28th Jul 2006, 10:23

My 2003 Silverado has the same issue with the reverse situation. It only happens once a month or so, especially in hot weather, but it just will not go into reverse until I let up on the clutch and try it again. It never grinds or anything else, it's done this for the 3 years I've had the truck, and have had no problems with it. So if it is or isn't normal behavior, and if it's doing it for the same reason my truck is doing it, I'd say don't worry about it.

As for the smell I'm not sure, it's kind've hard to give a guess without actually smelling it myself.

As for the stalling issue, you obviously know how to drive a stick, and since you say it's after the point where if you just let out of the clutch the car still wouldn't stall, correct? You may have a fuel delivery problem, I'd suggest taking it into the dealership for an inspection.

To all those saying he/she needs to learn how to drive a stick or buy an automatic, grow up and don't be so ignorant. I have the same problem going into reverse with my truck, and I've owned only manual transmissions for the past 8 years, not to mention a CRX with a stage III clutch, which if you've ever driven a car with a racing clutch in it, you know how those clutches are.

12th Aug 2006, 00:16

I strongly suspect that the car is fine, and your technique driving a manual transmission needs work. Practice smooth, steady (not necessarily slow) release of the clutch with balanced amount of gas. Keep an eye on the tach to get a feeling of what the right amount is. The 'problems' will go away as your technique improves.

13th Aug 2006, 00:13

It's obvious that you don't drive manual cars.

Reverse is a straight cut gear and you will have that problem in all cars. The clutch smell you get is because you are riding your clutch in traffic, as the car gets older and clutch wears a little you won't get it so much. Before you wear the clutch learn not to ride it so much!

18th Aug 2006, 17:35

After driving my 03 Impreza for ages, I just bought my 2005 RS and I have to say that I love it. I recommend driving in a low noise area with the windows down and no music as it really helps a driver get to know their car. I find that most of my friends that drive a manual tend to keeps their Revs a lot higher than they would if they really knew what their car sounds like.

14th Sep 2006, 23:39

I think the original poster doesn't know how to drive a manual or has no clue about Subaru AWD.

My 06 Impreza won't go into rear either, put into 1st or dbl-clutch will solve it. secondly, for AWD, you can't dump clutch to make the car move like 2WD, it won't, and it will sputter or stall. Even though with 1st gear, you have to give it a bit of gas until it really moves, dude, it's a stick with AWD not an auto with RWD/FWD.

4th Nov 2006, 05:12

Your problems all stem from a lack of knowledge when it comes to driving a manual transmission.

22nd Jan 2007, 22:28

I have the same experience as you on all three issues. I traded in a 2002 WRX for a 2006 Impreza 2.5i. The WRX never had the stall problem. The stalling problem in the 2006 car appears to be from a defect in the electronic system used to control the amount of gas from the gas pedal. Apparently the newer models use a gas pedal which is according to the dealer now "electronic" -- no cable (as was the case in the 2002 WRX). The problem has nothing to do with poor driving ability. I can say this with confidence as I have been driving a stick transmission for over 40 years, including several years as an amateur rally car enthusiast. The problem is particularly bad when one is in traffic and the car is either in first or second gear and the air conditioning is on. The car cannot maintain a constant speed and shudders. I think the pedal does not have enough resolution in it. Secondly, the car changes its idle when the air conditioning switch is on. It oscillates on its own. The problem was particularly noticeable recently when I was stuck in a snow storm and found myself going downhill at slow speeds. The local dealer admits there is a problem with this model, but says Subaru does not have a fix at this time. I would like to hear if others have this problem.

2nd May 2007, 14:15

Thanks to all of you who posted helpful comments. We finally received an error code after many visits to the dealer. Replaced an oxygen sensor and it now works like a charm - thus explaining the shuttering and lack of "get up and go" we were experiencing. Car doesn't seem to have near as much of an issue going into reverse anymore - still very rarely does it... so not sure what that means.

31st Jul 2007, 23:41

I own an '06 'preza wagon and have experienced the "rubber/metal" smell a few times. I haven't experienced the smell in a while, namely since I learned to drive stick a lot better. The smell is actually that of your clutch burning. I used to burn my clutch up on a daily basis, but I have learned to drive a lot better.

I also have that same issue with reverse. I have never had it checked out, but have spoken to a friend of mine about it. His tranny does the exact same thing in order to prevent you from accidentally slipping it into reverse while moving forward. Even when you aren't moving, mine takes a little coercion to get into gear.

As for the sputtering, stuttering and other issues: I experience those from time to time when I don't give it enough gas to get a good start or drop the clutch too quickly.

My clutch went out on me today (which seems to be a current problem) and upon calling the dealership, the technician was not surprised at all that my clutch had gone out at 25k miles, I'm hoping that a replacement clutch may solve the stuttering issue, but I'm anticipating the "smell" again with a new clutch.

4th Sep 2007, 14:59

Lets see I have a 05 2.5rs as well. I have all of the same problems I think in all honestly the car is junk. my grandmas goes faster. And you can't even put a turbo on it cause the motor can't handle it. what a pointless car to own. its not because he don't know how to drive stick the car is just junk. I say if you want a car that is fun to drive its not it keep looking.

Mike hunt.

12th Nov 2007, 09:19

The smell in stop and go traffic is because you are riding the clutch - simple. The shuttering in first is because you don't know how to handle an AWD car, especially a Subaru that is built very tight with no play in the driveline, unlike most American crap.

However, I do agree with you that it's hard to get into reverse sometimes, BUT, only when you are going from 1st gear to reverse. If you were in Neutral and then depressed the clutch and went into reverse, everything is fine, but from 1st, you have to give the syncros some time to accommodate before you go into reverse. There are many manual transmissions on the market today that do the same thing, and the whole 1 second it takes before you put it into reverse is actually saving your syncros.