Subaru Forester (up to 2005)

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Comments

  • amyashamyash Member Posts: 12
    I'm going to pick up my 2002 S Premium (red) in about 3 hours. I'm beginning to get a bit jealous tho...everyone is talking about the 2003. But (and a big but) the dealer incentives on the 2002 saved me a few thousand $$. So, my cup holders won't be in the most convenient place and my dog won't have as much leg room...he'll learn to adjust ; )

    Its been so long since I've had a new car...is the 1000 mile break in period still applicable? I'm buying this baby, not leasing, so I don't want to do any long term damage by driving too fast on the highway before she's ready.

    Thanks
  • goldencouple1goldencouple1 Member Posts: 209
    You're going to have a blast. The 1000 miles of variable and slow driving applies. Review your manual and I'm sure your sales-person will remind you. Basically, no cruise-control, no going over 4000 rpm, take it easy.

    We love our 2002. We use the cup holders. No biggie. My wife, who drives a Mustang, says our 2002 drives like a sports car.
  • subypowersubypower Member Posts: 50
    They are definitely more quiet than the 2002. I have a 2001 S premium and my only complaint is that it is a bit loud on the highway.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    our 2001 S premium is very noisy with the moonroof open at highway speeds, much more so than our '98 Explorer with its moonroof open. I wonder (hope!) if the new '03 Forester XS Premium will be more quiet with its moonroof open, than our '01 model.

    Bob
  • esneddenesnedden Member Posts: 6
    My best freind and I purchases a black and white Subaru Forester a week apart a couple of months ago. We are both professional photographers and are trying to combine two loves by creating a page simply to let people show off their Subarus. If anybody is interested please let me know, we are really intereseted in pics of Subies getting rowdy out in the elements. www.forester.b0x.com
  • erictooleyerictooley Member Posts: 13
    Drove a blue XS (non-premium). Nice car, didn't feel dramatically different than the previous version. Same powertrain, so that's not a big surprise (I drove an auto). Seat materials kinda of weird: textured cloth with vinyl strips at the outer edges. Not a great design, if you ask me.

    Dash finish is brushed aluminum, not that ghastly wood of the Legacy and Outback. Java pearl is black with a bit of orange, red, and green metal flake mixed in.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Amy -- Congratulations! Welcome to the club.

    Highway noise can also be attributed to the tires. Our Foresters are equipped with tires that have slighlty more aggressive tread patterns than average passenger cars. Changing to a premium touring tire can dramatically reduce road noise.

    Eric -- Wow, you're the first person I know of to drive the 2003 Forester. The black paint actually sounds like the one on my 98 Forester S -- black with shiny little bits of red and orange paint.

    Ken
  • rsunicorsunico Member Posts: 82
    As a lark I looked at a 02 Forester S Premium (I WANT that sunroof since my Saab is sold). The dealer quoted me 13,600 as a trade in on a 1 yr old Forester L w/ 17,000 miles. Of course I was p'od! Kellys and Edmunds have disparate opinions on what the 01's are worth. Which is more accurate? Any idea what I should ask for my car (if I decide to sell)? Any recommendations on web sites where people have succesfully placed and sold a car? Hmm.. perhaps I should wait a year and see if they stick a turbo in the new Forester. Thanks for any advice!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Herb Gordon Subaru (Silver Spring, MD) today. New Foresters due this coming week, I saw printouts on several that are coming in. The rear step pad, cargo tray and mud flaps are indeed sold as a package, and I believe somewhere around $280.00.

    I also saw a brochure on the new Forester. It was the only one the dealer had, so I couldn't take it back with me. However, the sales guy photocopied the specs/contents spread for me.

    Subypower-
    The specs did indeed say the 5-speed (not the auto) Forester has a 2400 pound towing, like what Patti said. Are you sure the owners manual said 2000 pounds for both models?

    At a glance:

    • The '03 model is .4" shorter than '02 model

    • The '03 model has bit less interior volume than '02 model

    • The '03 model has a bit more cargo volume than '02 model

    • The '03 model has .3" more rear leg room than '02 model

    • The '03 model is the same height as the '02 model

    • The '03 model is .2" narrower than '02 model

    • The '03s front track is 58.9" (58.1 for the '02 model)

    • The '03s rear track is 58.5" (57.7 for the '02 model)

    • The ground clearance is the same for both '03 and '02 models.

    Bob
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Nice scoop, Bob.

    Ken
  • dcabdcab Member Posts: 101
    Either you got low-balled or Kelly's is too high. I've wondered the same thing since Edmund's TMV is pricing Subaru's considerably lower than Kelly's. I was in a Subaru dealership in NY State a couple of weeks ago and overheard a salesman tell a couple that he'd use Kelly's "good" condition for their trade. But maybe he was making it back on the new car's price. This dealership was advertising $2000 off MSRP on an Outback or Forester(this was in April).
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    What is the "Kelley Blue Book" Price?

    Sell your used car

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • esneddenesnedden Member Posts: 6
    rsholland,
    The other responces are all 100% true, but on the '02 manual it says that by leaving it at the position that where sunroof automatically stops near the back without opening all the way you will reduce the very low and loud vibration sound. It couldnt be more true. I dont know if the 01 has the same feature but you could still try leaving it about 4inches from full open.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Letting it stop there does cut back the noise, but it's still much noisier than my Explorer's moonroof when it's open.

    Bob
  • cat_and_bearcat_and_bear Member Posts: 67
    Hi all, have been lurking here for a while and have
    got a lot helpful info from you wonderful people. Owe everybody
    a big thank you here!

    Anyway, just want to proudly annouce that we, actually my wife,
    has become the owner of the first 2003 Forester sold in
    Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area. Stevens Creek Subaru
    got the first shippment on Friday, same for Carlsen Subaru
    and other dealers in the area.

    We went check out the car immediately... Mike Saunders,
    the quick tongue boss of Stevens Creek Subaru simply
    gave us an offer too good to refuse. We made the deal
    right at the spot, one hour later, my wife had the car,
    the 1st 2003 Forester sold in Silicon Valley.

    It's a red XS Premium, cloth, AT with auto dimming mirror,
    tailpipe cover, and upgraded speakers. Originally
    my wife wanted the leather... however, after we checked
    out the real thing, I was kinda disappointed with the
    quality of the stitching job. The beige cloth with
    the vinyle trim actually looked very tastefully done.
    The dealer also has several black, white, and gold ones.
    Mmmm... almost everybody agrees red(more like purple red
    metalic) is the best looking one. White is nice, too.

    For those who think that 2002 Forester is a good bargain now...
    Let me tell you, the dealers here are more than willing
    to give you some surprises. I think nowadays only Honda
    dealers would charge CRV over MSRP. They want the markup
    because it is a brandnew 2003 model? Sorry, not for Forester.
    I had checked the prices with several dealers and nobody
    would do the MSRP/markup game. All I can say is that
    the price I paid for the 2003 Forester was so good such
    that it really made no-sense to go for a 2002 *NOW.*
    Sure, Mike Saunders is famous for being
    an aggressive deal maker... you may not find someone like
    him in your area, still, I would say it is definitely
    possible to get a good deal on the 2003.
    The sales Ted Atanus had been very helpful, too.
    No no no... not trying to do advertising for
    Stevens Creek Subaru. I am just a happy customer.

    Personally I am driving a '97 Toyota Supra Twin Turbo.
    Have driven many high performance cars... M3, C5, 911...etc.
    Before We decided on 2003 Forester, we had testdriven
    RV4, CRV, 2002 Forester...etc. After putting 30 miles
    on the odometer, I would say that I was very impressed
    by the new Impreza chassis. Man, should I say surprised?
    I just did a complete Zaino job on the car.
    Time for the bed now... will share more info about what I found
    with the 2003 with everyone tomorrow... Nite.

    -bear
  • storytellerstoryteller Member Posts: 476
    Bear: Congratulations and welcome to these boards. It is great to hear that Subie dealers in your area are not playing hard to get with the 03 Forester. Given your background, we're all eager to hear your impressions of the new Forester. And if you only drove the car 30 miles before doing a total Zaino job, you're gonna fit right in with other eccentrics on these boards. Keep us posted!

    Steve
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Congratulations on being the first here (too) to purchase an '03 Forester! :) Please keep us posted as to likes and dislikes.

    Bob
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    I was checking the photocopy of the spec sheet I got yesterday and noticed the following:

    • Moonroof now has an auto-open and auto-close feature. That's great news. My Explorer has an auto-open feature, which I like a lot.

    • Rear wiper now has a deicer feature on both the X and XS models. I guess that means there is now an electrical element in the glass where the wiper rests to help prevent ice build up.

    Bob
  • jimmyj1945jimmyj1945 Member Posts: 141
    Just saw my forst 2003 Forester. The dealer only had one and of course was closed today. It had everything I want, but was the wrong color. This one was the 2.5XS Premium/Leather, but is Black. (Not in Texas) Has Premium Sound Package#2, Popular Equipment Group (Cargo tray, Bumper guard, and Splash guards) Popular Equipment Group#2 (Fancy Mirror, tailpipe cover, and Security system upgrade) and the armreast extention. All total the MSRP is: Hold on to your Hats ......................$27,197.00-WOW!!!

    Really nice looking. They had it next to a 2002 Forester-S, so I could compare pretty well. Of course the doors were locked. In my opinion, the 2003 appears more (???) not sure what the right word is...Ah..I think it appears more SUV-like! To me it looks larger, although I know it's not.

    Other stuff: I liked the rounded fog lights and the back hatch/bumper looked better. Sure glad to see the remote open fuel door. Now if they fixed the CEL problem and bring in a Red one...

    Jim J.
  • nypaulnypaul Member Posts: 35
    Look up a few posts and Bob gave us specs from an '03 brochure. Now I never was very good with math so could someone please explain how am 03, which is 4 inches shorter 2 inches narrower and the same height as an 02, can have more cargo volume and 3 inches more rear leg room even though there is less overall interior volume? Did they just leave out the front seats or is there a new, new math?
    Have a great day everybody :~)
    Paul A
    Huntington Station, New York
    02 Forester L
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    You left out the decimal point; not 4" but .4," not 2" but .2," and not 3" but .3."

    As to the interior measurements I just got lazy and did not report them, but since you asked, here they are:

    EPA Interior Cargo Volume in cubic feet:

    2003: 93.5" (91.2" with moonroof)
    2002: 94.3" (84.8" with moonroof) That's not a typo!

    EPA Cargo Volume in cubic feet:

    2003:
    32.0 (rear seat up)
    29.6 (rear seat up with moonroof)
    64.1 (rear seat down-SAE)
    62.7 (rear seat down-SEA with moonroof)

    2002: (from '02 Forester brochure)
    32.0 (rear seat up)
    no measurement (rear seat up with moonroof)
    63.1 (rear seat down-SAE)
    58.5 (rear seat down-SEA with moonroof)

    Bob
  • pgumppgump Member Posts: 1
    Hello All,

    We just hit 1000 miles on our '02. This is our first Subaru and we love it!

    I'm looking for maintenance information specific to the Forester. If an archive covering this topic exists, please point me in that direction. In particular I'm looking for discussions on synthetic lubricants (oil, trans, diff, brake fluid, etc.) and filters.

    I changed the oil filter and would like to find information about compatible oil & trans filters. I'm considering WIX, NAPA Gold, Mobil 1 or K&N oil filters. Some parts stores do not yet list filters for the '02 and although the filters probably haven't changed for a couple of years, I'd like to be sure. Perhaps I should stay with Subaru filters?

    Also, does anyone find it peculiar that Subaru makes it so easy to change the trans fluid & filter by supplying a drain plug and external filter and yet say the ATF filter is maintenance-free and it is not necessary to change it unless it is damaged or leaking? Does anyone know of an after-market replacement?

    I understand the full set of maintenance manuals are around $800.00. Has anyone purchased a set (or subset) and have recommendations for a source and a list of which manuals cover which topics?

    Thanks in advance.
  • wmquanwmquan Member Posts: 1,817
    Wow, I had to do a double-take there!

    You mean "EPA Interior Volume in cubic feet", I assume!

    Thanks for the numbers!
  • wmquanwmquan Member Posts: 1,817
    Subaru is attaching a lot of marketing to saying that passengers have more room. Obviously if rear seat legroom was increased only 0.3", it's either over-marketing, or they've found it in other ways. E.g. making seats thinner, adjusting the angle a passenger sits at. Making folks sit more vertically often adds a lot in both real and perceived space.

    The 2003 is no higher, apparently, but I remember someone here saying that the occupants sit slightly higher, so maybe the vertical orientation is where some of the space is coming from.

    I'll be really curious as to what some experienced Forester fans find out from sitting in them, back-to-back.

    As far as cargo room goes, it's more than the upcoming VW Touareg (in all fairness, a different kind of vehicle which should be excellent -- but I find the limited cargo room in "SUV's" like the X5 and Touareg as interesting to me as those who abhor unibody construction and more limited towing and offroading in today's hybrids).
  • marcobmarcob Member Posts: 2
    Hi,
    I've never been here before, and after having read all the other posts on the page, I'm not sure if I should be. But you seem like nice folks, so here goes....

    My husband and I have a '01 Forester (but it still feels new to us... even though much of the talk seems to be about the '03). We love it! I have one small problem with it, however, and wondered if anyone out there had any useful tips. As with many vehicles that have a rear wiper, we get this run-off streak down the tailgate coming from the base of the shaft of the wiper. Is there anything you can put on it to seal it or something so that it doesn't streak? It makes the car look dirty and older somehow. I'm also concerned that it could affect the paint and eventually rust out. Any ideas?

    Thanks!
    Sam
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
  • dtauberdtauber Member Posts: 5
    I live in the Bay Area and was wondering how far I would need to travel to get a deal on the '03. I'll definitely check them out before looking outside the area. Any hints as to what price?
    Dan-o
  • nypaulnypaul Member Posts: 35
    Thanks Bob,
    First time around I didn't see the decimal points. Guess I ought to wipe the dust of my screen a little more often. In that case I guess it's the same old, new math.

    Paul A
    Huntington Station, New York
    02 Forester L
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Welcome aboard! Yes, your in the right place - lots of nice helpful folks reside here!

    tidester
    Host
    SUVs
  • cat_and_bearcat_and_bear Member Posts: 67
    Steve & Bob:

    Thank you for the kind words. I have already put two layers
    of Zaino on the car. The purple color has faded a little, replaced
    by a deep glossy shinning red. It is more like a red metalic with
    a tint of purple. Gorgeous! The car really standed up among
    several red cars parked outside the mall this afternoon.

    The rear window now has a separate wave shaped deicer line right
    under the wiper. It can only be triggered along with the windshield
    wiper deicer and the mirror defogger.

    Paul:

    Regarding to the numbers... there is nothing tricky. It goes
    in this way: The new Forester/Impreze chassis allows Subaru engineers
    to raise the front seat without sacrificing the handling. A higher
    seat means less headroom hence less interior volume; however,
    a higher front seat would also give you more rear leg room in return.
    The suspension is all new. The rear strut towers have been lowered
    so you get a bigger cargo space. Smart engineering, isn't it?

    Dan-o:

    My advice is to visit a dealer to check out the cars first.
    Look into the details and check out the colors. Make sure
    that you know exactly what you want! Some options may not be
    immediately available on any coming cars. For instance, I have not
    seen any XS come with rear spoiler or cargo nets. Most XS Premiums
    came equiped either with Pop option group #1 or group #2. Have both and leather,
    the MSRP will go over $27K. If you are interested in getting the leather,
    be sure to sit in a real car and see if it is really worth of the price.
    Things will be much easier for you if you decide to go for a specific
    pop option group. Going for special order will have you lose
    the bargain power.

    Call up every single dealer and tell them exactly what you want.
    Ask them if they have any stock available. If they do not have
    the one you have, ask them when the next allocation will come and
    have them call you right after they get the cars.
    After you spot the car you want, go talk to the dealer.
    Everbody wants to move the inventory as soon as possible.
    It is just some dealers will do this more aggressively.
    Mike Saunders of Stevens Creek Subaru probably is one
    of the extreme cases. If you make him clear that you
    are serious about getting the car, probably he will
    just give you the price you want. People at Carlsen Subaru
    seem to be very nice and friendly but I have never done
    the *real thing* with them so I have no idea how much
    they can give in to win your deal. Still, these two
    are the biggest dealers in the area, have the biggest inventory.
    I will always start on these two first. I know there will
    be another allocation coming in late May. Probably it is a good
    idea for you to get the car in this batch. Right now, just
    focus on narrowing down your selection. No need to rush
    to the dealers out of the area.

    As for the pricing, I would say that several dealers, including
    out of state ones, have quoted that the *cost* plus 5% will be
    the asking price. This will be your good start point.
    Actually I think you may just tell Mike Saunders that you are
    sent to him by the couple who bought the first '03 then you will
    reach a good deal easier/faster. No guarantee here though.

    BTW, our car's port of entry of is Vancouver, WA.

    -bear
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Yep, the printouts from the ones I saw here in Maryland, also came through Vancouver, WA. I guess that's the only port of entry for Subaru in the USA.

    Bob
  • _wraith__wraith_ Member Posts: 16
    Hi. I haven't posted here before, and I've just read a couple pages of posts so far. I would like your opinions on this:

    In looking over my options for purchasing a new vehicle, it seems that the Forester and CRV are the two best choices.

    After a bit of research on the official sites, car review sites, and newsgroups, it seems that: The Forester is safer and has a better AWD system, while the CRV has a little bit better interior design/comfort. Also, it is several hours to the nearest Subaru dealer, while there is a Honda dealer right in town. (Also a few other minor pros & cons for each, but these seem to be the most important points.)

    I currently own a 1998 Chevy Cavalier LS sedan (with 150hp 4) which has so far met my needs. It so far has gotten through the bad weather and bad roads here in Minnesota, but something with AWD would be more reassuring. And the added cargo space is beneficial (why I'm considering the Forester over the Leagacy). Plus either vehicle would have much higher safety ratings.

    I would just like your opinions of and experiences with the Forester and CRV, and anything that would help me make a better decision.
  • wmquanwmquan Member Posts: 1,817
    Just curious, what leads you to believe that the Forester is safer than the CR-V? Is it the head-protection airbag and the whiplash protection (which I'd agree with)? And yes, the AWD system is better.

    The CR-V has done impressively so far in NHTSA crash tests -- better than the previous generatiion Forester. However, I'd expect the new Forester to equal these results, but we won't know for a while. Usually a clue is how a shared platform does -- e.g. the Civic does very well, and the new Impreza does great in the IIHS crash tests.

    Several hours to the nearest Subaru dealer is a nasty factor. The vehicle should be reliable but it sounds like a pain to get to the dealer in the event you need anything.
  • maxdaddymaxdaddy Member Posts: 3
    I have a base 02 Forester L (no keyless entry). I just got a new Odyssey for my wife and really like the keyless feature. Has anyone installed a keyless kit in a Forester? Any rec's on an aftermarket kit?

    -maxdaddy
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    bear: Congratulations on your purchase! It's cool to know that one of the first 2003s sold was right here in the Bay Area.

    Dan-o: I've found the best no-haggle dealerships to be Carlsen, Santa Cruz, Diablo (Walnut Creek) and Marin.

    wraith: Both the Forester and CR-V have received top reviews in their categories for the last few years. From a safety standpoint, both vehicles are excellent. The new CR-V did edge out the previous generation Forester, but the 2003 Forester is still yet to be tested. Since it's based off the more rigid chassis of the 2002 Impreza, it just as may well improve.

    What type of driving do you like to do? The Forester is closer to a passenger car and will handle and perform on the road better than the CR-V. Also, as you mentioned, Subaru's AWD systems are simply better. The CR-V's Real Time 4WD system is a part-time system that won't offer the continuous seamless operation compared to even the basic viscous coupling unit in the 5-speed Subarus.

    If handling isn't as a priority, but passenger room is, then the CR-V might be a better choice. Honda did a great job with increasing rear passenger room with the CR-V.

    One other point is that the Legacy actually has more cargo room than the Forester.

    Ken
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    You also might want to check this forum, as it deals directly with the CRV vs. the Forester. Although it speaks to the new '03 Forester (not '02), which is now arriving at dealers as I write this.

    ateixeira "CR-V vs Forester: 2nd generation ..." Apr 25, 2002 6:07pm

    Your assessments are pretty much spot on: The Forester (and all Subarus) have a better AWD system. It is truly AWD, not an on-demand 4WD like the CRV's system. The CRV is roomier, although not necessarily more comfortable. The Forester is sportier to drive, and handles better.

    Actually the Legacy wagon has more cargo space, and rear leg room than the Forester.

    Bob
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    I was able to look at/seat in new 2003 Forester at Santa Cruz dealership. It was black XS 2.5 model. Overall, it looks/feels very similar to previous generation Forester. Seats are positioned a bit higher: it gives a slightly better view over the hood but noticeably reduce the headroom. I'm only 5'3 and I noticed.

    I liked the new gauge cluster, with speedo in the center. I thought though that gauges would be white-faced, but they're not. I prefer a clock position in old Forester, now it's mounted next to dash storage and is LCD (can be hard to see in bright light). I also liked S Premium alloys more in older model. Seat's fabric in 2003 was kind of strange and too textured for my taste.

    Black paint was so-so, with noticeable orange peel -- but probably no better and no worse than in prev generation.

    Overall it's a very much the same Forester, just extensively freshened up. So for those of you who're on the fence (2002 vs 2003), go try and see both, and if the deal for 2002 is MUCH better, go for it.

    MSRP w/o option was 22,467, with options on that particular car it came to 25K+.

    I'd be interested to see/try the X model, with non-painted cladding.
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    after the "newness" has worn off, there should be good prices on the '03s too.

    Bob
  • jim_loves_carsjim_loves_cars Member Posts: 190
    Dealership location would weigh heavy in any decision I would make regarding which vehicle to choose. I would find out if there is an authorized Subaru repair shop closer than the dealership that can perform warranty repairs.

    If not, location, location, location. I'd probably stick with the CRV and local dealership support. Both are nice vehicles.

    -jim
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Kate,

    Santa Cruz usually has pretty good prices -- flat pricing, usually a little less than Carlsen. What was their add-on to invoice? What are 2002s going for there?

    Ken
  • cat_and_bearcat_and_bear Member Posts: 67
    wraith ,

    I will talk more in the upcoming '03 Forester report.
    Right now I can only simply tell you that if you need
    more space, go for CRV, other than that, no reason
    to buy a CRV. Ok ok... probably the location
    of the dealer is an issue.

    As far as safety is concerned, I am a strong believer
    of the active safety measure. You may survive
    the collison in an unibody car, but in most cases,
    you will have to say bye-bye to the car.
    Avoiding the danger at the first place is more
    important than anything else. Forester is surperior
    to CRV at this aspect.

    '03 Forester's interior parts are made of
    higher quality material. Like the overall setup or not,
    you will still have to admit that the car
    indeed feels more luxury inside. Not the Lexus/Acura/BMW/Mercedes
    level yet but definitely a little better than CRV's.
    CRV's climate control knobs are so tacky.

    Pricewise, our loaded XS Premium is cheaper
    than the CRV EX. Believe it?

    It is amusing to see so many people have a nearly
    blind faith on Honda cars. In Japan, Fuji Heavy Industry
    is deemed as equal to Honda. Before WW2, FHI was
    the Nakajima Aircraft Manufacturer. The famous zero fighter's
    engine was made by Nakajima. The argueable best Japanese fighter
    in WW2, the Ki-84 Hayate Frank, was made by Nakajima.
    Its 2000hp engine was the most compact air cooled engine
    in the world around that time.

    Oh, and I was very surprised to find out how stiff
    the new Forester/Impreza chassis was!

    -bear
  • kate5000kate5000 Member Posts: 1,271
    Ken,

    Nick (the salesman) at Santa Cruz was pretty evasive regarding the price for new 2003 Foresters. He said, below MSRP but definitely much higher percent over invoice as compared to 2002. No 2.9% financing (or any other incentives) for 2003 either.

    But then, it was clear to him that I was not actively shopping... Maybe he would have offered a better deal if I was indeed looking to purchase.
  • nellonello Member Posts: 11
    I had a Viper Keyless entry installed on my 2002 Forester L and it works great. It was an after market installation done by the local road shop. It cost 150 dollars US installed. The Subaru dealer wanted twice as much.

    nello
  • mckeownmckeown Member Posts: 165
    Maxdaddy, Like Nello, I have an aftermarket keyless entry, starter disable, door open alarms system also. Mine is a Commando. $39 w 2 remotes, if you are up to installing it yourself. Also locks the doors 3 seconds after engine starts. Unlocks doors after ignition off.
    Also just installed 17mm rear swaybar, factory is 13mm. Nice difference. $64.00 us with shipping from Puyallup Chev/Subaru in Wa state. (subaruparts.com on web). Look for 2002 Impreza. Same Sway Bar. 1/2 hr to install.
    Just went to site....Now Bar is $81. Guess I got a deal.(or they mispriced web until someone ordered it)
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    are arriving. I just got an e-mail from the dealer I visited Saturday, and they put one in the mail for me today, and should be here in a day or so.

    :)

    Unfortunately I will be out of town for the next few days, so I will not be able to report on anything new until I get back.

    :(

    Bob
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    Funny how opinions differ. Those CR-V climate control knobs have been lauded in several magazines for both ease of operation as well as style. YMMV.

    As for size, I have to agree. The CR-V compares more favorably with the larger Outback wagon than the Forester.
  • cat_and_bearcat_and_bear Member Posts: 67
    Hi Kate,

    Looks like Santa Cruz Subaru has only one or two 03 hence they have not really fixed the pricing yet. When I checked with Carlsen, the sales were very honest and upfront, just gave me the price immediately. The price was none worse none better than what you would get for a '02 last year. I got the same impression from Stevens Creek. Both dealers still have a few X available. You may consider paying them a visit and do a test drive. To me, I feel the car handles substantially different from 02.

    No-haggling may get you a more comfortable buying experience but it may also mean harder to get the best deal. I usually buy cars directly from fleet managers or someone higher. The price a fleet manager asks for mostly is one of the best deals you can get from this specific dealer already. Take it or not. Simple. This is the real no-haggling process.
    The no-haggling price given out by sales is a totally different story. One more sales, one more person to share the commission, haggling or no haggling . Even worse, it is very tough to fight with a soft speaking, smiling face, right? :)

    My trick is simple... you can play as many games as you like to with those first line sales but never buy a car before you make a deal with the real manager or the boss. Make your offering price low yet decent so the sales will send you to the boss sooner or later.

    -bear
  • kohallkohall Member Posts: 12
    Just picked up my new 2003 Forester XS Premium w/Leather, Java Black tonight. Bummer is that I had to drive it home in the rain, but glad I had AWD to help me stick to the road. I just spent the last few hours figuring out the interior gadgets (this is my first subie) and making that very key decision: what 6 cd's to load into the changer: AC/DC - Back in Black; Alan Jackson - High Mileage (hoping the same for this subie); Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks; Jethro Tull - Aqualung; and Ricky Van Shelton - Greatest Hits. I guess this makes me ready for anything.

    Anyways, I really like the Java Black - has some really cool orange metal flake in the paint and it really shimmers in my garage lights. The seats are really stiff and the lumbar thingy is a nice feature. The steering is very responsive, no drift or softness. The exterior re-design is not so different for me from the 2002, but some small touches make it more tough looking. I am really disappointed about the "brush guard", which is just a small add on to the front bumper width, not at all like the 2002 version, which had a second level above the bumper out in front of the grill. I wonder if the 2002 brush guard would fit the 2003 (subie guys are you listening?)?

    Anyways, I am very happy for the opportunity to be one of the early adopters in this area (Upstate NY) of the 2003, and also really glad to have paid dealer invoice for it too, not a penny more. Looking at the sticker of MSRP $27,796 versus my pre-tax cost of $25,023, I still have some bread left over to add on some more bells and whistles. For those readers trying to decipher the sticker price, here goes:

    Model XS Premium w/ leather
    Tail pipe cover, arm rest extension (really kind of dorkey, but gotta put my arm somewhere), Splash guards, Security system, rear spoiler (for my wife who really wanted a lexus), brush guard (which previously mentioned as something I could have lived without), air filter, trailer hitch (for carrying 4 bikes), and the rear diff protector (for when I hit my mid-life crisis and pretend that I am the crocodile hunter!).

    I am going to log my mileage for the next few tank fulls and will let this group know how I make out.

    Off to subie dream land.....
  • cat_and_bearcat_and_bear Member Posts: 67
    Glad to know that finally you got the car! I am sure you will love every minute behind the wheel. It is also nice to hear that you only paid invoice for the car! Yes, see? I told you that you did not have to pay more for the '03! :)

    -bear
  • goldencouple1goldencouple1 Member Posts: 209
    My wife saw them first, actually -- I call her eagle-eye. We had drifted down to El Paso for the 7,500 mile service on our '02.and I was hoping to see an '03. There were none on the lot, none in the "show room" (the El Paso dealer has a tiny facility). I had given up. My wife happened to step two steps farther than I did out on the porch of the show room -- "What's that?" she said.
    Bingo! Three '03s hidden off in a corner, awaiting cleaning up. There was an X, an XS, and an XS Premium: green, gold, and Black Java Pearl, respectively. The '03s are much prettier in person. And that Java Pearl is wild! If it was not named "black" I don't know I would call it black -- so many colored sparklies. My wife said it looked more like a very dark green. As has been reported earlier, the interiors are more plush. My wife had the impression that the '03s looked bigger (though we know it is not) and just fancier in general. They do look nice, really nice. I liked the vinyl/cloth treatment on the seats. The steering wheel looked cool. No tailgate/bumper protectors on any of them -- strange. Maybe that's something the dealer will offer to stick on, or will stick on for a dealer add-on. The X did not have mud-guards. Since there were only three, I'm thinking they are show pieces to work off of ordering. The El Paso dealer had a lot full of Outbacks, a few '02 Foresters, one Outback Sport and no Imprezas, except for a few WRX's and a RS sporty sedan. No IMpreza brochures either.

    If El Paso has its '03s, everybody must have theirs by now. A salesman was floating around the lot at this time but he did not seem to want to talk about the '03s. He said they'd just come in and needed prep. He had offered to let us play with a WRX earlier -- he knew we were waiting on a car in service. Maybe he was discouraged by the time we found the '03s, or maybe he had orders not to talk yet. No brochures.
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