Options
Subaru Forester (up to 2005)
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Ross
Bob
Tires : the Bridgstones on the L model are ADEQUATE at Best. Handling predictable, traction acceptable. Going to replace them in the spring. (possibly with a 16" tire/wheel deal from Tire Rack).
Long Trips: been in this thing for up to 12 hrs a day traveling. Comfort is great. having a 7 & 9 yr old, there is room for them in the back, had to use the Turtle case on the roof once already, but the roof rack handled this just fine.
Upgrades: replaced the mediocre radio with an AM/FM Cassette/CD from Crutchfield (Sanyo CDX-500). Cost $269 with adapter. Fits where original radio was and leaves storage box below for CD's, and at 45W per channel, OEM speakers sound Good.
Someone Posted a replacement upgrade to rear sway bar, Where and How much, being my trips involve carrying sometimes a few hundred extra pounds in the rear, I AM interested.
Just to prove opinions vary, I have almost the opposite opinion of the Desert Duelers. I thought they were fine in snow, even to the point that they were biased towards foul weather driving, so I swapped to tires designed more for dry handling. If yours were slipping around so badly, I would suggest you practice your driving technique in a snowy parking lot.
Haven't we discussed this before, more than once? The same tires are on the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, and the Toyota Highlander, BTW.
Seriously, if you want to give feedback to a company, you need to be more constructive and less critical. I complained to Domino's corporate because a store would not accept a coupon I had. I was polite and specific, with names, dates, and times, and a "Thank You" at the end.
Guess what? I got 2 free pizzas, a $20 credit at that store, and a promise that my coupon would be accepted next time. :-)
Had I not been polite, do you really think they would have been so thoughtful?
dhd: the longest trip I've taken was about 8 hours. The firm seats pay off, IMO.
It is a little bit succeptible to cross winds, but less so than most competitors, which are even taller.
-juice
On the topic of tires, every car that I have owned has had OEM tires that were less than ideal. I have always chalked it up to a) a concession to attempt to satisfy as many drivers as possible in whatever climate they may be and b) an eye on containing costs.
Just my opinion.
Ron
-juice
Bob
Steve
Bob
Steve
If the holes are all covered, I would just make sure they are sealed well before the rack is reversed and reinstalled.
-juice
Bob
Bob
Manaul tranny models do not, and 1998 automatics do not either. That means Bob's has one, but mine and Ken's don't. Apparently Subaru figured more auto owners would tow.
iSR sells them for all other Foresters for $300, http://www.isrperformance.com/tuning.html.
They also copied my dual-cup holder idea and sell them for $26. Darlene charged $15, boy I miss her!
-juice
BTW, that Forester (off road photos link at bottom) with the 2" lift kit and larger tires looks just about perfect.
Bob
I guess the oil cooler just came with the Phase II engine/automatic combo, I dunno. I heard it will retrofit to any Subie.
I haven't had my thermostat vary at all, ever, nor has it ever burned oil, so I don't see the need, but I did find it interesting.
-juice
Bob
I asked a while back, and Pam said they had to use spacers to fit those huge tires. The lift kit leaves the spring base in place. It actually sits on top of the spring base, and the springs on top of them.
The tires add yet another 1.1", so you have 7.5"+4"+1.1" = 12.6"!
Not really, though. The stock clearance is more like 6.8", but you still end up with 11.9".
The other thing to consider is that it's not a solid axle, so any weight in the car reduces ground clearance, as does bounding/rebounding over bumps.
Still, that's a lot of clearance!
-juice
Though I'm surprised, I would expect to see a tranny cooler before an engine oil cooler. I noticed Mazda includes one in their hitch package for the MPV.
-juice
Maybe, as you say a compromise, somewhere in the middle. Perhaps a 1" body lift with 1" longer springs, riding on 225/60x16 tires?
Bob
The Aussie folks say the Lovell springs are stiffer and handling stays more flat. One guy that did it all did end up rolling his, though he was off road (BTW, it held up so well, not any glass broke at all, and yes he has photos to prove it).
iSR's springs are different, though. I think those with 235/60R16 tires on my rims would make for a nice package, don't you think?
-juice
Bob
Well, I noticed that the Outback wagons were less than I expected, so I decided to testdrive one of them as well. I was quite impressed with the Outback, but think I'd stick with the Forester. I think it's a better value $ for $, and I liked the handling better. I.e., I didn't notice the sway that I felt with the other one.
So, I'm pretty much set on the Forester, which also has the limited slip differential which I think would be nice to have especially here in Colorado's Front Range.
Any Outback aficionados out there who want to voice another perspective, I'd be very happy to hear it.
Kate, are you a long-time Subaru owner? If so, have you been happy with your other Subarus? Thanks!!
d
Long trips: i went to Colorado from Indiana (1000+ miles one way) three years in a row. I have a bad back and I can honestly say the car was great on all long haul drives.
TWRX
The Outback is based on the Legacy chassis, which is slightly larger than the Impreza. Still, it should feel pretty tight handling wise. Some have mentioned that the Legacy GT is Subaru's best kept secret (before the WRX). It doesn't have the raised suspension of the Forester or Outback, but has very good handling.
-Brian
I knew about the engine oil cooler on my '00 w/AT. Short of the moonroof (which, as I'm nearly bald on top, I miss less and less :-( ) and the variable intermittent wipers front and rear, there's not much more from the '01-02's that I miss on the '00. I may still have to try juice's cupholder swap at some point.
Brian is on the mark re the Legacy GT. I was very close to buying an '00 GT wagon (black or green) based on its better ride and lack of body lean compared to Forester and Outback. The Forester's power-to-weight ratio and nimbler handling (being Impreza-based) won the day for me. I am not doing as much rough-roading as I thought I would be so, if anything, the Forester's ride height could be lower for me. Then again, as my parents age I expect I may be easier to road trip to see then rather than fly; as there are still a lot of unpaved, rutted rural roads in their area, having the ground clearance is a plus.
Now that winter is upon us, those toasty seat heaters are appreciated yet again. They're best right when you get in the car in the morning or leaving work in the evening. Put 'em on high and I'm good and warmed up in under 5 minutes. Put 'em on low and it takes maybe 10. Once I'm plenty warm I turn 'em off again. They get me warm even before the heater knocks off the chill. Too bad the GT didn't have them available (does it now?) nor does the US-spec WRX.
Ed
I say if you like the Forester, get that. You are the one making the payments, so you have be happy with the choice. I'm certainly not going to try to talk you out of it. Even if your needs change, worst-case scenario you still have excellent resale value and a long powertrain warranty for piece of mind.
Ed: only the Legacy GT Limited, and that only comes as a sedan. We want heated seats in our next car, and the wife likes torque, so that pushes us into an LL Bean wagon most likely.
Outbacks with the AWP have them, as do OBLtd models, and all H6s. The Legacy gets little attention from Subaru, it's a shame.
-juice
I had you pegged for the VDC; what makes you favor the Bean?
Ed
tidester
Host
SUVs
-mike
The only other problem I have had with this brand new 2002 car is that the front power windows "catch" on something as they come back up. It makes a grinding noise and vibrates the door when the window passes that spot. Anyone else have that trouble? The dealer replaced the motor, but the catch is still there.
Last thing, just beware when you have the oil changed! (or could it be that the transmission was really just a lemon?)
p.s. SOA says they are going to give me a 6 year/100,000 extended "Gold" warranty for my frustration.
P.S.S. If I do decide to trade this car in, what other "mini" SUV would you recommend?
As for other mini-utes... the rest are pretty crappy, try an XL7 or Grand Vitara.
-mike
Good luck
Chuck
Thanks,
Leo
-mike
-mike
I've always called the visous LSD the silly putty diff. No clutches to wear just silly putty.
Chuck
So, open up to facts. This is not Brazil, not Illinois, but a place where it snows....often. I buy what works. If it can be improved, do it. That's our system of capitalism.
Too much for SOA to disclose that their OEM tires are unsafe in snow? That is reality. Blame the messenger....your problem.
Sure, anyone will pay for value, but have any of you read the real world, unbiased reports on these tires? So culties (the juvenile attacks ad hominem offer in return): how about just a disclosure from your Subaru? Tell the consumer that these tires are not made for northern exposure. Period.
I'll leave to your groupfest......not a forum.
You must be really dumb to buy a subaru though, knowing what crappy tires come on them, where else have they cut corners? I mean if they don't put your personal favorite tires on as OEM equipment the rest of the car is just crap right? Grow up, get a life, and spend an extra $500 on the tire *YOU* want on the car.
-mike
PS: I guess that Honda, Mazda and a host of other companies are jeapordizing themselves by putting the RE92s on their cars. God forbid the user be given some responsibility for driving safely. Why don't we sue the car manufacturers everytime someone gets into an accident with their car? Afterall it *must be the car manufacturer's fault since they built the car!
1. Snow occurs in every state of the United States: including NYC, Mike. We had no snow in the Gulf or Nam. Not many other high latitudes don't have some snow. (Double negative Paisan).
2. Read often? Check out the CR reports on testing --real world conditions --on SUV, All-Season, and Winter tires.
3. Look over the online consumer (that is people who buy and use products in the real world) evaluations such as Tirerack.
Still upset? Want to blame the messenger? I thought that this a "forum" for a product?
I take it you discount all the people who have posted saying the RE92s were decent in the snow here. Believe what you want. Don't buy a subaru because of the tires if you like.
-mike
Hmm you are right, but how many snow covered road days are there in any state south of NYC? I've lived in Philly also and they get 2-3 snow days a year, I know people that live all over the country and most of them NEVER have snow so I'm not sure where your facts come from.
-mike
The 1990-1994 Miatas had a working temp gauge, but they indeed went to a dummy gauge in 1995.
caperosier: you're still yelling about hating the pizza (see story above), and that may be why few are listening. IIRC you were offered half credit for the tires, so given they've lasted 27k miles, that's like getting 54k out of the tires, which is remarkable actually. Take the credit, buy a different tire, and move on. Get over it, really.
Frank: I have heard of cheap lube places draining the wrong fluid, but blame them, not Subaru. The tranny drain plug is very clearly on the bottom on the trans, anyone with an inkling of knowledge about cars can figure that out. They probably got lazy and did not take the plastic cover off the bottom, then made a huge mistake.
Kudos to them for stepping up and fixing it anyway, instead of sueing the oil place, and for giving you a free extended warranty. Why trade? Seems to me like they did everything they could.
OK, except for the Geo Metro. That was cruel and unusual punishment! ;-)
-juice
Bought new tires 3 months ago. Do not want "credit" or anything...except:
Now listen, read the lips: "The OEM tires are poor in snow, in slush, in cold rain (most of North America, people). Subaru should disclose to buyers of the Forester that this is the case." Period. No pizza, no gripe, no $$$. We like the car (not Love).The OEM tires are poor products for what Subaru is marketing to most of us.
Why do you not get this? Why didn't SOA even respond (on their site and here)??. Nothing to get over. And it is not a hill to die on. So do not.
So if I understand you right, you want Subaru (and I would assume Honda and Toyota, and any other manufacturer who equips their vehicles with the Desert Duelers) to issue a statement that these tires are poor in wet and snowy conditions, right? I agree that they should do this -- if the tires are dangerous. If they are safe enough, why do they have to report anything?
I guess the bottom line is I'm not convinced that these tires perform as poorly as you claim. To reiterate my first sentence; where's your data coming from?
Steve