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11-19-2004, 06:48 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 54811
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Southeast PA
Vehicle:2006 Baja Atlantic Blue Pearl |
'05 Baja hard bed cover
So I stopped at Rafferty Subaru (Edgemont/Newtown Square, PA) this afternoon and happened to spot an '05 Baja with the new factory bed cover. Snapped a few camera phone pics. I wonder if holding my glasses in front of the lens would make them less blurry...
The cover sits on top of the bed and has two sections, hinged in the middle. The small front section will flip back and (I believe) rest on the back section, the back section will flip forward and rest against the sport bars. There are two pads on the back section to prevent any marks, you can see these on the back corners. Another look, you can see the two lock covers. (Center back, driver side front.) Each section locks individually (didn't get to look closely at the anchor points) and will prevent the tailgate from opening when locked. So here is the all-important "around the sport bar" section. There is a plate on each side with foam and rubber weather stripping, like other hard tops I wouldn't rely on it to be 100% watertight but it should still provide very good protection. There did appear to be channeling underneath to help direct any water that does get around the cover to one location. There is a seal over the hinge for both sections. Right under the thinner "wing" on the front section that extends to the edge of the bed is a large bolt on each side, it appears that by removing these two bolts you can then lift the whole unit off. Only the front corner plates, mounting brackets and maybe some water channeling would remain I think. Overall impression, I think Subaru has done a good job. It seemed to be lightweight and looked easy to remove, assuming you carry around a 15mm socket. (those two bolts were BIG, don't know the actual size.) I prefer the styling of the Snuglid, a color match that wraps over the edge of the bed rather than this thick black plastic-y looking thing that sits on top of the edges. A sales person has told me that at this time Subaru isn't selling the lid separately. Currently they can't even get the individual parts should something be damaged or otherwise in need of replacement. There has been no kit announced, so once parts are available if someone wants to put one of these on they would need to order everything separately. If you're interested in getting one of these for your Baja, let Subaru know! They've shown that they listen to us by going and building a hard cover, now they just need to make it available to those that have been asking for it. I'm sure there's plenty of '03 and '04 owners (plus future '05 owners, I think this is only available on the turbo?) that will be interested in this cover. -Pow
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11-19-2004, 07:34 PM | #2 |
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Location: Westerly RI.
Vehicle:91 Legacy Turbo Pearl |
Finally!!! They better offer it seperatly since I wanted the option when I bought mine a month ago, and it was in the brouchure.
I'll have to call my sales guy and see whats up. |
11-19-2004, 09:24 PM | #3 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 56726
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Cantonment,FL
Vehicle:2004 Baja Turbo Regatta Red Pearl |
Looks nice,i like it.
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11-20-2004, 08:45 AM | #4 |
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Location: Ellicott City, MD, USA
Vehicle:'09 WRX Prem 5-dr Dark Gray |
I saw one at a dealer this past week too
The bed cover is very similar to the one found on the Explorer Sport Trac. I was told a while back that it would become an optional on other Bajas; but my guess not until the '06 models debut, as this is such a late '05 model debut.
Frankly, while certainly better than anything else currently out there, I really hope Subaru engineers a hard, lockable, roll-top bed cover on the next generation Baja (if there's a next generation Baja). Also, this Baja turbo w/leather is only available in automatic. Bob |
11-20-2004, 08:55 AM | #5 | |
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Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
Quote:
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11-20-2004, 08:56 AM | #6 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5769
Join Date: Apr 2001
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
Location: Ellicott City, MD, USA
Vehicle:'09 WRX Prem 5-dr Dark Gray |
Quote:
Bob |
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11-20-2004, 09:04 AM | #7 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 5769
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Vehicle:'09 WRX Prem 5-dr Dark Gray |
There are two locks on it...
one for the front portion, and one for the rear portion, so it flips open from both the back and the front. I have no idea how hard it is to remove or install.
Bob |
11-20-2004, 08:01 PM | #8 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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I saw one Wednesday on an '05 while waiting for my 22,500 service on my '03 . The parts guys knew absolutely nothing about it. Had a salesguy open it for me. Key seemed to stick and was difficult to turn to open both sections. Called Subaru customer service while I got home. Was told that the covers will be available late January '05.
ferd |
11-20-2004, 11:10 PM | #9 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Arlington, VA
Vehicle:2005 Baja T Atl Blue Pearl |
The manual for the hard cover explicitly states that it is not waterproof and not to put any water-damageable items in the truckbed. Basically, runoff when the cover is opened. In practice, there wasn't much spillage into the bed area. The bed extender does divide the area under the cover perfectly under where the cover folds.
Tools to remove the cover are included with the leather package. They can be stowed with the jack, but were in the glove box during delivery. |
11-21-2004, 10:16 AM | #10 |
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Member#: 66022
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Location: Massachusetts
Vehicle:2005 Baja Turbo Black |
I installed the soft cover last weekend... I'd much rather have a hard cover but I'm guessing that when/if Subaru sells its cover separately it's going to be way expensive.
Last edited by mjalex007; 11-21-2004 at 10:22 AM. |
11-22-2004, 09:45 AM | #11 |
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Vehicle:17 Imp Spurt 00 S2k |
With the amount of snow we get here, I can't wait.
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02-27-2005, 11:37 AM | #12 |
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Member#: 78702
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Waterford, NY
Vehicle:2017 Impreza Premium Island Blue Pearl |
Just saw the hard cover at a local Subaru dealer for the first time today.
I like the way it looks, no, it's not a true hard cover ala fiberglass, but it looks like it will do the job. I like the dual access to the bed, the only thing I don't like too much is the lock covers. They seem to be cheap and not really effective in keeping water and grime out of the lock. Stock up on lock de-icer and WD-40 or graphite for locks. They look to me to be high upkeep items. Overall though, depending on the price, I would buy one! It would suit my needs. If anyone has any updates on price, please let me know. Thanks. Keep it under 90, folks! |
02-28-2005, 11:53 AM | #13 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 59154
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Vehicle:03 Baja Sport silver |
there are some other discussions about this, Subaru says they have no plans to make the new hardcover available as an aftermarket option, the only way you can get it is to buy a new turbo baja w/ the leather package. I keep heckling them about it but haven't gotten anywhere. If you want it, I'd suggest joining the ever growing group of us that is writing them about it.
good luck Jp |
02-28-2005, 01:59 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Vehicle:05 Baja gone Winner best wax job 06WBM |
OK you want to know what I heard.
I have a freind who works for a jeep dealership and asked him to make a phone call about getting a new one for a damaged one. He made three phone calls two dealerships told him to wait till summer and subaru will be releasing it and the third one told him this is the last year of the Baja and it would be 2200 for the part from the factory.. patrick |
02-28-2005, 04:44 PM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 59154
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Vehicle:03 Baja Sport silver |
ahhh, looks like the Baja rumour mill is still churning. I'm getting really tired of getting officious non-replies from that John Mergen (or something like that) at Subaru. "at this time we have no plans to make it available" blah blah blah. I gotta find someone new to bug.
Last email I asked them why, if the Ozzbros can make a cover in their garage, why Subaru can't make one with their vastly greater resources. Probably doesn't bode well for the Baja's continued existence I'd have to guess. Jp |
02-28-2005, 05:50 PM | #16 |
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Please shearch the post and see my thread about the hard cover there my be some arguemnet you can find to use in there also please post your letters so I can recycle them...
patrick John mergen bane to all baja owners |
02-28-2005, 07:23 PM | #17 | |
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Quote:
Hope that's the wrong pricing! Keep it under 90, folks! |
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02-28-2005, 09:14 PM | #18 |
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: bristol pa
Vehicle:2005 sport dark blue |
i am going to be ordering my snuglid this summer and i got a price of 1,079. plus 150 for shipping. also i will be getting the pop open feature. thats an extra 150. so 1,379 total
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03-01-2005, 11:44 AM | #19 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 59154
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Vehicle:03 Baja Sport silver |
I sent another email, this time to the advertising section, because they did advertise the new hardcover in the 2005 Baja brochure. Instead of asking them WHEN it would be available, I asked them WHY it is that Subaru can't get their act together and produce something as simple as a bedcover. I suggested, as I believe, that it is their obligation to provide proper accessories for a vehicle which they sold and which many of us bought. We'll see what comes of it.
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03-01-2005, 01:09 PM | #20 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 59154
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Vehicle:03 Baja Sport silver |
all roads lead to John Mergen
well here's the new reply followed by my original letter, I'm starting to think that John Mergen is the only guy there, note how he not so subtley suggests that how you address your email has little to do with how it's routed:
Dear Mr. Peterson: Thank you for taking the time to contact us. All emails to Subaru of America are replied to by a representative in the Customer/Dealer Services Department. We do appreciate your wish to equip your Baja with genuine Subaru products, which is what we would recommend. We are sorry for this situation. However, as advised, there are no plans to offer the hard bed cover standard on the 2005 Baja Turbo Leather Package model as an optional accessory for the other Baja models. As with your previous messages, your message here will be documented, so that it is reviewed by the proper departments. As we are not aware of future plans, we cannot advise if this bed cover will be available in the future for current and past Baja models. If you need any future assistance, please feel free to contact us again. Best wishes, John J. Mergen Subaru of America, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------------- YOUR ORIGINAL MAIL: I've decided to try a different department to see if I can get a simple answer to a simple question. In the 2005 Baja brochure, Subaru shows a new hardcover and describes it as a late-introduction option for Bajas. Since then, Subaru has been backpedaling saying that it was hard to install and would be delayed and now says it won't ever be available. So my question is WHY Subaru can't build a proper hardcover for the Baja and make it generally available. None of the other available covers (especially the pathetic soft tonneau) are really functional. Most are semi-permanently attached and keep you from having full use of the open bed. The new cover looks perfect and it would seem that a large company like Subaru could iron out whatever glitches it may have. I think Subaru has an obligation to all the Baja owners (even though there may not be that many of us) to make proper accessories available. If Subaru is not willing to be responsive to the needs of the people to whom it sold cars, I will have to re-evaluate my opinion of Subaru, which, up until now, has been uniformly excellent. thank you for your assistance, John Peterson First name: John Last name: Peterson |
03-01-2005, 01:56 PM | #21 |
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Location: Aurora. IL
Vehicle:2006 9-2x Aero 1 of 235! |
You know what that means..... I guess these will start being stolen off of cars sitting on dealer lots. Unfortunatly they arn't that hard to remove
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03-01-2005, 02:08 PM | #22 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 76682
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: WNY
Vehicle:03 Baja Yellow (of course) |
Did anyone ever post the email addres with which to bother this Mr John Mergen? I don't recall seeing it anywhere, I think I will join the fun and email him too....
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03-01-2005, 02:25 PM | #23 |
Scooby Specialist
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What kills me is that my '05 Turbo came very very tonneau-less...
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03-01-2005, 04:32 PM | #24 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 59154
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Vehicle:03 Baja Sport silver |
John Mergen's Email
just go to the main subaru website (subaru.com) and under the "home" drop-down menu at the top there's a option for "contact subaru." I've sent emails regarding parts and advertising and he's answered them all.
happy harassing Jp |
03-01-2005, 05:26 PM | #25 |
Subtly Outspoken
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Chapter/Region:
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Vehicle:OG05 STi 51E |
Really quick...Subaru won't offer this as an accessory...the only way you can get it is from a port installed Baja....You can however order all the related parts to "make" your own...lots of $$$$$....I contacted my dealer rep and wants me to send appologies from Subaru to Fellow Baja owners....
Bill |
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