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Comments
I would have to manually shift back to N and then D several times to get the transmission to engage again. I found it to be very disturbing and dangerous considering the heavy traffic I drive in daily.
SoA said it was a manufacturer defect in the Mitsubuishi transmission. If it's happened to you I'd open a case ASAP.
Back to the XT now?
Steve, Host
Mike
Zman
Don
-Frank P.
What matters is what's around it, not the conch shell itself. Components like the intercooler, BOV, ECU, fuel pump, etc. are probably more important to the performance of the vehicle.
-juice
I would like to see more evidence of that. Did SoA tell you this, or did you hear it from an advisor or tech?
-Dennis
Len
"Sen. Hillary Clinton's mouth got her into trouble after she joked that legendary Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi was someone who "ran a gas station down in St. Louis."
If I recall its due to some solenoids altering the shift characteristics among other things. I don't have the info in front of me as I'm now running on my new homebuilt system and haven't migrated all my archives over yet.
I can say this - I had an 03 XS, and my 04 XT, different engine notwithstanding, definitely shifts differently (better IMO FWIW) - oh goody, two interent abbreviations in a row - I've acvhieved....)
Larry
Mike
There's no smell of anti-freeze in the oil, nor does the tank seem to be getting lower. BTW - the coolant is green.
I've sent for an oil analysis kit and will wait until I get the results back before I worry anymore about it.
Also haven't heard about XT engines having a seal problem. Although anything's possible, I guess.
Larry
John
Suggestion - have the dealer mail you a half dozen or dozen crush washers.
DaveM
Larry is taking the cautious approach by getting the oil analyzed, but that’s a good thing, if for no other reason than it’ll give him peace of mind.
-Frank P.
-Dave
Mike
-Frank P.
I would hope that Subaru would make a hardware change (gasket) to avoid the use of short lived additives.
Mike
Phase I 2.5 liter engines (some 1999 model year and prior years) are not
affected. Countermeasures applied to the manufacturing process for those
2002 and later VINS not affected by this campaign have eliminated the
need for this campaign to be performed on those vehicles."
DaveM
-Frank P.
DaveM
As some of you know, I bought one in September, thus becoming one of the first people in the Northeast to get one (yaay!). My impressions so far:
First off, this is a tremendously capable car. It's comfortable, goest fast, stops assuredly, has good ergonomics, excellent visibility, performs as well on backwoods dirt roads as on Park Avenue (or worse, the FDR). All this on top of its excellent cargo capacity, and stunning snow performance.
But for specifics:
I was caught on the NY State Thruway in our fierce snow storm back just before Christmas. The snow started just outside of Saratoga Springs and didn't stop until the next day. The week before I had just put on 4 Winterforce studded snows for a trip up to Vermont. Well it didn't snow in Vermont but it sure as hell got cold.
I can confirm for those wondering that the outside temperature indicator does show negative temperatures.
Winterforce snow tires are excellent. The first week I had them they were definitely skittish on dry roads but my 800 mile trip up to Vermont and Canada wore off whatever coating was on them and now they hold the dry at least as well as the Geolanders; I haven't pushed them. They are snows after all. On the Thruway they were terrific. As the snow began to pile-up along with the accidents, the Forester was sure-footed the entire time. I passed stuck SUVs and passenger cars who got trapped in a spider's web of an unplowed rest stop on I-84. I pulled in to the rest stop and was the ONLY car to get out of the 9 or 10 cars and SUVs that were stuck there. I don't know if I could have done it with just the stock tires but I know that light cars with skinny tires are the best things in snow short of a snowcat. I arrived home safe and sound. Though it was an anxious drive I was more worried about other people hitting me than anything else. The deicers all performed without a hitch and the driving lights were excellent in the white-out conditions after dark.
The automatic climate control really isn't bad. When you first turn it on yes, it does go to defrost but once the car warms it switches to floor heat. The A/C drive does engage but the compressor itself does not come on below freezing temperatures. I believe this happens to place a load on the engine so it heats faster. When the defroster button is depressed in my car, hot air comes out, not cool nor cold. If your car doesn't, get it fixed.
I originally complained about rattles in the car but discovered there weren't any. It was my broken but functioning garage door opener rattling in the sunglasses holder. Heh. Oops.
I put winter blades on the car but a winter wiper for the rear is a special-order item from Subaru. Booooo! Should have made it a standard wiper. I still don't have the one I ordered from the dealer. Grrrrrr.
The clutch is no longer so abrupt on the uptake. At 6500 miles it's not as stiff as it was when I bought the car and I can shift very smoothly. The short first gear must be kept in mind when launching but again, you get used to it. I've driven to Paramus a few times and anyone who has ever tried to merge onto Route 17 knows what I'm talking about. The explosive acceleration is desperately needed on that ghastly highway and the XT doesn't disappoint one bit. In fact it's almost scary how quickly the car accelerates. You have to watch what's ahead and learn by sound when to shift or you'll rear-end the person ahead of you. I can shift in city traffic easily and it's not a chore. Maybe I'm just used to it but I think the break-in has made all the difference. First is short but it doesn't annoy me nearly as much as it does Ballistic and I find it very useful going up my driveway.
The battery does not suck. I woke-up early one morning in Montpelier with -12F and the car started right up. Now my car didn't sit on the dealer's lot but a week after it arrived on the truck, and after a few raspy cold cranks it fired right-up. I'm getting an engine heater though as I do go up to Vermont rather frequently.
Please illuminate the door lock switch!
On my 800 mile trip I did indeed worry about the comfort of the seat. I'm 5' 11" and don't like how short the seat cushion is but thought I could bear it. I was surprised to find that I wasn't uncomfortable after a long drive. The seats aren't as glorious as Peugeot or Volvo, but they were comfortable. My big gripe is that my seat sinks over time. Every hour or so I had to reach for the wheel and crank the seat back up as it keeps sinking. I have to get the dealer to take a look at it.
I do not like the non-switching high beam actuators. I prefer a quick pull to change from high to low. The swatting move takes more time and requires a slight but distracting reach. I also have found myself getting into the car and mistakenly only turning on the parking lights completely oblivious to the fact that I have no lights on the rear of the car. I'm lucky I haven't been pulled over or struck! There really should be a light sensor to warn of driving at night with the just the daytime running lights like maybe not making the dash lights come on when the parking lights are on unless using the top-mounted parking light switch. I think the two switches should trade functions.
Put a screen in front of the intercooler intake. It's a leaf sucker in the fall and will likely make an awesome bug sucker come spring.
Cayenne Red is beautiful for the Forester but I would have prefered the purple-blue or the green. The champagne color needs to be retired.
Make a nav module for the dash compartment.
Make the sunglasses holders deeper. Curved sunglasses do not fit in them.
The hill holder clutch works great. Mine was adjusted perfectly when I got the car. I use it and consider it a great safety feature. Certainly saves clutch wear.
The autodimming mirror doesn't dim quickly or deeply enough. It's a good mirror but should be more sensitive and get darker.
Spend the $1.00 and put a light in the glove compartment. It's an embarassment not to have one on a car this price. Certainly more so considering there's a socket and wiring stays made for one.
And finally.....
Offer the sunroof with the manual!
I bought the Subaru because I have a killer dirt driveway with a 50% grade and 3 switchback curves and I work late at night and don't want to have leave work early. The piece of mind I get from knowing I don't have to fear snow is a tremendous weight off my mind. I don't have to leave the car at the bottom of the driveway at night only to be awakened at 4am by the plow guy asking me to come move it, get dressed and trudge down and sit and wait until he's done and then go back to bed.
I have discovered I have named my car. His name is 'Hoichi'. Named after the tough little biwa player who plays beautiful music in Kwaidan.
-Frank P.
I'm finally glad to see someone is happy with the XS/XT auto climate control. Maybe dealer staffs should spend some time being trained in its use so that they can show buyers how to operate it? I know that when I bought my Forester I made the salesperson show me how all the controls worked.
Before someone writes "RTFM" it's worth pointing out that it's often easier for people to remember how something's done if they see it used in person. This may especially be true if the manual in question has been translated from another language. I mean no ethnic slurs by stating this, but in the '00 Forester owners manual one of the troubleshooting procedures is to check for a "brown fuse." It didn't take me long to figure out this meant "blown fuse."
Ed
Steve, Host
This is good to know. I was wavering between studded Hankooks and the Winterforce. Will go with the latter. How much road noise?
I originally complained about rattles in the car but discovered there weren't any.
Sure wish I could say the same.
The clutch is no longer so abrupt on the uptake.
Agreed, although the pedal distance from floor to start of engagement is still on the long side. And the brake pedal needs to move too far down before the brakes start to engage, and then the brake pedal is too spongy. The brakes themselves, though, are first-rate. You're my size; do you find that the throttle is too close when you set the seat for the correct distance to fully depress the clutch?
First is short but it doesn't annoy me nearly as much as it does Ballistic
I'm adjusting (under protest), although unquestionably I think the car would be improved with a smaller 1st-to-2nd gap and a taller final drive.
My big gripe is that my seat sinks over time.
Are you sure your fanny isn't flattening over time?
I do not like the non-switching high beam actuators. I prefer a quick pull to change from high to low.
I like the pull-and-release to flash. How would the hi-beam flash work under your preferred scenario?
Make a nav module for the dash compartment.
This could be interesting, but I think I'll instead put a portable color GPS with voice prompts (Garmin and Magellan make several candidates for $500 to $900 and falling fast) on the lid, permitting one unit to move between cars.
The hill holder clutch works great.
The adjustment on mine seems to have become less intrusive after a few thousand miles, but as often as not I still go to neutral and just use the handbrake, as I always did before.
The autodimming mirror doesn't dim quickly or deeply enough.
Exactly why I think these are a waste of money. The reliability and instant-on/off aspect of manual day-night mirrors can't be equalled. IMO.
Spend the $1.00 and put a light in the glove compartment. It's an embarassment not to have one on a car this price.
Definitely.
I don't have to fear snow
These things are truly awesome in deep snow, aren't they? Far exceeded my expectations, and I don't even have studded snows yet. It makes you wonder how bad things would have to become to get a Forester with LSRD and studs stuck.
Nice writeup.
-Frank P.
1. The Winterforce tires are NOISY and they humm so much that the rear view mirror vibrates. I'm used to it now but studs are loud no matter what you get. There is no substitute for studs where ice is involved and I believe the inconvenience is more than matched by the security in ice perforamnce.
The Geolanders suck in snow.
2. Always read the manual, particularly in Subarus. Subaru doesn't do everything in an obvious manner and never has. There are weird complications, oddball switch combinations, and other obscure things that are worth knowing about. While the Foresters are more obvious than the X-wing Subarus of yore with rainbows of cryptic glowing dash switches and hidden knobs, not everything is readily apparent.
3. The clutch is actually just a hair further down than I would like when I have it fully depressed. I tried moving the seat closer but my right foot was too close to the accelerator and I didn't like being so close to the expoding steering wheel.
I have no complaints about the uptake point and I know why. With so much torque Subaru wanted to prevent the car from lurching forward when the accelerator is depressed. Raising the uptake point makes it less likely and makes it easier it easier to slip when creep-forwared maneuvers are needed.
Oh and let me also suggest the headlight washers!! I have to clean road sand/spray off of the rather perpendicular lenses frequently. That is on my list of spring additions along with 17" wheels (would be nice if Subaru offered some).
Thanks again!
I am getting paranoid again. After all the great posts, you were the first to report having a problem in the snow. I know snow is not common here in Georgia, but half the reason I got the XT was to be able to get to my mountain place and enjoy it if we ever do get a decent snow.
Unfortunately, the private roads around my place are very narrow and very steep. Now I am wondering if I should stay home if the "perfect storm" ever hits us. Or I am wondering if I should take my Mazda B4000 4x4 with more aggressive tires. I know that truck is better through streams and over rocks (It's been in about 2' of water on several occasions - not something I would try in the XT) but I just figured the XT would be better in snow and ice.
I probably shouldn't comment, because the opinions of others who live in _real_ snow country certainly count for more than mine. All I can say is that the performance of the stock Geos on my XT was nothing short of superb grinding through the 10" to 14" or so of snow topped with ice that we experienced in the steep hills of Portland recently. As the Geo's sharp new edges wear and the tread depth diminishes, I'm sure they'll be less praiseworthy (though probably still adequate for most winter needs). Thus, I do still plan to buy dedicated studded snows, even though I certainly didn't need them in the conditions we had this year.
The clutch is actually just a hair further down than I would like when I have it fully depressed. I tried moving the seat closer but my right foot was too close to the accelerator.
Ditto. I wish one or the other was adjustable.
Your XT has a limited-slip rear differential; many AWD vehicles do not. That makes a big difference. Based on my experience on the stock tires, I'd say this: If you buy a good set of dedicated snow tires (studded if that's legal where you are), I think it's reasonable to say that you'll have just about the most unstoppable, worry-free snowcar money can buy.
At the same time, if the north georgia mountains ever again get one of their rare snow storms (not the wimpy stuff that hits a couple of times a year and which the Subie has already done fine in) it would kill me to sit at home in Atlanta and watch it on tv. I know - I am just a big overgrown kid.
overtime
Moreover: If you ever get icy-road conditions (as distinguished from snow), then there isn't an all-season tire in the world I'd trust on anything but flat ground (like northern Minnesota, where my wife grew up).
I don't know how long you plan to keep your XT, but the cost of 4 wheels with dedicated snows is about $466 for me (Tirerack's Winterforce package deal, including shipping). Used only when needed (maybe a thousand miles per year) they'll easily outlast the 10-12 years I'll own the XT. That's only $40-45 per year. I think that's a very reasonable outlay for a lot of extra peace of mind.