Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    Sitcker is $21,895.

    XS Auto with no options is $24,245.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    An L auto now stickers for $21,620, so that means an increase of just $275. We won't forget the $300 or so worth of content that was dropped, though. So $500-600, it seems, at retail.

    S auto now costs $24,220, so it looks like that only went up $25. Much better.

    Oh, if they have 2003, I'll put the wife in a Premium just to see her reaction.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Can you grab a hold of an Owner's Manual from one of the new '03 Foresters and check the following:

    • Towing
    A while back, Patti said the braked towing for the 5-speed had been raised to 2400 pounds. Is that true only for the 5-speed, or is it also true for the automatic too? Also, what about unbraked towing? Is it still at 1000 pounds for both 5-speed and automatics, or has that been raised a bit too?

    •Roof Rack
    Is the roof rack capacity still at 150 pounds?

    • Spare Tire
    Is it still a full-size spare?

    Thanks! :)

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    At the NY show the spare was a full sizer.

    I'll ask if they have any in stock tonight.

    -juice
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    also still has a full-size, but since he's checking other stuff, he might as well check that too.

    Also, I believe the Canadian Forester comes with a trailer wiring harness. I wonder if the same is true for USA-spec Foresters?

    Bob
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Mine had one. Plug-and-play, it was cake. I even have photos if you ever need to do it (though I'd help install it).

    -juice
  • nygregnygreg Member Posts: 1,936
    to send to my sister and try to convince her to get a red 03 Forester. One month, huh?

    Greg
  • mikeh19mikeh19 Member Posts: 18
    I have one on the back of my '02L, below the SUBARU emblem and to the left, that i'd like to remove. it's only about 4' x 2' inches and it's a regular clear plastic sticker with the dealer's logo in silver. how do i do it?
    Mike
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I'd try WD40 around it, let it soak, and try to peel it off carefully. I've used a razor blade before, but if you do be extremely gentle and slow so you don't scratch the paint.

    -juice
  • mikeh19mikeh19 Member Posts: 18
    Hey Juice,
    Is alcohol, the rubbing kind, too strong or will it work just was well?
    Mike
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I would have the dealership remove it. Why should you advertise for them free? Why should you take the risk of removing it?

    If you do want to remove it yourself, you might also want to try Goo Gone.

    Ken
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Badge/emblem removal techniques

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • bluejeanbluejean Member Posts: 3
    FYI:There are a couple listings on the fitzmall site ... in Florida. They have been there for at least a week or so. They're selling at close to MSRP. Their website gives the VIN, but doesn't provide info on configuration/options.

    As an intro, I've lurked on the Forester/Subaru boards for 2+ years, patiently waiting until my current Honda dies (>200k miles). I'm targeting a 03 Premium AT, but may consider a 02 depending on timing and pricing. I may also consider MT since I'll be leaving the DC beltway area for FL.

    I have a question regarding tax and buying out-of-state(more specifically double taxing). I'm a newbie. I currently live in Virginia. Let's say I buy soon at fitz(white flint), I'm guessing I'll get charged the VA sales tax?? If I then move to FL in a few months, FL will charge me a 6% use tax. Not good.

    What if I wait until I'm a FL resident. If I purchase and pick up the car @White Flint, will I only owe FL tax? Do I need to take delivery in FL? An advice is appreciated.

    Thanks.
  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    I'm off today. So the owners manual will have to wait until Friday. I would be suprised if they eliminated the full size spare.

    The cars with the gray interior look great. The updated dash and console are very well done. I'm a little concerned about the "blue" that they chose. But I'm sure we won't have a problem selling them. Hey people like Barney right?
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    A great deal depends on your state, and I don't know current laws in Florida. I did buy a car in Texas, as a legal resident of Texas, with Texas title and registration. Later I moved to California. I did not pay sales tax on the vehicles that I already owned - just registration. I think that is fairly standard, but don't know for a fact.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    In MD you have to pay a tax if you move to a state with a car under X years old IIRC. Some states also do a car Tax per year.

    -mike
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    I was thinking about buying a car out of state and (with some difficulty) could buy it in Nevada and only pay California state tax. There was something about getting temporary registration from California first before I actually bought the car and it sounded too complicated for me. Edmunds did it with one of their long term car purchases, I remember, so it can be done that way.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    The dealer collects the tax for your state/county at the time of purchase.

    -mike
  • goldencouple1goldencouple1 Member Posts: 209
    Things used to be so arranged (and should be so, there's a comity and interstate commerce issue)that you only have to pay one state's sales tax -- proof of payment of sales tax in state A means no tax due in State B.

    Here in NM, we live on the border of Texas, and if we had purchased a car in Texas the dealership would have charged and collected NM sales tax (less than Texas tax by about one-half).

    That being said, I remember Northerners complaining about getting screwed on car registrations and maybe something about use taxes, which are a substitute for sales tax and a way to collect tax that was not collected in the state of origin. (I used to practice law in FL, but I never had to deal with this particular issue, though I dealt with related issues.) In my experience, in FL, FL vendors could fill out paper work indicating that the item purchased, an airplane or yacht, for example, would not be used in FL and no tax was due
    on it. There may be a similar procedure in other states. Also, I remember that if you could prove you paid sales tax in another state, no tax was due to FL (provided the tax was equal to or higher than FL tax, I think -- not completely clear on that, never had to deal with it.)

    What I would do: Call up FL Dept. of Revenue in Tallahassee -- the agency people are usually pretty knowledgeable and helpful; it will take one, two, possibly three transfers of your call, but you'll get an answer from the FL side.

    Of course, this is no substitute for legal advice in the states in question. I strongly encourage you to consult an lawyer in the states where you will be purchasing the vehicle and the state where you plan to reside. That is the surest and safest course of action.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    In theory, when you purchase items out of state @ a lower tax rate, you are supposed to send a check off to your own state for the difference! Like back when clothes were taxed in NYS, everyone went over to NJ to buy clothes. In theory we were supposed to send in a check to NYS for the tax we didn't pay in NJ. Funny eah?

    -mike
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    Here in Minnesota, since we have high taxes, people were running off to low-tax states to buy cars. The legislature found a way to catch those folks and tax 'em here. I doubt they chase down people who buy their underwear in North Dakota, but if they buy a car there they get to pay sales tax here as well.
  • mtngalmtngal Member Posts: 1,911
    Call both states involved. I know that legal residence at the time of purchase has a bearing on the subject for all personal belongings.

    For instance, I did not have to pay California sales tax when I MOVED from Texas to California. (For that matter, I didn't have to pay customs for items purchased in Europe when I moved back to the States after spending 3 years in Germany courtesy of the US Army, and come to think of it, my husband didn't have to pay any customs on his household goods moving from Canada to the US. But that might have been because he was still a Canadian at the time).

    However, when I was looking at buying a car in Nevada as a legal resident of California, the rules were different. I would have had to pay California sales tax, regardless of whether I paid in Nevada or not.

    So checking it out with the individual states is a good thing...
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    When I moved to FL from MN in 1990, I was unpleasantly surprised to find out that I'll have to pay $450 just to get FL tags on my old Plymouth Horizon. And w/o FL license plates I could not get insurance and so forth. I ended up trading my Horizon at the dealership in FL.

    So it's probably safer to wait and buy car in FL. States do try to encourage in-state purchasing by "punishing" for bringing in an out-of-state vehicle.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    to FL in 96, we didn't pay any fees other than normal registration...the $450 fee had been revoked just before we moved. Just make sure that you get the full term registration, which can be good for up to 16 months depending on timing...they go by birthday here in this wonderful state
  • nellonello Member Posts: 11
    Does the dealer pull the door panels in order to install the tweeter kit? What is involved?

    nello
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Don't know about alcohol, but I'd follow Steve's useful link.

    bluejean: I believe you pay the tax when (and where) you register it, so if you register it twice yes I think you'll pay twice.

    nello: no, you can pull the grid out, the wires are right there already. Piece of cake.

    -juice
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    she wouldn' pay here in Florida...we didn't on our cars when we came down. Of course, you pay in other ways in Florida...you automatically forget how to vote!
  • nellonello Member Posts: 11
    Juice,
    Subaru dealer here in NH said they had to pull the door covers off and it would take an hour to do. Is there any soldering involved or putting on any new connectors?

    nello
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    are "plug & pay". Pop the cover, plug in the connectors. Zero sweat, almost no time. I'd be careful of that dealer if he says differently. You will probably be charged for an air change at your 7000 mile service.
    :-)

    Ross
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Not on a Forester. Friends have done the mod - it's easy. The grille cover pops right off. I'd consider changing dealers for service! :-)

    -juice
  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    I think the dealer is misleading you. The tweeter kits are "plug and play" as armac said. Most of the add-ons are already pre-wired.
  • fern88fern88 Member Posts: 42
    So I got a call from my local dealer today. They had 2 X models that I was able to see. They have 5 more 2003's on the way but did not have the specs yet.

    I saw red and green one. Overall I was not really that impressed with it. I liked it more than the 2002 model but the dash looked a little cheap with the single CD and the empty slot with the plastic door thingy. I also found the back seat to be a little more spacious but not really too much....still a little tight for me. The exterior was nicer than the 2002 and to par with the pictures.

    The dealer told me they were waiting for some chip to arrive because they only go 10mph without this chip. He said they ship them like this for security. Is this true?

    Right now I'm debating between CR-V and the XS. Silver is my color of choice with a sunroof. I think the Soob definitely drives better by my experience test driving the 2002 but the CR-V is definitely roomier.....what to do...what to do.

    I think the sticker on the forester had an MPG of 21/27 for the stick and 21/27 for the AT. I thought they would be a little higher based on the new weight.

    I really don't want to spend more than 23,500 before tax and lic. I can get the CR-V EX AT for 22,100....is an XS doable for under 23.5k?
  • joseph50joseph50 Member Posts: 235
    Read all about it.
    In today's USA Today, a "Good Becomes Better" review for the '03 Forester.
    In a comparo with the RAV4, it is stated that the Forester has "more legroom and cargo volume behind the back seat and a roomier rear seat."
    This does not seem to square with what others have said on-line.
  • jeijei Member Posts: 143
    I ckecked out the 2003 Forester at the NYC auto show in April. To me, the back seat did have more room and a better tilt & shape than the first generation model. Not *really* spacious, but perfectly decent for a "mid-sized" person 5'-11" tall; a real improvement.

    John
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Snip: For what it's worth, Forester qualifies as a truck under federal standards

    Huh? I thought the Forester was always EPA classified as a passenger car.

    I also thought it was funny how many reviews keep saying that the 2003 Forester isn't a redesign. I don't know if they realize it's all new sheetmetal from the ground up.

    Ken
  • joseph50joseph50 Member Posts: 235
    Oops, my bad.
    In my previous post I had the RAV4 mixed up in my mind with the CR-V, which, by reports, is roomier than my Forester.
    (That the outline of the Forester was described in the review as that of a comfortable old shoe -- I can easily go with that.)
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Another useless review, full of old, worn out "Subaru cliches." At least he liked it...

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    please don't forget to check the Owner's Manual from one of the new '03 Foresters for the following:

    • Towing
    A while back, Patti said the braked towing for the 5-speed had been raised to 2400 pounds. Is that true only for the 5-speed, or is it also true for the automatic too? Also, what about unbraked towing? Is it still at 1000 pounds for both 5-speed and automatics, or has that been raised a bit too?

    •Roof Rack
    Is the roof rack capacity still at 150 pounds?

    • Spare Tire
    Is it still a full-size spare? (I'm almost certain it is, but you never know)

    • Any other new interesting tidbits of information, not already known here?

    Thanks again!

    Bob
  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    Trailer towing stays at 2000 pounds with brakes for both 5 speed and auto.

    Still has full sized spare in the back. But not as much room in the compartment.

    Roof racks carry 150 pounds of cargo.

    All of this is from the owner's manual.
  • p0926p0926 Member Posts: 4,423
    Ken- IIRC, the Forester is considered a car by the EPA but for Federal safety standards, its a truck. However, Subaru designed the Forester to meet/exceed the considerably tougher passenger car safety standards. (I'm sure Juice will correct me if I'm wrong)

    -Frank P.
  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    all of the 2003 Subaru models.
  • lilbluewgn02lilbluewgn02 Member Posts: 1,089
    any major changes to the WRX re: new standard features, option, colors?
  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    how about the '03 Legacy GT specs.

    -Brian
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    1000 pounds for an unbraked trailer for the new Forester? I'm hoping (against all odds) that it may have been increased to 1500 pounds. Is that just wishful thinking?

    Bob
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,769
    Well, if it means anything, my registration and insurance here in NJ both call the Forester a sport-utility.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • kohallkohall Member Posts: 12
    (1st time poster/many time reader): My new 2003 XS Premium Forester has arrived in the Port O'Boston and I am told that I will be driving it next week. I expect to be one of the first in the "upstate NY" area to have one! I was "at the alter" with a 2002 and my wife talked me into to waiting for a 2003. I think that I will be glad for the wait. I really like the '03 interior, especially cup holders - I drink coffee on the 22 mile commute to work each day. Also, the new Alum. wheels look better vs. the '02's.

    I was wondering if anyone knows what the new color "Java Black Pearl" looks like? I hope I like it, having bought the '03 sight unseen.

    I am also wondering about the woodgrain dash. My dealer did not have it available as an option and some of the "auto show" pictures out there do not show wood, but some auto show pic's do show wood. I will probably have it added at the same place that will do the glass tinting (metallic type - based on prior postings to this site). Even though it is not real wood (gotta go to the $80k jag for that) it seems to add some warmth (need it in upstate NY) and breaks up the monotony of the plain plastic dash materials.

    Also, for anyone looking for a new SUV type vehicle, I spent the last 3 months driving all kinds: Acura MDX, BMW X5, Lexus RX300, Toyota Highlander. I found that the Forester had all the key features (Leather, heated seats/mirrors, AWD, adequate back seat leg room for growing family, excellent safety report and good exterior styling, etc.). So if you are looking - just go out and buy a Forester - and save $20 to $30k versus the fore mentioned "luxury SUV's".
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Congrats on the new ride - we'll look forward to more reports next week when you take delivery (and I'm sure you'll love the color - it sounds perfect for a morning coffee commuter).

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Payload is better for 2003. That is class leading. It already was, actually.

    I wonder why they claimed 2400 lb towing for the 5 speed if the manual doesn't reflect that? Maybe it was a late change?

    Still none at Fitz, I went again today (wife bought Legacy L wagon). They said it would be MSRP at first, their no-haggle price, that is. Should come down soon, though.

    -juice
  • fern88fern88 Member Posts: 42
    I got another call today. 4 more 2003's in. 2 XS, silver and blue.....2 XS premium..silver and white. I went and drove one of the XS and it drove really nice. The cornering and acceleration felt good and it seemed more quiet that the 2002. Unfortunately I only had about 10 minutes to test drive it because I was running late so I'm going to go tomorrow and drive it again. One of the XS Premium had the sunroof with cloth inside. This was the white one and the msrp was 25,600 with few extras items(tweeter set and tail pipe cover thingy). The Silver XS Premium had leather, sunroof, autodimming/compass mirror, tweeter. This msrp'd at 26,700. The grey interior definitely looks nicer to me. I wish I knew the invoice prices on these before I go in and haggle.

    -fern
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