types of plug-in 4WD. Albeit small, but the moment during A-AWD operation (unless the system is forcibly turned off) is still transmitted back constantly, and not only when the front wheels slip - this is more useful and efficient. Thanks to hydromechanics, it is possible to redistribute the force (although it is too loudly said to "redistribute" - just select a part) more accurately than in the electromechanical ATC - A-AWD is able to work out slightly both in turns and during acceleration and braking, and it will be structurally stronger. The probability of a sharp spontaneous "appearance" of the rear drive in a turn with subsequent uncontrolled "flight" has been reduced (there is such a danger for cars with a viscous coupling for connecting the rear wheels).
To improve the "all-terrain" qualities, Subaru often installs an automatic locking mechanism (viscous clutch, "cam differential" - see below about it) in the rear differential of models with A-AWD.
2. VTD AWD
The VTD (Variable Torque Distribution) scheme is used on less mass-produced versions with automatic transmissions such as TV1 (and TZ102Y, in the case of the Impreza WRX GF8) - as a rule, the most powerful in the range. Here, everything is in order with "honesty" - the four-wheel drive is really permanent, with an interaxle differential (blocked by a hydromechanical clutch). By the way, since the mid-80s, Toyota 4WD has been working on the same principle on the A241H and A540H boxes, but now, alas, it has remained only on the original rear-wheel drive models (FullTime-H or i-Four all-wheel drive).
Every VTD flyer states that "Torque is split 45/55 between the front and rear wheels." And wow, many are actually beginning to believe that they are driven forward along the track by 55% rear-wheel drive. You need to understand that these figures are an abstract indicator. When the car moves in a straight line and all wheels rotate at the same speed, the center differential, of course, does not work out, and the moment is clearly divided between the axles in half. What do 45 and 55 mean? Just gear ratios in the planetary gear set of the differential. If the front wheels are forcibly stopped completely, then the differential carrier also stops, and the gear ratio between the rear drive drive shaft and the transfer case input shaft will just be the same 55/100, that is, 55% of the torque developed by the engine will go back (the differential will work as an overdrive ). If the rear wheels freeze, then 45% of the torque will go forward through the differential carrier in the same way. Of course, the presence of blocking is not taken into account here, and indeed ... In reality, the distribution of moments is a constant floating value and is far from unambiguous.
Subaru usually attaches a fairly advanced VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system to the VTD, in our opinion - a system of exchange rate stability. At the start, its component, TCS (Traction Control System), slows down the slipping wheel and slightly strangles the engine (firstly, by the ignition timing, and secondly, even by turning off part of the nozzles). Classic dynamic stabilization works on the go. Well, thanks to the ability to arbitrarily slow down any of the wheels, VDC emulates (simulates) a cross-axle differential lock. Of course, this is great, but you should not seriously rely on the capabilities of such a system - so far, none of the automakers has even managed to bring the "electronic lock" closer to traditional mechanics in terms of reliability and, most importantly, efficiency.
3. "V-Flex"
Probably worth mentioning is 4WD, which is used on small models with CVTs (like the Vivio and Pleo). Here the scheme is even simpler - a permanent front-wheel drive and a rear axle "connected" by a viscous coupling when the front wheels slip.
About the cam differential
1 - separator, 2 - guide cams,
3 - thrust bearing, 4 - differential housing, 5 - washer, 6 - hub
We have already said that in English all self-locking differentials fall under the concept of LSD, however, in our tradition, this is usually called a system with a viscous coupling. The LSD rear differential often used on Subaru is built differently - it can be called "friction, cam type". There is actually no rigid connection between the drive gear of the differential and the semi-axes, the difference in the angular velocity of rotation is provided by slipping of one semi-axis relative to the other, and the "lock" is inherent in the very principle of operation.
The separator rotates with the differential housing. The "keys" fixed on the separator can move in the transverse direction. The protrusions and cavities of the cams (let's call them that) together with the keys form a transmission of rotation, like a chain.
If the resistance on the wheels is the same, then the keys do not slip and both axle shafts rotate at the same speed. If the resistance on one wheel is noticeably greater, then the keys begin to slide along the cavities and protrusions of the corresponding cam, still trying to turn it in the direction of rotation of the separator. Unlike a planetary type differential, the speed of rotation of the second half-axle does not increase (that is, if one wheel is stationary, the second will not spin twice as fast as the differential housing).
Whether or not a car with such a differential can “drive on one wheel” is determined by the current balance between the resistance on the axle shaft, the speed of rotation of the body, the amount of force transmitted back and the friction in the key-cam pair. However, this design is certainly not "off"-road.
Test Drive
Subaru Forester
Drive is everything!
Potapkin Alexander ( 26.05.2017
)
Photo: PushCAR
Any person in our country and abroad who is at least a little familiar with cars, having heard the phrase - "Symmetrical all-wheel drive", will immediately remember Subaru cars. This is a kind of rule - we say Subaru, we mean symmetrical all-wheel drive, and vice versa - we say symmetrical all-wheel drive, we mean Subaru. And, of course, Subaru cars are legendary boxer engines. Subaru cars are a tradition of four-wheel drive and boxer engines, which the manufacturer has remained true to throughout its history.
To date, Subaru offers only four models in Russia. But the main model of the brand was and remains the Forester, it is the main locomotive of all sales. The new, fourth generation Forester with the SJ index appeared in 2013, and has already gone through two small restylings. After all, minor, but frequent, changes in appearance are designed to maintain interest in the model and in the brand as a whole.
It's no secret that all Japanese manufacturers have recently become very fond of continuously variable transmissions, in other words, a variator. Among them was Subaru. Abandoning traditional automatic transmissions, the developers put their own development, the Lineartronic CVT, on the new generation. On the one hand, the variator is a smooth ride and fuel economy. On the other hand, this is a lot of wear on the parts of the box and a quick “overheating” on the road. After all, any crossover, especially with all-wheel drive settings like Subaru's, sooner or later simply has to go off-road - "knead" the dirt and transfer heavy loads. And it seems that the CVT is simply not suitable for such trips, but Subaru engineers managed to destroy this statement. The Lineartronic box is capable of withstanding enormous loads. You can get stuck and skid for five or ten minutes, and in the end, you won’t see the box or clutch overheat indicator on the dashboard. Of course, if you wish, you can overheat the variator and clutch on the Forester, but if you compare it with competitors, then Forik is one of the leaders in terms of endurance. Branded symmetrical all-wheel drive, as before, differs depending on the transmission. With a manual transmission comes a more advanced all-wheel drive system with a self-locking center differential. That is, the version on the "mechanics" has a permanent four-wheel drive. A simplified system comes with the variator, which automatically distributes torque between the axles, and a multi-plate clutch is responsible for blocking the center differential. And the X-Mode off-road assistance system gives the Forester permanent all-wheel drive, if the speed is not higher than 40 km / h, and helps to automatically maintain the set speed on the descent.
But, even with a simpler all-wheel drive and without the X-Mode system, the Forester on the roads will be able to compete with a couple of cars in this class. The main rivals of the Subaru Forester in terms of cross-country ability, all-wheel drive and its settings can be considered the new Jeep Cherokee or Land Rover Discovery Sport.
And, if with the technical component of the transmission and all-wheel drive, which complements the ground clearance of 22 cm, everything is very good and there is simply nothing to complain about. And this, one might say, is the main trump card of the Forester, on which the manufacturer focuses, but for the rest, namely, comfort, quality of materials and assembly, there are still questions and comments. Of course, if we draw an analogy with the previous generation, then the new Forester is made much better. But, nevertheless, there are still many shortcomings in it, which simply should not be in a car for more than two million. And the first thing you notice in the car's interior is simplicity, archaism and meager quality of materials. Many are accustomed to the fact that Subaru is primarily handling and technology, but comfort and ease of movement are secondary things, and here they are not particularly needed. To be honest, I personally can’t understand this, and it’s a little wild for me to see a car for 2 million with a penny, for example, without rear parking sensors, I’m already silent about the front ones. Yes, there is a rear-view camera, but according to all modern trends, it simply must be supplemented with parking sensors. And there are no parking sensors in any version! Or a multimedia system with six speakers, which, apparently, is here simply because it is necessary, and no one has been involved in its settings at all. The head unit is completely touch-sensitive, and it is worth giving it its due, the “head” itself works very quickly. I was also surprised by the simply disgusting work of the light sensor. Sometimes he did not understand when he needed to turn on the dipped beam, and when to turn it off. Plus, the optotronic instrument panel “attached” to it works in just two stages, that is, there is no smooth transition of the backlight, in other words, there is no dimmer. It just switches to dim or bright. And it is worth noting that now you will not find such minor flaws even in budget cars for 600 thousand rubles. And you should not forget about the main "trick" of most Japanese manufacturers - only two power windows, and sometimes one, which operate in automatic mode.
As for the cabin as a whole, he loves to creak very much, especially on bumps and bumps, and he is not happy with loud music either. In general, the Japanese have much to strive for. Nevertheless, if these little things, let's call them that, are ignored, then a very large and spacious cabin in the class opens up before us. A large trunk (maximum volume with the rear sofa folded down is 1548 liters), a spacious rear row, and seats that are very loyal to the back endow the Forester with the practicality that many appreciate and that they look at first of all when choosing a car. But if you continue to find fault with the little things, then for myself I noted the insufficient adjustment of the driver's seat. Personally, I did not have enough vertical adjustment, and I wanted the chair to go lower.
In terms of management, the Forester is a typical representative of this class. But it does have a slight advantage - the boxer motor, which keeps the center of gravity lower, which gives it an advantage in corners. Plus all-wheel drive, which constantly distributes torque between the wheels and axles, depending on the steering wheel. The car on our test was with a 2.5 liter engine. This motor is a kind of golden mean for the Forester. 171 hp engine produces a peak torque of 235 Nm. According to measurements and sensations, he goes a little faster than the declared characteristics. Even more powerful engines of the same volume cannot boast of such agility and responsiveness. The motor confidently pulls the car even after 140 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h takes just over 9 seconds. But due to insufficient sound insulation of the engine compartment and wheel arches, you don’t want to “turn” the engine at all, and at high speed a lot of aerodynamic noise penetrates into the cabin. Of the minuses can be noted too sensitive gas pedal. This will be especially noticeable in city traffic. Even at the slightest pressure on the gas, the car immediately reacts with a jerk forward. The panacea in traffic jams will only be the "reduced" L mode, which puts the box in a simulated first gear.
In terms of suspension and handling, the Forester didn't just take a step forward, it took a big leap. The joint platform, on which the junior XV model is also based, has MacPherson-type struts in front with an anti-roll bar, the rear is independent, spring-loaded on double wishbones. And the suspension here is really tuned for bad roads. You can safely drive at speed along a broken country road or along a “concrete” that has seen a lot, and at the same time, just marvel at the minimal buildup of the body, the absence of breakdowns, and enjoy the pleasant and quiet operation of the racks.
Subaru Forester gets better and better with every generation. His main trump card in front of his classmates was and will be the technical component - the engine and all-wheel drive. But the interior (performance, design and quality) loses almost all competitors on the market. Most car buyers need convenience, comfort, modern active safety systems and various electronic assistants. Off-road capabilities are of little concern now. After all, few in the city crossover storm ravines, overcome fords or simply drive on muddy ground. Therefore, placing great emphasis on the cross-country ability of the car and investing heavily in its development is not quite the right move. Nevertheless, Subaru brand cars will always find their buyer and will never be left without attention.
The cost of the car Subaru Forester (2.5 CVT) from 2,197,900 rubles.
Subaru celebrates 40th anniversary of its 4x4 vehicles
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru vehicles, announced that 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the debut of Subaru's all-wheel drive vehicles, the first of which, the Subaru Leone Estate Van 4WD, was introduced in Japan in 1972.
To this day, FHI remains a pioneer in all-wheel drive passenger cars. Subaru's total production of *1 4x4 vehicles reached 11,782,812 (January 31, 2012), representing approximately 55.7% of the brand's total sales.
Subaru's all-wheel drive system ensures efficient distribution of traction to all four wheels. Thanks to the combination of symmetrical all-wheel drive (SAWD) and the horizontally opposed Subaru Boxer engine, the power unit is located symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the car, and the transmission is shifted back within the wheelbase. This arrangement optimizes the longitudinal-transverse mass balance and provides stable traction on any surface in different driving conditions. In addition, excellent high-speed stability and excellent steering and handling characteristics are achieved, making SAWD the core technology behind Subaru's philosophy of safety combined with driving pleasure.
Through continuous research, adapting Subaru's all-wheel drive system to the character of each model, FHI has perfected its technologies in this area - from technology that can provide handling on rough roads to unique technology that guarantees high stability in rain, snow or driving conditions. high speed. The latest developments include four-wheel traction control, which creates a reliable four-wheel traction at all times.
Additional Information
Subaru symmetrical all-wheel drive systems
- VTD all-wheel drive system*2: Sports version of electronically controlled all-wheel drive, which improves steering characteristics. The compact all-wheel drive system includes a planetary center differential and an electronically controlled multi-plate hydraulic lock-up clutch*3. The torque distribution between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 45:55 is continuously adjusted by a differential lock using a multi-plate clutch. Torque distribution is controlled automatically, up to a 50:50 ratio between the front and rear wheels, taking into account the condition of the road surface. This provides excellent stability, and by distributing torque with emphasis on the rear wheels, steering characteristics are improved for aggressive, sporty driving.
Current models (Russian specification)]
On the Russian market Subaru Legacy GT, Forester S-Edition, Outback 3.6, Tribeca, WRX STI with automatic transmission - All-wheel drive system with active torque distribution (ACT): An electronically controlled all-wheel drive system that improves economy and stability. Subaru's original electronically controlled multi-plate torque converter adjusts front-to-rear torque distribution in real time according to driving conditions. In normal modes, the system distributes torque between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 60:40. It maximizes the benefits of all-wheel drive, providing stable and safe handling in any driving situation, regardless of the driver's skill level.
On the Russian market Subaru Legacy/Outback 2.5 with Lineartronic transmission, Forester (with automatic transmission), Impreza and XV with Lineartronic transmission. - All-wheel drive system with center self-locking differential with viscous coupling (CDG): Mechanical four-wheel drive system for mechanical transmissions. The system is a combination of a center differential with bevel gears and a viscous coupling based lock. Under normal conditions, the torque between the front and rear wheels is distributed in a ratio of 50:50. The system ensures safe, sporty driving by always making the most of available traction.
[Current models (Russian specification)]
Subaru Legacy, Forester, Impreza and XV with manual transmission. - All-wheel drive system with multi-mode center differential (DCCD *4): A performance-oriented all-wheel drive system for serious sporting events. The all-wheel drive system with an electronically controlled active limited-slip center differential uses a combination of mechanical and electronic differential locks when changing torque. Torque is distributed between the front and rear wheels in a ratio of 41:59, with an emphasis on maximum driving performance and optimal control of the vehicle's dynamic stability. The mechanical interlock has a faster response and works before the electronic one. Working with high torque, the system demonstrates the best balance between sharpness of control and stability. There are preset differential lock control modes, as well as a manual control mode, which the driver can use according to the traffic situation.
[Current models (Russian specification)]
Subaru WRX STI with manual transmission.
*1 including production of vehicles with plug-in all-wheel drive
*2 VTD: Variable Torque Distribution
*3 Controlled limited slip differential
*4 DCCD: Active Center Differential
Symmetrical AWD
Symmetrical all-wheel drive
Since its introduction in 1972, Symmetrical AWD (All-Wheel Drive) technology has been continuously improved. Complemented by a horizontally opposed Subaru BOXER engine, it ensures perfect symmetry of the design. This results in maximum efficiency of engine power delivery, a high level of grip and vehicle stability, as well as ideal weight distribution. Absolute control over the car is maintained in almost any driving conditions, turning every kilometer of the distance traveled into pleasure.
Engine torque is constantly transmitted to all four wheels and provides maximum grip and, therefore, maximum vehicle handling, therefore, the better the grip of the wheels with the road, the more confident you feel behind the wheel of your car. This advantage is your guarantee of success in extreme conditions, whether it be bad weather or an emergency situation, when the score goes by a fraction of a second.
Advantages
The best balance
When you turn, the centrifugal force pushes the car to the edge of the road. How far the car rolls depends on the center of gravity. If it is located high, it takes more time to regain balance and control of the car. If it's low - like a Subaru - there's less body roll and less yaw, giving the car more stability.
Improved grip strength
Permanent four-wheel drive has special advantages over 2-wheel drive (2WD) - especially when cornering. By transmitting power through all four wheels, the car handles naturally and neutrally around corners, avoiding sluggishness or oversteer that can lead to instability and crashes.
10.05.2006
After the 4WD schemes used in Toyota were examined in some detail in previous materials, it turned out that there is still an information vacuum with other brands ... Let's first take the four-wheel drive of Subaru cars, which many call "the most real, advanced and correct."
Mechanical boxes, by tradition, are of little interest to us. Moreover, everything is quite transparent with them - since the second half of the 90s, all Subaru on the mechanics have an honest all-wheel drive with three differentials (the center differential is blocked by a closed viscous coupling). Of the negative sides, it is worth mentioning an overly complicated design obtained by combining a longitudinally mounted engine and the original front-wheel drive. As well as the refusal of the Subarovites from the further mass use of such an undoubtedly useful thing as a downshift. On single "sports" versions of the Impreza STi, there is also an advanced manual transmission with an "electronically controlled" center differential (DCCD), where the driver can change the degree of its blocking on the go ...
But let's not digress. There are two main types of 4WD used in automatic transmissions currently operated by Subaru.
|
1.1. Active AWD / Active Torque Split AWD |
Permanent front-wheel drive, without center differential, connection of the rear wheels with an electronically controlled hydromechanical clutch
 |
|
1 - torque converter lock-up damper, 2 - torque converter clutch, 3 - input shaft, 4 - oil pump drive shaft, 5 - torque converter clutch housing, 6 - oil pump, 7 - oil pump housing, 8 - transmission housing, 9 - speed sensor turbine wheel, 10 - 4th clutch, 11 - reverse clutch, 12 - 2-4 brake, 13 - front planetary gear set, 14 - 1st clutch, 15 - rear planetary gear set, 16 - 1st brake gear and reverse, 17 - transmission output shaft, 18 - "P" mode gear, 19 - front drive gear, 20 - rear output shaft speed sensor, 21 - rear output shaft, 22 - shank, 23 - clutch A- AWD, 24 - front drive driven gear, 25 - freewheel, 26 - valve block, 27 - sump, 28 - front output shaft, 29 - hypoid gear, 30 - impeller, 31 - stator, 32 - turbine. |
E this option has long been installed on the vast majority of Subaru (with automatic transmission type TZ1) and is widely known from the Legacy model of 89. In fact, this four-wheel drive is as “honest” as the fresh Toyota Active Torque Control - the same rear-wheel drive and the same TOD (Torque on Demand) principle. There is no center differential, and the rear-wheel drive is activated by a hydromechanical clutch (friction package) in the transfer case.
The Subar scheme has some advantages in the working algorithm over other types of plug-in 4WD (especially the simplest ones, like the primitive V-Flex). Albeit small, but the moment during A-AWD operation is constantly transmitted back (unless the system is forcibly turned off), and not only when the front wheels slip - this is more useful and efficient. Thanks to hydromechanics, the force can be redistributed a little more accurately than in an electromechanical ATC. In addition, A-AWD is structurally more durable. For cars with a viscous coupling for connecting the rear wheels, there is a danger of a sharp spontaneous “appearance” of the rear drive in a turn, followed by an uncontrolled “flight”, but in A-AWD this probability, although not completely excluded, is significantly reduced. However, with age, as wear and tear, the predictability and smoothness of the connection of the rear wheels decreases significantly.
The algorithm of the system remains the same throughout the entire release period, only slightly corrected.
1) Under normal conditions, with the accelerator pedal fully released, the torque distribution between the front and rear wheels is 95/5..90/10.
2) As you press on the gas, the pressure supplied to the clutch package begins to increase, the discs gradually tighten and the torque distribution begins to shift towards 80/20 ... 70/30 ... etc. The relationship between gas and line pressure is by no means linear, but rather looks like a parabola - so that a significant redistribution occurs only when the pedal is pressed hard. With a fully recessed pedal, the friction clutches are pressed with maximum effort and the distribution reaches 60/40 ... 55/45. Literally, "50/50" is not achieved in this scheme - this is not a hard lock.
3) In addition, the speed sensors of the front and rear output shafts installed on the box make it possible to determine the slip of the front wheels, after which the maximum part of the moment is taken back regardless of the degree of gas supply (except for the case of a fully released accelerator). This function is active at low speeds, up to about 60 km/h.
4) When forced into 1st gear (selector), the clutches are immediately pressed with the maximum possible pressure - thus, as it were, "difficult all-terrain conditions" are determined and the drive remains the most "permanently full".
5) When the "FWD" fuse is plugged into the connector, no overpressure is supplied to the clutch and the drive is constantly carried out only on the front wheels (distribution "100/0").
6) With the development of automotive electronics, it has become more convenient to control slippage using standard ABS sensors and reduce the degree of clutch blocking when cornering or ABS is triggered.
It should be noted that all passport distributions of moments are given only in statics - during acceleration / deceleration, the weight distribution along the axes changes, so the real moments on the axes are different (sometimes "very different"), just like with different coefficients of wheel adhesion to the road.
|
1.2. VTD AWD |
Permanent four-wheel drive, with center differential, electronically controlled hydromechanical clutch lock
 |
|
1 - torque converter lock-up damper, 2 - torque converter clutch, 3 - input shaft, 4 - oil pump drive shaft, 5 - torque converter clutch housing, 6 - oil pump, 7 - oil pump housing, 8 - transmission housing, 9 - speed sensor turbine wheel, 10 - 4th clutch, 11 - reverse clutch, 12 - 2-4 brake, 13 - front planetary gear set, 14 - 1st clutch, 15 - rear planetary gear set, 16 - 1st brake gear and reverse, 17 - countershaft, 18 - "P" mode gear, 19 - front drive gear, 20 - rear output shaft speed sensor, 21 - rear output shaft, 22 - shank, 23 - center differential, 24 - center differential lock clutch, 25 - front drive driven gear, 26 - overrunning clutch, 27 - valve block, 28 - sump, 29 - front output shaft, 30 - hypoid gear, 31 - impeller, 32 - stator, 33 - turbine . |
The VTD (Variable Torque Distribution) scheme is used on less mass-produced versions with automatic transmissions such as TV1 (and TZ102Y, in the case of the Impreza WRX GF8) - as a rule, the most powerful in the range. Here, everything is in order with "honesty" - the all-wheel drive is really permanent, with an asymmetric center differential (45:55), which is blocked by an electronically controlled hydromechanical clutch. By the way, since the mid-80s, Toyota 4WD has been working on the same principle on the A241H and A540H boxes, but now, alas, it has remained only on the original rear-wheel drive models (FullTime-H or i-Four all-wheel drive).
Subaru usually attaches a fairly advanced VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control) system to the VTD, in our opinion - a system of exchange rate stability or stabilization. At the start, its component, TCS (Traction Control System), slows down the slipping wheel and slightly strangles the engine (firstly, by the ignition timing, and secondly, even by turning off part of the nozzles). Classic dynamic stabilization works on the go. Well, thanks to the ability to arbitrarily slow down any of the wheels, VDC emulates (simulates) a cross-axle differential lock. Of course, this is great, but you should not seriously rely on the capabilities of such a system - so far, none of the automakers has even managed to bring the "electronic lock" closer to traditional mechanics in terms of reliability and, most importantly, efficiency.
|
1.3. "V Flex" |
Permanent front-wheel drive, no center differential, viscous coupling for rear wheels
Probably worth mentioning is 4WD, which is used on small models with CVTs (like the Vivio and Pleo). Here the scheme is even simpler - a permanent front-wheel drive and a rear axle "connected" by a viscous coupling when the front wheels slip.
We have already said that in English under the concept of LSD everyone gets self-locking differentials, but in our tradition this is usually called a system with a viscous coupling. But Subaru used a whole range of LSD differentials in different designs on their cars ...
2.1. Old style viscous LSD
 |
 |
In the LSD differential, the right and left side gears are "connected" through a viscous coupling - the right splined shaft passes through the cup and engages with the clutch hub (the differential satellites are mounted cantilevered). The clutch housing is one piece with the gear of the left axle shaft. In a cavity filled with silicone fluid and air, there are discs on the splines of the hub and body - the outer ones are held in place by spacer rings, the inner ones are able to move slightly along the axis (for the possibility of obtaining a "hump effect"). The clutch works directly on the difference in speed between the right and left axle shafts.
 |
During rectilinear motion, the right and left wheels rotate at the same speed, the differential cup and side gears move together, and the moment is equally divided between the axle shafts. When there is a difference in the frequency of rotation of the wheels, the housing and the hub with the disks fixed to them move relative to each other, which causes the appearance of a friction force in the silicone fluid. Due to this, in theory (only in theory), there should be a redistribution of torque between the wheels.
2.2. New viscous LSD
 |
 |
- Impreza WRX manual transmission until 1997
- Forester SF, SG (except FullTime VTD + VDC versions)
- Legacy 2.0T, 2.5 (except FullTime VTD + VDC versions)
Working fluid - transmission oil class API GL-5, viscosity according to SAE 75W-90, capacity ~0.8 / 1.1 l.
2.3. Friction LSD
 |
The next in line of appearance is the friction mechanical differential, used on most versions of the Impreza STi since the mid-90s. The principle of its operation is even simpler - side gears have a minimum axial play, a set of washers is installed between them and the differential housing. When there is a difference in the speed between the wheels, the differential works like any free one. The satellites begin to rotate, while there is a load on the gears of the axle shafts, the axial component of which presses the pack of washers and the differential is partially blocked.
The cam-type friction differential was first used by Subaru in 1996 on turbo Imprezas, then it appeared on the Forester STi versions. The principle of its operation is well known to the majority from our classic trucks, shishigs and UAZs.
There is actually no rigid connection between the drive gear of the differential and the semi-axes, the difference in the angular velocity of rotation is provided by slipping of one semi-axis relative to the other. The separator rotates together with the differential case, the keys (or "crackers") fixed on the separator can move in the transverse direction. The protrusions and cavities of the cam shafts, together with the keys, form a transmission of rotation, like a chain.
 |
Scope (on domestic market models):
- Impreza WRX after 1996
- Forester STi
The working fluid is an ordinary gear oil of API GL-5 class, viscosity according to SAE 75W-90, capacity ~ 0.8 l.
Eugene
Moscow
[email protected] website
Legion-Autodata
Information on car maintenance and repair can be found in the book (books):
It's no secret that the main component of Subaru's glory is all-wheel drive. "Honest full-time remained only on Subars, the rest switched to plug-in"- have you ever heard that? Still... But how true is this? Let's take the Forester as an example ("forester"), because for many fans this car has become an icon, next to which most SUVs did not stand close precisely in terms of "honesty" 4WD and cross-country ability.
| Model | Modifications | checkpoint | Engine | 4WD |
| C/tb | SF5A52D | MT TY753VB1AA | EJ20G DOHC Turbo | full time |
| C/tb | SF5A52P | AT-TZ103ZB1AA | EJ20G DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
| S/tb | SF5A53D | MT TY753VB1AA | EJ20G DOHC Turbo | full time |
| S/tb | SF5A53P | AT-TZ103ZB1AA | EJ20G DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
| T/tb | SF5A55P | AT-TZ103ZB1AA | EJ20G DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
As you can see, an honest constant four-wheel drive with a symmetrical center differential, blocked by a closed viscous coupling. There are also disadvantages (in terms of increasing cross-country ability) - 1) there is no downshift, traditional for Subar, 2) defective blocking with a viscous coupling (for example, in the same years, RAV4 I with mechanics had a forced hard blocking), 3) whether "right-hand drive on pen" is an open question, to put it mildly.
Well, what about the automatic transmission? - only Active AWD circuit with automatic pluggable rear wheel drive. Where, in a normal initial state, the distribution of moments between the front and rear wheels is 90:10 (only sometimes reaching a maximum of 60:40). Alas, such a 4WD cannot be called more honest than the Toyotas or Nissans of those years with electromechanical clutches, than the "two-pump" Honda or models with hydromechanical "haldexes". More efficient - perhaps, but not "honest".
Along with a naturally aspirated engine, a manual gearbox with a reduction gear (the so-called Dual Range) also appears. On the version with the machine, everything is the same.
| Model | Modifications | checkpoint | Engine | 4WD |
| C/20 | SF5B56J | MT TY755XS1AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| C/20 | SF5B56R | AT-TZ1A3ZS2AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| S/20 | SF5B57J | MT TY755XS1AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| S/20 | SF5B57R | AT-TZ1A3ZS2AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| S/tb | SF5B53D | MT TY755VB1AA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | full time |
| S/tb | SF5B53P | AT-TZ1A3ZB2AA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
| T/tb | SF5B55P | AT TV1A3YB2AB | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Full Time VTD |
| T/25 | SF9B58E | AT-TZ1A3ZK2AA | EJ254DOHCNA | Active AWD |
First the "forester" really appears permanent all-wheel drive version with automatic (VTD scheme). The asymmetric (45:55) center differential is blocked by an electronically controlled hydromechanical clutch - according to the same principle as on numerous Toyotas since the late 80s.
| Model | Modifications | checkpoint | Engine | 4WD |
| C/20 | SF5C56J | MT TY755XS1AA | EJ201 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| C/20 | SF5C56R | AT-TZ1A3ZS2AA | EJ201 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| S/20 | SF5C57J | MT TY755XS1AA | EJ201 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| S/20 | SF5C57R | AT-TZ1A3ZS2AA | EJ201 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| S/tb | SF5C53D | MT TY755VB1AA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | full time |
| S/tb | SF5C53P (PB, VB, VC, VA, HA, IG) | AT-TZ1A3ZB2AA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
| S/tb | SF5C53P (UB, UC, UA, JG) | AT TV1A3YB2AB | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Full Time VTD |
| T/25 | SF9C58E | AT-TZ1A3ZK2AA | EJ254DOHCNA | Active AWD |
There is still only one version with honest 4WD (it is worth noting that "turbo" in this case does not mean anything yet - it can be a car with both permanent and plug-in drive).
Year 2002, second-generation Forester - a similar picture
| Model | Modifications | checkpoint | Engine | 4WD |
| X | SG5A5AK | MT TY755XS3AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| X | SG5A5AR | AT-TZ1B3ZS4AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| X20 | SG5A51K | MT TY755XS3AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Full Time D/R |
| X20 | SG5A51R | AT-TZ1B3ZS4AA | EJ202 SOHC NA | Active AWD |
| XT | SG5A55D | MT TY755VB3AA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | full time |
| XT | SG5A55T | AT-TZ1B5LBZAA | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Active AWD |
| XT | SG5A55T (JG,KG,FH,GH) | AT TV1B5MBZAB | EJ205 DOHC Turbo | Full Time VTD |
By the way, the exclusivity of the "forester" is a strange thing ... Would an SUV based on a Corolla in the 100th body become an object of worship? There you go, it's funny. But the "forester" formally just repeated and developed the concept of another legendary car - the Sprinter Carib AE95 - class C, station wagon, lifted, only 4WD ... The thrust-to-weight ratio let us down a bit - the Toyota people did not guess to plant a couple of hundred horses under the hood.
So do not fall into ecstasy from the magic phrase alone. "subaru four vede". You can always clarify - but what exactly? If real VTD, then accept sincere congratulations. Well, if Active AWD - welcome to the company of your own "despicable" V-Flex, ATC, Haldex, DPS and other Real-Time.
2. Subaru 4WD. In a conference format
"Why did the article already have version 1.7? Correct errors?"
Yes, to the best of our ability, we correct the mistakes of Subaru fans and encourage them to learn their own materiel - after all, the article was originally built in the format of a correspondence discussion, and versions have to be indexed to avoid confusion among reprints. If life does not stand still, then new questions and answers must appear.
"What junk are you describing here?! Who needs ancient Subars now"
Firstly, the attentive reader could notice that the first version of the article appeared in the autumn of 2005, when the replenishment of the Russian fleet of mid-level foreign cars was mainly due to used cars from the European, US and, especially, Japanese markets. So the first generation foriki at that time were as fresh and up-to-date as possible.
Secondly, it does not matter at all on the basis of which model to start analyzing the stereotypes of Subar propaganda. Moreover, over the past years, the situation with branded all-wheel drive has not changed much - no new schemes have appeared, A-AWD has not become more honest, the share of cars with permanent all-wheel drive has ultimately decreased.
"What then is an "honest" 4WD and where did it come from?"
The concept itself was introduced in the early 2000s by the community of subarologists. As a kind of answer to those automakers who still called schemes with automatically connected rear wheels, for example, "toyota v-flex FULLTIME 4wd" (the word "fulltime" was clearly not true).
So by "honest" they began to understand really constant all-wheel drive, emphasizing the difference from schemes with a connected drive (viscous coupling, electromechanical clutch, DPS "ohm, Haldex" ohm, etc.). To date "honest permanent 4WD"
still implies the presence of a center differential.
Of course, this does not apply to PartTime 4WD circuits with a rigid forced connection of the front / rear axles.
By the way, the idea of "honesty" refers more to constructive implementation and marketing, and not to comparative efficiency - since some auto-connected drives (including Subarovsky) provide better cross-country ability or "reliability" of control (especially in combination with stabilization systems ) than some permanent-full ones (for example, Toyota 4WDs with an inefficient viscous coupling for locking the center differential or generally with a free center and emulation of brake locks) - so you should not immediately be nervous at the mere mention "honesty".
"How do you know for sure if your car is A-AWD or VTD?"
We look at the engine compartment plate (in the figure - for foreign market cars) and read the type of transmission. "TZ" means Active AWD (except TZ102Y) and 4-AT, "TV" means VTD and 4-AT, "TG5" means VTD and 5-AT. CVTs that come with A-AWD are indexed "TR580" and "TR690".
"Only Subars retained true 4WD"
In the case of manual transmissions, it really “preserved”, but with automatics, the opposite is true, here the share of cars with a full-fledged VTD increased until the second half of the 2000s, while on older models (for example, Legacy of the first generation) it was generally equal to zero. With the introduction of CVTs for honest 4WD, hard times have come.
But the global auto industry has come to a partly fair idea that for cars and mid-size SUVs, a plug-in electronically controlled all-wheel drive, supplemented by modern stabilization systems, will be enough. And permanent all-wheel drive should be left to heavier models - after all, most major manufacturers, unlike Subaru, do not end with the D-class, but have their own Prado, Pajero, Cruisers, Patrols, Tuareg ... and also pickup trucks specially sharpened for harsh operation.
"The most advanced 4WD - Subarovsky"
This is just another myth. If we are talking about a plug-in Active AWD, then formally it is no more perfect than drives with wheels connected by an electromechanical or hydromechanical clutch. The VTD system has few analogues, but they exist - even Toyota automatic machines operating on the same principle appeared a little earlier and were much more widespread (unfortunately, until 2000-2002 - in the future, the scheme with hydromechanical locking of the center differential remained only on models E-class). But if "who is cooler" is so important, then the most sophisticated four-wheel drive (ACD + AYC) was used by Mitsubishi on their Lancer Evolution.
"So on all Subars with mechanics there is direct rally four-wheel drive?"
No, the vast majority of models with manual transmission have standard four-wheel drive, with a viscous coupling in the center differential. Only on the most charged "almost-rally" modifications, the DCCD differential uses an electromechanical clutch, and the driver can manually change the blocking coefficient on the go.
"Where do you get this classification of transmissions, etc.?"
We use branded service manuals, if possible - original Japanese ones for domestic market models.
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"How is it that in 89-93 there were no all-wheel drive legacies ?!"
Read carefully - there were no automatic Legacy with VTD transmission. Options with A-AWD or even with rigidly connected rear wheels, of course, were available.
"VTD is not a differential, it's just a single ended gearbox..."
We learn materiel. Even auto-rush "gurus" should sometimes look at least in Subarovskie textbooks -.
"When did the all-wheel drive type VTD appear?"
VTD first appeared on the Alcyone (SVX) domestic market in 1991. Since 1993, from gradually began to be installed on the turbo-Legacy and Impreza WRX.
"What does analogue VTD mean?"
"Honest" four-wheel drive with a center differential, symmetrical (Toyota machines A540H) or asymmetrical (A340H and subsequent). Blocking by a multi-plate hydromechanical clutch, the degree of blocking is automatically controlled by electronics. Where specifically used -. After 2002, only the second version was produced - for the original rear-wheel drive top models.
"Why is it written that the TZ102Y for the Impreza WRX GF8 is according to the VTD scheme? After all, Z is A-AWD"
This is specifically specified in the article. By the time Subaru's first VTD box appeared, the old gearbox designation system was in effect: a simple AWD machine was designated TZ102Z, but the VTD that appeared received the letter TZ102Y. Already after a relatively short time, the company switched to the designations familiar to us TZ1A / TV1A.
In general, the TZ102Y VTD machines were installed on only a few models and modifications - Alcyone (in 1991-1996), Impreza (WRX with EJ20G in 1993-1997), Legacy (2.0 Turbo with EJ20H in 1993-1998).
"For foresters, in general, the distribution does not decrease to 90/10"
Again we refer to the textbook - /Forester Technical Description, MY2003. P-FTB03/ This system can infinitely vary the distribution between 95% front and 5% rear wheel drive to a 60/40 ratio with static weight distribution...
"Which forics have a rear LSD?"
First, about the SF Foresters ( S10) of the domestic Japanese market - the benefit here is clear. The LSD differential was absent on the very only automatic version with VTD - instead, electronic blocking emulation using TCS / VDC worked. On all other cars were equipped with self-locking differentials (type VA2) with a viscous coupling - both on the top turbo versions and on simple atmospheric C / 20s. Therefore, the experiments of right-hand drive drivers with hanging wheels and looking at the bowels of the gearbox through the holes of the plugs deserved respect, but did not make sense.
On SG Foresters ( S11) rear self-locking differentials (viscous) were installed totally, and the most charged even got the front LSD. But on the forics of the third generation ( S12) LSD was no longer used.
"We don't have LSD on S/20 and T/25! We saw everything through the hole!..."
Well, we better look at the Japanese source for September 1998 (hieroglyphs have been replaced with understandable English words). Why it is not visible - see the section on Subaru LSD differentials.
| S/20..............2.0 SOHC NA RearDiff........VA2RF Ident............CF Gear Ratio.....4.444 LSD............Yes (viscous coupling) |
T/25..............2.5DOHC NA RearDiff........VA2RE Ident............BK Gear Ratio.....4.111 LSD............Yes (viscous coupling) |
"Vivio has permanent four-wheel drive, I personally took it apart!"
It is enough to look into Subaru FAST to see the same viscous coupling for connecting the rear wheels for models with CVT (variator) -.
"The Lineartronic transmission is the first continuously variable, chain-type, longitudinally mounted transmission to be installed in a commercial vehicle."
Because of the word "all-wheel drive" saved by Subarovski advertisers, the phrase immediately becomes blatantly false. For the well-known Multitronic variator from Audi-LuK of the 1999 model was built exactly according to this scheme. Subarovtsy borrowed the concept from the same LuK "and, but still organized the power take-off to the rear wheels through their traditional clutch.
"And what about the "honesty" of the drive for the rest of the Subar?"
Indeed, how widespread was the VTD among Subar? It is necessary to make a reservation - the versions of the models for different markets differed. As usual, the North American options are the least advanced, the most - intra-Japanese.
Impreza G12..G22 (2007-2011)
- A-AWD - all versions with 4-AT
- VTD - versions with EJ257 (STi) and 5-AT TG5
Impreza G13..G33 (2011-)
- A-AWD - all versions with TR580 variators
- VTD - WRX STi versions with 5-AT
Legacy B13 (2003-2009)
- A-AWD - versions from 2.0 and part 2.5
- VTD - versions with 3.0, 2.5T, part of atmospheric 2.5
Legacy B14 (2009-)
- A-AWD - all versions with TR580K, TR690J variators
- VTD - top versions with EJ255/EZ36 and 5-AT TG5D
Exiga Y10 (2008-)
- A-AWD - all versions with TR690 variators
- VTD - versions 2.0GT with EJ205 and 5-AT
Tribeca W10 (2005-)
- VTD - all versions
Forester S11 (2002-2007)
- A-AWD - all versions with 4-AT TZ1A..B
- VTD - part of versions with EJ255 and 4-AT TV1B
Forester S12 (2007-2012)
- A-AWD - all versions with 4-AT TZ1B
- VTD - part of the versions (S-Edition version) with EJ255 and 5-AT TG5C
Forester S13 (2012-)
- A-AWD - all versions with variators
"The scanner looked at the signal on solenoid C (percentage of power going to the rear wheels)..."
Why is there still a misconception that by taking the signal shape on the rear wheel coupling solenoid, one can make an unambiguous conclusion about the degree of blocking of this clutch and the magnitude of the torque transmitted back? Let's first look at the part of the hydraulic circuit that relates to the clutch and valve...
That is, firstly, the solenoid is involved in the process very indirectly - the fans have no reason to believe that the relationship between the time of its open / closed state and the pressure that is modulated in the clutch control valve will be similar to a straight line (even the Subarovites themselves sometimes shared variants of such dependencies - prudently avoiding refinements for the y-axis).
Secondly, the "pilot" pressure in the hydraulic system in general (and up to the solenoid "C" in particular) must be constant, while the linear pressure (before the valve) is constantly regulated depending on external conditions (gear, throttle opening degree) - within from 3 to 17 bar. Thus, the same percentage of signal on the solenoid will correspond to completely different values of the modulated pressure on the clutch.
The degree of blocking is a function of one parameter (duty cycle) only for electromechanical clutches. But in Subar, it depends on at least two parameters - the duty cycle of the signal on the valve and the pressure in the system, and the pressure, in turn, is determined by a set of several more conditions.
3. Salons and interiors. Procrustean bed
3.1. Space
Now biased Let's evaluate the consumer qualities of cars with stars on the nameplate, starting with classic models.
Behind the wheel of an elderly Legacy one feeling - closely. The steering wheel clasped by the knees from the side should look piquant, but let's better move the seat back ... Is there nothing behind the chair? No, it's just that the longitudinal adjustment margin is already fully selected. Well, nothing, we will reject the back more strongly and somehow fit. The steering wheel is installed rather low and takes an acceptable position only when it is completely folded up, partially blocking the devices. Closely in the area of the pedal assembly (in general, the lack of legroom is a characteristic feature of the Subaru and even affected the later B13). Of course, the calculation of ergonomics for long-armed and short-legged ("monkey-like") Mongoloid drivers is the standard of most real Japanese cars, but it is fully expressed in Subar. It turns out not a comfortable workplace for the driver of a family station wagon, but some kind of pseudo-racing cockpit. The steering wheel does not interfere with the front passenger, but the range of longitudinal adjustment is also limited, and the margin in width ... We are nothing, but a passenger of a more solid build in winter can put pressure on the driver in the literal and figurative sense. Good in the back seat. It is always possible to fit "by itself" if you do not need to drive in such a position for a long time. It is better to move the front passenger and get behind him - there is plenty of legroom, there is still a margin on top (after all, we have the "high roof" version). In general - maybe not a trade wind, but far from a "chisel". This layout of the cabin as a whole was preserved in the generations B10-B11-B12, in the B13 the margin in length slightly increased, but the modern feeling of spaciousness did not appear, compared to competitors, ergonomics remained archaic.
The Impreza G10-G11 was even tougher with the crew. It always seemed that the 110th Corolla in terms of capacity in its class is very far from ideal, but it was not a problem for Japanese engineers to make an even cramped interior - here the tightness in front is progressing, and in the back ... we’d better not sit down at all - this is a place for jacket and bags. It is clear that someone is normally placed behind the wheel of a vaso-classic and does not beat against the ceiling of a chisel from behind, but objectively there is no place here even for a person of average build.
Forester S10 - if it is built on the basis of the Impreza, is it really that bad with space? Alas, yes - there is more headroom (a normal high ceiling, like all cars of the third wave with a vertical landing), freer in the shoulders (including due to less littered sidewalls of the body), but along the length - complete darkness, a minimum of life space can only be found in the front seats. That is, the first version of the legendary station wagon turned out to be a double. Such claustrophobia was still acceptable in basins in the $0.5-3.0k price range - cheap and cheerful, but it goes. But put up with the same tightness, giving ten times more ... In the S11, it became a little more spacious in front, but the landing was low in a passenger way, not corresponding to parquet canons, and the old torture chamber was preserved in the back.
Ergonomic claims have become less expected for modern models. In 2005, Tribeca appeared - the first Subaru where the driver felt like a person, since all brand flaws and design miracles were compensated by size. The Impreza G12 turned out to be not outstanding in terms of space, but more or less a modern representative of the C-class. The Forester S12 could be considered a breakthrough by Subaru standards - with an almost normal driver's seat (the landing remained traditionally low) and a more than full-fledged rear seat. The Outback B14 was rather disappointing - in a massive long-wheelbase shed with a spacious rear seat, the driver's seat was organized almost worse than in the S12.
3.2. Interior
The fact that historically the North American market was a priority for the Subar has always left its mark on the interior - America, with all its vast and continuous automotive experience, forgives the low quality of materials, oddities in design and ergonomics.
So the quality of the finish has never been a strong point of the Subar. Definitely kind words deserved only velor seat upholstery, which was later replaced by a primitive "cloth". Plastic (both soft and, moreover, hard) has traditionally been low-grade even by Japanese standards - it was clearly worse only in the Mitsubishi of the new time. Interiors apparently reached the pinnacle of workmanship in the first half of the 2000s - and then a decline began in the direction of totally hard plastics. And not just hard, but also with an unpleasant texture - "tarpaulin" or coarse-rough. And the Subarovites reached the intermediate bottom on G13..G33 - we recommend everyone to open and close the doors in them with the help of internal handles on occasion - there were no such sensations even in the basins.
Almost always, we are loyal to pseudo-wood inserts in the cabin - they really enliven even cheap interiors and visually lighten high panels. "Almost" - can be attributed just to those Subars (like B12), where these inserts looked huge and blatantly foreign inclusions (although already in B13 they fit quite harmoniously).
In interior design, the Subaru traditionally lagged behind the Asian mainstream by several years - at least until the second half of the 2000s, this was a drawback. But then the Japanese leaders began a progressive decline in the quality of materials. Salons, quite clearly made from processed plastic bottles and waste paper, have become the norm - if in absolute quality Toyota has not yet fallen to the Mitsubishi level, then in relative terms its fall has become the largest. Pride turned out to be the second unhealthy trend - becoming the number one manufacturer, Toyota believed in the ability to independently set style and ergonomics. And if earlier its own design bureaus at least relied on attracted European professionals, now the “designers” have begun, with unprecedented scope and enthusiasm, to cut a corporate identity with axes to suit the tastes of the company's top Japanese management, sacrificing the elementary convenience of passengers for the sake of a riot of forms. So in some cases, Subaru's inhibited conservatism was beneficial.
3.3. Driving comfort
Vibration isolation from the engine is very good - it is necessary to pay tribute to the not absolute, but still good balance of the opposites. On the issue soundproofing it is difficult to argue objectively - this concept, which in principle is appropriate only in relation to premium segment cars, turned out to be too worn out in everyday life by the reasoning of the villagers, who begin the operation of any bucket by gluing it with centners of bitumen. In general, Subars give the impression of quite noisy cars, regardless of age - at low revs, the gurgling boxer is almost inaudible, but when accelerating, a hoarse roar breaks into the passenger compartment (cars with mechanics behave worse due to higher revs at cruising speed). An all-wheel drive transmission and a box with a longitudinal layout live closer to the cabin, so their activities also do not always go silently. In those days, when glasses were still frameless, they could sometimes rattle on bumps even in the fully closed position.
Level equipment - average for its class and price - they don’t give nickels for a penny, but they don’t save too much either. Although the older cars of the European market sometimes even lacked air conditioning.
There are no complaints about cars with serviceable automatic transmissions (even 4-speed ones). Mechanical ones, in addition to additional unnecessary work of the driver, have their own drawbacks. The clutch is very tight and at the same time too long-stroke, with an indistinct actuation moment (a kind of "hysteresis", even when installing a new disk and basket) - thanks to Japanese engineers, when driving through city traffic jams, the muscles of the left leg sway before our eyes. As usual with Subaru, the question arises - "why?" To once again emphasize the brutality and sportiness - even if it is a heavy family station wagon with a modest engine? In the liability of the mechanical box there are also too short gears - firstly, you often have to wield a lever, and secondly, in fifth gear at a hundred kilometers per hour, the revolutions exceed 3000 - therefore it is too noisy even at cruising speed (and the motor has a long "firebox" when driving on the highway is not good).
pendants - as a rule, not bad - long-stroke, moderately elastic, quite hardy. Of course, they do not provide "renominal" comfort, but they do not shake out the soul, like many modern SUVs. And it is highly desirable to keep them in perfect working order, otherwise the rear passengers turn green quite quickly with a characteristic lateral buildup on bumps.
With the geometry, things are fine, with the exception of long front overhangs, although leaving the asphalt or driving onto the curb is contraindicated in principle for “tuned” turbosubars in body kit. A serviceable four-wheel drive by the standards of the class works very well, coupled with good ground clearance and large wheel travel, providing decent cross-country ability.
So, what can be said about comfort in general? Machines of generations B10-B12, G10-G11, S10 were not adapted for operation by people of average European build in principle. Generations B13, G12-G13, S11... can conditionally be approved for operation if the owner's anthropometric data is met. Generations B14, S12-S13 can already be considered not ideal, but full-fledged cars.
4. Reliability. Sun Tzu's recipe
Here it is necessary to give some lyrical digression about the assessment of the reliability of cars in a historical context.
In the 90s, the country did not yet know other foreign cars, except for second-hand ones - the West ate up from the European table, the Far East alone cleaned up Japanese cuisine. The cars that came to the Russian Federation were already entering the age of maturity (both in age and mileage), but it was thanks to this that it was possible to objectively evaluate their real reliability, durability, and maintainability. Just then, concepts were formed about the reliability of cars of different Japanese brands - relatively speaking, if Subars began to show their illnesses at the age of 8-10 years, let it not crumble, then for Toyota, the 10-12th years became critical (under certain average statistical conditions exploitation). In addition, the entire Subar lineup fit into the framework of two passenger classes, while Toyota (and not only them) had much more durable E-class rear-wheel drive vehicles and full-fledged SUVs. Corrosion resistance was assessed in a similar way - Subars rotted almost faster than reference Toyotas and rather stereotyped (for example, a favorite feature of station wagons - one not very fine day, the rear pillars fell into the trunk through imperceptibly rotten wheel arches). The repair of the oppositionists required higher qualifications and an attentive attitude - with the obvious senselessness of such a decision where the rest used no less reliable, but much less demanding rowers. The only positive thing was perhaps the provision of spare parts - with a minimum of models, almost all modifications had analogues in the foreign and domestic markets, so there were fewer problems with duplicate or contract spare parts than when repairing those right-hand drive Toyotas that did not have direct left-hand drive analogues.
In the early 2000s, right-hand drive cars began to expand to the west, which radically surpassed the previous "Euro-Japanese" both in price and quality (due to age and significantly lower mileage). Together with the unfolding supply of models of the American market, they have practically exterminated the offer of European used cars. And closer to the mid-2000s, a boom in sales of new cars began, gaining maximum momentum before the cliff of 2009. Suffice it to say that in the early 2010s, the Subar fleet in the Russian Federation was about 200 thousand cars, of which about 80 thousand were dealerships, officially sold in 2005-2010. It is also necessary to take into account the arrival of several tens of thousands of fresh right-hand drive vehicles over the same period - elderly Subars simply dissolved in this sea, and in a completely natural way, with an increase in the proportion of new and serviceable cars, Subar reliability indicators began to improve dramatically.
At the same time, older cars, especially in a mediocre condition, began to be actively dumped into an increasingly remote province, where there was no one to follow the further ups and downs of their operation and repair. The owners have also become more practical - talking publicly about their problems does not bring any practical benefit, but it scares away potential buyers. Ready-made solutions to standard problems can be successfully obtained using search engines or clarified through private - so today, even on specialized model forums, it is customary to "filter the market", not to warm up the statistics of breakdowns and in no case merge serious negativity into reviews.
Well, simply invaluable help in improving the relative assessment of the quality of the Subar was played by Toyota. Its technological breakthrough happened in 1998-2002 - from that moment on, all Toyota innovations led only to a drop in quality. The Toyota team took on the modernization of classic assault rifles - their resource fell at least twice. They took on direct injection - the engines choked on gasoline in the crankcase or waved torn off connecting rods. They took up the modernization of the perfectly working all-wheel drive of passenger models - and only cruisers remained really all-wheel drive in the line. They took up the introduction of "economical electric amplifiers" - and campaigns for various knocks in broken columns and rails were stretched for ten years. They took up innovative materials and eco-friendly paints - and the body iron was no longer covered in the places of defects with a light coating of protective oxides, but at the slightest provocation fell off with flakes of banal rust. They took on new series of engines - both ZZ with oil burnout and AZ with torn off heads were part of folklore. They took on robots - and failed on a par with other competitors. We took on the variators ... - you can list for a long time, especially if you move from systems to components and parts. The only thing that saves the owners is the still free import of spare parts (which figures from the "Association of European Business" and other communities of monopolists dream of slamming) and the relative freshness of cars that have not yet managed to massively approach the age of "flowability".
Against this background, it was enough for the Subarovites to simply do nothing - and see how the quality of Toyota, drowned under the weight of the latest technologies, floats by. However, they also did not remain in place - since 2009, an accelerated transition from classic automatic machines to CVTs began (although nothing prevented moving, for example, to 6..8-speed automatic transmissions with the Subarovsky longitudinal layout), from 2010 from EJ engines to the new FB series.
In general, since the second half of the 2000s, one has to take as the upper reference point when assessing reliability ... HMC products - Koreans (of course, we are talking about Hyundai and Kia, and not SsangYong or GM Korea crafts) have finally reached the level of reliability of the best Japanese of the past, and are just beginning to fall into their own "technological revolution".
5. Opposites. Mighty heart?
5.1. In a conference format
"Subaru engines are a masterpiece"
It is quite possible, if we recall the origin of the very concept of "chef-d" oeuvre "- an exemplary product. But the samples can be different - high quality and unreliability, practicality and stupidity ... Alas, Subar's engines fit into a variety of categories.
"Subarovskiy boxer is very compact"
If you take a closer look, it turns out that the Subarovsky engine is not "compact", but simply relatively flat and symmetrical - it is evenly "smeared" over the engine compartment. According to the law of conservation of matter, a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine of a certain working volume cannot be less than certain dimensions. The engine plate is indeed short (half-blocks of two cylinders standing with some ledge) and flat (the thickness of a conventional engine with manifolds plus a pan), but very wide (two heads and two half-blocks). So, if you put two single-volume vehicles side by side, in-line and boxer, it remains to be seen which of them will be "more compact".
"Subaru engines are used in aviation"
And how does this testify to the exceptional qualities of Subarovskih engines? In light aviation, BMW and VW engines are also very common, but for some reason fans of German cars do not use this argument in disputes. Subaru's "aviation" advantages are in the layout, good weight return and ... the price of a used unit - when there is not enough money for a high-quality specialized motor, anything will do. But it’s enough to put some proven Lycoming next to it, without bulky liquid cooling, without a gearbox mandatory for an automobile engine, capable of delivering power close to maximum for an incomparably longer time, with a solid overhaul life and at the same time structurally simple ... Then it becomes clear that it makes little sense to be proud of the applicability of car engines in aviation - everyone should mind their own business.
"Opposit is absolutely balanced"
Only the motors of the R6, B6, R8, V12 layout are fully balanced. The boxer four B4, alas, does not fall into this list. The B4 has some advantage in terms of vibration loading, but there is no radical difference with the usual inline four - one has unbalanced second-order inertia forces, but there is no free moment from them, the other has a moment, but the forces themselves are balanced.
In the 90s, it was impossible to catch this difference in practice - at normal idle speeds, in-line fours worked just as well. The vibration problem arose only with the advent of new series of Toyota engines in the 2000s, with idle speeds reduced to the limit and a "hard" combustion process (primarily AZ with direct injection). We can say that against their background, Subarovskie boxers at the same speed are generally devoid of vibrations.
"Perfect axle weight distribution"
In fact, advertising has always been about symmetry with respect to longitudinal axes. As for the weight ratio on the front and rear wheels - on the contrary, the Subar layout complicates things - the longitudinally opposed engine is entirely located in the front overhang, the transmission is closely connected to it. And one can only imagine the titanic efforts of the Subarovites, sometimes pulling out the weight distribution up to 56:44 with such an overweight bow. And the long front overhang also imposes restrictions on geometric cross-country ability.
Plus, the design of the gearbox is unnecessarily complicated - the power flow diagram with a "matryoshka" of three concentric shafts and its iron incarnation are a curious sight. And if automatic machines do not cause any complaints up to a certain age, then Subar mechanical boxes are in steady demand (in the form of contract spare parts) - not every copy survives two clutch sets without repair, even when paired with "vegetable" engines. It is easy to guess how long the almost unenhanced transmission lasts, receiving a kick of 350 Nm from the turbo engine against 200 - "a drop of nicotine kills a horse, and a hamster is torn to pieces".
"...and have a low center of gravity, which provides amazing stability and control at high speeds"
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First and foremost - the famous "low-center-of-gravity engine" does not mean a low center of gravity of the car. Heights of the centers of mass of the boxer and in-line engines they differ by a maximum of ten centimeters (actually, less, who remembers the course of the internal combustion engine - will confirm that in a row man he usually stood a little more from the crankshaft axis than by the height of the crank), the mass of the gasoline engine does not exceed one and a half centners with a total car weight of one and a half tons . Considering that Subars have one of the largest clearances in their class, any car of the same mass with a traditional engine, which has less than 15-20 millimeters of ground clearance, will have a lower center of gravity.
Considering the influence of the height of the center of mass on the amount of roll, we must not forget that the entire sprung mass (slightly less than the total mass of the car) makes vibrations, so the influence of the engine here is also measured in percentages. But the characteristics of the suspension become decisive - the stiffness of the springs, shock absorbers, stabilizers. But civil Subars belong precisely to the category of cars with a long-stroke and not too stiff suspension - in any case, incomparable with the clamped SL / LM, VAG, CA30.
The heartbreaking picture shown in the advertisement could have taken place only when compared with some trophy all-terrain vehicle on breaking skating rinks, but not with a sideboard (which, judging by the outline, the Subarovites had the audacity to hint at). But the funniest thing is that the S12 forik is depicted as an ideally stable Subaru, which is considered one of the most rugged SUVs in modern history.
5.2. "Weaknesses" of Subarovskih engines
Cylinder geometry is subject to a curious feature - when the hone grid is in order, and the cylinder is already turning into an ellipse. However, surprises can always be expected from aluminum blocks with cast-iron sleeves having different expansion coefficients, and even with an open cooling jacket. The methods of "presale preparation" of such specimens are noteworthy - from spacers in the cooling jacket to knurling on the piston skirt, which temporarily masks the anomalous gap.
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The second mechanical trouble of the Subarovsky opposites is accelerated wear pistons - basically the notorious fourth cylinder. With timely intervention and some luck, you can only get rid of the engine bulkhead with the replacement of pistons (if the cylinder has not gone into an ellipse and retained the hone).
Oil consumption
knocked down engines regardless of age - in the same queue to the doctor were old cars from the first wave of foreign cars, and people from car dealerships still smelling of fresh plastic. The very horizontal position of the cylinders also contributes to the frenzy here, in the presence of a turbine and it does not refuse its share, and, of course, the disease of the occurrence of rings is standard (and for all EJ205 this is not even a disease, but a kind of maintenance component). And try definitely measure the level of engine oil on a single unfamiliar Subaru. Happened? What about the back of the dipstick? And if the car roll back three meters to the side? Yes, it's a Subaru! Well, what didn’t burn out, it ran away: oil seal leaks and “sweating” of covers are a generic feature of boxer engines.
The new engines were especially interesting. FB series. For them, waste up to 200 ml per thousand is not considered critical even according to popular notions, and some Russian owners with a consumption of up to 1000 ml have already gone for a warranty replacement of the unit. By the way, as mentioned above, in the Russian Federation they prudently try not to talk about the features of operation, but the naive US subarovods cut the whole truth. Among other things, there are also systemic reasons here - for the sake of maximum efficiency, the manufacturer introduces piston rings with low "preload", super-fluid oils (like regular 0W-20), plus, the FB has a significantly increased piston stroke compared to EJ, respectively - and its speed, which means that the conditions for oil removal have worsened.
Against this background, the rest can no longer be attributed to shortcomings, but to design features.
A small note regarding the oils used - "0W-20 and others"
Mass air flow sensor
becomes covered with dirt or fails on machines of any manufacturer. Alas, the good old MAP sensors are a thing of the past.
EGR - senseless and merciless for gasoline engines, causing only abundant fouling of the entire intake tract, including the throttle valve.
Unification . At correct repairs are somewhat annoying with the number of engine versions and the almost annual appearance of new modifications - given that the company has only four main models. For example, who can remember how many engines installed on the Impreza - 3..5? But in fact there were already more than a dozen of them, at least in fifty modifications.
timing belt
it is conveniently located on the opposite side, however, “the elbow is close, but you won’t bite” - it runs around a lot of pulleys and rollers. If the SOHC option with a minimum of attachments is no problem, then DOHC should be treated with more care, not to mention DOHC motors with AVCS (phase change system). Everything would be fine, but valve
... When the timing belt breaks, they meet the piston (or each other) and bend on almost all motors.
On the FB series, the issue with the belt was decided radically - by installing two timing chains.
Crankshaft journals . It is easy to guess that the 4-cylinder boxer organically assumed the presence of only three crankshaft bearings, but that was in ancient times. In order to increase rigidity and slightly reduce the load, Subarovtsy increased the number of supports to five, but, as in the old parable about ten hats from one skin, miracles did not happen. The necks here still remained narrow, therefore, in comparison with rows, the specific load and wear are higher, and at the same time, the requirements for equipment have increased significantly if they need to be regrinded.
hydraulic lifters - until about the middle of the 90s, Subaru enjoyed great honor, but then common sense prevailed and the pleasure of pumping a dozen and a half "mushrooms" in a bowl of kerosene was not available to everyone.
crankcase ventilation . It is difficult to recall engines where its clogging just as "quickly and efficiently" led to a service. If an ordinary motor at least tries to puff, spit oil into the air filter, knock out a dipstick, then the Subarovsky opposite with gloomy samurai persistence will immediately begin to squeeze out the oil seals.
Assembly
gutted opponent is an epic picture. Correctly clamping the crankshaft between the half-blocks is not to fasten the yoke. Well, to combine a hole in the piston, a hole in the connecting rod and a special hole in the block, put a piston pin there and “polish” everything with a retaining ring - this is a song (for the middle piston of a six-cylinder EZ boxer - a poem)! Okay, be it a racing monster of three hundred to five hundred forces - such sophistication can be forgiven for him. But when does any "vegetable" buzzer require the same labors?! - the sanity of Japanese engineers and their supporters is a big question.
You don’t have to remind that for more or less serious work on mechanics, the engine must be removed from the car (and the DOHC engine is a must). The Subarovsky boxer, of course, is removed easier than any in-line motor - only in most cases this in-line engine would not have to be dismantled at all.
Radiators mass flow from any Asian automakers. There is a feeling that plastic radiator tanks for Japanese and Korean cars are driven by the same scumbags, with the same violations of the technical process or design. And all possible assistance to them is provided by the Russian public utilities, inventing the most vigorous compositions of anti-icing reagents.
One thing you can’t help but praise the old SOHC Subar engines for is the accessibility of the intake tract and fuel system. And the fuel filter? Not Toyota, with forever soured nuts and hidden deep in the bowels of the engine compartment, but easily accessible, on hoses and clamps.
"Is there anything else on the new boxers?"
Elapsed series engines Facebook, of course, have not yet been revealed. In addition to the above "oil burner", there are several minor sins behind them:
- Chattering, sewing-machine-like, left-head valve timing (produced before early 2011) - the result of an unsuccessful rocker support design - replacement of the head, intake camshaft, intake valves and support with rocker assemblies is recommended.
- Knocking in the first seconds after a cold start (engines of the very first series) - the tensioner of the left timing chain did not have time to operate - it is recommended to ignore or replace the tensioner.
- Freezing of the line of the fuel vapor recovery system.
- Instead of stock (produced before the beginning of 2012), "improved" valve springs appeared - longer and with an uneven winding pitch - when opening the engine, it is necessary to replace them in bulk, without mixing new ones with old ones.
- Various oil leaks at the joints on the block heads, at the timing chain cover connector, at the oil pan connector (release before the second half of 2012).
- Malfunctions in the AVCS system (changes in valve timing) (release before the second half of 2012) - it is recommended to change the AVCS control valves to victory, and if necessary, the sprockets.
- Problems with misfiring, erratic idling or poor starting due to incorrectly set gaps when installing camshaft position sensors.
5.3. "Engine - millionaire"
The fantastic resource of Subarovski engines is nothing more than a beautiful legend. Moreover, they are very, very different ...
"Normal"
The old small engines (EJ15#, EJ16#, EJ18#) are not "millionaires", although they are quite efficient and reliable - decent engines for the same old C-class cars. From the point of view of the manufacturer, unification with the big brothers is understandable, that's just ... Well, why does a normal person need a modest motor of a wild layout, where even two block heads and "features" of servicing oppositions are attached to one and a half liters.
"Optimal"
The best Subar engines from a technical point of view are two-liter SOHC (EJ20E, EJ20J, EJ201, EJ202 ..). Here, some problems were at least compensated by the return, and the resource and power were in a reasonable balance - in terms of reliability, they were not inferior to the classic Toyota fours of the same volume. Designed for the 92nd gasoline, they had a moderate appetite, and although they delivered a lot of "pleasant" minutes during repairs, they were very simple to maintain. At 200-250 thousand run, they required a standard bulkhead with the replacement of rings (without boring), after which they received a "second life".
"Medium"
Two-liter naturally aspirated DOHC EJ20D, EJ204 ... engines are actually the last engines that had a real margin of safety, but four camshafts for four cylinders are still too much. Maintenance, of course, was difficult (when installing the timing belt, the probability of an error is several times higher, changing the candles is already a problem, all work on the mechanical part is only after removing the engine), but fortunately it was required infrequently and mostly planned. A positive feature of these engines was a very moderate fuel consumption.
"Trash"
First of all, these are turbo engines. But why rubbish? They fulfill their task - to give everything with maximum tension and ... "exhaust themselves." If the operation of the type "fixed - driven - for repair" is chosen consciously, then there are no questions. But for a "civilian", and even more so for an everyday car, they are not suitable, therefore, hopes to get both a powerful and tenacious engine are naive.
EJ20G, EJ205 - basic turbo engines with a resource of 100-150 thousand. Here are just a "revival of the bulkhead", similar to at least atmospheric Subarovskim engines, does not always work. Usually, turbos end their days with decommissioning - after a broken connecting rod, destruction of pistons, emergency wear ...
EJ20K, EJ206, EJ207, EJ208 - turbo monsters... and non-residents, for whom 100 thousand would be a great result. Often these cars are already killed by the first owner - of course, that the Japanese scumbag paid twenty or thirty thousand for his crazy stool not so that it would gather dust in the garage, waiting for its buyer from cold Russia.
Secondly, the DOHC EJ25 # engine is certainly remembered, the most problematic Subarovsk aspirated engine - due to inevitable overheating. In stock for this engine it would be nice to have a box of gaskets, a rack of heads and a surface grinder for regular editing of warped planes. After it was discovered that such a motor could no longer be actively released to the foreign market (they would sue), deformed SOHC variants also appeared. But they did not avoid massive problems with the violation of the tightness of the gas joint. So in any case, Subarovskie 2.5s are much more capricious than their 2-liter counterparts.
"Motors 2.5 got very hot, but in 99 this problem was officially recognized and solved"
Heard, heard... Do you remember how exactly and what exactly you decided? That's right, instead of the EJ25D DOHC suffering from overheating, the cars of the foreign market received a low-powered EJ251 / 2 SOHC (150-156 hp versus 175 - the EJ25D-DXDJE gave out so much in 1997). But in the domestic market, the successor to the EJ25D, called the EJ254 DOHC (167 hp), was still installed. That is, FHI did not overcome the problem, but decided not to give a reason for complaints to the Western owner demanding technology (not only in the states, but also in Europe - where it is simply stupid to complain about the mentality of the owners and the quality of gasoline).
"And there were never EJ252 engines at all"
We learn materiel. For example, the EJ252-AWAWL engine was installed in 1999-2001 on the Legacy of the American market.
"Why didn't they say anything about the cost of repairs?"
Is it worth it? The repair price is no longer determined by design features, but by an individual approach. The requests of a particular master, his honesty, where and what spare parts are taken, how much, in the end, the engine is screwed up ... As a result, the spread is huge - from more than the budget 300 for the bulkhead of the good old 2.0 ) up to 2000 for the behavior of the EJ254 heads and a record 3500-4000 for the repair of the turbocharged Forester unit in the "all inclusive" category (in mid-2000s prices).
Outcome? If Subaru engines really were as good as they sometimes say, then they would not have typical problems for others and would not have specific ones, but alas ... Subars are usually equipped with more powerful engines than other Asian cars of the same class - this is their only real advantage. But the main contradiction lies in the fact that only "vegetable" boxers are quite reliable and unpretentious, which do not demonstrate any advantages and advantages over traditional engines from other manufacturers, while motors that are more cheerful in nature have an initially smaller resource, and even get into the secondary market in an unattractive condition.
6. Sports glory?
Subaru is shrouded in a "halo of military rally glory" to the very roof - just remember the official advertising of the early 2000s. The imprint of the championship lies on all legacies, foresters and even Vivios, and even the Impreza, by definition, is considered the driver car of all times and peoples. Let it be one and a half liter, you just need to attach a fake false nostril to the hood, an exhaust nozzle and yellow caps to the wheels ...
But how fair is all this? Here are the cars of the WRC champions from the very beginning (there was no personal classification in 73-78):
| Individual offset |
| Audi (VAG) | 1983, 1984 |
| Citroen (PSA) | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| FIAT | 1980 |
| Ford | 1979, 1981 |
| Lancia (FIAT) | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 |
| Mitsubishi | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Opel | 1982 |
| Peugeot (PSA) | 1985, 1986, 2000, 2002 |
| Subaru (FHI) | 1995, 2001, 2003 |
| Toyota | 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| VW (VAG) | 1986, 2013 |
| Team standings |
| Audi (VAG) | 1982, 1984 |
| Citroen (PSA) | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| FIAT | 1978, 1979, 1980 |
| Ford | 1979, 2006, 2007 |
| Lancia (FIAT) | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 |
| Mitsubishi | 1998 |
| Peugeot (PSA) | 1985, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Renault | 1973 |
| Subaru (FHI) | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Talbot | 1981 |
| Toyota | 1993, 1994, 1999 |
| VW (VAG) | 2013 |
It was Subaru that most aggressively presented its racing merits, making them the main motive for advertising until its own departure from the championship. However, when evaluating brands by success in rally battles, PSA has more reasons to be proud, then FIAT, MMC and Toyota, and only then FHI. Similarly, with the "constructors' championship" - the titles of FIAT and PSA look several times "no worse" than that of FHI. So, gentlemen, sub-builders, "why, if you are so smart, then so poor"?
And it’s not worth once again starting about the “only truly serial sports cars”, about the sluggish cabal in the production class between the WRX and Evo ... Everyone understands that the Subaru sports program and the entire array of related advertising were built on team success in the absolute and were aimed not at piece sales of poems, but at composting the brains of future owners of legacies, outbacks and foresters.
7. Subaru ideology?
Let's decide right away on the issue of front-wheel drive Subaru - it was worth putting up with the "features" of this brand, forgiving them for all-wheel drive and horsepower. But the purchase of a low-powered and raking stool with only two wheels with all the specifics of the maintenance of a subar can’t be explained otherwise than insanity.
Initially, Subars honestly occupied their own niche in the Russian Federation - if you really needed a four-wheel drive car left hand drive, then you had to choose only between Audi and Subaru - and more often in favor of the Japanese. But for those who were satisfied with the right-hand drive, Subars were no longer so attractive - there were cars cheaper, more reliable, simpler ... An adequate driver had enough aspirated 100-150 horses and almost all-wheel drive - and there were a lot of worthy competitors. After all, not everyone needs a bright and short-lived turbo monster.
Well, since the 2000s, the era of SUVs began, and the first sprouts of 4WD appeared in the left-hand drive passenger segment ... something all-wheel drive became available under almost any brand - if only funds allowed. After that, the halo of the legend around the Subaru finally faded away.
"The lack of comfort is compensated by amazing handling and stability at exorbitant speeds!"
It is difficult to disagree with such an understanding of the ideology of charged Subars (except perhaps too much about really "outrageous" speeds). On a crazy stool is not too nice ride, but it's so convenient to play tag on a slippery road, it's so convenient to embroider in a dense stream, it's so convenient to check the maximum speed of cornering on ice ... "In a critical situation, the Subara helped out" - well, of course - where the driver of an ordinary car drives quietly, there is a search adventure deliberately provokes a critical situation. Whether he gets away or not is his own business, but by exploiting their cars on public roads, these racers pose a danger to others.
Perhaps, a turbosubara is precisely a machine of aggression, designed not so much for driving, but for self-expression of its owner in front of other road users. After all, some power reserve turboimpreza does not at all serve for comfortable "devouring autobahns", no, the owner of this crazy stool, squeezed in a cramped and shaking cabin, with a roar from a non-standard exhaust pipe, the diameter of which is inversely proportional to the volume of the owner's brain, revels in his only dignity - "I'll tear everyone -y!"
What has changed over the years? Unless the "racers" of the 2000s have matured, but looking at the social, and most importantly, the national composition of the grown-up shift, you can only make a facepalm and go to choose a bigger and heavier car for yourself. And the roaring Imprezas, although they continue to embroider in the city stream, now look like pale shadows of the past - with the advent of a mass of charged stools and with an increase in the power supply of middle-class cars, Subaru has lost its power monopoly. Not to mention the fact that from above this fuss is looked with pity by numerous premium SUVs and premium SUVs that combine bad power with a sufficient level of comfort.
From the responses to the article by subarologists:
Read the original article. Why "rage"? In fact, almost everything is correct (the form of filing is only specific, with a PR slope). About vriks and forik (almost half a year traveled) everything is correct. And about the place, and about the interior decoration and about the "turbo kick" and about the engine wash. I disagree about the noise level. I didn’t notice anything like that (in fact, it’s much quieter than Honda). And about the "charisma" (that is, show-off) of the brand, everything is correct.
Midas [Moscow] (---.fon1.macomnet.net), Date: 05-12-05 17:40
I will join, the article is normal and correct, but the same can be written for any brand of cars.
Alarmes (---.irtel.ru), Date: 06-12-05 16:20
A real article, albeit a button accordion. A lot of truth indeed.
Schtockus, Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:36 am
In general, there is a lot of truth in the article. It's just that, as the German engineers say, the Subaru is a "demanding" car. But, if her requirements are fulfilled on time, she will travel for a very long time ...
Vladimir P. (---.krsn.ru), Date: 08-12-05 03:24
The article is quite balanced and, surprisingly, not aggressive. I myself have been driving a turbosub for the fourth year already ... but it is difficult to argue with many facts and comments there. When I was repairing a box with Sportshift on a pop-eyed Impreza for six months ... I was already angry. But I went ... and I like it anyway!
Kkk (195.68.142.---), Date: 13-12-05 05:21
At the expense of the radiator tanks, I vote with both hands, one has only to add that they are made of a material that is practically unrepairable. Problematic and expensive. And you need to add an expensive service and original spare parts at simply unreasonable prices.
Paparacci, Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:40 pm
And what? In general, a normal text... Whether everything is written correctly, I don’t know, but, in any case, quite objectively (confirmation of this - P.S.). Well, what is with the banter, because the style!
Foma 12/28/2005
Well, in general, the correct competent article! There is nothing to slander here. It is especially correct in terms of naePku with permanent all-wheel drive on Subics with automatic transmission ...
Doktor 78, 30 December 2005 02:56:04 PM
And damn it, you can’t argue that the villains wrote everything correctly! ... I agree with every word of the author and it’s not easy for 3 years of communication with the Impreza 2 GT and one WRX, everything that is written there happened to me and overhauls and other nonsense. But I love SUBI though, and like an old Jew I want another (EVO), but as long as there is no money, I enjoy it.
Ad_, December 30, 2005 05:19:58 PM
Fabulous. I knew almost everything. And only a few facts are new, probably also true. I would also add about the complete inappropriateness of buying a new car from a monopolist ... at a steep price.
Alexis, 27.02.2006, 11:30
Not afraid. A friend of a new turbo forik began to eat a liter almost from the cabin. With a scandal and the involvement of friends, the motor was replaced.
SAR, 30-01-2007
Yes, the approach in the article is normal, indicated in its very title - an article that debunks the myths built around the Subaru brand. And almost everything that is written there has a place to be. And the point of the article is not that Subaru is bad cars, but that they are ordinary cars, with their pluses and minuses, there is nothing supernatural about them. Just one Subaru is not suitable for others, because. different people have different criteria. Well, of course, it is necessary to make an "adjustment for the wind" - namely, the right-hand drive orientation of the author. If we remove from the text the right-hand drive models of Toyota, Nissan, etc., compared by the author with Subaru, and translate it into the "left-hand drive" plane, then it turns out that there is nothing special to compare Subaru with, except for Audi (which the author noted), but Audi is a slightly different price niche.
"And in these outbacks, people go out of town to relax with their families. Why should they go 120?" Quite right. They are "vegetables" as you put it. They don't care about all this controllability. They care about comfort, safety, low cost of maintenance. Therefore, for them (and their vast majority), comparing Subaru with any other brand is quite normal, they see in it only a certain amount of consumer properties for some money. And they do not want to pay for myths and legends. And the speed of cornering on ice is not important to them. It is from the point of view of such a user that the article was written.
Diver, 08/16/2007 8. Resume. And, of course, thanks to all current subarovods for their feedback and constructive comments! So what I wanted to say with this article, is it really possible to "defeat" Subaru? Yes, it will - just from time to time it is worth responding to fans who casually insult all other cars, keeping silent about the spots on their own "sun". They also love to read between the lines... "Don't buy Subaru?" Not at all, let them always take them and the more, the better - maybe the price tags for other brands will not jump up so briskly. After all, we are not dealers or traders from the market, behind every word of which there is only the desire to sell exactly our product. "Does the Subar have bad four-wheel drive?" no, subaru different four-wheel drive. Therefore, it is illiterate to call the abstract "Subaru 4WD" absolutely the best and unique. "Do Subar have bad engines?" It is useful to always imagine the variety of these motors - good and different, because the concept of "repair of the engine of my forik cost $ 3.0k" also defines some requirements for the owner. "Subar owners are inadequate?" Why generalize so much? But there is nothing particularly surprising - if a Subaru of all other brands was offered maximum horsepower for a minimum of money, then it was these cars that attracted the most inadequacies.
... the article, although somewhat cynically written, is essentially correct and honest
