Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Subaru XV Crosstrek

[Autos_Editor]

For the truly outdoorsy.
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[tazcubed]

I can't see the reason for attaching the car to the tent - you just end up with the exhaust fumes in the tent. I wouldn't try sleeping in the trunk of the XV.  I remember that the Aztek (yes, that one) had extras like this. It would be a toss up as to whether to go for the XV or the hatchback Impreza. Personally, I'd rather go for the Impreza but am holding my breath for the Levorg with more trunk space. I'm unsure I'd want to get the larger Outback.

[JacobBlack]

The vehicle sleeve actually seals around the hatch really well and outside of where the exhaust runs and the material around it is super-thick - so I don't think fumes would be an issue.
Having said that - why would you run the car while you're set up with the tent?

[mrthompson]

The vehicle sleeve actually seals around the hatch really well and outside of where the exhaust runs and the material around it is super-thick - so I don't think fumes would be an issue.
Having said that - why would you run the car while you're set up with the tent?

To make use of the heater or AC?

 

[JacobBlack]

To make use of the heater or AC?
 

Oh. Der.
Yo soy boludo.
 

[Weels]

Hm. The Black's stole our Crosstrek when I wasn't looking.

I've whined about this before, but I'm doin' it again.  The CVT has become a regular annoyance for me, (me only, my wife is oblivious to it)

The CVT does it's job of maximizing efficiency, but its behavior with AC on is aggravating.  With it on, the CVT is even more eager to drop revs -- resulting in you pushing the go pedal harder which = the loud groan MWUUUHHHHH... and it wanting to lower the RPM ASAP.   Frustrating to the point I want to stick a For Sale sign on it.

There really isn't much point matting the gas either -- it to me feels more responsive at part to mid throttle.  It does deliver the goods with f/e though.  The 2.0L is adequate, but this thing would be soooo much better with their 2.5 under the hood.

Now, where's my f'ing sports car.

Oh - and $399 for that tent seems a helluva good deal, no?

[quadzilla]

Oh - and $399 for that tent seems a helluva good deal, no?

 

[Weels]

Oh - and $399 for that tent seems a helluva good deal, no?

 

Ah, I'm a tent dummy - I figured that would have a higher price tag

[carcrazed]

Oh - and $399 for that tent seems a helluva good deal, no?

 

Ah, I'm a tent dummy - I figured that would have a higher price tag

I just bought a Coleman 8-person tent for $83 at Home Depot.  $399 seems too high after my purchase.

[Noto]

For my upcoming AB/BC trip, I'm shelling out for this:
http://www.mec.ca/product/5027-702/mec-wanderer-ac-2-tent/

...at $269, it's not cheap...and it's small...but it's a much, much better tent than one that can be picked up for $83.  My other tent is a Yanes Agis 6:
http://yanes.ca/en/family-tents/aigis-6/

...it's 16.5lbs, compared to the Mec one that is (a still porky) 8.4lbs.  Both fold up into near nothingness compared to that behemoth!!!



Jeebus.

Hm. The Black's stole our Crosstrek when I wasn't looking.

Nah, yours is a Limited, while the Blacks got a Sport.  Though yes, both are the same (lovely) colour.

The upgrades to the Crosstrek for 2015 made it a very, very competent car and fixed much of the annoyances.  I don't think the CVT is so much the problem for Brian's, so much as that its underpowered for its use.  If the a/c compressor is on and the car struggles at highway speeds, then, yes, it's underpowered.  Subaru, bring on the 2.5L Crosstrek to compete with Mitsu's RVR, the Fiat 500X/Jeep Renegade, and hell, even the Trax/Encore's power bump out of the 1.4T.  It's time.  It's just frickin' time.

[johngenx]

Compared to the $100-ish tents you an buy at Canadian Tire and Costco, it's expensive.  Compared to Hilleberg tents, it's cheap...

http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/products/red-label/nallo/nallo4gt.php

Or this one...

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/space-station-OU9659.html

[quadzilla]

Compared to the $100-ish tents you an buy at Canadian Tire and Costco, it's expensive.  Compared to Hilleberg tents, it's cheap...

http://us.hilleberg.com/EN/products/red-label/nallo/nallo4gt.php

Or this one...

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/space-station-OU9659.html

What kind of idiot would buy one of those Hilleberg tents. :-[

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

[Northernridge]

I love good tents. Been a while since I camped in one but I used to use a Eureka (decades ago). Can't remember the model but it was one of those green ones with a pretty traditional shape with a curved top – I think that was nearly all they sold. It was perfect for canoe trips and stood up to everything from abuse to harsh weather. Good memories.

These days I'm blown away with the light weight compactness and durability of current tech. The ability to withstand wind and snow loads in such a flimsy contraption is remarkable (true 4-season tents). Even though I don't tent any more I still wonder around the tent section of outdoor stores.

Plus I like the Crosstrek a lot but judging by how many I see driving around downtown Winnipeg and who is driving them, I don't get the feeling that many see the real outdoors.

[johngenx]

These days I'm blown away with the light weight compactness and durability of current tech. The ability to withstand wind and snow loads in such a flimsy contraption is remarkable (true 4-season tents).

Indeed.  I have a full-on 2-person mountaineering tent that can withstand some ridiculously harsh conditions and weighs just 1300g.

What kind of idiot would buy one of those Hilleberg tents. :-[

Evidently only the most idiotic of idiots!   

I really like the CrossTrek, and I think the attached tent thing is cool, but the amount of cargo space it eats up is horrendous.  I'd just take a regular sized tent.

[quadzilla]

Not sure if this was written with sarcasm or seriousness.

Why would you want to attach your tent to your car though? Well, it means you can leave everything in your car and still access it without having to go in and out of the tent, which makes getting changed easier. It gives you access to power and most of all security, so you can leave all your stuff in the locked-up car when you’re not around. We found it handy for getting our daughter changed into her pajamas! Us not traipsing in and out to get her clothes meant she was less inclined to run out in her slippers/bare feet/pajamas on the wet grass.

Isn't that what camping is all about?

Btw, never camp like this in bear areas. You could quickly become dinner.

[JacobBlack]

No you can't. Like I wrote in the review, you can open or close the hatch with the awning up. Hatch closed = no food smells. 
 

[Northernridge]

No you can't. Like I wrote in the review, you can open or close the hatch with the awning up. Hatch closed = no food smells.

You don't know from bears. Maybe you can't smell food with the hatch closed but bears most certainly can. They can also smell where food was.

[JacobBlack]

Still this makes it absolutely no different from keeping food in your car and the tent nearby - hence, is not really a drama in bear country.

[quadzilla]

No you can't. Like I wrote in the review, you can open or close the hatch with the awning up. Hatch closed = no food smells.

You don't know from bears. Maybe you can't smell food with the hatch closed but bears most certainly can. They can also smell where food was.

Northernridge is 100% correct. NEVER takes chances in bear areas.

[JacobBlack]

So explain to me how that's any different to camping in a tent next to your car? #itsnot