Soon to be 2013 2.5i Owner
 

Hello Everyone, I recently signed my contract for my 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.5i and I had a few questions I was wondering if anyone could help answer before I get it.

I live in NY State and I've heard mixed reports on if I need to rustproof the car.....thoughts?

I got the tweeter kit for my Legacy but was considering getting either a sub or a replacement head unit and sub....the question is does the stock 2.5i stereo come with sub support? I don't need amazing bass, I just want something decent.

I should have the car anywhere from 1-4 weeks as it had to be ordered from Subaru, is there anything else I need to know?

Thanks in advance!

Congrats on the new car. What color?

The harness has always been run for the under seat sub. Don't get it at the dealer, there are many third party vendors that will have accessories for less.

If you can swing it, install a clear bra to protect the paint. I've had one on for almost three years and it has made a huge difference. Do a search on that on the forum and there is some good discussion. Spoiler alert: Those with clear bra = extremely pleased; those without it = pissed at the soft paint and wishing they had installed a clear bra...

Skip the Subie winter mats and get the Weathertech digifit floorliners. If you have kids or the back is used, be sure to get the rears as well. The Subie trunk mat works very well.

Skip the OEM mudflaps; they look ok, but that's it. They don't perform and they leave marks on the paint.

If you don't have them, the OEM fog lights work well and are relatively simple to install. Dealer markup and install fees are crazy insane.

That's a start, for your consideration.

Thanks for the quick reply. I decided on Crystal Black Silica for the color.

I'm honestly not even sure if Subaru "officially" offers a sub on the base Legacy but thanks for the tip. Is there a good vendor that offers subaru specific audio...maybe their own version of an under the seat sub?

I've honestly never heard of a clear bra for the car. How much do they typically cost? Do they cause issues during bad weather?

I skipped the OEM mats and mudflaps but I did order the Fog Lights as I have heard good things about them.

As far as I know Subaru doesn't offer a sub for '13 yet. They changed the sub harness plug.

A clear bra is just a clear coat that can be applied anywhere that the paint may see a lot of abuse. It's practically invisible and not very expensive. Check out xpel.com for an example. I heard of other members using this brand. In bad weather a clear coat bra is your car's best friend.

Congrats! :)

Vehicles should already have their own corrosion protection sprayed on the undercarriage. Don't fall for the dealer "extras" scam of rustproofing or fabric protection.

My uncle works at a Subaru dealer and sold me my 2011 Legacy at just $200 over base cost (he showed me his cost list that he doesn't share with the public). In other words I got a 2.5i Premium model for a 2.5i base price. And he certainly didn't try to push the dealer extras on me. ;)

If you don't get the stock Harman Kardon system which includes a small, cruddy sub (standard for Limited edition or optional for Premium), then you won't be able to easily add a sub. You'd want to change your head unit so that you can run RCAs to an amp for a sub. You could also tack-on an amp/DP that accepts speaker level inputs as well, but audio quality becomes a concern.

Hopefully you didn't pay sticker price? Any ways, before you accept delivery or pick-up of the vehicle, do/request the following:

• Make sure you ask the dealer to NOT include any badges or logos of their dealership on your new car. That includes license plate frames, stickers, or actual, foam-tape mounted badges. Of course if you like that stuff, it's up to you, but I prefer no advertising on my vehicle. ;)
• Schedule the pick up or delivery for an early morning or middle of the day time. You don't want to be rushed at the end of the day.
• Your new car should be clean and spotless. Glossy tire dressing applied, windows crystal clear, interior freshly vacuumed, etc.; all detailing done. Hopefully you can schedule a time during good weather.
• Check the vehicle over really well for cosmetic issues (interior and exterior) in daylight, not in a garage or at night. Also check all functionality, from lights to wipers. Look under the hood to make sure it's clean. Wipe your finger on the wheels near the brakes to make sure they're clean. Don't accept a vehicle that has any sort of scratches or flaws in the finish. If there is a flaw or scratch in the paint or blemish on the interior finish, and it's going to bug you, make sure you have them fix it before you sign off on the car. Don't settle for a "bring it in later and our body shop will take care of it". In short: don't let your anticipation of grabbing the keys quickly distract you from near-perfection of your new vehicle.
• Make sure the mileage on a brand new vehicle is minimal, as in only miles to drive it from one dealership, road testing by the detailing/prep crew, etc. If it has a few hundred miles on it, ask why. You don't want a vehicle that has been shuffled around dealerships too much. And if you do get one like that, ask for a minor cashback or refund. Of course they'll want to refuse that, but your real objective is to use that as a bargaining chip to squeeze some extras out of them like a full tank of gas, service coupons, floor mats (and/or winter rubber mats), etc. Mine had a hundred and some on it since it was shuffled between dealerships a couple times. But that's fine by me since he told me where it has been & how long, since I was getting such an awesome deal, and since I'd have to wait a month more for an order. Expect a little mileage, but not multiple hundreds. Sometimes dealers get to drive the new cars a bit as a perks, so you certainly don't want one of those (reputable dealers will sell those as "dealer" or "dealer pre-owned" cars).
• A good salesman will be there with you to give you a brief tour of the vehicle. From using the stock stereo to operating controls (ie: lights/power mirror/seat controls, hood/trunk/rear-seat latches, etc.). They should also point out all of the service locations such as washer fluid, coolant, and oil fill points. If your salesman doesn't do this, play dumb and ask for the help to gauge their response. It's also funny to see how well they know the vehicles they sell. I never trust a salesman that doesn't take time to make every sale a smooth, painless experience experience. They should help you every step of the way until you sign off on the car and grab the keys.
• Also check tire pressures. I've noticed that a lot of detail/prep people don't always do that on the newer models with TPMs installed. Unfortunately the TPMs are really idiot lights, not accurate pressure gauges. Your tires could be low, but not dangerously low and the light won't be on. Tires on vehicles that sit at dealers or staging lots deflate faster than those on vehicles getting use.
• I'm probably forgetting quite a few more points. :)

Thanks everyone for the replies. I actually got it for a pretty good price, about $20k.

For my sound system I got the stock system but with the Tweeter Kit. I just was considering trying to get a sub though I need some time to really get a feel for it. I just didn't know if the stock sound system even had a connector so I could hook up my own sub easily without replacing the head unit. I guess if I decide I want a sub that it'll have to go that route.

I'll check out the clear bra very soon, it seems like a pretty good idea.

I had heard a few of those things to check at the dealership but not all so thanks for the tips. This is my first Subaru and I am really looking forward to it.

Glad to hear you're happy & excited on your first subie. Post some pictures when you get the car. Congratulations & welcome!

Wow! Thanks minuccims!!! I almost ordered the OEM rubber floor mats today. The weathertech Digital Fits are simply AWESOME!!!. A little pricey, but worth it to protect the carpets from wear and avoid the rainy season musty smell that the carpets always get.

I actually vacuumed my car for the first time when I washed it this past weekend. As I was vacuuming the back seat floor, I found myself loathing:spin: the fact that the kiddos shoes are gonna eventually wear out the carpet at the square corners of the drive shaft hump. The rear "over the hump" design of these mats will prevent that. I am so relieved!!!:)

Welcome dpw2atox!!!! Congrats on the new Subie!

Wow,great timing. They fit so well, I leave the fronts in year round. The rears going across the hump is the best.

From their picture on their site, the Weathertech Digifit looks a bit slippery. Is the actual product made out of that hard plastic looking material as shown?

Does it provide enough traction for easy getting in and out of the car, safely?

The mats are made from a thinner, harder material than the normal Weathertech mats. They are 'molded' and keep their shape. They were obviously made from a 3 dimensional laser scan of each foot well. I have never slipped getting in or out. I have not gone through a winter with them, but I certainly have had no trouble in the rain. The really nice surprise is the rear mats with the connecting tunnel protector. All in all, a class act.

Best.
Byll

What did you order; 6spd or CVT??

Might wanna wait 'till you get it before you start buying accessories. I personally like the two sets of mats my 2012 came with, but I think that was part of the "premium package".

Congrats on the purchase. You'll love it.

Joel

I ordered the 6 speed, right now it's just hurry up and wait. I generally prefer stick and was a bit disappointed that only the base model offered stick.