I'd gladly pay the $100 parts and half hour labor or whatever it is to put off the much larger bill later on when it really does need replaced. Once you've got the bellhousing off it's what, six bolts to R&R the clutch usually?
nate
I agree. But what does the costumer want?
Is there another Subaru dealership nearby? Maybe you can go there and explain your problems and get you a second opinion.
If you're worried they're treating you differently because you're female, find a male friend (and preferably one who knows cars and can drive a stick shift) to come with you and back you up that there's something wrong.
How about seeing if they have a used 04 Outback on the lot that you can take for a test drive - if it's normal, the other one should shift the same too.
Demand the service manager take your car for a test drive with you in the passenger seat. Purposely park so he has to back out.
Ray
I have been driving manual shift cars for 30+ years. All of them could hang up when shifting into reverse. Since reverse is not synchronized, this is to be expected. The solution was always to shift into neutral, let out the clutch, put it back in again, and re-try reverse. Nine times out of ten, that would do it. Occassionally, it would take another try, or even a third. The Outback may be be prone to this if the reverse gears are cut straighter than other cars.
I have also seen many people have trouble shifting into first, but always because they didn't stop before shifting, and were pushing against the synchros. They struggle, and of course, the car is slowing, and then the shifter slips into first, but they don't relate speed to the shifter action. They think it just finally worked.
If the first gear synchro was worn out, perhaps the transmission design makes it more difficult to shift into first. A clutch that is difficult to fully disengage wouldn't help.
Dan
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