Subaru Forester

erics6

Didn't Subaru go to magnesium or something because alumimum was gettting too expensive.

I can wait until 2010 for the diesel. And yes, I doubt they'll go back to unpainted bumpers/cladding. My guess is the diesel will end up being a higher content model, since it will already cost more then the gas model.

ateixeira

I just hope it would cost less than the turbo!

xwesx

Ah, yes - I did manage to make it that far. Joining yet another forum? I can wait. Thanks for the links, though!

rsholland

It too has a turbo, so why would it cost less than a gas turbo?

You might want to cross-compare VW's base diesel with their base gas engine, to see how their prices compare. That might give you some indication as how it might fit into Subaru's pricing strategy.

Bob

ateixeira

Let's see...for the Jetta the 2.5 is the cheapest, the TDI is only about a grand higher, and the 2.0T adds about $2300 to the price of a TDI.

So the diesel is closer to the gas engine than it is to the turbo.

BUT...big but... ...we have to account for the extra cost of the urea injection and tougher emissions systems.

So a diesel should still slot below a turbo. Maybe half way between Subaru's 2.5l and 2.5T.

rsholland

The VW 2.5 is 5-cylinder engine. So, you're comparing a 5-cylinder gas engine to a 4-cylinder diesel turbo.

Bob

tifighter

Geez! Steel wheels?! A man after my own heart. I must admit that (many) alloys are attractive, but on most cars they are just silly. They put "mags" on minivans for crizsakes.

Plus, you don't feel bad painting them. I'm glad I did it every time I see my car.

ateixeira

True, but it's still their entry-level engine, and not a particularly powerful one, at that.

Funny thing is some VW fanatics say it's half a Lamorghini V10. In metallurgy only.

ateixeira

Those look good. Is that a gunmetal color? Looks a bit darker than the body so it doesn't seem color-matched, unless it's the lighting.

rsholland

I've got it on pretty good authority that the image posted on this thread is not the new '09 Forester.

Bob

ateixeira

GOOD, because I really wasn't happy with that photo.

I love the 08 Tribeca so a baby Tribeca would be great.

I'd even be happier with a simple evolution of the current look.

tifighter

Yeah, its gunmetal. I didn't want color match, but I wish they were even a bit darker than they turned out. I would do it again in a second; just took one afternoon.

ateixeira

Did you remove the tires? Or just tape them off?

I think it looks great. You made them look like alloys, basically.

tifighter

Thanks. Yeah, I taped them off. Degreased, then sanded, then primed, then 4 coats of paint, then 2 coats of clearcoat. They looked great without the clearcoat; nice and matte. But the finish would not have lasted long without it.

I secretly want the new 08 FSXT in white, and then do the same thing with those new sti rims they come with. Closest thing to the Forester STI I will ever see and I love that front spoiler lip. White looks great with gunmetal rims.

ateixeira

Sweet, you can tell a lot of time an effort was invested. They look like a $1200 set of rims.

Kudos. :shades:

kavoom

I am pretty sure cladding is gone as I have heard that from two people that saw pics of the real thing. And I miss my 04's indestructible unpainted cladding. Less to wax, easy to clean and my 07 stuff is a pain and white to boot.

kavoom

"No more strange creases."

Those are called hockey sticks...

kdshapiro

Based on feedback on this board, after I took the XT into an independent for a 30K service, I decided to have the tranny drained/refilled along with the diffs at the same independent.

Not expecting anything except the satisfaction of knowing clean fluids were in the tranny and diffs, I couldn't believe the difference in the way the car drove. It felt like it was on rails and was noticeably quieter.

For those who are thinking of having this additional service performed at 30K, the difference in the way the car drives will be noticed immediately and will probably contribute to longer component life.

ateixeira

Have to wait and see, I guess.

I wonder if Subaru is just great at keeping secrets, or if spy photographers don't like Gunma, Japan.

done37

Hey Ken, I as well at 30k changed my fluids. Diff,tranny(manual),brake and radiator. I didn't notice a difference really. Actually I put synthetic in both the diff and the tranny hoping to get rid of a 50 to 60 mph rear end whine that the dealer wouldn't admit too. My XT drove great before and no noticeable improvement after the fluid change other than piece of mind. Was wondering if your XT is an Automatic or if they found something amiss under the hood and fixed it, and failed to mention it to you. Thanks for the input, very interesting. Don

1079k9

I just found that out! When I returned the part the dealer then charged me a 30% restocking fee. I will no longer be doing business at that dealership. I have been searching the Internet for a brush guard for the 2006 Forester. If someone has knowledge of anyone who sells them, please let me know. It would be deeply appreicated.

Thanks

A.J. in Oconomowoc Wisconsin

paisan

Brush Guard or skid plate?

-mike

dstew1

If you mean a true brush/bull guard, the only ones I have seen for the Forester come out of Australia (Subaxtreme is one manufacturer, there is another but I can't remember what they're called). They're pricey though, and shipping is going to cost you.

Skid plates can be had through primitive (writerguy.com/primitive) or rallyarmor.

tifighter

I guess I'm not a brush guard guy. I know Subaxtreme said they tested their guards for airbag compliance, but personally, I wouldn't want to risk it. Plus, adding weight in front of the front axle isn't going to much for the handling...

paisan

ECB sells them out of Australia as well. I used to import them pre-9/11 and also carry the rallyarmor products. I like the rallyarmor, good stuff.

-mike

gmginsfo

Had a nice surprise when I flew into ORD recently: a brand new '08 Outback in the Budget Rent-A-Car lot at the subcompact rate! I was all over that like a cheap coat and kept it for 10 days. Since I spent some time down by Purdue, I noticed that there were a lot of them being driven all over IN, especially mid-state, near the Lafayette plant. I hope those Hoosiers saved paying any "destination charge," which leads me to ask, "where are Foresters made and shipped to?" in hopes of doing the same next time I buy one.

The Outback was a nice change from my '03 Forester, which at 57K is j-u-s-t starting to show some signs of age. It was much quieter and I didn't find its slightly lower height objectionable or confining. It was nice to have a manual day-night miror again, but found that it picked up way too much reflection from the ceiling, rear window frame, and roof rack crossbars. Solution? Remove crossbars, and rear headrests, the first day and toss them into the cargo area for Budget to reinstall on my return. That significantly reduced wind noise too, since I generally like to keep the sunroof open.

But what I really liked about the Outback was how spry it was compared to my Forester. Who knew that even with its greater weight its marginally-higher-horsepower engine could make such a difference? And it was so much smoother that until I looked under the hood, I thought I'd been driving the H-6! It seemed to get better mileage, too, and I liked the trip computer's keeping me posted on MPG as I drove.

The night I arrived, it was typical Midwest Fall weather. Great, I thought, now I'll finally get a chance to see how heated seats feel. But the rest of the trip we enjoyed record heat, which only gave me the chance to use the 2-zone AC, which worked fine and didn't seem to increase mileage much. All of which only made me think, "C'mon Subaru, get off your butts and get us the next generation Forester NOW!"

kdshapiro

They didn't tell me they fixed anything, other than changed the fluids. I never had a drivetrain whine to begin with. The XT does have an automatic. I thought about using synthetic, but never have and assume, well more hope, they put the recommended fluid type in the tranny and diffs.

AWD to me is a bit noiser than then FWD or RWD, but I always felt it was the additional componentry. Don, have you checked your tires to ensure they are not the source of the noise?

kdshapiro

I like the Forester as a daily driver. The huge sunroof and overall interior room contribute to the enjoyment. They need one more gear in the tranny though, why they don't provide it is beyond me.

p0926

"where are Foresters made and shipped to?"

Made in Guma, Japan and most (if not all) come thru Seatle so you can forget about avoiding the destination charge.

I agree that the Outback is a lot quieter than the Forester but don't know that it's that much more spry. You should test drive a new Forester (for an apples to apples comparison) sinc it has slightly increased HP and better mpg than your 03.

-Frank

done37

Hey Ken, I sure have checked my tires, actually on my second set and have rotated them religiously, rear end noise never dissipated. The Noise only happens from 50 to 60 mph and when I let off of the gas in that range. Sounds exactly like a rear end noise. I have experienced many in my years, especially with some of the american rear wheel drive cars I've owned! The noise started at about 18,000 and has not got much worse thankfully and its not super loud. I am just a little anal with my noises! Curious if anybody else has the same noise in their suby?

ateixeira

Sounds good. I would have jumped at it, too.

Instead I had to choose between a couple of old Malibus and an Accord. The old Accord.

oregonboy

So, you took the Accord, I would guess.

ateixeira

Yep. I had a Malibu last time I rented, and it was so-so. The Accord was a bit better, but not exactly memorable.

killer2

Recently noticed a thick oil dripping on my garage floor. Had it up on a rack today and the mechanic noticed oil dripping from the lower aft control arm bushing. Are these bushings oil filled? Should they be replaced in pairs? I think I may of found the correct part at Allsubaru.com where it is listed for $69 ea. Have I found the correct part?

Thanks,
John

aatherton

Could it be oil dripping onto the bushing from above?

killer2

The mechanic looked on the top of the arm as well. I was under there too and it definetly is coming from the bushing. I know some aircraft use oil filled engine shock mounts and in this case the bushing is doing about the same thing so it really wouldn't suprise me if it were.

killer2

I trailer a good size pop-up with my XT and have heard a lot about the self leveling rear shocks used on LLBean Foresters. My trouble is I can't find them anywhere. Please Help!

Thanks,
John

ateixeira

AFAIK they were only available from Subaru and when I was told what they cost I nearly choked.

venture

Looking for opinions on installing winter tires on the wifes Forester. It's the 2007 X with the standard A/S tires.

We got it last December and didn't have any snow to amount to anything after purchase so I have nothing to go on.

We are in central Pennsylvania so we could get anything from no snow at all, to feet of it on the ground all winter. Assuming a lot of snow, are dedicated winter tires suggested?

I realize that all wheel-drive and A/S tires are better than all wheel-drive with summer tires, etc, etc.

I put winter tires on my BMW every winter, but that's a necessity.

p0926

Assuming a lot of snow, are dedicated winter tires suggested?

Assuming you plan on driving in it, then yes :P

The Forester with standard A/S tires will do "okay" in most snow conditions but obviously winter tires will provide significantly better traction with snow and ice.

-Frank

paisan

I like the Pirelli Sottozeros. Awsome tires for the NY/PA/NJ area that doesn't see a TON of snow.

-mike

gmginsfo

With the recent fires here in SD, I've been driving around in my '03 Forester with my windows closed and the HVAC set to "recirulate" mode. Does the cabin air filter operate only on outside air, or will it also filter cabin air in recirc mode? Sure hope it's the latter, because the air here has been just plain FILTHY!

venture

The Forester with standard A/S tires will do "okay" in most snow conditions but obviously winter tires will provide significantly better traction with snow and ice.

Yeah, that's sort of what I figured. She drove a Santa Fe before and didn't use winter tires and it was fine, but we haven't had much snow lately.

I ordered up a set from tirerack.com. They should be here early next week.

I think we have run the course of not much snow for the past few winters. Cheap insurance.

venture

I like the Pirelli Sottozeros. Awsome tires for the NY/PA/NJ area that doesn't see a TON of snow.

I decided on Blizzaks and alloy wheels. I've had great luck with Blizzaks in the past and they are about $400 a set cheaper than the Pirelli's. She just creeps along in the snow (all the time actually) so performance isn't a factor.

$900 delivered to my garage. :shades:

oregonboy

Has any announcement been made about an all-new Forester, perhaps built on the new 2008 Impreza platform. (I apologize it this has already been thrashed to death in another thread)

james

ateixeira

We're all waiting.

NASIOC had a false alarm when someone posted a photo of an older Nissan XTrail. That was funny.

facops

I am thinking of putting a rear spoiler on my Forester. Other than being arodynamic I read that it helps keep dirt off of the rear window (I often drive on dirt roads). Is this true?

p0926

I'm not sure how effective the spoiler will be in keeping the back window clean. I think the rear window dust deflector is what you want.

-Frank

brainlessbozo

We are planning a long drive in April 2008. My wife and (then to be) 2 month old baby are planning a 10 day vacation. Since she has an airline credit that will expire, she’ll be flying one way from Ohio to Orange County, CA. I, on the other hand, will drive out a couple of days earlier, to pick her up from the airport at the destination. After spending some days with family, we plan to drive from CA through Vegas, the mountains/Grand Canyon into Denver, the plains of Kansas/Nebraska/Iowa, into Indiana and then back into OH. This is going to be almost 2100 miles going (by myself), and then almost 3000 miles back, with a car seat behind.

We plan to take our time, sight-seeing along the way, and maybe taking a week for the drive back. Anyone have any thoughts, concerns, and ideas? Any suggestions of places to see? We’ll be armed with bottles of water, bundles of diapers and, since the baby is nursing, no need to worry about formula.

We plan on taking our 03 Forester XS, with new Nokian WRs, and currently 61000 miles on it. Services have been regular. Any thing I should worry about? Or should I take the other car – 05 A4 Quattro with 25K miles, and under warranty, giving me 32 miles/gallon?

Thanks in advance.

killer2

I can't speak to what "you" might want to see but even the space shuttle breaks down.